Highlights week 10-19th Sept 17
We are now getting ready to move on, time has just flown by. We are thinking of going to Trinidad and Tobago before heading back north to Martinique (do some shopping) and then Guadeloupe (to pick up Steve and Francesca). The list has shrunk and most of the important stuff has been taken care of here but we will be hauling out for a week in Trinidad. We need to do routine maintenance on the sail drive which includes changing oil and seals, and we have to be out of the water for this. Of course, if we are out of the water we will clean the bottom, it actually needs it, being static for the last few months means that we have another reef growing, Not as bad as it was in April but getting there. Not looking forward to this. Opinions amongst our fellow cruisers on Trinidad are divided, we have taken to refer to it as the marmite island: you either love it or hate it. Guess we’ll have to go and make our own mind up. On the bright side, everyone agrees that Tobago is delightful.
So this week we have gotten back the mainsail after a clean and check up. Of course, putting back the mainsail was anything but straight forward. One of the slider at the top had broken, and it was duly replaced with a nice metal one. Well it would have been nice if it had fitted the track… Ian spent over an hour filing it…I went and had my noodle session with Gigi whilst he was doing this. We have also retrieved the metal restraints for the life raft. I have now finished the varnishing of the sole boards. Plenty more varnishing to do on board but I’ll give it a rest for now. Instead I swap my brushes and start working on the gangplank which need a bit of attention. And we had a lesson in splicing.
And Wednesday 13th, Yolene and Jean (Caffe Latte) have turned up in Prickly bay! Nice to catch up on Caffe Latte around a nice dinner… so civilised. And a lot of fun!
Friday , it’s Bruno’s restaurant opening. His new place on BBC beach is really nice, with superb views on Grand Anse bay, even in the dark. PJ and Cathy come to pick us up, Yolene and Jean are there too. As it turns out, a lot of the French contingent has turned up, so we end up on a big table. Brilliant evening, very French and very convivial. As for the food it was absolutely fabulous! This was a real treat for us!