Day 44

Garboard Holds, Storm Arrives

Dawn found them on the dock. Kevin watched the barometer; Jenny sketched tide pool succulents as the water rose. "High tide in twenty minutes. Patch test then," Kevin said. "I'll have the morphology sketches done when you get back," she replied. He rowed to the kelp beds. She stayed, drawing.

At morning light they met again. The epoxy on the starboard garboard had cured sixteen hours. "Is it set yet, or is it still giving you?" Jenny asked. "Set. Hard as the hull now." He floated the dinghy. "Stay low. Watch the seam." "Dry. Not a drop." "Good. Let's get back before the rain starts."

But the barometer kept falling. By midday Kevin monitored it at the dock while Jenny braced gusts on the north cliffs. The storm broke as they reached shelter. Kevin had tested the patch — dry — but humidity had slowed the cure. Jenny opened the waterlogged crate: salt-blurred tins, intact, and new rope.

Evening. Rain drummed the roof. Kevin had spent afternoon at the old shrine watching tide and pressure. Jenny sketched sea beet morphology, then the shrine stones' weathered texture. Her notebook blurred when rain leaked through the cracked bedroom window.

Night. Wind rattled the door. Kevin struggled to secure the dinghy in rising chop; the new stern line slipped. "Inside! Now!" Jenny called. "Right behind you." He checked the tank: four hundred litres, full. "Coffee first. Then we log the tins proper." "The barometer is dropping fast. 998 and falling." "Barometer's been dropping since noon. Nine-nine-eight now. Wind'll back southwest by morning, bring the real wet." He hauled the bad rope to the shed. She latched the door. He went back out into the oilskin hood and rain.

Scenes

the dock · dawn

The Morning Tide

Kevin and Jenny sit on the dock planks as the dinghy rocks gently with the rising tide. Jenny sips coffee while sketching in her notebook while Kevin watches the barometer needle on the wall.

Kevin rows the dinghy out toward the kelp beds to check the water conditions while the tide is in. Jenny stays at the dock, meticulously sketching the tide pool succulents in her notebook as the water begins to rise.

🔧 Kevin16:14

High tide in twenty minutes. Patch test then.

walk to the dinghy, untie the painter, and push off into the rising water

💭 thought

Tide's coming in clean. Barometer steady at 1001 — front's holding off. Good day to test the garboard patch. Dinghy's afloat enough now. Need to get her out and under load before the supply boat window closes.

🌿 Jenny16:16

I'll have the morphology sketches done when you get back.

(Jenny closes her notebook with a soft thud and watches the dinghy bob away from the jetty)

💭 thought

He's so focused on the schedule, like the tide is going to stop if he watches the clock.

🔧 Kevin16:17

Back before lunch.

row the dinghy out past the kelp beds toward open water, settling weight on the starboard garboard to test the epoxy patch

💭 thought

She's steady. Good. The sketches can wait — the patch can't. Need to row out past the kelp beds, put weight on the starboard side, see if any water weeps through. If it holds, the dinghy's one step closer to seaworthy. If it doesn't, better to know now.

🌿 Jenny16:18

Don't go too far into the current.

(Jenny stands up, wipes graphite from her hands, and walks to the edge of the dock to watch him)

💭 thought

If he pushes too hard own soon, the epoxy will own and we'll be sinking again.

🔧 Kevin16:18

Not planning to.

continue rowing steadily out past the kelp line, shipping the oars once clear to drift and observe the starboard garboard at the waterline

💭 thought

Current's slack at high tide. Half a knot at most. I know these waters. She doesn't need to worry — but she will anyway. That's the job.

🌿 Jenny16:20

The barometer is still dropping.

(Jenny leans against the dock post, squinting against the glare to track the dinghy's drift)

💭 thought

The water is getting dark there, I hope that patch actually held against the salt.

Open this scene on its own page →

the dock · morning

Morning Day 45

Kevin and Jenny meet at the dock as the sun begins to rise. The epoxy on the garboard is finally ready for inspection.

