Thursday, October 31, 2013

Lounging on Blue Pearl

Here we are, lounging about on the boat, swimming, drinking gin and tonics and enjoying the warm island breezes of Grenada.

WRONG!!!

That would be nice, but…  after waiting until Monday afternoon to be launched it was too late to do the five mile run down to Le Phare Bleu Marina so we tied up to a mooring ball and bounced around all night.  Too rainy to open up the cabin so we just sweated in the heat.

On Tuesday we made a rolly run down to the marina, Pam kissed the dock when we arrived and asked for the phone number of our yacht broker and divorce lawyer.  We plugged in the AC and had a great nap.  Over the last two days we have:
- installed 6 new marine batteries
- repaired some electronics
- unpacked the 2 bags of bits and pieces brought down with us
- installed the solar panels
- set up the bimini and dodger
- launched the dinghy
- arranged for repairs to some rigging
- huddled away from the rain and heat in the shelter of Blue Pearl

We've eaten all the noodle soups in the small mini-mart in the marina.  They sell rum - that's good, wine, tonic to go with last year's gin, Spam, and homemade bread - which is terrific.  Tomorrow we have a taxi coming. We plan to get groceries, buy more boat parts and recharge our propane bottles so we can eat something other than restaurant food and ramen noodles.

On the weekend we will put up the sails and do a million small jobs to get the boat... well... shipshape.

Another 3 or 4 days and we will be… lounging about on the boat, swimming, drinking gin and tonics and enjoying the warm island breezes.

Had to ask this guy to leave

All this crap has to go somewhere

Getting ready to launch

And... in we go!
Installing batteries... no sparks!

Sunday, October 27, 2013

On our way back south...

Well... that was quick.  Seems like we just left!


We are sitting in the airport lounge in Miami (with a 10 hour layover we decided to buck up and spend our time in the American Airlines lounge) anticipating our reunion with the Blue Pearl... and reminiscing on our great summer home.
Nice Socks!

We had a terrific summer back home in Canada.  The weather was spectacular and we had amazing times with family and friends.  British Columbia is one of the most gorgeous spots on earth in the summer when the weather cooperates - and this year was one of the best.

One of the problems of returning south is that we won't be enjoying immersion with our family and friends so ... we are changing our plans this year.  Six months is too long to be away from our awesome grandchildren so we are heading home to visit... twice.  Luckily we are fabulously wealthy so these 4000 mile, two day excursions won't be a financial burden.

November is typically awful in Vancouver so we will spend that time in sunny Grenada tinkering on the boat and enjoying the heat.  We will return home for an extended Christmas holiday.  Then back south in the New Year for 8 weeks... and then back home for a healthy dose of grandchildren... before returning for the spring in the south.

On top of that, we are expecting visits from at least 4 couples and some family.  So with visits home and visits from home - we will hardly be alone at all.