As Usual, the Weather Changes

In the last post, I mentioned that Monday morning was pleasant with temperatures in the 70's and a cool breeze, a respite from the weekend's heat and humidity. Not long after I posted that, clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped and rain started in the evening. Dreary weather is predicted until Sunday, although yesterday's low temperature and biting northeast wind at a steady 12 knots have not continued. There were even small patches of pale blue sky today. 

Yesterday's gloom was compatible with my health yesterday, as I suffered all day from lower intestinal discomfort and periods of shivering chills alternating with feverish sweating. I took three long naps, having little energy, and was still able to sleep through the night. Today, I was somewhat better although not quite right. 

Peter, meanwhile, put new straps on the holding tank to make it more secure, because spewing black water is not something you want in the engine room. He also worked on the recalcitrant generator, an aspect of the boat that has frustrated him for the four years we have owned her. He continues to be baffled by its conking out within minutes but sometimes hours of starting. He showed me the results from his oscilloscope, a colorful line graph of green, blue and yellow lines on a black background that revealed information about the solenoid and motor that he found fascinating but provided no enlightment to me. Even as I type this, he is studying circuit diagrams and other documents, searching and searching for the elusive problem so that he can fix it. 

From 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., we had a surveyor on board checking all the systems and compliance with regulations. He spent a good deal of time in the engine room, checked the whole boat for leaks, crawled around the entire deck tapping with a mallet to listen for rotting underneath the fiberglass and did various other tests. In the afternoon, we pulled away from the dock and went out for a couple hours so that he could check the engine under operation as well as the sails and rigging without the engine. As always, the sailing was excellent; even the surveyor was exuberant when he took the wheel. 

Peter actually likes the engineering challenges, but this is what he LOVES1

Despite the conumdrum of the generator and minor issues revealed by the survey (which were not particularly surprising to us), Mantra is good to go. Tomorrow, Peter will work on the rigging (a job that was delayed once again because of the winds that arose on Monday afternoon) and then, fingers crossed, we should be able to depart Oxford finally. 

I returned from a short walk Monday afternoon to find Peter's wedding ring beside tools above the engine room. Does this mean he is transferring his love and commitment to the boat?

What does this signify, I wonder!