WtB Stage II

Winterizing the Beach is done for 2011. 

You can still go out for a day or two but if old man winter hits us with a one-two punch we are ready; no frozen pipes for us!

Papa and I were supposed to pick up G&G this morning for a day trip to the beach. Sadly Grandpa called to say their heater wouldn't come on so they'd called a repairman and needed to stay home. Bummer. 

(The good news? The repairman had them up and running and toasty warm before days end.)

Papa and I found ourselves once again riding the ferry on a gorgeous fall morning. The water was crystal clear, the Olympic mountains were brilliant white snow-capped peaks set against a sharp blue sky and our 40 minute wait on the Fauntleroy dock was pure relaxation. Ahhhhhh the perks of heading to paradise.

We swept all three roofs.
There are more leaves yet to fall...if we get to them GREAT. If we don't at least Jocelyn and I won't have such hard jobs next spring :)

We winterized the pump.

Red in-line valve closed; check. Pipes wrapped; check. Antifreeze poured; check. Buckets of water filled for flushing toilets; check. The pump is shut down for the winter; yup!

The pump, the holding tank and all pipes are wrapped in insulated materials that will withstand oodles of cold. Next spring when it is time to open the red valve and let the poopy water once again flow to the poopy toilets all we have to do is unwrap the pump. The holding tank and pipes can remain covered indefinitely. Clever new winterizing system, don't you think?

Pump is covered in a white insulated blanket lightly secured with black duct tape (so it is easy to remove). Pipes are covered in black insulated foam secured with lots of turquoise duct tape (so it will last a long time).

Holding tank is covered in a white insulated blanket secured with lots of turquoise duct tape (so it will last a long time) and bungee'd  to the wall (so it doesn't fall down, of course).

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The boys dock looked askew; a closer inspection revealed that it was just fine. The 12 ft tide was allowing the dock to float free while the logs securing it in place remained grounded in the sand.   

I love this dock for reasons too numerous to name. But I really love it at a super high tide like today. It just looks different when surrounded by water; so substantial and real...and I know the hands that built it :)