2200 Wednesday, June 29 - Lupin in Bloom
This morning I spent time with Jesse, a really good mechanic who spent some time diagnosing the engine troubles. The news is not the best. Apparently the engine mounted high pressure fuel pump that supplies fuel to the injectors has failed. It is a part that typically does not go bad very often. I have been in touch with the manufacturer of the engine and their largest distributors. The part is not in stock at the factory, or anywhere else. To get the factory to make the part would probably take at least six weeks. Apparently, people tend not to purchase this part; instead they have somebody rebuild the part. Jesse has found a company here in St. John's that can rebuild it; but, it will also require parts to be shipped in from Ontario. And, all of this is happening during one of the biggest national holidays in Canada, Canada Day. The estimate right now is that it could take one to two weeks for the rebuild. Frustrating...
So, I am going to be here in St. John's for a little bit. Greg and Carl head home to Massachusetts tomorrow and my next crew member, Charlie, is probably going to delay his arrival for a bit.
This afternoon, Greg, Carl and I headed out to Witless Bay, a sea and shore bird preserve 30 miles down the coast. It was the perfect escape from the diesel dilemma for a bit, We hiked a trail along the shore and then sat on rocks gazing out at thousands of puffins, Murres, gulls, kittiwakes and loons. We brought along two pairs of binoculars from the boat and just sat in calming silence taking in the amazing richness of these seas and the birds that thrive upon them.
Bill
