Capt. SO and I are in the beginning stages of the end of Aqua RVing season. If you have an Aqua RV in a marina anywhere above the Mason-Dixon line you will see this pageant play out time and time again between now and the end of October. Glassy-eyed, grim-faced, depressed-looking individuals can be seen pushing dock carts to and from their vehicles, ferrying items from the boat that must be removed while it is in winter storage. Washing machines are also humming as the bedding is laundered in preparation for either home storage or on-boat storage. All involved have that same haunted look that says, "The fun is almost at an end."
Boat mechanicals are also a point of focus as would-be, self-styled mechanics work to winterize this and that system. Boats usually have several sump pumps, each with a filter that becomes unspeakably 'yucky'-looking after a season and Captains are want to carry them right past the face of their First Mates, saying "See how crudded (my word) up this got?" I personally think these Captains get a secret charge out of the appalled looks that come over the faces of the First Mates.
The contents of storage compartments, of which boats usually have quite a few, come under close scrutiny at this time of year, with Captains everywhere questioning why this or that item is really necessary for the operation of the boat. Invariably the First Mate says 'yes' while the Captain insists he cannot fathom any reason why it should have ever come onto the boat in the first place.
This is not a time of year when endearing sweet nothings are typically murmured in the ears and uttered from the lips of Captains to First Mates and vice versa. This is a time of year when conversations are kept to a minimum with little trivial discussion taking place. It is a serious time of year when Captains are occupied with fine-tuning the art of cramming all of the 'stuff' that needs to go home into over-packed vehicles with suspension systems seriously stressed.
It is good that this 'season' only happens once a year.
Ancora imparo
