Oct 3 - first time out and back

I wasn't sure that we were going to make it on time.

Everyone was up and we agreed upon a 10am boating time. I called NCM to give them the one hour notice required Friday to Sunday. Sandy was the only one who was a little rushed, but not much. Upon arriving, Tara was outside waiting for me with the key card and showed me how it worked. We loaded our stuff in the boat and set out.

The trip was a typical one -- putt putt to the inlet, out to the ocean but this time we headed south as far as Flagler, seeing the beach from the ocean-side. Back and over to the island, we anchored and everyone got out and Abby exhausted herself chasing minnows. Sheryl swam a little and of course Abby joined her. Back in the boat we turned south, but Sandy didn't want to go to SYC for lunch, so we headed north. Our plan was to find the Halifax River Yacht Club and try that. Many of the clubs have reciprocal arrangements with each other and simply send the bill to your home club.

Up past marker 44 we turned in at the marina and asked someone where the yacht club was -- next inlet, he said. Ok ... we continued on but Sandy changed her mind at that point and wanted to go to Caribbean Jack's ... ok. We ate well and headed back. I wasn't sure that we were going to make it before closing but just after 4pm we arrived back at NCM. The boat was lifted out of the water, I flushed the motor and hosed it down and 15 minutes or so later we were on our way. Even though it's still a procedure to clean up, it's a lot easier than using the boat launch. While we drove back we could see the queue at the north causeway launch.

I checked with the lift operator regarding procedure had we arrived late -- do we leave the keys ? -- no, call the next morning and tell us what you want done. They would lift it out for me to clean or clean it for me -- $5 for them to flush the motor. They are close enough that I'd go over and tend to things myself but it's nice to know that they can take care of things. Our spot on the rack is in the middle, close to the building. One of these days I'll be over there and see it on the rack but normally they put it back up after we leave and take it down before we arrive.

We had shrimp for dinner along with beans and rice. Then we watched, I snoozed, Funny Girl. Everyone turned in ... but the night was not without incident.

Around 1:30 Sandy and I were both awake and she commented "it's hot in here" ... ok, I guess that it's not just me. I went and checked the temperature; sure enough it was 80F inside. Oh rats. I checked the A/C outside and the fan was running, but it was blowing cold air. That means that the compressor is not running. I turned off the breakers and turned them back on again -- no change when it fired up again. Rats. I turned down (up) the thermostat and started reading the manual. I moved stuff away from the furnace to see if there were any flashing lights at the control board - no. There is also a control board on the A/C unit but I think that a panel has to be removed to see it.

I turned the thermostat back down to 72F and a couple of minutes late the A/C came back on ... and this time the compressor started up. What gives ? I don't know at this point but you can bet that I'll be calling Joe Blanchette from Tropical Air this morning, Sunday or no.

It's time to go to Mass ...