Today, Tuesday has been a day of some jobs, some hiking and some doing nothing. I started out the checking to see how much diesel we had in our tanks. We put twenty gallons in before we left Charlotte Amalie several weeks ago. Measuring our tanks is tough. Unscrew a small dip stick in the top and stick a wooden dowel in with measured marks along its length. The first time we used the stick, we made sure the tanks were full so putting marks on the rod was easy. We have about a quarter tank left so we're good at least for a while.
Next, onto purging and draining the Racor filter on the engine. If you've never seen one, there is a drain port on the clear plastic bowl on the bottom. When I unscrew the drain, I pump the squeeze bulb in the fuel line and it forces the junk in the bottom of the bowl out. It collects dead bugs from the fuel tanks as the engine runs. With this done, I changed out the filter as well. It wasn't necessary as it was still in good shape, but if I was doing one thing on the filter assembly, I might as well do both. Clean fuel makes for a happy engine(and a happy Bill).
With these jobs done, we launched Puff and Tracy took me to shore so I could do some hiking. Been boat bound for too long I think. While Tracy returned to the boat to charge the batteries, I hike up the hill and across the trail to the east. I've hiked this trail before but always turned west. This time, east to see if there were any better views to be had. Only problem was that I had the camera that connects to the computer so until I can get regular internet, those photos will have to wait.
I returned by late morning and radioed Tracy to come and get me and we returned for another nice lunch of hamburgers cooked on the grill. We spent some of the afternoon playing another game of Mexican Trains and watched as more boats came into the anchorage. Another charter boat came, luckily not close to us but another boat and and again, they were asked to move and again, they moved right out of the bay and took off for another. We ended up with 16 boats in this bay and while there was more room behind us, no one seemed to want it as just about all the boats clustered at the east side. Not our idea of fun having boats 50 feet from us. Glad we stayed out where we did.
Today, Wednesday started out with a broken tea kettle. The rivet that holds one side of the handle on snapped. We've had the pot for a number of years and it gets a good deal of use so before we even had breakfast, I was drilling and putting in another pop rivet. Now it's good as new.
Once breakfast was over, I started in on the next project. One of our Alpenglow ceiling light had decided to stop working. First the low power light stopped and then the high poster finally gave out as well. I undid the screws that hold it to the ceiling and when I dropped it down to where I could see it, I saw about a dozen tiny ants crawling around on the top plate of the fixture. Once they were crushed, I grabbed a can of ant killer and sprayed it up through the hole in the ceiling the wire come through as well as the top of the fixture. We've had problems on and off ever since Fiji with really tiny ants. We're cleared out cabinets and remover cushions and sprayed and sprayed and they just keep coming back. They did disappear for a while but they just keep showing up in odd places.
Once I replaced the bulb(compact fluorescent bulb)the light started working fine. Problem solved. While the forecast was for a 60% chance of rain(that's why we stayed here), it never showed up and it was hot enough that we put up the tarp over the cockpit to keep the sun off. Really helps keep everything cooler. In the afternoon we took off snorkeling again, this time inside the bay along the south and west shore. While it's not as good as the stretch we found just east of the bay, it's some of the best we've seen in quite a while. We've snorkeled it a good bit and always see new things.
Back to Zephyr to watch more boats come in. Ended up at 15 today, down one from yesterday. Several boats stopped in but after touring the place took off for another place. Fine by us.
Tomorrow, probably some more jobs and back in the water. We have to be out of the British Virgins by the 23 so there is plenty of time plus we have some packages that have to be picked up by then as well so it gives us a good reason to take off for the US Virgins again.