One Last Thing

The hull sparkles, the provisions are stowed, the tanks are full and the ship is almost ready to depart. Oh, you were alert and noticed the "almost" that sneaked into the first sentence. Today, while refueling, RL spotted a split o-ring on a fuel fill-pipe cap; definitely not a good place to risk water intrusion. 

Three marine parts suppliers in town were out of stock in the required size, so we'll wait for a replacement to arrive in tomorrow's morning delivery at Daigle Marine. This will seem light-speed fast after our recent week+ delay with a DHL "express" shipment. 

Update 5-16-2014: Cancel the hero badge for Daigle Marine. Our o-rings did arrive this morning as promised, but the wrong size had been delivered. Oops... sorry... new ones available in 4 days. Well, I don't think so.  

Instead CRES (Campbell River Equipment Supply), an independently-owned NAPA store, came through for us with four 2-inch fuel cap rings, just what we need for a replacement and three spares. We should have started with CRES instead of messing around with marine stores! 

What a welcome treat to work in warm, sunny weather while washing the boat this week. We didn't miss the usual prewash and rinse assistance from B.C.'s typical Spring rainstorms. Less of a treat were the complaints of aching muscles, unused to all of the sudden stretching, twisting and scrubbing exercises. It happens each Spring, but every year I forget until it's too late. Ouch!

One, just one, hardy herb pot is planted and in position high on the boat deck, ready for Spring's lengthening hours of daylight to spurt new growth. Thank you, Beth at Campbell River Garden Center, for planting this fine garden. I'll think of you when I harvest some of those all-important flavor enhancers. Did you notice the small area of bare dirt in the pot, an invitation to stuff in just one more plant? Despite all warnings, I added one small peppermint plant to the pot. I know it's an ill-mannered bully, battling its neighbors for root space and nutrients, but this year I'll try root trimming to force its aggressive roots to go deep instead of wide. A tall, rangy spearmint plant sacrificed its tops for an experiment in root-sprouting in a vase of water. Can you tell that we love fresh mint?

Two bright red geraniums and three sweet basil plants will flourish inside in a salon window as we cruise. They might move outside when we're at anchor, when it's warm, and if it's not raining too hard. What a pampered life.

Soon we'll head north, with no set schedule and the cruise plan dependent upon winds and currents. Wi-fi accessibility will determine the timing of the next post, but I'll be busy photographing the highlights of each day. Let the adventures begin!

Western Weekend: Cattle Penning

The second event of the afternoon was Cattle Penning. I'm a city girl, but here's the task as I understand it. 

• Self-selected teams of three riders work together to
• sort and separate out three critters with an assigned number from the rest of the herd, 
• move them to the opposite end of the arena,
• hold them there, and
• pen them... no other-numbered cattle allowed. All this within a time limit.

Sometimes the cows had other plans. Cows (yes, cows, they're all cows to me) are herd animals. They really wanted to hang out together, trying their best to rejoin the herd whenever they were isolated. Cows can be sneaky, waiting to make a break for it until the riders are focused on working other critters.

We saw some impressive horsemanship and horses in this event.

Lots more photos to share, but this gives you a brief look at the event. We loved our adventure ashore, but it's time to get back to boats and cruising.

Western Weekend : Obstacle Course

Memories of our fun-filled visit to the Coombs Rodeo Grounds are still vivid. What a happening place! We arrived in time for a hearty, flavorful Texas barbecue-on-a-bun for lunch, pulled pork and coleslaw for me and brisket for RL. Local resident and participant Lauren welcomed us to his picnic table and explained the afternoon's program of events. 

The arena was full of action even before the official events began... just a little "horsing around." Sorry, I couldn't resist throwing that in. 

The first event was an obstacle course of 12 different challenges for horse and rider. Each participant had 2-minute or less for a timed run, with 0-4 points awarded for each obstacle attempted. One by one, the riders chose their own routes through the course, though occasionally it was the horse that made the final decision. Nate, celebrating his 9th birthday, was the leadoff rider of the talented group lined up to run the course. 

Check out some of the other obstacles in the course.

Rope the wire calf

Walk a fixed bridge and then this teeter-totter

Jump the logs

Jump some barrels

Travel through bags and brush

Hay bales mark the entry to the water hazard

The tire maze calls for careful footwork

Load the horse in the trailer, but don't ride it in

And that's just a portion of the action. Next came the cattle penning, but that's for the following post.

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