Dodge RAM 1500's +EVR gas nozzle stuck in gas fill

 With or without towing an RV - driving in the US can be a challenge. Perhaps one of the most frustrating situations occurs in California for owners of Dodge Ram 1500's (2015-19). These poor folks (yours truly included) can spend up to an hour trying to pry, twist or pull the gas nozzle out of their fueling port each time they stop to fill up at a station using EVR gas nozzles. Those are the ones with a hard rubber bellows covering the nozzle (designed, they say, to prevent the escape of unwanted vapors). These nozzles are used throughout southern California and perhaps other places too.

That happened to me twice... and then I got mad... mad enough to figure out what the problem was and how to fix it.  The problem wasn't the angle of the gas fill neck (as discussed in the owners' forums) and it wasn't just bad luck. Seems the top of the fuel fill neck (on 2015-19 models) has a lip and the rubber EVR nozzle catches on that lip when you try to remove it after filling up. Determined to never get 'stuck' again, I experimented with a few possible solutions and came up with a simple to use and easy to store fixer. I call it the RAMJAM BUSTER.

No more hours spent in blazing heat or pouring rain trying to pry the gas nozzle out with your fingers or a screw driver. No more missed appointments and no more angst as you try to find a gas station without the confounding EVR gas nozzles.

If you, or anyone you know, has a 2015-19 Dodge RAM 1500 and would like to know more about this fix - please contact me at ramjambuster@gmail.com.  Thanks.

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PS: As you've probably figured out, we're back from our camping trip.  While the trip did not unfold as we had envisioned, all parties are home safe and sound.  We're now in 'fall mode' which involves preparing home, gardens and toys for the upcoming fall and winter.  And, yes, we're going to head south again... and looking forward to it. Bye for now.. CJ

Sweet mornings

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Ahhh, peaceful evening

But it didn't start out that way. We started the day by deciding to flee our neighbours in our previous (and initial) site. She seemed OK; he was also ok but had to use a collar, a leash and a heavy shoulder harness to try to control their 100 pound, one year old, totally unsocialized (to the point of terrifying poor Maddie) large male (Grand Pyrenese)canine. Very unpleasant.

Luckily the new 'dry' site (which means no power or water) we were moving to on Friday was available today so we opted to move early.

There began the trials and tribulations of what could have been simple but grew more complicated by the minute attempt to situate dear Lucy (the trailer) with a perfect view at the same time as she would be easy to pull around and tow out when the time came.

That is NOT what happened! Let me just say that one and a half hours of too ing and fro ing (with 4-6" to spare in either direction), some not so gentle language, and reminders of how important a sense of humour is at times like these… we finally dragged poor Lucy out of the conflagration we had accidentally created and then backed her into place. Now, how hard was that!

Just realized I forgot to mention.., we're camping at Cumberland Lake for a week and hoping to dust off our fly rods. 'Nuff said.

Hope all is well with each of you and your sense of humour is in tact and ready to face any challenge. Ttfn. CJ

Miracles do happen …

 Picture this if you dare...  we've just arrived from a lovely day-sail (the first from our 'new' slip which is another story).  It's been a great day and we're unloading the boat; Kathy handing things off and I on the dock receiving and stacking them. As I lean down to pick up a bag I notice something sparkling up at me in the water. 'What's that? I ponder as I watch it descend.  THAT was when I noticed my bare naked baby finger on my left hand.  The very finger I'd left my irreplaceable, gold and engraved, one of a kind, just had it fitted so I could start wearing it.... retirement ring! To say I was devastated is an understatement, particularly as I watched it sparkle and twinkle its way out of sight as it disappeared into the depths below our boat (about 30' deep and dark). 

There was nothing I could do.  There was no one to blame.  The odds of ever seeing it again were 'slim to none'. Between tidal changes and the related currents AND the silt and slime all over the bottom of the bay, there was no way I'd ever see it again. Yes, I was devastated, may have even shed a tear.

Well, the end of that day (two days ago) was ruined and I slumped home with a very heavy heart. I did leave a message for our diver (Terry) and of course, being a long weekend, he wasn't home. Now, with another day gone (with four separate tidal changes in each 24 hours) all hope was lost.  BUT, to his credit Terry did return my call late last night (Tuesday) and agreed with me there was very little hope... but, he would come to the boat this morning at 0800.

I met him there, and as he donned his scuba gear we both agreed, there was no way the ring would be recovered.  I showed him exactly where it had gone down and that I recalled there was minimal current at the time but, if it had drifted, it would have drifted towards the boat and not under the dock.  

He was only down there two minutes.  He surfaced and called to me to come and bring steady hands.  YES, he had found it! He said it sparkled at him as soon as he got down there and it was only about 18" from where it had gone in. So, I might have leaked a tear again and I thanked him profusely. We both agreed this was a day to buy a lottery ticket (which I have done). 

So, my friends, I can only conclude that Miracles Do Happen! and I have had the good fortune to be the recipient of one; a miracle I will never forget. While I'm not sure if I'll try wearing the ring again, I will cherish it for life.  That's my story for today. Thanks for letting me tell it.  I am a happy girl !

PS:  a photo of the 'sparkling' ring is below, or above depending on where my computer decides to put it,

Hope you are all having good days, some with miracles, and enjoying our warm late summer.  CJ





Sent from my iPhone

We sailed, we swam, we sweltered, we're home...

The Salish Sea is a magnificent body of water, and for my entire sailing life (since I was two, according to family photos) it has posed a challenge in at least one direction on every Strait-crossing cruise. I tell you this in the hopes you will understand how glorious it was to cross the Sea heading home from Pender Harbour... with both sails full and pulling, the sea a calm 1' chop, the wind a comfortable Nor' Wester and our course on one tack the whole way to Nanaimo. We averaged 6 knots under sail; the sun was shining and the sky was a brilliant blue. It was the best crossing in my memory and our grins ran from ear to ear. Even Maddie settled down and went to sleep. 

