Oldies On Tour

Up at some ungodly hour 4.30am, the alarms ringing out, and it is pouring with rain, fantastic!

Everything packed, so I had some cereal, and a cuppa, and then Geoff and I made our way to end of gangway, with fingers crossed that George was waiting for me, and yes he was. Into the taxi quick farewell to Geoff, then off we go. Arrive at terminal plenty of time, decide to book one of my bags in, as they are strict to what you can carry on, as I had the chart plotter in one bag, I let the one with wheels go into the hold, first big mistake, then we head of for security, they took my one remaining bag to bits, obviously they did not like my chart plotter, they tested it thoroughly, were very nice about it, I then repacked the bag, and sat waiting, and waiting, and waiting, no one telling us what was happening. Eventually at 9am, we were called forward; flight was due to leave at 7am. Nice flight, free cup of tea, everything good. We arrive at Antigua, and then realize that everyone is being transferred to different Islands, there were just three of us going to Antigua, and actually staying there. Through Customs very easy, no one waiting, brilliant, wait and wait for our cases, a little puppy dog came through, but no cases, we then were met and told our bags would arrive at 3.30pm, and we would have to come back. I flew with Liat, and there nickname is ‘luggage in another terminal’ well they have done it again, how the first flight of the day, could end up in such a mess, I really don’t know.

Head up to Sticky Wicket, I know I can get a nice cup of tea and probably relax for the rest of the day, notice on the door says, Sorry the restaurant is closed until further notice, great we are just doing fine today. I found another restaurant in airport, ordered breakfast, and it arrived totally wrong, so hopefully that is the three things that are going to go wrong, and from now on everything will be good. Just heard my new lodger is not moving in, maybe it can get worse.

Headed outside of airport, lovely lawns, so I laid down, did some Sudoku, had some shut eye, general relax until 3.30pm, then went back inside the airport, found my case, very dusty, but none the worse for its travels, headed to BA booked in, and now just waiting for my flight.

I have had a wonderful three months, we have been to some fantastic places, at times it has been hairy, but for the most, just plain sailing, and Anam Cara has done us proud.

I have very mixed feelings about leaving the Caribbean, because we have had some wonderful times, but I am sure we will have lots more in the Mediterranean, and I am hoping more people will join our adventures as we go.

I am signing out now, and will pass you over to Geoff and his crew, please take care of yourselves, and stay safe. Christine xxxx

Following on from Christine’s last log, after she left me waving to her leaving in the Taxi, I immediatly went back to bed, well there’sa surprise!!!

We were up by 0800 though, early enough for a bacon and egg breakfast cooked by Andrew and then to join the tripers to “Bobby’s” Supermarket for final shopping, arriving around 0900m hrs. I then get a phone call from my credit card security queering the payment for several hundred pounds to the ARC, as it was processed in an un-usal method. After they were satisfied I had authorised it, they said they would let the payment through and take the stop off my card.I did explain I was about to spend several hundres dollars in the supermarket and they saidthatwouldnot be a problem.

After filling the supermarket trolly to the brim including frozen meat etc, I go hrough the checkout, hand over my carde and yes you have guressed it, they declined it. Si onto Nationwide again and thistime security told me that there were two transactions goiung through, both the same and bothg to the ARC, causing me to exceedmy limit. Naturally I was livid andI explained that there should only be one and that then I could pay formy groceries. Nationwide security toldme it would take several days for it all to be sorted! Now my blood pressure was up, a trolly food of goods, no back-up card and lond queue behind me. Thn to the rescur came another Westerly owner and paid my biollfor me, how kind was that! So backon the bus with groceries and me champioing at the bit, furrious, etc etc.

I then went to the ARC office and explained they may have ben paid twice by me. They had to check with the Cowes office to know what had gone through the bank. I then went to the ATM, drew out the cash and settled my debt. Thank you Joice & John Easteal aboard Fair Encounter, my saviours.

Back to doing a number of jobs aboard, a couple of Gin & Tonics and bed. Still a lot to do tomorrowm though.

Cup of tea in bed, I like it when we have crew on board, Andrew was up early, in fact they were both up before us, we promised them a lay in, but of course they are still on British body clocks.

