I finished reading Ann’s (Ann Vanderhoof) (Receta), latest book
“The Spice Necklace”, last night. I was impressed when she wrote in the book
about her friends that had a dozen calabash bowls that they use for picnics
on White Island (that would be us), but when I reached the end of the book I
found that she even mentioned us by name in the credits. I am feeling quite
famous today but since my copy of her book is an Ebook version it’s
impossible to have her autograph it. When we are all back in Canada I will
have to get a paper copy to put on the shelf next to her autographed
“Embarrassment of Mangoes”.
The minute breakfast was finished, Rick started right into the woodwork in the head. He has the last of the screws and plugs in and as of tomorrow, I think the head will be my responsibility to finish while he moves on to the woodwork in the galley.
We put everything away just before noon and got ready to go to into town. We had a nice bus driver going in, I asked him before getting into his bus whether he was going to drive fast or slow. He assured me that he was in no hurry which is just my speed. We rode the bus all the way to the bus terminal in downtown St. George’s then we walked through the market area first and then the bank and afterwards a store where we were able to purchase a shirt for Rick in the Grenadian colours. Independence Day is next week. We left it a little late for me as there were only skirts left and no tops. I will have to plan ahead next year and maybe even make an outfit.
It was lunch time but neither of us was very hungry so we had a fresh fruit smoothy to hold us over.
We left the market, walked through the tunnel and around the Carenage where we hopped on a bus to Island Water World. There we had one item to return and a few items to purchase.
Our final stop for the day was the Grenada Yacht Club. Jerry (Bloody Mary) is racing in the regatta with a motley crew of our friends from Carriacou. We were there to cheer them on. We ran into Daniela and Cathy having lunch at the yacht club and joined them. Really they had just finished eating and by the time our lunch arrived, they had to leave. They were on their way to Island Water World to pick up parts for Bloody Mary.
Rick and I hung in at the yacht club all afternoon, waiting for the third race to finish and watching for Bloody Mary to make her way into the Lagoon. She arrived with an exhausted crew about 4:30PM. We had just enough time to have a drink with them and then make our way to the Woburn bus stop.
It was 6:20PM when we arrived at the dinghy, the sun sets at 6:35PM so there was plenty of time to make it back to the boat before dark.
After having such a late lunch we chose to have a light dinner onboard.
Sure enough, breakfast was finished and I was given the go-ahead to start applying the Cetol in the head.
Rick moved from the head to the galley where he was again making and inserting plugs in the screw holes.
Everything is coming together nicely but by 3PM I called it a day. We
joined some friends in the clubhouse and didn’t return to the boat until
dinner time.
It was a different day but the same routine. We placed the medicine cabinet in the head (again) and I applied another couple of coats of Cetol and the head is ready to go! As soon at the last coat is dry we can replace the cabinet doors.
I was able to apply two coats of Cetol on the frames of the galley cabinets and the backs of the doors. Rick meanwhile replaced plugs in the main salon wall (back-side of the medicine cabinet).
The work stopped in time for happy hour.
I had arranged another little tour today with Keith as our driver. There
were six of us, Barbara and Winston (My Island Girl) Jim and Pat (Mirus) and
Rick and I. Keith’s van
was the perfect size for six people. This was a custom tour as I just gave
him the list of places we wanted to visit and then we let him decide in what
order we would see each place. First he took us to the T-Shirt factory in
Tempe where the ladies who worked there remembered me, which I found very
special. We made a few purchases and then climbed back into the van
for our next stop which was the Annadale Falls.
The falls were a little busy as there was one cruise ship at dock in St George’s and this is a place the drivers like to bring the tourists. At least it was only one ship and not five which we have seen at times.
The fruit ladies were in Annadale for pictures as was a man with a Mona
Monkey. The spice ladies were selling their wares as well as a guitarist,
and another man with a cooler of cold drinks.
The six of us went for a short hike up the hill before heading for the falls. The views were lovely and the grounds very lush. There were jumpers performing for the tourists and school children. They climb the cliff and jump into the pool at the bottom of the falls for donations.
The school children as well as many adults were wearing clothes with the Grenadian colours (Green, Red and Gold) as this Sunday (February 7th) Independence Day (36 years).
We left the falls and made a quick stop at Grenada Marine where Winston
and Barbara had a package waiting there for them.
