A B.E.E.R cruise story; funny now, not so much then

[brackish]

In early June the Admiral and I towed to Pensacola and did the Backwater Environmental Escape Rendezvous cruise.  After Launching I was packing the boat stuffing duffels here and there trying to get everything properly stowed, somewhat disgruntled with the volume of stuff Admiral Sheri seemed to think was essential for a four day cruise.  During the process I happened to notice a red plastic clip on the cabin sole.  It kind of looked like a hair pin or clip, so I asked Sheri if she knew what it was.  She said no, but I still suspected it was hers so I put it up on the shelf thinking that its origin would surface later and promptly forgot about it.

The evening of the last day of the cruise I'm in the cabin gathering the things necessary to prepare supper which will be grilled on the Magma.  Sheri is in the cockpit.  I pull the cooler out from its place under the companionway steps and in doing so slide forward on the starboard settee to make room for it.  As I sit back down in an instant the cabin is filled with a cloud and I'm covered with white powder.  I yell and Sheri looks in and starts to laugh uncontrollably.  We found out where that little red clip came from.



Fortunately I had not opened the cooler, so it was only me and not the food that got covered with bicarbonate of soda and whatever else they put in those things.  Cleanup was challenging, particularly with that laughter coming from the cockpit.  Currently considering a new location for the extinguisher.  You'll notice I now have it turned so the safety clip cannot be snagged and pulled out inadvertently.

[Billy]

I knew where you were going as soon as you said "red clip".

My wife pulled it out of my extinguisher and it is the kind that snaps (breaks) when you remove it so it will not stay in its place now. One of these days I will be cleaning out the inside of my cabin too! Maybe I should get a rubber band or something to keep it in.

I'm sorry but good story!