 We crossed the Sea on Tuesday the 26th and, after a short stop at Newcastle Island we joined an armada of boats heading through Dodd Narrows on the 28th. We headed to a small anchorage near Ladysmith with hopes of staying there a couple days but it was so HOT we headed home early. It was 80 degrees inside the boat and the draw of the heat pump/air conditioner at home was just too strong to ignore. Besides, our little anchorage was filling rapidly with boats coming in for the long weekend and it was only Thursday. 

We usually cruise to Desolation Sound during May or June. This year we decided to go in July and looked forward to warm water swimming, etc. Perhaps it was the relaxing of Covid restrictions or perhaps it's just been the passage of time, but I must say I have never experienced such full anchorages and boat captains who were not always courteous or considerate. Don't get me wrong, we still had a good time. Re-connecting with old friends was, perhaps, the best part of all. As well, we met nice folks along the way and we did get lots of swimming in - just not in the full anchorages (we have a few hidey-holes we keep for ourselves :-). 

It's good to be home and out of the major heat. The good ship SSpirit (that's short for Shannon's Spirit) is biding her time at the breakwater of the yacht club while one of the docks is being repaired. We hope to move into our new slip sometime in the next couple of weeks. We'll be back out on the water for shorter cruises during August and into the fall. 

 In closing up this leg of our journey I just want to say thanks for coming along for the ride. It's always good to know that folks are enjoying the stories and, for some, enjoying reliving their own cruising history. We'll close with a few photos of the last portion of our trip and wish you all a splendid 'rest of summer'. Stay safe and stay well. 

Adios for now. CJ and Kathy and Maddie.

Update 4,372… or thereabouts

 Hi all,

Well, we’ve rounded the corner. After another few, beautiful days in our secret location (where we confirmed it was indeed a young male wolf we had spotted when last we visited) and really enjoying the privilege of walking the island trails (granted to us last year by two and now four of the owners) it was time to turn our nose(s) south towards home.

The only wrinkle we are dealing with is wee Maddie who woke up one morning and said “I’m not sure I like it when the boat’s moving”. We’re working on that but it does have it’s challenges. She and we will persevere. 

We came down as far as Pender Harbour today (for a short grocery shop and shower and then gone again). The NW has been kicking up quite vigorously and we hope it will calm down soon.  Tomorrow morning (early) we hope to make it across to the south end of Texada Island (Anderson Bay) if the winds and seas permit.  We’ll spend either one or two nights there and cross the Straits when it will be the most puppy friendly.

We will likely head into the Gulf Islands for our last few days.  We expect to be home by July 31. 

We’ve met lots of wonderful folks and been, yet again, awed by Mother Nature’s beauty. We are so very glad to call the coast of British Columbia home.

Hope all is well with each of you and your families.  Best  CJ

OOPS: it’s now Monday morning and remember “plans written in sand below high water”?  Well, there’s a little rubber doodad carefully placed in the heads system (read that as toilet system) that has a very important job. This little bit is called a Joker and ours is apparently failing.  We’ll be staying at Pender Harbour for another day while I change it out.  Besides, it’s still blowing pretty hard out there.  Hopefully we’ll get away tomorrow and be back on track.

Catching up on route…

 Here it is Thursday, July 21st already.  It’s 0830 hrs and we’re preparing to leave Beach Garden Marina at Grief Point.  We had a fabulous two days at Tenedos Bay and, before that, a couple nights in Laura Cove.  I must say that Desolation Sound is far more busy in July than in May (our usual month of choice for this cruise). “Yah well Duh” you might say and you’d be right.  Suffice to say in explanation… we were looking forward to warm-water swims as opposed to teeth chattering, mind numbing, cold dips.

In my youth, sailing with my parents I would follow my mom into the water every day in the Gulf Islands and Howe Sound. She wasn’t crazy but she would dive in head first; so of course I did too. Until, one day, when my head it the water and it was so cold I thought my brain was going to explode!  From that day on I would do a lumbering stride jump (I wasn’t all that graceful) as I accompanied mom on her daily swims.

Fast forward to today, just a ‘few’ years later. Unless you can convince me the water is at least 65 degrees for the first two feet, I do the Gulf Island ladder dip. This is the manoeuvre (taught to me by a small dog years ago who didn’t like to swim but needed to be cooled off). Step one: lower a swim ladder of some sort.  Step two: being appropriately attired, slowly work you way down the ladder in stages..stopping to allow your body to cool down, and keep going until your torso is suitably submerged and the temperature is slowly adjusting.  Then, and only then, step free of the ladder and carry on swimming. It may take a little longer but the “Fun to suck” ratio is much improved.

Back to my update.  We leave Beach Gardens this morning and will be ‘off the grid’ in our favourite anchorage south of here for a few days. You know the one so I won’t name it lest the hoards of boats and people, currently advancing on Desolation Sound, think they should stop there.

Our plan after that is a short stop in Pender Harbour for groceries and then to start working our way across the Salish Sea. We hope to stop in either Anderson Bay or Sunset Cove before crossing.  That’s enough for now.  A few photos follow. (Credit to Anne & Dick - SV Full and By)

Laura Cove 

Our anchorage in Tenedos Bay

Lower Unwin Lake - a short walk from Tenedos 

A nice swimming spot on Unwin

A quick stop to check out the creek after our swim

Tenedos Bay

At Deb & Ian’s in Lang Bay - tired out after an afternoon play date,
Maddie shares the couch with her buddy Jerry,