Yesterday and today Dave worked and Melissa went hunting through Ketchikan for various project supplies we need.
Inspired by Joint Decision’s preparedness when stranded in their dingy, Melissa decided we needed an emergency kit in the dingy. So she went on the hunt for: a spare prop, prop wrench, cotter pin, fire starter, emergency blankets (those thin metallic type), flashlight, leatherman, and bug spray. To this we added from existing stores sunscreen, protein bars, water, a flare kit, and dinghy patch kit. So we are all set should we hit a rock with the prop, or get stranded. We just need to remember to grab the first aid kit, handheld radio, the GPS locator, and the life jackets when we hop in to go somewhere!
Determined to get a fingernail job done, Melissa went on the hunt for a nail shop. She found several. However, all of them were like “we can get you in a week from Tuesday”. Hmmm. Not like Seattle where there is a nail shop that takes walk ins on every corner right next to every Starbucks. Must not be enough competition. One shop mentioned a place called Michaels that they thought accommodated walk in traffic. Ok, so Melissa starts hiking in the direction of Michaels, and found another shop along the way that also said they could not take her. Melissa said “that’s ok, I heard there is a place called Michaels in the mall that takes walk ins, I’ll keep going that direction”. To which the woman in the shop said conspiratorially, “You just need to be careful. I mean you have to ask for a new nail file, you know?” Melissa is staring at her with this puzzled expression trying to figure out what she means exactly. So the woman elaborates, “Well, they are oriental you know.” Blink. Blink. Finally the light dawns. Melissa was so stunned by the prejudice that she didn’t think up any suitable retorts for several blocks down the street. Dang it. Michaels did a great job. And the place was filled with locals getting pedicures. Made Melissa wonder if maybe the prejudice was borne of fear of the competition.
One of the pesky problems we’ve been facing is a leaky portal over the master state room bed. Right over Melissa’s head. Drip. Drip. Drip. Dave is convinced the problem isn’t the portal seal (which we have a spare for) but instead is actually leaking through the hinges. The hinge parts are on order in Seattle and have been for months. Maybe when we pass back through in August we will be able to get the parts to do the repair properly. Meanwhile, Dave laid down a blue tarp over the portal. It poured rain and no drips! This had the added advantage of making the bedroom dark - which given that there are only a few hours of twilight and almost no true dark at night was making it hard to sleep. But now we look seriously like white trash. So Melissa found some canvas and a snap tool to make a less white trash version of Dave’s tarp.
There is also a TruValue here that has great plumbing supplies. Dave was able to find the parts to put in the bypass valve for the filtered water. So Melissa now has full pressure cold water for rinsing hot pasta and vegetables. Yeah!