Sometimes planets align in a favorable way, sometimes not.
Upon a mid-January arrival at Jupiter in Roche Harbor the crew cranks up the boat’s heaters of the electric kind and the diesel kind to warm air and water and to craft habitable environs aboard. Bags are unloaded, boxes unpacked, and gear stowed. A shower before dinner seems in order.
One crew is soaped up and singing, when the steamy flow slows from soaker to slender seep in tight time, then stops with a final tear-like drop. Shivering shrieks for a remedy from the shower to the engineer come to naught, and a night aboard without water becomes gloomy reality.
Both water pumps aboard are humping and thumping, but no water can be sucked or thrust, primed or combined to the usable side of the system. Two buckets, three bowls, and a pot are deployed to carry water aboard from an icy dockside spigot, sorted for flushing and brushing, washing and drinking and galley-sink sinking.
As this sorry incident is being logged it becomes apparent that on the same date in the same slip precisely one year prior the crew are also denied water aboard Jupiter. Different cause, same effect; planets similarly arrayed. On that occasion we decamped to the nearby hotel, but this time no-one answers the call for a frowzled bed.
The morning brings hydraulic technicians, Nick and Noah, and Jupiter’s WillyVac is employed in a not-so-quick fix. Gratitude, like the vessel’s fresh water, issues forth.
When earth has orbited sun a year hence, we will strive to align with different planets under different constellations on January 17th, a date that shall forever live in infamy aboard Jupiter.
“When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”
Benjamin Franklin
And you plan to do this again on the same date next year? So sorry to hear your plight. Remember, it’s a boat! But the marina looks lovely. Hope that is the end of cruising woes this time around.
I think that’s a no. There are a few hardy souls who live-aboard year round at the marina but it was otherwise extremely quiet as you’d expect. And yes, its a boat. Many things work!
I have never heard of a WillyVac – I’m so glad it helped! Miss you.
Everyone needs a WillyVac. Its an essential piece of kit.
Wow! I just happened upon the ‘locate Jupiter’ app on my phone screen yesterday and was shocked to see your location. Y’all are some brave hardy souls to venture into BC waters this time of year. Sorry to hear of the water issue but glad it’s resolved. Wishing you safe ventures and good fortune for the rest of your trip. Keep us posted.
There’s no hiding! Good to know that someone is watching since there is nobody else in these parts to see us. But then, that’s why we’re here.
Water water everywhere but not a drop for a shower!! So sorry. Burrrr! Miss you two.