Lastly we visited and toured Laura’s Spice Garden. There was a tour guide who walked with us through the garden. She picked the many different herbs and spices for us to smell and taste. We all found her very knowledgeable of the use of the plants in cooking as well as their medicinal uses.
Finally we headed back to the marina. It was 1:30PM and we had had a wonderful morning. We gathered in the clubhouse for a drink together before going our separate ways.
Onboard I was ready for a siesta but I knew that if we didn’t do a little
work on the galley
first we wouldn’t feel up to it when we awoke. Rick removed the masking tape
around the galley cabinets which are finished while I applied Cetol to the
door fronts in the cockpit.
Rick also put the trim on the Nav. so it is also finished.
After the work was done we did have our siesta and awoke just in time to prepare dinner onboard.
It is Friday, or in Clarkes Court Bay, it is shopping day because the big bus arrives to take everyone to Spiceland Mall (IGA).
We didn’t need much but since Monday is a holiday we thought it would be
wise to go and pick up a few items to carry us through to
Tuesday. It is also a good excuse to get our after shopping fresh fruit
smoothy that is sold in the same mall.
We both wore our Grenada colours as the locals are doing. It was fun and we received a few thumbs up and cheers for Grenada as well as smiles. The Grenadians are very proud of their country and their independence and they really appreciate everyone joining them in celebrating by wearing the Grenadian colours.
We were on the first bus back to the marina at 11:30AM. I make a quick lunch and then we both settled in for a short siesta.
Rick finished off the Nav. while I applied another coat of Cetol to the cabinet doors.
It is not only Super Bowl weekend for the Americans there are
some major rugby matches on for the Europeans. All of the marina bars were
announcing which games they were showing on Saturday and Sunday so it seemed
appropriate that I make a large pot of Chilli. Not that we plan on watching
any of the games (we might watch the super bowl commercials on Sunday) but I
had the ingredients and the timing was right.
This was a very busy and exciting day. We re-organized the items from the
cabinets in the head. Rick and I both took turns sanding the main salon wall
and then Rick applied the first coat of Cetol. I applied the last coat of
Cetol to the Galley cabinet doors. We are getting so close to being finished
that I am planning (in my head)
island things to do.
Since the aft cabin is no longer the storage area for the galley or the head, Rick was also able to re-install the hot water heater/heat exchanger for the engine that has been sitting in the cockpit since the welding job was completed.
I received an email from Sylvie today. She was letting me know that the article I wrote The Women and Cruising web site about my EBook reader had been posted. (http://www.womenandcruising.com/blog/2010/02/cruising-bookworm-loves-ebook-reader/)
Wow! It’s strange seeing me on a website other than my own.
We stopped for lunch and then later in the afternoon headed through the
dinghy cut to Phar Blu Marina in Egmont Bay. As part of the Independence Day
celebrations they were hosting an Oil
Down (National Grenadian dish) competition. Cooking preparations would begin
in the early afternoon with tasting and judging between 5 and 7PM. Again we
wore our colours with instructions to Rick, not to slop as he has to wear
the same shirt at least one more day.
When we arrived two of the three teams already had their Oil Downs on the
fire. I told Max, who I later learned was a chef at the resort that I had
come early to help. He quickly walked me to a building at the back of the
resort where the Team “Orange Slice” was still preparing their pot. After
washing my hands, I found
myself, rolling the largest dumplings I have ever seen. It didn’t take long
and the Orange Slice team had their pot ready for the fire. It was so heavy
that a wheel barrel was used to get it to the beach.
We had a fun afternoon and evening, but faded before the winning team was announced. I having a feeling that it will be Max and the “Kitchen Beavers” but I won’t know for sure until the Tuesday morning Cruiser’s Net./p>
This was “The Day”!!! Galley cabinet doors are back on and now it’s almost time to begin cleaning. Everything currently has a nice sawdust sheen.
I put away a lot of items and again re-organized storage areas. Rick
moved outside to work and re-installed the stanchions into the new stanchion
bases. We again have a lifeline on our starboard
side.
I was anxious to use up some celery, bell peppers and mushrooms from the fridge before they became unusable. So a large pot of spaghetti sauce simmered away in the afternoon while we both rested up for the Super Bowl that will be playing on the large screen in the marina club house.
Rick and I both wore our colours (for the last time this year) and watched the game and commercials with a packed house of sports fans.
