Boat stuff!!

Blogs have been a little behind, but here's some updates on what we've done this summer in Grenada. Dennis spent over 2 weeks installing the SSB (for you non-boaters, that's a single sideband radio), and we've been able to talk to Chris Parker, our weather guru, in southern Florida, and then our friends, Bill and Pat on Mobetah, up in Pensacola. That was a MAJOR project. Running copper, an antenna ... just too much stuff for me to remember ... just remember Dennis spending a lot of time in the bilge and lazerette and handing tools! Better he than me!

The new head was installed while Taylour was visiting and she got to see all those challenges. She promises us when she's rich and famous she'll buy us a bigger boat with a flush toilet. None of this 20 pump stuff.

Before we left to go home Dennis was busy building shelves. The lumber down here is amazing! Not seen anything like it. I put a coat of Cetol gloss on everything and we have tons more room. No photos, but I took all the finish off the cockpit and did teak sealer instead of Cetol. Just got tired of lines wearing the gloss off right after I'd put it on. Did sand down the bow sprit and trailboards, putting 3 coats of Cetol light and 3 of gloss. Hope it lasts at least 6 months. Finally found some calm seas and Dennis helped hang on to the boat while I did the woodwork. Made a big difference.

This is our family wall, and the top sculpture is by our nephew, Dean Coon. He does amazing welding work. We loved this piece as soon as we saw it. When we get his site, we'll add it as a link.

In the meantime, cheers and enjoy life!! ~~~_/)~~~~

Now ... down to work!!

We still can't believe how fast the time went with Taylour on board. Her last morning she got up early (7 a.m.) for eggs and toast; a swim in the pool with Jenny from Opus; back to the boat for some jewelry making; then, tears, time to go. As I said, she was wonderful, we loved having her with us and miss her very much.

Taylour and Jenny making jewelry

There she goes, she's leaving us~

Unfortunately, it's now time to get some serious boat chores done. Well, first off, the most important thing was taking the dinghy into the Carenage to The Best Little Liquor Store to stock up on wine. Yeah, who can believe that? Getting out of this slip at Pt. Louis Marina scares me to death, since we're tied sideways between 2 boats that aren't. Junior, the Dockmaster, was wonderful. With some help from shore with the lines, and Junior towing us midships, we were off and running. Well, then we had to avoid the large tanker coming into the lagoon. Pulled over by the beach, raised the dinghy and off, back to Prickly Bay where we can swim off the boat and, most importantly, do laundry!

The costume Carnival was held on Saturday, after it was cancelled on Tuesday due to rain. We took the bus downtown, walked around, took photos, then back to the boat to swim. It's been so, so hot.

I'll post photos soon on the Picasa Web Albums.

Well, we've spent the 3 weeks since Taylour has been gone between Clarke's Court Bay and Prickly Bay. In that time Dennis has had MAJOR projects. I think it took over 2 weeks to install the SSB radio (that's single sideband) since there were so many components to install. First the radio itself - take out a drawer, install by the chart table, put the drawer face back in and put the trim around the radio. Then, running the copper was real fun, and after that, the tuner. Let's just say, the poor man has bruises everywhere, and spent 2 weeks either in the lazerette or with his head down in the bilge. It's working now though. Although, the first day we went to test it, we tuned into the Coconut Telegraph on SSB 4060 to see if anyone could hear us. Since it's summer and everyone is pretty well in place, the only boats checking in were from Clarke's Court Bay, 3 bays away!

All of the installations are a challenge, and then stuff just breaks! A couple of major water leaks. The hot water hose for the shower sprung a leak. Luckily, I caught that right away and we only lost about 15 gallons of water. Then it was time to fill up, so Dennis carted water, 25 gallons at a time, back and forth to the boat, humping cans up onto the deck to fill up - did that 4 times! We are so careful at conserving water, and then the cold water hose broke and emptied everything but 10 gallons before I caught it. You know, we have a bilge pump alarm and I kept wondering why he didn't have it turned on! It's back on again now. Turn around 2 days later and repeat the process. And we wonder why our backs are sore! I've spent the last 4 days stripping all the Cetol (varnish) off the cockpit area, sanding, cleaning, and decided I'm going with teak sealer this time. So far, so good. Another coat of Cetol on the bowsprit and trailboards, then 4 coats of gloss, and that's done. Just need no waves to do that. Next project is stripping the jerry can boards, and then cleaning the floors below. I don't think this ever ends!

