Opua: beautiful
Opua: beautiful
A beautiful day of sunshine and scattered low clouds. No rain.
I was awake before dawn came over the mountain to the east, and drank my first cup of coffee standing in the companionway, watching the rising sun color the water.
THE HAWKE OF TUONELA’s companionway is the perfect height for me to lean forward, resting my forearms on the lower edge and view the world aft.
I rowed ashore twice. The first time to shower, say hello to various people I know in the marina office and shops; and the second time to make my annual or biennial visit to a fuel dock.
After lunch I spread sealant on the stanchion bases I suspect as the sources of the most severe leaks, then worked on the mold around the quarter berths. A the end of the starboard berth the two diesel jerry cans were at hand, so I brought them forward. No one was at the fuel dock. The wind was light, though the tide was flowing out hard, so I rowed in. I last took on diesel in Panama in May of last year. I should be set for another year and a half or two.
I changed the battery in the indoor/outdoor thermometer three days ago. Perhaps it took this long to reenergize the display, but to my surprise this afternoon I found it again working. Because all the hatches were open, the temperature was the same inside and out: 65ºF/18Cº.
Of reenergizing, the Sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries really may be superior.
Last Thursday the Energizer batteries in my Sony radio were flat. I put the Sanyo in, which come pre-charged, and the radio began working and still is. Proof will only come when I next return to HAWKE after a three or four month absence; but I think I’m going to buy more eneloop.
Hatches are still open, but I will close them before I go forward to read in bed on the v-berth.
I’m watching the BBC Planet Earth series for a second time.
Tonight I viewed the episodes about mountains and about fresh water. One of my strongest impressions the first time I saw this incomparably photographed series was that life feeds on life.
Tonight I found myself wondering why I sometimes favor the predator, sometimes the prey. I wanted the snow leopard to catch the deer. Here on my mooring I certainly am pleased when a gannet comes up with a fish. But I regretted a wildebeest being grabbed by a crocodile and a crane being caught by an eagle.
Monday, September 13, 2010