Rick cleaned inside working from the bow to the stern while I cleaned inside working from the stern to the bow. We met in the middle. The whole boat smells of Pinesol. It only took us until a little after noon to wash the dust out of all the crooks and crannies and the boat now looks wonderfully fresh and clean.
After lunch, I washed the sheets, blankets and towels which I’m sure are full of dust as well. While the laundry was hanging on the line drying, Rick and I both took time for a little siesta.
Dinner was a pleasure to make in a nice clean boat and we enjoyed eating it in the cockpit which is scheduled to be cleaned tomorrow.
We arrived in Grenada exactly one month ago today and it has certainly been a busy month. I announced on the cruisers net this morning that we would have an open house tomorrow for those wishing to see the work done by our counter top people (C.R. Williams & Associates).
I also learned that our Oil Down team (The Orange Slice) won the contest on Saturday.
When the net was finished, I put a couple of loads of laundry in the machines and had it all hanging on the lines by 9:30AM.
Rick on hands and knees, scrubbed the cockpit which has been greatly
neglected this past month.
By early afternoon the laundry was dry, folded and put away. The cockpit was sparkling so we both sat and relaxed.
Kirt (Elusion) stopped by and let us know that he was waiting for our counter top guys who were coming to look at his boat and provide him with an estimate. Kirt and his wife Gayle had stopped by and looked at the counter when we were still in a mess.
Rick was anxious to go for a walk to Clarkes Court Rum factory. Since we are at the Clarkes Court Marina in Clarkes Court Bay it is not a huge distance to the factory.
I chose to remain onboard and finally catch up on replying to a stack of emails which I have left unanswered since we have been working on the boat.
Before lunch I got ready for an open house we are hosting tonight showing our new countertops. The getting ready took all of 5 minutes as the boat hasn’t been this clean in at least a month. There was nothing to do.
We had lunch at the club and then a short siesta in the afternoon.
Most people who wanted to see the galley waited until happy hour at the clubhouse which meant that I escorted each back down the dock to the boat.
Tonight was burger night and the steel pan man was playing in the clubhouse so we stayed for happy hour and the burgers.
I am craving island food and the Friday shopping trip doesn’t get us any
local
vegetables. Friday’s shopping trip is to a North American style IGA that caters
to the university students and expats.
Kirt and Gayle (Elusion) joined us on a trip into town on the local bus. We stopped first at the Fish Market which is right beside the bus terminal. The big fish are running right now. There were Kingfish, Barracuda, Sailfish, Black Fin and Yellow Fin Tuna and Mahi Mahi as well as the smaller snappers and hinds. We bought a huge chunk of Yellow Fin Tuna (enough to make 8 large filleted steaks) and enough Mahi Mahi to provide four fillets. All fish in Grenada is $3USD per lb.
After the Fish Market we went to the large local Grenadian fruit and veggie market. Getting into the market was like running a gantlet! There were three cruise ships at dock today so all of the tour operators, taxis and spice ladies and were pushing their wares.
Once we made it passed the spices to the food area, we were no longer bait. I spent almost nothing and purchased pumpkin, christophene, plantain, sweet potato, yam, callaloo, papaya and three bags of Ceylon mangos.
I am ready to cook island style again meanwhile when we returned to the boat I warmed up some chilli that I had in the freezer while Rick cleaned the fish.
Dinner obviously was onboard tonight, we had some sesame tuna, bacon and onion callaloo and cinnamon and brown sugar pumpkin.
I saved a few veggies for another day.
It’s Friday and the shopping bus arrived at 10AM. Rick and I went with a
short grocery list for just a few items. I don’t know want happened but we came
back loaded with more food. The fridge is over flowing and we are going out
tonight so none of it will be cooked today.
We took time for an afternoon siesta to be in good shape for tonight’s trip to Gouyave.
Our taxi driver said that he would pick us up at 5:30PM by the Oasis Bar (Clarkes Court Bay Marina Clubhouse). We were there a little after 5PM and at 5:45PM I called him to see where he was. He had been and gone by 5PM. He apologized and came back for us and by 6PM we were on our way up the east coast of the island to Gouyave.
