Yesterday at the fuel dock we had to turn off our diesel cooking range. It had been acting kinda funky, sooting up and not burning right, but I figured it was like me, old with a bit of fire gone out. Unfortunately, it was more than that. With Herculean effort we could get it to start, but it would soon go out. I knew that if I got up early, put some effort into it, I would have it going by breakfast. You may find this hard to believe, but I was wrong.
First I checked the fuel flow from the oil tank attached to the carriage house roof. Then I checked the fuel flow in the galley. All good so far. Next, I checked the flow coming out of the carburetor. Nada.
This called for action. I needed a new carburetor or more accurately a fuel flow valve. I thought they might have one at Lummi Fisheries Supply in Bellingham, or worse case up in Surrey, BC. I had to get to the mainland. It was seven in the morning and the ferry left Orcas at 8:40. There is no cell phone service here and the store at the marina wasn’t going to open until nine. I was 12 miles from the ferry landing. I hit the road walking.
I stuck out my thumb. A half dozen cars went by and then pulled to a stop. “Hop in, where ya going?”
“I’m trying to catch the morning boat to Anacortes.”
Thus, was my introduction to Cal McCallum. “I been livin’ on this island for over 90 years.”
Cal is actually 93 and a retired school teacher. Wow, what a person, sharp as a tack and a fine driver. Those 93 years have been gentle with him. We had a good talk, swappin’ stories and talkin’ about teaching.
“Well, this is my turn, it ain’t far now.”
One more ride and I made the ferry. A call to my young friend Jay Ryan, if 52 can be called young, and he offered to haul my sorry self up to LFS in Bellingham where I had located the needed part.
So, I finally got back aboard the boat and ripped into the stove, only to find I couldn’t reuse the compression fittings for the new copper tube I’d bought. So, tomorrow I need to located 3/8″ compression fittings and put the stove back together. I’m hoping they might have them here on Orcas at East Sound.
I had hoped to be in Ganges tonight, but its not to be. Tomorrow is another day and with any luck I’ll solve the problem.
I have several messages wondering why the little blue dots weren’t moving on the InReach map. Including from my buddy Bobby Dolan up in Petersburg who was about to head off halibut fishing.
I can’t predict what tomorrow will bring, but then none of us can. I can hope that it will bring a nice warm stove however.