boathippies

[boathippies]

Day 1750 - Friday, January 25, 2019

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

(0 m; 8245 m / 7165 nm total)

Today would have been my Mom's birthday. Heartbreaking to know we won't be seeing her when we return to the states. She's been such an integral part of our family for so long. Everyday, she is missed 😪

Boarded the shopping bus at 930 am out of Whisper Cove Marina, pretty full bus, whole new cast of characters. Stops at the veggie market, bank, IGA, and CK Wholesalers. Interesting conversation at the Spiceland Mall food court, while waiting for our driver, with two of the other shopping bus drivers, Chris and George, who service Prickly Bay Marina and Mt. Hartmann Bay, who we have gotten to know a little over the past 3 years. They were shocked at the number of people furloughed due to the government shutdown, people losing their housing after only one month of non-payment of their mortgage or rent, people selling their furniture and other stuff to feed their families, workers going to food banks or signing up for food stamps. "In America?," they say. They are concerned about the effect that what is happening in the states is affecting the world economy and those here in Grenada. Chris' wife is scheduled to return to the states in March and he does not want her to go, afraid for her safety. He is worried about a civil war. Paul and I both quickly shake our heads, "no," don't worry about that. Americans are too lazy, don't go outside, can't leave their TVs, tablets, and phones to have that level of civil unrest, over a stupid wall. We got back to the boat to the news that the shutdown is over, at least for three weeks. Hopefully, the dopes in DC can work things out so another shutdown does not happen.

When the bus dropped us back at Whisper Cove Marina, we opted to have a cold one at the bar before heading home. Not the best idea on an empty stomach. Several hours later, we made it home, with soft cheese and chocolate chips, but the butter at the bottom of the freezer bag was still hard 😎

[boathippies]

Day 1749 - Thursday, January 24, 2019

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

(0 m; 8245 m / 7165 nm total)

Bucket laundry, soup making, guitar practice, reading kind-of-day.

[boathippies]

Day 1748 - Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

(0 m; 8245 m / 7165 nm total)

Around 10 am, we launched the dinghy and had a slightly bumpy and wet ride over to Le Phare Blu Resort and Marina. Our cruising permit is set to expire on Friday, so a trip to Customs is in order to take care of business. Very pleasant female officer took care of us.

Late afternoon, Fast Maniacou arrived with our order of beer, coke, and toilet paper. There is an island wide shortage of cans of Carib as it is almost carnival time in Trinidad and they seem to have all the beer. Stag was available, not our favorite. John did warn us that the cases were the bottom two on the pallet and he has had customers complain about cockroaches when they get the bottom cases. So, as he recommended, we opened the cases on the foredeck, and quickly sealed the cardboard in a trash bag. Paul even rinsed the cans in chlorinated water to be extra cautious. We've had cockroaches on the boat in the past, in Jacksonville at the dock, no bueno!

[boathippies]

Huh, wonder where this is headed??

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

[boathippies]

Day 1747 - Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

(2.5 m / 2 nm; 8245 m / 7165 nm total)

Shortly after the marina office opened, Paul headed up to pay the bill for the night and to make arrangements for the haul out. Larry, the dockmaster, appeared to help us out of the slip; again, no drama, considering the winds picked up early today. We headed back to the same spot we were anchored at before, and we settled right in.

[boathippies]

SV Kelly Nicole in the slip, not a familiar look for her these days ☹️

Clark's Court Marina, Grenada

[boathippies]

Day 1746 - Monday, January 21, 2019

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

(2.5 m / 2 nm; 8243 m / 7163 nm total)

At 830 am, we were on the radio to Larry, the dockmaster at Clark's Court Marina, to give him a heads up that we are prepping to head his way. About 15 minutes later, we were underway. A quick radio call to Larry when we were approaching the marina and we can see him coming down the dock. We headed into the slip he pointed to and he was there to handle the lines as the Captain brought her in. No drama, Larry made us look like pros. FIrst time we have docked since March 2016 in Puerto Real on the west coast of Puerto Rico. Phew!!! Stress melts away.

