The desalination system to produce fresh water for use on the island (e.g. cooking, dishes, showers, cleaning windows, solar panels, power washing etc.) is out of commission. Drinking water is normally brought in but now so is the house water, which is pumped from a large tank on the supply vessel and to the fresh water storage container. With limited water, activities like power washing walkways or buildings are put on hold but the solar panels must be cleaned daily.  Using a brush, bucket of water and a squeegee instead of the water hose to rinse the panels, brings water consumption down to about 4L. To save water in the house, I hold off washing the dishes until the cutlery runs out, about 4 days.

Dishwashing night with views of the gulls and Port Angeles in the distance.

There is a spy glass on the fresh water tank indicating water level in inches. I arrived late in day on May 15th with 16.5″ or 1868 L of water. Today it is at 1806 L, so I’ve done well using about 9L a day. I’ll really blow the budget in 5 days when it comes time to do laundry.  Our top loading washer uses 150L of water!

Today I cleared a path (hand weeding and weed whacking) along the side of desalinator building to the water tank shed. It is the long way around to the shed but once the gulls have chicks, it is the best approach. Staying close to the buildings will protect me from angry diving gulls, I won’t have to worry about terrifying chicks hiding in the grass, and from that direction, I’ll disturb the lowest number of gulls as possible.

Cleared path in front of water tank shed (left) and the desalinator building (right). Soon the area will be full of gulls.

Wildlife notes:

No unusual visitors to the island. The four elephant seals and the pelicans are still here. The gulls are going about their pairing, mating, fighting and nest building.

Facility work

• cleaned solar panels
• topped up battery fluid levels
• weeding

Vessels

• ecotourism: 2
• private: 2

Weather

Sunny, gentle westerly breeze until early evening. Winds forecast to reach westerly 30 in the evening so the flag will be lowered for the night. Daytime temperature: high 11, low 9.