Day 293

It'll hold. I double-checked the splice and torqued the bolts to spec. If the crane loads heavy, the sistered planks'll take it.

walk to the cottage and grab the torque wrench from the workbench, then return to the dock to recheck the mooring ring bolts at 35Nm.

Dinghy's clear. I'll fire the Yanmar at load, confirm the cylinder head's sealed.

walk to the dinghy, untie the stern line, pull the starter cord, and run the engine at half throttle for five minutes while watching for vibration or leaks.

Bracket's still off true. I'll shim the starboard mount.

shut down the Yanmar, grab the metal file and shim stock from the tool bag, and shim the starboard engine mount on the dinghy transom until the shaft spins true by eye and hand.

Good. Planks next. Two forward of the cleat. I'll sister them before the boat rounds the point.

walk to the cottage, grab the longer stainless through-bolts (10mm x 150mm) and the three salvaged sound dock plank cores, then return to the dock and sister the two rotten planks to the stringers with the through-bolts and washers.

Radio check at eleven. If they're not on the horizon by one, we batten for a blow.

walk to the cottage porch, pick up the shortwave handset, and call the supply boat on Channel 16 for an ETA.

Kevin — walk to the workshop bench, pick up the cylinder head and new gasket, begin reassembly with torque wrench set to 35Nm.

Two are shot. One's gone. I'll use the recovered bolt and the bronze sleeve trick on the flange — even load, no stretch.

Continue reassembling the cylinder head, threading the housing bolts by hand first, then applying torque in three passes: 15Nm, 25Nm, 35Nm, watching for resistance.

It's seated.

Complete the final torque pass on all housing bolts, double-check alignment, then set the cylinder head aside for engine reinstall.

Limpets in the pot?

Wipe hands on rag, walk to the cottage door, pause to check the barometer on the wall — 999 hPa, steady — then head for the dock with the bronze sleeve, oak wedges, and heavy wrench.

Watch the step. Plank three's still soft.

Kneel at the mooring ring, clear salt and grit from the mortise with a wire brush, test-fit the bronze sleeve, then drive it home with the mallet until it bottoms out.

Kevin — lift the cylinder head with the hoist line and lower it onto the Yanmar block, guiding the studs home by feel as the dinghy rolls

Kevin — torque the cylinder head bolts in sequence, three passes to 35Nm, checking each click

Agreed. Two inches between cells, minimum. And we'll run the fan on low over them nights — if the generator holds.

pull out a chair and sit at the table, picking up the tweezers to separate the tomato seeds first

Fingers for tomatoes. Tweezers for the basil — those are dust.

pick up a tomato seed between thumb and forefinger and place it in the center of an empty cell, then reach for another

Half a centimeter. I remember.

press the seed into the soil to the right depth, move to the next cell, and repeat, working down the row without looking up

Lime the untreated beds today. Water it in deep. We'll transplant the tomatoes next week if the boat shows.

finish the tomato row, wipe fingers on a rag, and stand to stretch the back

Running her at load now. Want to watch the tell-tale?

walk to the dinghy at the dock, lift the engine cover, pull the starter cord to fire the Yanmar, let it warm at idle then engage forward gear to load the prop against the mooring lines

Tell-tale's solid. Let her run.

stand at the tiller, throttle up to cruising RPM, hold the dinghy against the reinforced mooring ring, watch the temperature gauge and listen for vibration

Feels clean. No harmonic shake.

ease back to idle, let the engine tick over a moment longer, then kill it with the decompression lever, secure the cover and step back onto the dock

Limpets are ready. I'll bowl them.

follow Jenny toward the cottage, open the door, step inside, hang my jacket on the peg by the stove, lift the pot lid to check the limpets, then move to the table to dish them out with the skillet and a spoon

Corned beef fat carried them.

spoon limpets and broth into both bowls, set the pot aside, pull out the chair opposite Jenny and sit down, pick up my spoon

Fat was fresher. Less salt.

eat steadily, sopping broth with a chunk of bread from the supply boat crate, wipe the bowl clean, push it back and lean back in the chair

If the crossing holds.

pour the last of the tea from the pot into both mugs, set the pot on the trivet, wrap my hands around the mug and watch the steam rise

Storm's moving faster than I liked. Going to secure the dinghy and the generator.

Walk down to the dock, check all dinghy mooring lines and chafe points, tighten the forward spring and both stern lines, then grab the canvas cover from the porch and lash it over the generator housing.

Northwest corner's loose again. I'll bring the sandbag from the shed.

Run to the garden shed, grab the sandbag, and jog back to stake down the loose corner of the heavy-duty tarp.

Generator's next. I'll have it covered in two minutes.

Jog back to the porch, throw the canvas over the generator, and secure all four corners with the bungee cords I keep looped on the frame.

Right. Running a line over the top instead.

Grab the coil of half-inch rope from the porch rail, throw it over the covered generator, pull it tight across the center, and secure both ends to the porch posts with clove hitches.