The town closes off two streets every Friday night for their Fish Fry. Fish
and sea food is available in every imaginable dish from pizza, barbecued, stir
fried and stewed etc. Rick and I first shared a lobster stir fry where we had to
first choose our lobster. While waiting for the stir fry we enjoyed a fried bake
(very light textured, fried dough). We had a tough time eating all of the stir
fry but we had to continue on. At another booth we shared a shrimp Kabob. Later
we had a little fried
plantain. When we could eat no more, the drummers started drumming and we were
entertained for a while. It was finally time to stroll back to our taxi who had
agreed to meet us at 9PM.
Everyone was so full that there was very little talking during the hour long drive back to the marina. We got out of the taxi and we were making our way toward the dock when from the clubhouse I could hear the Canadian National Anthem.
I thought that the Olympic opening ceremony would be over by the time we
returned but to our surprise, it was just starting. We were able to watch it
until all of the athletes and completed their entry but by then it was almost
midnight. We hated to leave but I could tell that the staff was anxious to
close. Sure enough, about 10 minutes after we walked out, the doors were closed
and the lights turned off.
After a nice breakfast, Rick had a job to do. We discovered that there is another little leak in the hot water tank. We want to make this tank last the season. The only time we really need it is when the engine is running as it helps to keep the engine cool like a radiator. Our solution this time is to add a shut off valve on the intake side of the hot water heater tank so that we can shut off the water flow and therefore there would be no pressure to cause the leak to worsen. It is a very tiny leak at this time so if we only allow the water in the tank when we are using the engine we should be fine for a couple more months.
Rick filled the gas tank in the dinghy which we hope to use a little more next week.
After lunch we went over to the grass and shade by the clothes lines and Rick sat in a nice comfortable chair while I cut his hair. One wouldn’t want to jump into the water in this bay so when we were finished, he went for a quick shower in the marina washrooms.
It is Saturday night pot luck at the marina and we are grilling our nice mahi mahi. I prepared a fresh mango salsa to eat with it. I fried up a huge platter of sweet plantain to share and it was a hit.
There was a nice size group at the pot luck; however many didn’t come ashore because the bay was quite rough today.
We had a nice evening and stayed until a little after 8PM and then left with everyone else.
We are really bad! It is Valentine’s Day and neither of us did anything special. Rick did make me poached eggs for breakfast but as everyone knows, that’s because it’s Sunday. I sent him a Hoops and Yoyo e-card but he didn’t see it until late in the afternoon because I was on the computer for most of the day.
In the afternoon Rick began work on the new curtain valances. They are turning out exactly as I imagined and even better. I will consider them my Valentine’s gift.
After dinner onboard we went up to the clubhouse where Miss Kitty had baked Valentine sweets. I thanked her for covering for us. Rick had a chocolate fudge filled cup cake with ice cream and a strawberry.
We are both into window dressings today. Rick worked on the valances and I began cutting and ironing the curtain fabric. I knew that I wouldn’t get them sewn today but I was hoping to finish the ironing and pinning.
Well in the middle of the afternoon we had a dinghy flotilla attached to the side of the boat. Steve and Susan (Loon) who are visiting with Dave and Carol (Overstreet) and Tom and Cindy (Havana Good Time) were all marina (bar) hopping. So we joined them in our bar (Oasis) and caught up with cruiser news. Some of these people we first met back in early 2002. Steve and Susan have since sold their boat and are Dirt Dwellers back in the States.
We returned to the boat for dinner and I must thank our friends Ann (Vanderhoof) and Steve (Steve is the official taster), for her Seared Tuna , with cocoa crust recipe. I fried the last of the plantain, reheated the callaloo and the pumpkin then quickly seared the tuna. I think the meal took a total of 10 minutes to prepare and Rick wouldn’t stop with the oohs and aahs until his plate was empty.
We were up and ready to go early this morning. Keith the taxi driver picked us up at 9AM from the marina and took us to the Sugar Mill round-about. There we got onto a local bus into downtown St. George’s. When we reached the bus terminal we got on another bus which goes to the town of Sauteurs at the far north end of the island. The bus ride from St. George’s to Sauteurs was wild. I felt that we were on an out of control roller coaster ride. The driver was a wild man however we made it there in one piece.
Our friend Pam (Night Owl) who has a beautiful guest house within walking distance from our other friends Margot and Malcolm picked us up as Margot and Malcolm’s car is in the repair shop. We visited with Margot and Malcolm to see the house we are going to be staying in for a couple of weeks next month. It’s a gorgeous place, with a wonderful view and we are looking forward to it.
