Comedy of Errors

Monday Feb. 23, 2015
Tavernier Key
Tavernier, FL

Still anchored in 5ft of water off Tavernier Key. Temps about 70 for low, 80 for high, sunny. Hard to believe it is February. We decided to put out the sun shower. We had one many years ago but no idea what happened to it. We recently purchased one for this trip because when you do not have shore power you only have hot water when you run your motor on idle for an hour. We did not notice when we bought it that it did not have an on/off lever. Our old one years ago had a spout you turned on and off. So we went out to lay it on the deck , fill it , and lower the hose thru the bathroom hatch so you could stand in the shower to shower. First we got our 5 gal jerry jug and started to pour water into the shower bag. Then we remembered there was no way to shut it off and it was probably running out the end in the shower below us. In the rush to get the clamps we had brought on deck to shut the hose off Lee knocked the lid to the jerry jug over board  He frantically said, quick we need that, get something. We do not have a net on board and you could never have caught it with a boat hook. He yelled it is still floating, think of something. I said, Swim, He took off his shirt and shorts , and underwear and   jumped in the water naked and captured the lid. Then he said it is cold, quick get me out. He couldn't come up the swim platform because the dinghy was still on it. I had to move several things to fish the ladder out of a storage area in the cockpit and put it over the side for him to climb.All the while he was acting like it was boiling water instead of cold water. Up he climbed white butt a shining. Do not know if the people in the nearby boat noticed or the people in the houses on shore. I wish I had a camera.

We decided to dinghy over to Bill's and  get water and time how long it took so we would not be late for an appointment I have tomorrow. We got there and the spigot was so low to the ground we could not get the jerry can under it. We had not brought our potable water hose so decided we would use a hose not approved and use the water for showering, not drinking. I swept up some leaves etc and we came back to the boat. When we got back Lee decided he wanted to clean the water line on the boat and asked me to go get the scrubber stick. Since the companionway was closed and locked I had to get the key lanyard to get in. Unbeknownst to me he had put the motor lock on the lanyard along with the keys and when I took them off the jerry can the lock fell in the water. Neither us went swimming for it, it did not float. We also lost a kneeling pad but it did float and we retrieved it in the dinghy.Three things in one day!! Think we need to have a net on board.

Haven't tried the solar shower yet. Thought I would wait til bedtime. Almost afraid to cook dinner might blow up the boat or something. This is a lovely place to be, pretty scenery, clear water, protected from the winds. Looks like we might be here a while cause Chris Parker, weather guru, said this morning that this weekend was not going to be a Gulf Stream crossing time.  We will keep listening and see if he changes his mind.  We can get fuel at the marina fuel dock close by, water at Bill's, access to a vehicle if we need. Sounds better than Dinner Key to us.