Le Marin 7th May
Le Marin is situated at the bottom of a very deep bay surrounded by mangrove on all side. There are plenty of small bays all around and the hills overlooking these are green and lush. After running the gauntlet of avoiding the lobster pots and the windsurfers near the entrance of the harbour (I am always amazed that they tend to congregate there to learn, we nearly ran one or 2 of them who kept falling in the water!) we anchor not too far from Carenantilles, the boat yard we are hoping to get a place in.
The next day we take the dinghy through the mangrove to get to shore, picturesque. Our first stop is the boat yard and we are relieved to learn that they have room and will be able to lift us ashore on Wednesday 11th May, back in the water on the 18th. This should give us plenty time to clean the bottom and do any other jobs that will need professional assistance. Ian wants someone to service the max prop and free off the emergency rudder which is now corroded into place. We need another anchor to replace the one we lost in Bequia and we should be able to find one here. He is also thinking of getting 2 more solar panels and fit them on top of the bimini. We only have one solar panel at the moment. And although the wind generator has been brilliant, it works with very little wind, is quiet and efficient, we could do with a little bit more humph. We are using little electricity from the batteries day to day, as all our lights are Led and we do use the solar lights mostly. The fridge is the big consumer and we tend to switch it off at night. Still finding it difficult to keep up. It would be good to get to the point of not having to run the engine every 2 days at least. And we have a list of odds and ends for the boat as well as for our food stores to get. As it is Saturday, our shopping expedition is cut short, all the shops close at midday and we are back to the boat early afternoon after a look around, taking in the marina (where we had to check in), the church, the market and the centre of the little town. The marina is big and I have never seen so many catamarans in one place. It is obviously a big centre for rentals. The shops around the marina are good, especially the chandlers. There are also all manners of services available.
Another wet bank holiday. The weather is so bad that we do not even go onshore for 2 days, it is raining, raining, raining. Just as well really as we soon realised that with the wind being so strong in the bay we have drifted, so up goes the anchor and we find another suitable place. It is always unsettling though we have not had to re-anchor so many times so far in the trip. Ian is doing little job keeping himself occupied and I launch into my food stock take, getting everything out from every nooks and crannies where food items have been buried. The table is soon heaped with stuff. Pleased to find so many olives and artichokes hearts I had forgotten about, that will be a nice treat. Tuesday In the afternoon Ian goes to get some inox tubing to strengthen the bimini. If we are to fit some solar panel on it needs to stop wobbling! On the way he meets a British couple, Alison and Colin on Doreen, who very kindly invite us onboard for drinks. A very interesting French couple, Celine & Alain (Eloane) and their 4 teenage kids are also there. I am always in awe of people travelling with kids, no matter how old and I must say Celine and Alain who have been travelling since the 5 kids (the eldest is at boarding school) were very small are exceptional. We have a very interesting and entertaining evening full of stories and experiences, half in French and half in English. A soiree of foie gras and rose wine until late, got back after midnight!