Paul headed to the offices of Palm Tree Marine Services to let Sim, the master mechanic, know we are in the slip and to come on down as soon as he can. As predicted, he arrived just as lunch was served. No problem, we will eat it cold. After watching the engine run at low rpms, Sim agrees that something is not right, but wants to eliminate the engine and transmission. So, he sends Kevon down to disconnect the shaft, which doesn't take him long since he just had it off a couple weeks ago. Once Sim returns, we run the engine again without the shaft connected, and no vibration. Sim seems a little perplexed (never good with your mechanic), doesn't like the play in the shaft nor the fact that it seems off center. He knows we are trying to avoid the haul, not only for the expense, but our bottom paint can only sit in the air for 4-5 days, otherwise we need to re-paint, thus further incurring expenses. However, Sim feels that the only way to determine what is really happening with the shaft is to haul out. Not what we wanted to hear, but we feel this issue will only get worse, so best to fix it now before it becomes a major issue, and/or we are stranded somewhere where help and services are not available. Another mechanic comes by to re-attach the shaft. Since it is late in the day, we opt to spend the night at the dock, a treat(?) for us.

[boathippies]

Full moon tonight. Hope those clouds clear out before the lunar eclipse starts in a few hours.

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

[boathippies]

Day 1745 - Sunday, January 20, 2019

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

(0 m; 8241 m / 7161 nm total)

Quiet day in the bay. Prepped the boat for docking, putting out fenders and dock lines.

[boathippies]

Day 1744 - Saturday, January 19, 2019

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

(0 m; 8241 m / 7161 nm total)

Quiet slow morning. Baked up the chocolate chip cookies after lunch and got some reading done.

[boathippies]

Beautiful rainbow over Grenada after the morning rain shower.

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

[boathippies]

Day 1743 - Friday, January 18, 2019

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

(0 m; 8241 m / 7161 nm total)

A tense, stressful morning monitoring the status of grandson Mason at the ER. Doctors had to contend with a momma bear who insisted that her son's tummy ache was more than gas, and she was correct. Never mess with a mom! Fortunately, nothing that a round of antibiotics won't take care of, but scary none-the-less.

Once we knew he was home and on the mend, we headed over to Clark's Court Marina to find Sim at Palm Tree Marine to discuss our engine issue in person. With arrangements made with him, we went in search of Larry, the dockmaster, to make arrangements for a slip for a few hours so Sim can evaluate the engine/shaft issue to confirm what he heard from the mechanic he sent last week and to verify that a haul out is required. With that all set, we headed to the marina bar for some cold ones.

[boathippies]

Beautiful sunset over Hog Island.

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

[boathippies]

Now that's a big cat.

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

[boathippies]

Some local guys out for a day sail.

Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

[boathippies]

Day 1742 - Thursday, January 17, 2019

Prickly Bay, Grenada - Woburn/Clark's Court Bay, Grenada

(6 m/ 5 nm; 8241 m / 7161 nm total)

Shortly after 10 am, we raised anchor. Involved the use of a screw driver and hammer to remove the clamp on the snubber from the anchor chain. Apparently, we have been here so long that the clamp is encrusted with barnacles. Mother Nature wins another round.

Still getting the vibration with the engine at low rpm. Once over 1800 rpm, she smoothed right out. We just have to go fast everywhere we go 😎. Just two nautical miles between bays, as a crow flies, but took us 5 nm to go out and around, bashing into the wind, waves, and current. Wasn't too bad, water over the bow just one time; glad it was a short journey today. Found a good spot to anchor just outside Benji Bay, in Woburn Bay, behind a small reef. Should be a little less rolly here than Prickly Bay, but still rollin'. Anchor down by 1130 am.

Made a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough after lunch and stuck it into the freezer for baking another day. Wanted to make chocolate chocolate chip cookies, but couldn't find the cinnamon, guess that goes on the shopping list (about a week later, we found it in the bottom of a grocery bag). Otherwise, settling into our new location.

[boathippies]

Day 1741 - Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Prickly Bay, Grenada

(0 m; 8235 m / 7156 nm total)

Our oldest grandson, Mason, called right after lunch to tell us all about his horribly painful stomach ache he had last night, so bad that he had to throw up. He was proud of himself making it to the toilet to do the nasty deed, not in the bowl his Daddy was following him around with. By the end of the story, he had us all laughing. He loves to make people laugh. He is much better today; love that kid.

Around 2 pm, Paul tried to get two jerry cans filled of gasoline at Prickly Bay Marina. They were out, only had diesel. Seems to be a theme with them, waiting on the truck, who knows when it will show up. Around 4 pm, we heard part of a conversation on the radio by two guys discussing if they could see "the truck." A quick radio call to Prickly Bay Marina confirmed the rumor; "the truck" has arrrived. Paul took a top speed dinghy ride over to the marina to get the gasoline before the marina closed for the day.