I'm hoping to leave here at the beginning of October, at the latest, to head to Blanquilla, the Roques, Bonaire and Curacao. I'd really like to be in Columbia by the beginning of November. We'll see. ~~~_/)~~~

Back to Grenada

After the rain squalls passed we picked up anchor and sailed the windward side of Carriacou down to Isla Ronde, a small group of islands just north of Grenada. Who knew there were so many reefs on the windward side of Carriacou that extended so far out? Wow! Dodged rain all day, and ended up motorsailing with the rain curtains up. Made being able to see a tad difficult, but we stayed dry. Decided to give Taylour her Gravol instead of the ginger tablets, only because we were worried about the seas being choppy. Not a good move. While she did sleep, she woke up groggy and cranky - so not herself!! It took her till dinnertime to feel normal again, and then her cheerfulness was once again back full force.

The best thing was, for the first time since we left the Bahamas, Dennis caught a mahi mahi. At four feet long, a real nice one! Taylour was our good luck charm. Once it was on board the rain came down hard and we had to hover off the island for half an hour before we could see to get in to anchor. Kind of rolly, and thought about heading down to Grenada, but with Taylour feeling, as she puts it, kind of poopy, we decided to let her watch movies on the computer and put up with the roll. Put the dinghy in the water to explore the island a bit, but not too much to see. Would like to have snorkelled, but the weather just wasn't co-operating. We didn't have a good enough hook to put a bridle on and the roll got worse through the night. I was close to waking everyone up at 4 a.m. to leave since there was a full moon and we could have left with no problem. Up at 5:30 and moved Taylour to the setee to sleep while we picked up anchor and left. She slept great underway, I made her pancakes for breakfast and she was happy once again. With leaving nice and early, we were anchored in Prickly Bay, on the south coast of Grenada, in time for a swim before lunch.

We spent 2 days in Prickly Bay, enjoying swimming off the boat whenever we wanted. Then headed back up to the Lagoon into Pt. Louis Marina. They had a great deal for Carnival - spend 2 nights, get the 3rd free, plus 5 free Carib every day. That did it for Dennis. Pulling in was challenging! We had to go sideways, and we don't have a bow thruster. It was interesting, but Junior pushed our stern with his dinghy and we didn't end up with our bow in our neighbor's cockpit! At least we had one extra person to help with Taylour on board. She wishes us luck leaving. Thanks!

Once again, pool and showers and a short walk to town. No need to take a bus in to see any activities. Taylour is a fish, so we spent lots of time in the pool! We arrived Sunday, and J'Ouvert started around 3 a.m. Monday. Lots of loud music, people painting, etc. Taylour did roll out of bed at 5 and we saw the end of it. I loved it, I woke her up and Grandpa got the dirty looks because he told her she could sleep any time, this was a once in a lifetime thing. We watched for a bit, electing not to walk downtown and get painted along the way. Back to the boat, I made eggs for breakfast and Taylour went back to bed. Dennis and I went down to the pool. It's so hot in the marina. Being out at anchor is much nicer!

Met Mike, Linda and Jenny on Opus (Jenny is 12) and the girls had a great time together. We went down to the Monday night Mas for some dancing and parading and took Jenny with us. We took a lot of our glow sticks with us and the local kids really enjoyed it when we shared. We went back to the boat and the girls watched a movie. This is killing us, they stay up way past our bedtime! Unfortunately it rained heavy off and on all day Tuesday, so the costume parade was cancelled. We did manage to get some pool time in between the showers. Can't believe Taylour is leaving already. Where did that time go? ~~~_/)~~~

Taylour in the Tobago Cays

Up early and actually sailed. I wasn't happy that Dennis put up the Yankee (the big jib), and we were over much more than I was happy with and, wow, what a first experience for Taylour. Gave her ginger tablets and the wrist bands and she was okay. Sailed by Union and Palm Islands, and then had to motor into the south anchorage of the Tobago Cays. The Park Rangers were waiting to collect their fees, and I have no problem with that. There really is a difference since we were here 2 years ago. Putting in the mooring balls and blocking off the beach access in a few places has made a great difference in the turtle population.

Wonderful snorkelling in the Cays and Taylour and I actually saw a small shark swimming in the shallows. We were really hoping that mama wasn't close by! Saw tons of turtles.

Decided that instead of exploring some of the close islands, we'd take the boat over to Petit Tabec (where they filmed some of the Pirates of the Caribbean). Well, for me, at the helm, it was challenging. Deep, shallow, deep, shallow, lots of reefs! Good lunch spot. Walked the beach and actually found 5 sea beans - 4 hamburger and a purse. Taylour doesn't realize what a great beach walk that is!!

Picked up anchor after lunch and sailed over to Petit St. Vincent. Another place we haven't been in our 4 years down here. Loved it so much, we stayed 2 days. Weren't real impressed with Petit Martinique, and it wasn't quite the provisioning place that Doyle's guides made it out to be. But, lots of great swimming and snorkelling around PSV, which we loved!

Now, back to Grenada! ~~~_/)~~~

Again, our photos are in the Picasa Web Albums on our side bar.