The epoxy patch on the starboard garboard passed the water test with no leaks, but the sky is darkening and the barometer is signaling a drop, forcing the pair to cut their morning work short before a storm sets in.

🌿 Jenny16:21

Is it set yet, or is it still giving you?

Kneels on the wood, pressing a thumb lightly against the

💭 thought

The humidity was still so high; if this is tacky, the whole patch is going to peel by winter.

🔧 Kevin16:22

Set. Hard as the hull now.

crouch beside her at the garboard seam, press my own thumb against the epoxy patch, then tap it with a knuckle to test the ring

💭 thought

Epoxy's hard. No give. Thumbnail doesn't mark it. Good cure.

🌿 Jenny16:22

Don't push too hard yet, let the air finish.

Runs a finger over the edge of the patch, checking for any remaining grit or soft spots.

💭 thought

way. If I can't trust the boat, I can't trust the island.

🔧 Kevin16:24

Air's had sixteen hours. Tide's high now — that's the real test.

stand, wipe salt off my hands on my trousers, reach for the painter to pull the dinghy alongside the dock for the water test

💭 thought

She's right — full cure takes air time too. But the patch held the tent heat, held the humidity off. It's done.

🌿 Jenny16:24

The barometer is dropping again. We don't have long.

Closes the notebook and watches the water lap the dock pilings.

💭 thought

If it holds under the pressure, I can finally focus on the sea beet sketches.

🔧 Kevin16:26

Then we test now. If it leaks, we'll know before the sea gets rough.

shove off from the dock in the dinghy, pull myself aboard, and paddle slowly out into the channel to float over the starboard garboard seam, watching for bubbles or seepage underneath the hull

💭 thought

Barometer at 998 and falling — front's moving faster than yesterday. We've got one high tide window before the chop comes up.

🌿 Jenny16:27

Stay low. Watch the seam.

Leans over the gunwale of the dinghy, eyes fixed on where the epoxy meets the wood.

💭 thought

If the water gets through that, I'm stuck on this rock with a broken boat.

🔧 Kevin16:28

Dry. Not a drop.

hold the dinghy steady with the paddle braced against the bottom, let it settle fully in the water, keep watching the garboard seam for any sign of seepage as the hull takes weight

💭 thought

Water's clear enough. Patch sits clean — no bubbles, no weep, no dark stain spreading at the joint. Epoxy's holding.

🌿 Jenny16:28

Good. Let's get back before the rain starts.

Pulls the paddle and steers the dinghy back toward the dock.

💭 thought

It held. Maybe I can actually breathe today.

🔧 Kevin16:30

Aye.

step onto the dock as the dinghy kisses the pilings, tie off the painter quick, then head for the cottage to check battery voltage and fire up the Yanmar if needed

💭 thought

Patch held. One less thing. Rain'll hit within the hour by the look of the sky. Batteries still need the Yanmar run if they're under 12.8.

Open this scene on its own page →

the dock · midday

Approaching Storm Front

Kevin is at the dock while Jenny is at the north cliffs as the first heavy gusts pick up.

Kevin monitors the falling barometer at the dock as the wind begins to pick up from the west. Jenny navigates the northern cliffs, bracing against the increasing gusts while the tide continues to recede.

🔧 Kevin16:32

Kevin — walk up the path to the cottage to check battery voltage and fire up the Yanmar for a charge cycle.

💭 thought

Rain's here earlier than the barometer suggested. Front's accelerating. Need to get the Yanmar running before the batteries dip further and secure the dinghy properly — if the wind shifts southwest it'll pile waves against the jetty.

🌿 Jenny16:39

Jenny — brace against the wind and start walking back toward the cottage

💭 thought

I should get back to the cottage before the rain hits.

🔧 Kevin16:40

Kevin — open the waterlogged crate on the porch and inventory the tinned provisions and rope.

💭 thought

Yanmar's running smooth, batteries taking charge. Rain's hammering the roof now — proper squall. Should check the crate inventory while the engine runs its cycle, kill two birds. Waterlogged rope's a write-off but the tins might be sound.