We had some breakfast, and left our mooring, we headed out, and put the jib up, we were going 6 knots, the sun was coming out, and things were looking good. After a while, we went about and now with the wind behind us, we were going along at 5 knots, very comfortable and pleasant for our last sail. The wind died back, and I put the engine on, eventually we took the sail in, and just motored to the entrance of the Marina. Geoff took over the helm, and we all helped to put fenders out, we had three attempts to get into our slot, because the wind was being difficult, and it was a very narrow slot, for a wide boat, still we made it. Not sure that it helped Geoff having two others telling him what to do, he normally can get in without anyone’s help.

We then headed up to meet Lilo, it was lovely to see him again, he just doesn’t change, we were talking about Whitbread, and he says he might come out in the summer, Esther and Rob have also said they would like to come out, so we could have a boat full of youngsters, and let them do all the work.

Chris went and got some bread, and we had bread and cheese for lunch, then we dressed the boat, with all her flags, then we all went for a swim in the pool.

We then fell into the bar, which happened to be happy hour, I had a rum punch, then went and got changed, Lilo met us all about 6.30pm and gave us more rum punches and nibbles, so by the time the evening was finished we were quite merry. Chris and I had a dance, with the local musician, and then he crashed out in his bed. Geoff Andrew and I went and had another drink, and some ribs.

We all then went back to the boat, for a fairly early night, as I have a 4.30am start in the morning.

Wind and rain, most of the night, I spent more time checking than sleeping, we were being pushed around, I hate it when it is like this. Got the morning tea, drinking it in bed, when I rushed out, another first, sea-sick on anchor! Never had that before. I went on deck, put the hood up, and just sat in the rain for a while, there was no air in the boat, and I think that’s what caused it. We sat around for ages, and then decided we would move anyway, as we have to be in Trellis Bay by 5pm.

Geoff got soaked doing the anchor, the last one for this season, next year we will make sure we have a heavier anchor, which can hold her firmly in place.

We motored all the way, wet, on the nose, and sea state rough, not good, we managed the staysail for a while, but unless we were going to tack, not worth getting anything else out, I just wanted to go direct route, as I was on the helm.

We went down the dreaded channel where we hit the rock with Andrew, I was not happy, because they have unmarked rocks here, well we managed to miss the one that Andrew hit, but found another one, I thought for one moment we were sinking, as we were balanced on top of this bl…. One, Geoff managed to get us off, but the engine had over heated, so we turned around, and drifted down the channel, then went across to the other side, and slowly but surely got into the marina. We went onto a buoy, and Geoff went and checked below, fortunately no damage.

We had a quick bite to eat, then went over to the airport to pick Andrew up, all flights are delayed due to bad weather, we know about that, still we eventually met up, had a beer back to the boat, then Geoff and Andrew went to pick Chris up. By this time it is 10.00pm, I am really shattered, so a quick bacon butty for the boys then I went to bed. Everyone did as it was 3am in
England. I am glad today is over.

I had a bad night last night, I crashed out early, and then I woke in the middle of the night, the music from Foxy’s was still playing, so I made myself a cuppa, and sat on deck till1.30am, it was lovely and peaceful, with what looked like a full moon, hence I did not get up very early this morning. I still feel a bit rough so we missed out on a swim as well.

Today was a working day, I made all the beds (crew come tomorrow) cleared out Geoff’s stuff from the forward cabin, had to make room in ours, so I packed my case ready for the off on Tuesday. As you can imagine space is limited, so I have been trying to sort things out. Geoff cleaned the forward cabins looe, and ours, mending things as he went. We ran the generator for an hour, and she worked a treat, so that is good.

We then went for a swim, as we were both very hot and sticky, noodles only, no snorkeling, my ears feel a bit better, but do not want to risk anything.

Just for a change we had bacon sandwiches, they were lovely, but the bacon here is all streaky, mainly fatty, and so not as nice as ours.

Geoff had a siesta, then we went for another noodle swim, it is so lovely in the water, although the current is quite strong. We bobbed around the boat, watching the fish jumping, and the pelicans diving, not sure what was chasing the fish, but they looked quite big.

We then had showers, aperitifs on deck, before we went to Foxy’s, we are celebrating Geoff’s birthday early (15th ) they had a guitar player there who was very good, you have to experience this place, its brilliant. They have t/shirts hanging up from all over the world; apparently New Years Eve is the third most popular destination to be in the world. Barb-b-cue was the menu tonight, we had spare ribs, chicken, and fish, with the salad, or veg, it was lovely, they give you two plates, so food was plentiful, and we certainly had enough, washed down with a bottle of Sancerre.

We dinghy back, then went skinny dipping, it is our last night together, on our own, what a way to go, we get back on board, and we played one round of crib, which I lost, no surprise there!