Missing Socket…

…found.

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Sue wrapping things up in Batavia, so I decided to dink around with various minor projects here, one of which was going through my three toolboxes and one big tool bin to rediscover the contents and rearrange the discoveries in a more sensible way, during which process I found the 9/16ths socket which went AWOL a few day ago.
Garden enclosure (apart from wire) finally finished. This kind of thing, surprisingly, takes a lot of time. Along with that, several little boat jobs such as cleaning the trailer light-plug contacts, preparing a painter, and varnishing the cover battens.
Despite the work, no fear of over heating—temperature made it out of the 30s by afternoon, but only by one degree. And, we had a snow shower.

Bright and Dry

Perfect day for working outside, unless you fancy April showers…which we really need.

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Mostly boat work, for me—lubed the bell, nauticalized (no more polypropylene) the trailer tie-downs, installed a jack, developed a non-destructive transport system for the oars, among other things. Objective: quick and easy transport and launch, all in Bristol fashion.

How Do You Explain This?

Well, it’s a long story.

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To begin with—it’s a Chesapeake Light Craft Chester Yawl…yawl in the sense of a workboat attached to a ship, not a sail rig. Sold as a kit, comes from the same company, and is assembled in the same way, as my venerable CLC Wood Duck kayak, which was built in Rockport, what, 12 years ago? Although called a Chester yawl, it is really a Whitehall pulling boat, a design that has been in service since the time of square-riggers. These boats were used to ferry the captain and other officers to shore when the ship came to anchor in a foreign port. Best rowing boat ever designed, if you exclude racing shells.

This one was built in Sheboygan by a retired doctor, a meticulous and painstaking craftsman, though not much of an outdoors person. Beautifully made, with several custom flourishes; a work of art, designed for water but almost never actually touching it.

So, what’s it doing here in Whitewater? With the Covid situation in Ontario going from bad to worse, we had begun to fear that the border would remain shut another summer, and it was getting hard to think of another summer without any boat whatsoever. Sue said check Craigslist for a used kayak, which I did. But instead of a kayak, I found a Whitehall pulling boat, for just about the same price.

The builder turned out to be a nice older gentleman, but a very poor businessman. The asking price, which I paid in full, amounted to less than the price of the kit, equipment, and trailer—and that leaves out the nearly 200 hours of skilled labor that went into construction. I could turn around and sell the boat tomorrow for three times what I paid for it—but of course, there’s no way I would do that. Can’t wait to go rowing!

Strait is the Gate…

…perhaps.

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Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
—Matthew 7:14 KJV

Especially youse deers and runny-babbits, who have done a number on the backyard cedars and the patio garden tulips.

Chilly (actually cold) gray day—but not bad for gatekeeping.

Rhubarb Up…

…but temperature down, and now too cold for spring to make much progress.

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Work continued on fencing in the garden. And, nice chat with a few out-of-country Manitoulin property owners who are all thinking that by mid-summer those of us vaccinated, tested, and in compliance with all protocols should be permitted access to our properties. Here’s a link to a letter (echoing our thoughts) from the Georgian Bay Association.

Sales Meeting…

…with Tom and Mary, at their place in Fort.

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They have sold about 80 copies so far, mostly through their long-established personal networks. Success is inspiring. Per aspera ad astra.

Above, the old water tower in Fort Atkinson—almost as old as the famous Whitewater tower. Fort’s tank was decommissioned some years ago, but water in the Whitewater tower is still flowing through taps in town, including ours.

Sun Showers…

…making for an archetypal spring day.

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And, in the wisdom department…
• The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate.
• Keep looking until you see something.
• If you don’t change directions, you’re going to end up where you’re headed.
 • The trick to success is to know when you have enough and then stop to appreciate it.