1st October - 1st November 2008

We returned to the boat after a very enjoyable two months back home, during which time we managed to visit lots of our friends and family and even went to a wedding. It was great to see everyone and anyone we missed we will see next time. Thanks very much to all those who put us up during the visit.

We flew back via New York with British Airways, who omitted to put one of our bags on the plane from Heathrow, along with those of about 80 other passengers. These things happen but B.A. failed to deliver our bag to the boat (we supplied the marina address). The bag finally turned up a week later at Trinidad airport and we had to collect it.

The boat was fine, which was a relief and there was no trace of mold or unwanted guests inside, so the cleaning process which we did before we left, along with the air conditioning unit we rented had worked. However the outside was filthy, the decks were covered in a black oily deposit and it has taken a huge amount of scrubbing to get it off. Every time it rains, which is nearly every day, the dirt is back, I have never seen such dirty rain. Then the boat yard is dirty and the ground is muddy so that transfers from our feet to the deck, even though we take our shoes off before going below.

The generator which packed up in Grenada 5 months ago, had finally had its stator re wound (which for those of us who are not electricians is a big coil of wire). This was back on board but still had to be connected up. So we have had bits of generator all over the place and electricians visiting on a regular basis. Finally all was ready and the generator was started but oh dear, no electricity was generated. So back out it came and down off the boat via a rope on the winch, to be re wound yet again. Anyway it seems like second time lucky. I celebrated with a cup of tea (the water being boiled by the generator's electricity) and William took the electricians for a well deserved beer. Well done Caribbean Marine electrical for fixing it. William has since put its casing back together so things are getting a little more tidy.

Things take a lot longer here, there are more delays, the torrential rain, the frequent loss of power and water. Our scaffolding, which we ordered from the boat yard, to enable us to reach the hull, turned up a day late and then half of it disappeared before we had time to use it. Its not all work though, we have met up with our friends Eta and Gordon and a number of other people who were here before we went home. We have become friends with Larry, our boat is between his 2 boats in the boat yard (see photo).

We are now busy cleaning the hull with vinegar which removes the salt deposits, and repainting any chips. All the barnacles have been scraped off the bottom of both the boat and the dingy and the copper bottom is being abraded ready for launching on Monday 3rd November. Nancy and Jim will be joining us on Thursday.