Today was stressful. The diesel generator failed to auto start this morning so I initiated a manual run. It started up and ran but did not ramp up or deliver any power. We have a backup gasoline generator here but unfortunately our current system can only accept one generator. Switching between the gas and the diesel generators requires reprograming various system and inverter settings so I had to call Greg who was off sick. Our fearless leader got himself out here, pushed through the pain and got everything set up. Thank you Greg!

Greg with the stressful job of entering the new presets and limits. Richard and I stayed quiet and kept ourselves busy with other tasks. It is a huge room, with a huge generator, huge wires, basically room for anything you want to put in there and the smallest thing in the room, with a screen so small you can barely read, controls it all!

The gas generator is a beautiful thing, purring away outside the Energy Building.  It will take almost twice as long to charge up the batteries but will save us until Old Faithful gets fixed. I’ll have to keep it running until bedtime. Several technicians are coming tomorrow so hopefully it is a quick fix and not a major rebuild. The new power system (solar panels, lithium batteries, controllers etc.) being designed for Race Rocks will have multiple generator inputs and switching between them will be seamless, we just need to struggle a little while longer!

The backup Honda gasoline generator.

Wildlife notes

It is heart breaking to watch a creature struggle and slowly die. A 3 to 4 week old gull chick has been hanging around the Keeper’s House north porch. I am not sure where it came from or who its parents are or if they are still around. It is much younger than the other chicks in the area and still just growing its wing feathers.  The poor thing has been limping around alone.  I took this photo yesterday when all it could do was move its eye. Today it is gone. It brings tears to my eyes to think it never got a fair chance at life and probably died hungry and scared.

Facility work

• cleaned solar panels
• repaired the electric fence in several locations, only to have them destroyed again. The Jetty is the biggest problem area right now as I need access to greet boats and take the daily sea water readings.
• switching system settings for the gasoline generator
• transferring gasoline to the Energy Building
• oil change on the diesel generator

We have been watching this log on the shoreline for many months but couldn’t retrieve it this spring as there was an oystercatcher nest nearby. On the high tide this evening it floated free. I chased the sea lions off the boat ramp and pulled it in with our very long pike pole. Hopefully it is still there in the morning as we need more fire wood to make it through the winter.

My last task of the day at the high tide before sunset. Hopefully the line on the log will hold until morning.

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 19
• Private: 4

Weather

Partly cloudy. Wind direction variable, calm to 17 knots. Daytime temperatures 12 to 14 degrees.