It was a ridiculously noisy night again with Farty the wind generator spinning wildly and resonating through to the aft cabin. Still sleepy in the morning I got myself together and with the help of Gayle we guided the dinghy between our boats in preparation for my first epic voyage across to Woburn. I’m sure the nose doesn’t point skywards when Si takes it out on his own. Anyway, I arrived safely at the rickety pontoon favoured by yachties and locked her up securely. I wouldn’t like to be coming into there at night, as some of the boards curled backwards sticking upwards and one section was missing all together having an old pallet lain on top. I gingerly prodded it with a toe before chancing it with my weight. The pontoon led to the back of the shell of a house with chickens scratching around and what looked like a yard to one side and a narrow dirt passage to the other. I took the passage which looked like it was a dead end until you were almost there and just to the side a wire gate was wedged open enough to squeeze through. From there it was just a brief stroll through a yard with a car workshop and bingo! I was on the road leading up from the main town pontoon. I wandered down to see in close quarters the bar and restaurant I could see from the boat, then back on the main road decided it would be rude not to walk up and round for a view of the marina and islands.

   Everyone I met and passed was very jolly, waving and calling out good morning. I took the turn off for Whisper Cove Marina thinking it much more pleasant to call in and ask if the restaurant would be open for Simon’s birthday. Past the new large houses the gravel road swept steeply, curving round a hill and skirting several wooden shacks with music blaring from inside and goats and chickens grazing everywhere. Eventually a sign took me down to the marina where the road became tarmac, parking spaces were marked out and newly planted trees lined the way down to the adorable little wooden bar where we had coffee the other day. I perched on a stool and while cooling down with an orange juice I asked about the restaurant. Unfortunately they are still closed so that is ruled out of my list of options. I passed the tiny Little Dipper Restaurant (quoted as the cutest in Grenada) which is also on my list of possibilities. Further along I called into the minute store and bought bread from a lady sitting in the corner with the largest assortment of toiletries and nik-naks displayed on shelves around her one could ever imagine possible in such a small space. Bounding down the hill ‘Clifton’ introduced himself, wishing me a wonderful day and asking how I liked his island. “No wonder everyone is so jolly”, I said, “You live in paradise!”  He threw his hands in the air and loudly laughed rather like Ainslie Harriet.

   My crash landing on Brindabella’s transom wasn’t quite the plan and I couldn’t quite get myself coordinated. When I took my hand off the throttle lever to stand up, lean forward and tie the dinghy on, the wind blew me backwards. Gayle called out suggesting I came in sideways so I could grab Brindabella without letting go of the throttle lever. After several attempts Lini landed with lots of practice planned in the near future.

    This afternoon’s spring cleaning started with scrubbing the front half of the topsides. There were areas near the mast that were quite stained and needed an extra scrub with the gelcoat cleaner. I cleaned the glass then went below and attacked our cabin, mending one of the covers before replacing them, changing the bed and washing the walls. It was then a very quick shower as I Gayle and Kirt had kindly invited me next door for dinner tonight.

   While wine was poured Gayle showed me round Illusion which looked and felt an extremely comfortable boat. Nine foot bigger than our Hallberg Rassy she has an en-suite and an extra cabin as well as a huge aft cabin and wider beam of course. She wasn’t just a lovely home either, as Kirt has successfully raced her. She is now aging a little though and they are here to have her beautiful all teak decks replaced. Dinner was delicious and without anxiety as they new about ‘the stones’. Kirt barbecued some lean beef to perfection which we ate with apple sauce, crushed potatoes and salad. I wasn’t so good when chocolate and coconut appeared afterwards though and had a tiny taste (well two tiny tastes actually) of the dark Grenadian chocolate of which I’ve been resisting six bars that Si left behind in the fridge. Like all lovely evenings I really don’t know where the time went and it was back to bed under Farty the wind generator which was rotating madly and resonating through into the cabin. I gave up in the early hours and moved to the saloon to try and sleep.