The six of us had a nice lunch together and caught up on a few years worth of
not seeing each other. Before we knew it, it was time to head back into town to
catch the bus back to St George’s. We waited for the bus at a favourite rum shop
and as each bus came by, I interrogated the driver as to the speed he would use
(fast or
reasonable) on the way back. We finally settled on one driver who in the end was
not near as bad as the earlier driver but not worth tipping.
At the bus terminal, I asked the next bus driver if he would take us all the way to the marina. He agreed for an extra $5EC each. It was a good deal and much cheaper than a taxi so we were back onboard the boat a little after 7PM. It’s about a 2 hour trip by bus from one end of the island to the other.
It was another relaxing, fun day.
We had a light breakfast knowing that we were going out for lunch.
We dinghied over in some pretty choppy seas to Le Phare Bleu Marina. Our first stop was the little mini market there where we purchased some hot out of the oven homemade bread. Next I had to find Dieter or Lynn who we were to see about volunteering to help with the South Grenada Regatta which will be held at the end of the month.
Everything was finished and we were ready to meet our Canadian friends Bill and Hughette for lunch except it was much too early. We sat in the lounge area and enjoyed a fruit punch while we waited.
Our friends arrived right on time and we had a very pleasant lunch and afternoon.
It was late afternoon when we returned to the boat. There was time for a very quick siesta before joining our friends in the clubhouse for happy hour. It was burger night with live entertainment but we returned to the boat, having had too much food at lunch to eat again.
Back to work! First we had a nice breakfast of eggs and the homemade bread we
purchased yesterday. Then I continued with making the new curtains while Rick
worked on the valances. He actually finished the valances in the afternoon. I
began sewing and was able to complete quite a bit but I still have at least
another days worth of work.
We put everything away and changed to go over to Le Phare Bleu. There was a meeting of the South Grenada Regatta volunteers at 5PM. They treat their volunteers very well, providing never ending appetizers, drinks and of course the Regatta T-Shirt.
We were one of the first to leave after the meeting but since we had the opportunity to make it through the reef before dark, we took it.
It was Friday morning which has now become our shopping day. We had a quick breakfast, shower and listened to the cruiser’s net.
The bus arrived at the marina just before 10AM. It was a busy day. We got off the bus before Spiceland Mall and did a quick shopping at CK’s which is more of a discount store. The more of something that you purchase there, the better the discount you receive.
The bus returned for us and we loaded our purchases but rather than board the bus we left and walked along the Maurice Bishop Highway to Ace Hardware. Rick had his shopping list for the hardware store and when we finished with that, we walked back along the highway and took a local bus to IGA at the Spiceland Mall.
I didn’t need many things so we quickly raced up and down the aisles and checked out with barely enough time to get our fresh fruit smoothy at the other end of the mall before 11:30am and the first bus trip back to the marina.
I thought we had made pretty good time this morning. The groceries were all put away and we were eating lunch when the second bus load of shoppers returned to the marina.
In the afternoon, we had a siesta then I continued to work on the curtains until 5PM when we went to the clubhouse for happy hour and spaghetti night.
There was a cruisers flea market at Mount Hartman Bay this morning and
although
we don’t want or need anything we went anyway. I think most cruisers attend flea
markets for the social aspect not to buy or sell.
I did however buy a new (used) set of fins, the price was right and they fit me.
We joined many of our friends for a cold drink before returning to our boat.
I gathered a load of laundry and put it on to wash before starting to make lunch. I set the timer and as soon as the load was finished, I returned and hung it on the line to dry. Low and behold! As I turned to walk back to the boat, the sky darkened and looked as if it might rain. It hasn’t rained in more than a month and the hills are brown and dry so although I know the island needs some rain I would prefer it wait until my clothes are dry.
It was not to be, we had three little rain showers in the afternoon however the wind was strong enough it didn’t really affect the drying time. A couple of hours later everything was ready to come off the line.
It was pot luck night at the club house and I had bought some lovely looking pork loin chops which I put to marinate for a couple of hours. We also purchased a couple of large bunches of broccoli, which with a cheese sauce, made a dish for us to take and share.
Sunday, no surprise, we began the day with poached eggs.
