The Best Laid Plans.....Wednesday.

Our heads (toilets) are not working today. I mean they were functioning, but something is very wrong. Did you read yesterday's post? Today was the day that we were going to get a few things done and then head out for a day of family fun. If you know boating, you know that there is almost always something gone wrong. There's always a malfunction, a glitch, something to make you scratch your head in confusion, or pull your hair out in frustration. This could explain why Gord is bald.

What we haven't shared with you is that there are a lot of minor malfunctions these days. These are daily challenges. Some things are essential to have in working order to head out on our journey, others are not necessities but are more luxury items. One of the brand new fridge/freezer units Gord expertly installed at Christmas isn't working. He's been on the phone numerous times trying to get assistance. The Windlass blows the fuse every time we try to haul up the anchor. These two issues are essential to have in working order before we leave. There are a few gages that aren't registering the fluids in the tanks they monitor. These are not essential items, but we'd love to have them in working order. These aren't faults with Holy Cow - it's just the way boats are. Each day we tackle a few more items from our to-do list, we gather provisions, we organize and get to the tedious tasks of boat maintenance. Gord is plowing through them like a pro. He really can, almost, fix anything!

So back to this day, Wednesday, the fun family day. With both heads (toilets) not functioning properly, we troubleshoot. We cannot go anywhere without these in working order. Our fear is needing parts or a service call. The delay and expense which may occur does not excite us. Gord phones a friend or two. I head to Google for some insight. Our best guess is the pump out yesterday wasn't successful. Our only option is to drive out and try again. Sigh, we break the news to the kids and they are very patient. A change of plans today. Already the morning has been eaten up by troubleshooting. We rally up the crew, start the engines and navigate our way back to the ocean 3+ miles from shore.

We choose a spot. We put the boat in idle. We send Jaxon and Brooklyn up to the helm. While Gord and I are flushing toilets, opening seacocks, examining the plumbing system in the bowels of Holy Cow, Jaxon captains the boat and Brooklyn, with binoculars in hand, keeps an eye out for crab pots. Crab pots buoys, in the middle of nowhere, bob around the surface of the water, just waiting for rookie boaters to drive over them and have a mess of rope stuck in a prop. The process of figuring out the issue with the heads takes about an hour and involves a lot of speculating and trial and error. The kids are amazing at the helm. When we feel like the pump out has been successful, Jaxon turns the boat around and navigates us back towards our temporary home dock. Gord and I recheck the system before putting back in place the floor boards and other parts of the boat we've pulled apart to solve the problem.

We join the kids up on the bridge and make the best of what the has day become. Jaxon still at the helm, we enjoy our trip back to the dock and arrive approximately 4 hours after we left. Gord and I confirm with each other again...THIS time is the last time we will discharge our tanks overboard.