We left Carriacou for Grenada racing along with Neil on Dream Chaser (as the name stated he was chasing) We had a beautiful sail with 15 knot of wind and less then 4 foot seas. As Dream Chaser was hot on our heels and then passed us we had to make the big decision to raise our main. (Remember Cheryl keeps asking Karen why we have a main when we never use it). This allowed us to pass Neil! We set down our anchor just off Grand Anse near St. George, the capital of Grenada.
The next day we went in by dingy to St. George for some shopping and exploring. We took a local bus up to the nutmeg factory were Karen asked for a bag of nutmeg shells, they thought she want a 50 pound bag which is usually what people want but when Karen took out her baby shopping bag they laugh and said no problem and gave us the shells for free. We use the nutmeg shell on the BBQ to smoke fish or chicken. We walked, which seemed like miles, up to our favorite waterfalls, Concord, at high noon being escorted by a local dog all the way up and she waited for us to have our dip in the falls and then escorted us back to the main road.
After exploring and stocking up on our favorites from Grenada including rum and wine we left to go around to the south part of island. We anchored in Mount Hartman Bay where there were very few boats. (This use to be a very busy harbour, the home of Moorings. The hotel is now unoccupied and in a very bad state of repair.) We then moved over to Hog Island which was where we used to keep our boat. So then we waited for the right weather window to go off to Trinidad. As we waited we learned about Cricket from Neil on Dream Chaser, ate at some of our local haunts and visited. There certain are a lot of change happening in Grenada.
We met up with 2 other boats (Brisa and Against the Wind) to plan our passage to Trinidad. Finally the day arrived and we left Grenada at 3:30 p.m on June 18th. to head off to Trinidad. The seas were flat and the wind was 15 knots and we averaged over 6 knots. At about 2 a.m. we decided to slow down as we did not want to go through the entrance to Trinidad (Boca which means Dragon Mouth) in the dark. At 5:30 a.m. we started to head in. We led the way for the 2 other boats as we had been in Trinidad before, even if it was 10 years ago. We had to go to the custom dock and check in and the crew had to report to immigration as they wanted to see if any one had swine flu. As we were about to leave the custom dock, we found out we had no gears, well we had reverse! So we radio our new home (coral cove) for assistance. We ended up getting towed in to our slip. Frustrating as we were only 50 meters away!
As soon as we checked into the marina Cheryl called to get an air conditioner for the boat because it is so hot here with no wind to cool you down. Within 55 minutes we had air conditioner installed and working on InterludeJ
The next day was a holiday in Trinidad and Summer Solstice for the Swede’s, our dock neighbours. They invited us to join in their celebration, lots of food and schnapps and dancing. That same day a baby was born to the Danish boat, which means that they are now sailing with 4 children. Mother and baby were home by sunset 8 hours later.
On the 1st of July we had another barbeque, to celebrate Canada Day. We had almost 20 people, lots of red and white, lots of food and sparklers for the young at heart!
We spent the first few ‘working days’ in brilliant weather, getting quotes for work to be done (painting the deck, stainless steel, having the rigging checked.) and pricing major items (solar panels, solar panel regulators, diesel regulators, water maker, auto helm). So with the contractors lined up, our ‘stuff’ on order and new standing rigging in place we were hauled so that they could start the painting of the deck. Then rainy season hit. And the 3 week paint job took 5 weeks! But Interlude does look pretty and her deck is sealed.
Met up with some CUNA folks and then Deb spent the weekend with us on the hard. This gave us an opportunity to tour a bit, walk to a waterfalls, the beach and the north east coast of the island.
Dad came down for a visit, we hoped in vain to have the boat in the water for part of the time. We had days were we talked about how hard the rain was coming down, then it came down harder! Amazing really. Again we took the opportunity of touring, this time to the south end of the island.
Being on the hard without your stainless steel is like being in a tree fort with no hand rails or walls.
While the boat was being painted we raised our water line, put on a boot stripe, bought fabric to recover the cushions through out boat. Buying the fabric required a long hot day of walking around Port of Spain, with poor Murray in tow. The city has beautiful architecture, but awful sidewalks. Anyway we have fantastic fabric for the main saloon just waiting to be sewn.
The last night that Murray was down, Cheryl took Dad to the Lighthouse restaurant to celebrate his 80th birthday, it was a beautiful night, with great food.
Karen went home to celebrate her Dad’s 80th on August 1st, to visit with friends, do the Doctor thing and buy boat parts! A thank you to so many who made time to visit with me, it was greatly appreciated. It is like having a Big Hug.
In the mean time Cheryl worked away on the boat. Cheryl and a helper Dwayne, installed the cleats and dodger/Bimini stainless steel, and install the new water maker (which meant rehosing an area of the boat, building two new cabinets in the forward head to hold the water maker and it’s filters), replace faucets and water pump and had a new forward water tank built as there were many holes in the original tank. New mirrors were installed in the two heads. The forward stainless steel was delivered and installed. Cheryl wore a hole in her Crocks walking back and forth to the marine store a million times a day.
When it came time to launch Interlude, Cheryl had lots of help! Four people on board with her, four on the docks and two in dingies! I don’t know a better way to describe how supportive the cruising community is or they just want to be entertained.
Cheryl had meals prepared for her by Jacana ,Elena, Avalanche and Dwayne as well as been taken out for dinner by Bill on Against the Wind and Vincent. Cheryl joined other yachties for dinners at a Chinese restaurant where I tried chicken feet (it was surprising good) and India food and I tried baby octopus (they were cute). So I guess I didn’t miss Karen’s cooking after all and I didn’t starve.
Cheryl, with instructions from Dwayne, learned how to drive on the wrong side of the road. And she only turned on the windshield wipers 4 times in a day. And it wasn't raining!
The second water tank has now been removed and the area is all clean, waiting for us to install the freezer we bought and a smaller water tank and a second diesel tank (neither of which we have purchased). Dwayne rebuilt the drawers under the chart table, not an easy task.