Rick wanted to put a coat of Cetol on the companionway louver doors and I wanted to finish the machine sewing of the curtains. I finished my tasks and he finished his but afterwards, he went back out to strip and scrub the thin pieces of wood above our ports which we call eyebrows. Everything was done by 1PM at which time we had a choice of having lunch or going to play dominos. Rick chose lunch.
We were both in need of an afternoon siesta and although short it was good. Before we knew it, it was time for happy hour.
I called Claire, the laundry lady that did our laundry years ago. Yes, she was still doing laundry and her husband would pick ours up in the morning and return it tomorrow.
Once I had the laundry in bags and up to the clubhouse, I could sit and
finish the hand sewing of the curtains. By a little after noon they were all
hung and the sewing notions were put away. I am not taking on any more projects
this season while here in Grenada. It’s almost time to play. Rick wants to apply
just a few more coats of Cetol on the eyebrows and companionway doors.
Meanwhile, I hadn’t given lunch a thought and Rick was complaining about being starved. In the fridge I found the makings for Chinese food so we had a late lunch or early dinner because no one was hungry later.
The veggie lady stopped by in the afternoon and I was able to purchase some lovely tomatoes, cucumbers, papayas and melons which have been scarce in the stores lately.
Oh no! We are going into town this morning and I gave all of my “going-to-town” clothes to the laundry lady yesterday. I don’t normally wear shorts in town especially in Grenada because the ladies are very modest and careful as to how they dress in town. However, there are a few cruise ships at dock today and hopefully; I will be identified as a cruise ship passenger rather than a yachtie.
We took the local bus and got off by Island Water World where we had an item to return. When we left there and were walking towards town, we ran into Bram who is our mooring neighbour in Carriacou. He sold his catamaran and his sailboat last year. In fact Sherwin bought the sailboat. He has just purchased a sailboat (Delphi) and is back cruising.
After talking with Bram for a while we continued on to the police department where Rick picked up a temporary drivers licence.
Our timing wasn’t the greatest, a cruise ship had just dropped it’s passenger’s in the Carenage and we were in the midst of all of them. It helped with the disguise but for the most part they were wandering aimlessly.
We eventually made our way around the Carenage to the museum where there was an arts and craft show today in the courtyard. The show was very disappointing as there were only four to five tables of artisans and it was mainly island jewellery.
We left the museum and went to the grocery store by the bus terminal. This is a fairly new grocery store and we had never been in it. We had a few items on our list so we grabbed a cart and went aisle by aisle. The shelves were well stocked and there was a good variety of items but we will probably never do a full grocery shopping here because of the location and difficulty returning to the boat without using a taxi which would eat up any savings from the lower prices.
Walking along the sidewalk by the grocery store we ran into another friend from Carriacou, Hutch (Jim Hutchison). He is anchored in the next bay to us and was just in town shopping.
Next we stopped at the market and picked up a dozen Ceylon mangos. I will
keep eating them as long as they are in season. There is not a lime to be found
anywhere. Limes are for a short period, out of season.
With no more shopping to do, we made our way to the MNIB (Marketing & National Importing Board) where if we get there before all of the nurses, we can have a fresh chicken pie. When the nurses from the hospital take their lunch break, the line up for chicken pies in the MNIB is almost out the door.
It was perfect timing! The pies had arrived but the nurses hadn’t. We ate our lunch on a stool in the MNIB.
It was a short walk back to the bus terminal but on the way, one of the ladies selling spice necklaces to the tourists saw my bag of mangos and asked if I would give her one. Instead we did a trade. She gave me a spice necklace, I gave her a mango.
I checked with the bus driver before climbing aboard and he assured me that he would drive at a reasonable speed. This interrogation of bus drivers seems to be working well as he did drive at a comfortable speed.
Back at the boat, we had a siesta. At 3PM I suggested that we make papaya smoothies as our afternoon treat. Rick hated using so much of his ice but relented and we had nice thick, refreshing smoothies.
Bob was launching his big power boat when we were on our way up to the club house for happy hour. We remained on the dock for a while so that Rick could help Bob with the lines. The reason he was putting his big power boat in the water was to help a 60+ foot sailboat that was aground on a mud shoal in the centre of the bay. When he got to their boat they refused his help as Grenada Marine was already there and evidently had been for most of the afternoon (hourly charges?). We had missed most of the excitement because we had been in town in the morning and then asleep in the afternoon. As the sun set and the sky darkened, the boat was still there.
