Moving on up 🎵🎶

Unlike our experience “walking the plank” to access the boat at the service yard last year, here we are completely out of the water, supported on blocks and stanchions, in the dirt (or “mud”, depending on the day). Which has led to questions as to what it’s like in our “deluxe apartment in the sky”? Ah, Mr. Jefferson, you had it so good!

In our case, to get on the boat, we have a sturdy set of steps with handrails. Nice! The top step is approximately two feet below the swim platform, so the process is to climb the steps to the top, grab the swim platform staples (thank goodness we have staples), plant one foot up on the swim platform, and hoist yourself up. Boatyard bonus: an upper body workout!

The view, while not picture postcard pretty, could be worse. At least it’s predominantly nautical.

As you can see in the photo of our steps, we have an extension cord to supply power, so we’re all set for some seriously nice glamping, right?

The problem with glamping aboard the SaltyMare? When we’re out of the water, sure, we have fresh water (330 gallons that can be refilled with two long hoses), and the waste tanks hold almost 100 gallons (need to be selective and use the yard’s bathroom). BUT! IT’S SUMMER and we have no air conditioning. That’s right, NO AC! Again, its summer! IN the sun. IN southern North Carolina. UGH, and muggy? Shoot, sorry no words. But we are seasoned island cruisers, right? No problem. We stuck it out for the first few days and nights… made it almost a week!

…seeking solace where possible.

Whenever we ran errands, “someone” insisted we check every aisle in whatever store was involved. Yes, the AC is nice, but how many times can we look at every aisle in Food Lion or Costco without starting a game of bumper carts with the rest of the crowd?

It became abundantly clear that, for our sanity, we needed a solution. Hehe. Eagle-eyed captain had spotted something, so back to Costco we went.

First, we walked every aisle (snicker) with our treasure secured in the massive cart, then we headed home smiling.

The first night, like two sweaty, delirious nerds. Oh wait, we are that! Anyway, we excitedly rigged up our purchase in the master stateroom.

Aaaaah. Good Lord! Below 85! A decent night’s sleep. Oh, happy day! Err, night, actually.

But…

…high humidity and AC… the beastie needs to drain, so in the morning, we had to come up with another plan if we wanted to continue this newly rediscovered joy of sleeping in comfort. (It only cools the bedroom. We don’t want to talk about the temperature in the rest of the boat.)

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, as they say. Other side of the room! Sorry, Honey! Into the head it goes, so it can drain into the shower pan. (Taking one head out of commission will necessitate more trips to the yard’s bathroom. But note the temp! Yeah!)

Desperation created that improvisational platform (necessary in order for the intake & exhaust hoses to reach the portholes). What could possibly go wrong?
A couple of cardboard cutouts, plenty of blue tape, some sturdy string, and voila! Working AC directed into the bedroom!

With the set-up “complete” (?) (that stand is a little sketchy), someone (okay, Susie) questioned the rain reaching and ruining our finely crafted cardboard/blue tape assemblies. Todd donned his first engineer hat and sprang into action.