🌿 Jenny16:42

Jenny — step inside the cottage and shake the water off my jacket

💭 thought

The rain is coming down now, I need to check the seeds again.

Open this scene on its own page →

the keeper's cottage · afternoon

The Storm Breaks

The first heavy drops of rain hit the dust as you both arrive at the shelter, the wind howling through the thatch eaves.

Kevin tested the garboard patch by floating the dinghy, but the high humidity prevented the epoxy from curing properly. Jenny opened the waterlogged crate, discovering intact salt-blurred tinned goods and new rope.

🌿 Jenny16:47

Inside! Now!

Run toward the cottage doorway, rain already stinging my face, reaching to pull Kevin inside by the sleeve.

💭 thought

The rain is coming down harder now—Kevin's voice cutting through the wind like he's trying to shout over the storm. I can hear the roof leaking somewhere.

🔧 Kevin16:47

Right behind you.

run toward the cottage doorway, pulling the door shut behind us and throwing the bolt

💭 thought

Front's here faster than the barometer said. She's moving — good. Follow her in, secure the door, check the generator shed latch on the way past.

🌿 Jenny16:48

Check the tank. We need to know how much.

wipe the water from my eyes with my forearm and walk toward the wood stove, looking for dry wood to start a fire.

💭 thought

Finally, shut. But the sound of the rain on the roof is deafening. I'm shivering to the bone.

🔧 Kevin16:48

Four hundred. Full. I'll light the stove.

walk to the rain tank at the back wall, read the gauge, then move to the wood stove and start laying kindling and small splits from the dry stack

💭 thought

Tank was full at 400 litres this morning. Rain's only been falling hard for minutes — won't have changed much. But she wants numbers, not guesses. Give her the reading, then get the stove going.

🌿 Jenny16:52

The barometer is dropping fast. 998 and falling.

way at the kitchen table, open the notebook, and start sketching the sea beet morphology from the leaves I gathered earlier.

💭 thought

At least the water is there. The humidity is going to settle in my joints. I need to sketch that sea beet before I lose the light.

Open this scene on its own page →

the old shrine · evening

Evening Meal Prep

The rain continues to drum on the roof as you gather at the kitchen table to process the new finds.

Kevin spent the afternoon at the old shrine observing the rising tide and noting the drop in barometric pressure. Jenny focused on her botanical studies, meticulously sketching the morphology of tide pool succulents in her notebook as the air grew heavy with humidity.

🔧 Kevin16:56

Coffee first. Then we log the tins proper.

wipe down the corned beef tins with a rag, check each seal with a thumbnail, then set them on the table to inventory

💭 thought

Six tins of corned beef and a sealed jar of coffee. The rope's salt-ruined but the tins held. That's weeks of protein and something hot that isn't boiled seawater. Good haul for a crate the sea spat out.

🌿 Jenny16:57

The tins are dry. But the air is getting heavy.

reaches for the notebook and traces the sketch of the sea beet with a thumb.

💭 thought

He's so focused on the inventory he hasn't noticed the barometer dropped again.

🔧 Kevin17:02

Barometer's been dropping since noon. Nine-nine-eight now. Wind'll back southwest by morning, bring the real wet.

unscrew the coffee jar, sniff the seal, then set it aside and pull the notebook toward me to add the crate count

💭 thought

She's reading the barometer in her bones. Front's sitting on us.

🌿 Jenny17:03

Then we need to get the rope out of the way before the tide comes.

picks up a pencil and begins sketching the weathered texture of the shrine stones on the margin of the page.

💭 thought

Nine-nine-eight. The island is going to open up before I finish that patch.

🔧 Kevin17:07

I'll haul the bad rope up to the shed. Keep the good coil dry in the tarp roll.

grab the crowbar, lever the waterlogged crate fully open, then scoop the degraded rope into a bucket and carry it toward the woodshed while Jenny sketches the shrine stones

💭 thought

She's right. Salt-rotted line won't hold a dinghy, and high tide's due in ninety minutes. Better to stage it dry than watch it float off.