Claire arrived at the clubhouse with our nicely folded clean laundry just
before 6PM. Her son and husband were in the car with her. Her son is now seven
years old. Claire was still expecting him the last time she did our
laundry. It sure didn’t seem that long ago.
While in the clubhouse I received a call from Steve (Receta) who is now up in St. Lucia. When I told him of the excitement he was missing here in the bay with a ship aground, he told me of their excitement. A large (6 year old) container ship sank last night between St Lucia and St Vincent. Of the containers onboard, 40 broke loose and were afloat. Containers can be extremely dangerous for boaters because as they start to sink they will float for a long time just below the surface of the water and not be visible. They usually sink any boats that hit them.
Meanwhile, back in St. Lucia, one of the containers floated very close to shore. Local boats tied to it and maneuvered it with their small boats, as well there were men on top of the container using paddles, they were able to get it ashore. Then it was a free-for-all! They got the container open and it must have been full of food items. After everyone helped themselves, there were jars of sunflower seeds floating around in the bay. I guess that sunflower seeds are not a popular item with St. Lucians.
Many boats were calling the coast guard all day with container sightings. Of the 40 containers, 13 were still unaccounted for.
So there was excitement everywhere today but Receta’s was much more exciting than ours. I just hope that they find the missing containers soon.
With all projects completed, we spent the morning cleaning the boat. Rick vacuumed while I washed and we were finished before noon.
In the afternoon we read and had a siesta.
It was burger night at the clubhouse so we joined everyone and had a fun evening with the pan man entertaining us.
We planned to spend quality time with each other today but we couldn’t decide where we wanted to have this quality time together.
Finally, the decision was made to go by dinghy to Hog Island. It was a Thursday morning and we had the whole island to ourselves. There wasn’t a lot of shade on the beach but we settled down with our towels and books under the bare branches of a tree. Eventually we were feeling sandy and hot but we didn’t really want to swim off the beach, so we got back into the dinghy and went back under the bridge and across the bay towards Le Phare Bleu Resort. On our way we stopped to tow Phil and Roxanne (Roxie) who’s outboard engine had died.
At Le Phare Bleu, we picked up some hot focaccia bread from their mini mart
to take back to the boat and then sat by the pool with a cold drink from the
bar. The staff was busy
setting up the different activities for the regatta this
weekend. Eventually we went for a swim, ordered lunch and then had another swim
before returning to our dinghy for the ride back to the boat. The winds
have settled down a bit and the return trip was enjoyable.
We got more sun today than we have in a couple of months so it was time to go below and have a nice siesta in the shade.
It’s Friday, shopping day. We boarded the bus which arrived early at the marina and while I went to Spiceland Mall to grocery shop, Rick hopped on a local bus and continued into town to the police station in the Carenage to have the dates on his temporary driver’s licence corrected.
We both finished about the same time. He met me at the checkout counter in the grocery store. We loaded the groceries onto the empty bus and went to get our smoothie before returning to the marina.
I put a load of towels and bathing suits in the washing machine then began putting the groceries away.
The clubhouse was serving fish and chips tonight but we were looking forward to dinner onboard. A recipe that Barbara (My Island Girl) gave us for chicken thighs with rice has become one of Rick’s favourites, so that along with some nice fresh broccoli is what we had for dinner.
After dinner we joined the crowd in the clubhouse that had come for fish and chips and ended up staying until the end of the Olympic women’s curling finished. Canada was so close to gold but after a tied game and another round (or whatever it is called in curling) we finished with silver. It was still very exciting.
Today was the first full day of the South Grenada Regatta. Our shift as volunteers for the Pirates Trail didn’t begin until noon so we took our time getting ready in the morning but still left early so that we could watch the shift before us and learn what our duties would be.
As it ended up, the shift before us did not have any kids at all that wanted to try the trail. We took over at noon and it wasn’t long before all the optimist racers returned ashore after their first race. The plan was that they take a break and eat some lunch. The racers were mainly young boys 12 to 14 years old. They raced toward us all anxious to try the trail before having to head out for race number two. Lunch was not one of their priorities.
