A bit of an own goal...
![A bit of an own goal...](/content/images/size/w1200/2023/04/PXL_20230419_221130194-1.jpg)
We've shared many of the beautiful beaches, the swimming pools, waterfalls, and the wonderful spots that we've experienced since being in Grenada.
This post is a bit different - have to balance the good and the bad.
How about changing the gasket on a leaky toilet? (spoiler alert, it still leaks)
![](https://www.bradenanderin.com/content/images/2023/04/toilet-gasket.jpg)
Moving on from the toilet, how about the generator? It's been a heap of problems since we've arrived. Maybe it heard the toilet was leaking, so it decided that the head gasket wanted in on the action - for those non-mechanically inclined - green antifreeze dripping out of anywhere on the engine block itself is a bad sign:
![](https://www.bradenanderin.com/content/images/2023/04/IMG_20230415_135508144.jpg)
Okay, so the toilet(s) and generator have sprung a few leaks - but not to be deterred, let's move to the next project. The marvel of modern technology - the water maker. All seemed to be in working order - but the smell of "fresh" water coming out the end was horrific. First try was to run some sterilizing chemicals through it...which I knew was a fools errand, but off we went. After utter failure, it was time for the real work of changing out the membranes that actually make the fresh water.
![](https://www.bradenanderin.com/content/images/2023/04/bilge.jpg)
The membranes are secured inside tubes that have pressed on end caps. I had read that a vice was required to separate the end cap from the tube - so luckily, Yoto came equipped with just such a thing.
![](https://www.bradenanderin.com/content/images/2023/04/IMG_20230418_091756374.jpg)
Perfect - let's get them apart, change the insides and re-assembly. No issue right?
Well, the water maker had heard about the toilet(s) and the generator and decided to join the party:
![](https://www.bradenanderin.com/content/images/2023/04/IMG_20230419_142619436.jpg)
That's high pressure salt water spraying in a fine mist all over everything in the general area.
Time to come apart again and hunt for spare parts.
Meanwhile, Erin has had some adventures - how about removing an old TV that doesn't work?
![](https://www.bradenanderin.com/content/images/2023/04/IMG_20230419_075234971.jpg)
The new TV looks a little big, but it'll work eventually.
But, back to the water maker. It's now coming apart again - let's keep our spirits up and see if we can fix the problem with our tools and ingenuity.
Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of what lead to the next picture - but I'll try to sum it up quickly. Each tube has an end cap - some of the end caps are harder than others to get off. To get the end caps off - you hold in a vice and turn/pull the end caps off.
After all the leaks, I was a bit frustrated and pulled quite hard on the tube to separate the end cap - unfortunately the tube continued it's velocity upward and into my chin.
![](https://www.bradenanderin.com/content/images/2023/04/PXL_20230419_221130194.jpg)
We went to $1EC wing night tonight and met a fellow who asked about my cut. I explained the whole story to him - and he said, "sure the parts and breakdowns are pretty normal - but hitting yourself in the face over it? That's a bit of an own goal isn't it." And you know what, he's right - painful as it is - it's all part of the required entry fee to do what we're doing - and we're paying the fee. But limiting the mistakes can go a long way to lessen the impact.