Long Day on my Knees

We came back to Piney Narrows which used to be our home marina yesterday to avoid the gale force wind predicted for today and to do some work to solve the shower dilemma. I got this picture of Mandy relaxing in the cockpit before weighing anchor.

The winds came as predicted blowing 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40. It was a good day to be settled in at a marina. It was also a good day to work on the boat.

I started by dismantling the leaky shower faucet. I decided that it needed new faucet washers. Phil had earlier offered to drive me to the hardware store to pick up what ever I needed so I would finish that project later.

I then tackled the thermostat replacement which required that I remove everything from the port cockpit locker including four group 31 batteries and removing the partition that separates the locker from the aft end of the engine. Phil came by with his metric tools and wiggled his 260 lb (my guess), 6'4" frame into the tiny space. Phil replaced the thermostat and we fired up the motor fully expecting to see the temp gauge rise to 160 degrees. It didn't. I had purchased a faulty thermostat. I re-loaded the locker with batteries, sails, lines, and tools.

I set my sights on fixing the shower drain which had refused to drain. Success!!

After a trip to the hardware store to buy some faucet washers, I rebuilt and reinstalled the faucet. It still leaked. We repeated the trip to the hardware store and bought a new faucet.

We stopped for dinner at a restaurant where Rose from "Golden Girls" waited on us. We gave an order for drinks and some crab dip.
"So that's a wine for the lady, a Margarita for him, (Phil) and a coke for you." (looking at me). And I'll put your appetizer order in right away."
"I didn't ask for a coke, I hadn't ordered a drink yet."
"So you changed your mind. What would you like?"
"I didn't change my mind and I didn't order a Coke," I stammered in my Bob Newhart voice. "I didn't order anything."
"I'll get you some water," she said with a smile as she turned to walk away.
"I would rather have a vodka with grapefruit," I shouted.

I had been on my knees all day, dismantling, repairing, and reinstalling. I was ready to step out of the booth and again drop to my knees just to beg for a drink.

"Oh, OK a Vodka grapefruit," Rose repeated as she walked away. "And I'll put in your order for Tumbleweed Onion Crisps right away."

"Crab Dip," I pleaded. "Not Onion Crisps."