As they huddled around I explained the rules. They would begin with 3 stones
and leave the starting gate being timed. Their first task was to swim with the
stones to the sunken ship (really just a pole used to look like a mast in the
water), climb the rigging to the birds nest platform on top. One at a time they
had to try and throw
the stones into a bucket that was floating below on the water. Next they
would slide down the sail back into the water and swim to the floating pontoon.
On the pontoon, they were to pour a bottle of rum (sea water) into the top of a
pirate’s skull and immediately catch as much of the rum back into the bottle as
it flowed out the bottom of the skull. After the skull there were two eggs and
two spoons which they were to run with to a birds nest further along the
pontoon. Next there was a fish pond where each fish (wooden) had a
different value printed on it. They had to catch a fish. The last pontoon
activity was to toss five rings onto some hooks then jump off of the pontoon
into the water and pull themselves on inner tube to shore using an attached rope
on pulleys. Finally, back on shore they had to race along the beach back to the
starting gate and push an air horn that was standing in the sand and the timer
would be stopped. They gained points by completing each of the activities. The
winner was determined by both timing and points.
Needless to say the kids loved the Pirates Trail but suddenly they all had to leave and begin their second race.
When our shift was finished we headed into the restaurant and enjoyed a couple of drinks and lunch complements of Le Phare Bleu.
We left and returned to the boat just before 4PM. I quickly made up some baked macaroni and cheese and thawed a couple of tuna steaks for pot luck dinner at the clubhouse tonight
Everything was ready a little after 5PM when I suggested that Rick go to the clubhouse and I would have a quick shower and meet him there in a few minutes.
When I arrived in the clubhouse everyone was glued to the big screen TV watching for a tsunami that was expected to hit Hawaii after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile.
When the threat of the tsunami had passed, the BBQ was heated and while the men cooked the meats, the women set the table.
After dinner Bob put on a couple of Paul and Cheryl Shard’s sailing DVDs
(Distant Shores). Seeing as most of us knew people in the DVDs everyone
enjoyed watching them. Rick and I were just about to leave after the second DVD
when Bob asked where we thought we were going. He had another DVD to show. This
one was the
Carriacou DVD that I made and had given a copy to Bob. It was really
interesting to see that everyone enjoyed that DVD as well.
This was day two of the regatta and by now we are very experienced volunteers on the Pirates Trail. Yesterday we were so involved with the events that we forgot to take pictures. This time we decided to head over early and catch some of the action before going on duty.
Our shift yesterday was 12pm until 2PM and prior to that there hadn’t been any activity on the Trail. Today our shift was 2PM until 4PM so our assumption was that if we arrived at 12:30PM there would be a lot of Pirate Trail activity that we could capture. Of course we were wrong. Nothing was happening when we arrived but it was good that we were early because they were missing a volunteer on the T-Shirt table. I sat myself down and made a couple of T-Shirt sales before 2PM when the proper T-Shirt lady arrived and then I moved over to my real duties.
Wow, things were really hopping, there were line ups of kids from 5 years old
to 18 years old all wanting a turn. As fast as I could take their dollar, write
their name down, there were more arriving. The Pirates Trail was supposed to end
at 4PM but they were having so much fun, it was hard to say no to them so we
kept it going until 5:30PM. There were only Rick and I left, he was on the
pontoon setting up and directing each contestant there while I was on shore with
the stop watch and the score card. When the last little girl (Molly) finished
her 4th try of the day, I gave the go ahead to the others that they could play
on the mast of the sunken ship as long as they didn’t jump on each other when
sliding into the water. It was great fun to watch at least 10 of them try to
scramble up the mast at the same time.
I handed in the score cards while Rick cleared the items from the pontoon and
we went to the dining area to enjoy the band for a while. There was a good crowd
and we could tell that the party was going to last until quite late. We decided
to leave while we still had daylight to dinghy back through the reef.
Back at the boat, I checked the status of the Men’s Olympic Hockey game and found that it was the third period, the score was 2 to 1 for the Canadians and the American team had just pulled their goalie.
There wasn’t much time left so we raced into the club house just in time to see the replay of the tie goal. It was just Bob (the owner who is a Grenadian, Canadian), Rick and me watching the game. There was a game of euchre going on at a table, they couldn’t see the TV but since the card game was Canadian couple against an American couple they would provide the occasional cheer for one or the other hockey teams even though they weren’t watching.
It was an amazing overtime period and I’m so glad that we got to see it live even though we were watching and American station (NBC) they gave very good coverage.
