It was an easy night, as I worked until 3 or 3:30 before starting my 25-minute dozes. There was absolutely no shipping traffic where I am, because I dipped into the indent by a few miles whereas they do a straight line from several miles off Isla Cedros to several miles off Mag Bay. So no worries all night. Like always, though, while barreling through the sea at 7 knots(which doesn't seem fast but definitely is), the biggest concern is just all of a sudden *hitting something* that would stop the boat cold, like a shipping container, a whale, etc.... And of course there are the long lines and shrimp pot lines that could get wrapped around the prop shaft and potentially pull the shaft right out of the boat, creating a massive hole. All just scare stuff, and very unlikely especially far offshore, but still, it makes me hold onto the hand holds even when not heeling at all.
So, despite my fuel gauge being on 1/4, I just checked with the dipstick and it's nearly half full. Still, I'll fill up in Turtle Bay via the panga service if it's running. The "panga service" is where some guy comes out to you in a panga ask how much you want, then he goes to the fuel pier, gets it in a tank and offloads it right there at anchor. There is an old pier, but it's a pain to tie up to (you have to Med-moor to it). Single-handed, I'll see if the panga is available, for sure. I suppose it's because I don't keep a good ship's log, but I still don't really know Chemistry's fuel / distance capability. My estimate has always been that I burn about 1 gallon/hour at around 2400 RPM, but I see that gauge get down to blinking 1/4 (which means it's almost on "reserve" and just can't believe my assumption (and the dipstick measurement) that I still have say 40 hours of fuel left - nearly half the tank. Someday I'd like to actually track that just so I'm sure. It hasn't really been a problem - it's just laziness I guess.I look around and boy... what a mess. Not just Chemistry, but me, too. I haven't done laundry in two weeks and I wear the same sweats but swap between three different sweatshirts every night. I haven't shaved or showered since the freshwater issue popped up again. I'll have to do something tonight at Turtle Bay, as this is getting pretty uncomfortable. Of course, I'm speaking just of maybe getting enough hot water together for a shave and a sponge bath (and digging around for some fresh clothes that will still be warm enough at night as I get colder more north; Turtle Bay will have almost no services whatsoever, and I'll be happy with some food. There may be a southbound yacht stopping over in Turtle Bay, but I'm about the only one in the world heading north right now. So a New Year's Eve celebration in a crowded cantina is unlikely, also. That's fine with me - I'd like to just get some sleep and get out tomorrow early for Isla Cedros and possibly even cross Bahia Viscaino if the weather says "go." However I manage it, though, I'll end up waiting in Ensenada until Monday when the Port Captain's office (and the other services - Customs / Immigration) open again. Which means that I'll probably be leaving Monday as early as I can - probably 10-ish, getting to San Diego around 7pm and waiting again until the next day to check back into the States.TT