🌿 Jenny17:09

Don't leave the bucket in the rain, the wood will rot.

stops sketching and looks at the empty tinned mackerel tin, feeling her stomach growl.

💭 thought

He's right about the rope; the salt is already eating the fibers.

Open this scene on its own page →

the keeper's cottage · night

The Storm Breaks

The first heavy drops of rain hit the corrugated roof as you meet inside the kitchen. The wind picks up, rattling the door in its frame.

Kevin struggled to secure the dinghy in rising chop and failed to properly tension the new stern line before the knot slipped. Jenny's sketching was interrupted when rain leaked through the cracked bedroom window onto her notebook, blurring the sea beet morphology drawings.

🔧 Kevin17:11

Rain's setting in. I'll tie off the dinghy proper and check the aerial. You get the door latched tight.

Pull on oilskin jacket, grab the coil of new half-inch rope from the shelf, and head out the porch door toward the dock.

💭 thought

Front's here. Barometer was right. Need to secure the dinghy and check the radio aerial before the wind gets serious.

🌿 Jenny17:13

Jenny — latch the kitchen door tight, then take the notebook and pencil to the bedroom, sketching the tide pool succulents from memory as the rain drums on the roof

💭 thought

I should have planted those seeds earlier. The rain will soften the soil, but it will also wash away the hope I’ve been hoarding.

🔧 Kevin17:14

(nothing — already outside, rain hitting the oilskin hood)

Walk down the path to the dock, coil of new rope over shoulder, assessing the dinghy's mooring in the rising chop.

💭 thought

Good, door's secure. Dock lines need checking — old stern line's suspect. New rope's in hand. Dinghy first, then aerial if the mast holds.

🌿 Jenny17:15

Jenny — sit on the edge of the bed, listening to the rain against the stone walls while sketching the salt ` on a sea beet leaf.

💭 thought

The barometer is dropping too fast. If the wind shifts to the north, that dinghy will be a liability against the rocks.

Open this scene on its own page →

What changed

The supply boat came.

supply_arrived · dawn

3 intentions for today.

plan · dawn

×2

starboard garboard epoxy patch: 20%.

project · dawn

shortwave radio check on Tom's frequency: 20%.

project · dawn

starboard garboard epoxy patch: 30%.

project · morning

shortwave radio check on Tom's frequency: 30%.

project · morning

The rain tank gained about 25 litres.

weather · morning

Kevin and Jenny ate.

meal · morning

A fish run is moving through the shallows off the dock.

fish_run · midday

starboard garboard epoxy patch: 40%.

project · midday

The rain tank gained about 25 litres.

weather · midday

Jenny made a sketch: "Sea beet morphology from the leaves I gathered earlier".

made · afternoon

starboard garboard epoxy patch: 50% (stalled).

project · afternoon

shortwave radio check on Tom's frequency: 40%.

project · afternoon

Jenny made a sketch: "The sea beet with a thumb".

made · evening

Jenny made a sketch: "Weathered texture of the shrine stones on the margin of the page".

made · evening

Kevin made a sketch: "Shrine stones".

made · evening

Jenny made a sketch: "Nd looks at the empty tinned mackerel tin, feeling her stomach growl".

made · evening

starboard garboard epoxy patch: 60%.

project · evening

shortwave radio check on Tom's frequency: 50%.

project · evening

The rain tank gained about 25 litres.

weather · evening

Kevin and Jenny ate.

meal · evening

Jenny made a sketch: "Tide pool succulents from memory".

made · night

starboard garboard epoxy patch: 70%.

project · night

shortwave radio check on Tom's frequency: 60%.

project · night

dinghy mooring ring on dock is loose in its mortise; shifts under load

discovery · night

bedroom window frame has a hairline crack at the lower corner; leaks in driving rain

discovery · night

The rain tank gained about 25 litres.

weather · night

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a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.