Lini’s Fab Day Out

   The alarm abruptly woke me from the port saloon berth making me momentarily think we were back at sea. It felt like I had been awake all night. I made tea and listened to the radio net while checking my emails then tried to contact Festina Lente and Liberty on the VHF: Nothing heard. Plans were made by mobile to meet up with Phillip and Lynda for lunch in De Big Fish in Prickly Bay but no response came from Liberty. I packed my mobile phone and a VHF in my bag and was just setting off for my big day out when Si called. I felt guilty as he was checking the office and having an exciting day getting the Landrover serviced! I called for next door and together we joined the group of happy shoppers waiting by the bar. Our private bus was packed with a mix of nationalities as we bounced out along the dusty track from the marina. At the Grande Anse shopping mall I paid my one way fare and was given last directions for the bus stops from Gayle and Kirt, together with their mobile phone numbers in case the VHF didn’t work when I needed collecting from the dinghy dock: They are so sweet.

   I hit the shops! Five days to Si’s birthday and I HAD to find something today. I browsed the book shop, rummaged through men’s clothing!, ogled at electronics, moseyed in gift shops and yes, I found a little something I’m rather pleased with that can’t be revealed in case he reads this before Wednesday. J Not only did I find something for Simon but I also found a little frock on which to spend my birthday money from my family. J Feeling very pleased with myself I grabbed a trolley and crashing into one side of the aisles then the other, hit the supermarket, literally. Why do I always get the one with wonky wheels? There was no delicious locally grown produce but I selected some under ripe produce and bread hoping it will last until next week. Laden with bags I set off for the bus stop.

   Phillip Meakin summed up the buses nicely saying that firstly they don’t look like buses as we know them but are minibuses with loud music and youths hanging out of the windows and you don’t so much find them as they find you: How true that is. On the short walk to the bus stop I lost count of the number of times a head emerged from a passing minibus asking if I wanted a bus. Just as I arrived at my stop a number 1 pulled up and I ran round to double check it would take me to the boatyard. Piling in, I disappearing under my bags and pinned to the back of my seat we were off, with reggae blaring out into the passing streets. The driver just drove taking instructions from his helper who sat in the second row and yelled continuously at pedestrians. If they needed a ride the brakes were slammed on and the bus reversed if need be to squeeze another inside. Passengers safely wedged in, the helper leapt back in, slid the door shut and off we went again, sometimes only fifty metres, sometimes miles. I was told when I had to alight but then asked if I wanted to be taken right to the boatyard. With heavy bags that was great news for me.  Wow! Practically door to door in breakneck time, cost 7ECD (about £1.60). 

   De Big Fish was starting to fill up with lunchtime customers so I ordered a celebratory beer and took a table looking out to the anchorage. It was great to catch up with Phillip and Lynda again especially as they looked so well and chilled. Sadly they have to be back in England by the end of June so my hopes of meeting up along the islands are not as likely as I originally thought. We compared transatlantic crossings though and talked of breakages and sailing with visitors and Phillip was also able to put my mind at ease about my gall stones as he’s a doctor. It sounds like they should be fine if I can stick to fat free food. And so to lunch! I had asked how much fat the Friday special of fish and rice contained and was assured it was very low, but even so I was a tad worried about the after effects as I woofed down my first restaurant meal in over three weeks. All was fine though and after lunch I managed to contact Liberty on VHF. Phil and Lynda had to go over to the marina and said they’d run me over to see Suin, Graham and Ben and then bring me back to catch my bus home. It was so kind of them.  We retrieved their dinghy from under the dock and loading all my shopping bags aboard bounced across the anchorage in the lumpy sea. Hopefully Brindabella and Liberty now have mobile numbers correct and making arrangements for Si’s birthday will be easier than plans for today. I was sure that Suin would recognise Phil and Lynda as we were all in the same marina in Madeira together, but they now have new acquaintances whose paths are bound to cross again in this small cruising community.

   Phillip had to get to the airport to collect their next visitors so we bid farewell to Liberty and were soon back at the dockyard. I said goodbye to Lynda hoping so much we’ll meet again soon then Phillip and I walked up the hill to the bus stop. I had totally misunderstood the direction Phil was going and thinking he was taking the bus with me for a short distance I leapt in. I was so embarrassed not to be able to thank him and wish him safe sailing properly as the door slammed and we shot off. Thank heavens I can email or text.

   My trip back to Brindabella turned out to be quite an experience. I had to go into the capital, St.George to change buses for Woburn. It was now late afternoon and the streets were getting very busy. On average my drivers beeped their horns every ten seconds at pedestrians, slow cars, on bends or at friends. The noise as zillions of buses converged was almost as loud as the music that most of the passengers were singing along to. We shot past the garage where I thought I had to change buses. “No worries Mon, you can change at de bus station”, said the helper. We continued for miles in the wrong direction but I had the most wonderful tour of the town which we’d only seen a fraction of on foot when anchored there. We pulled into the bus station and my jaw gaped. It is Friday and everywhere buzzed with a TGIF atmosphere, the stalls and bars were overflowing with jolly people, the remains of school children milled about with parents, workers were rushing home for the weekend, the shops were full and the pavements packed, and I was the only white face there. The ‘helper’ took my 2.50 ECD (63p), and then led me to the other side of the station where he pointed out my next bus. Marvellous!

   I climbed aboard and we waited….. In the baking heat, shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, we waited until every seat was taken, then the child helper leapt in and shared my seat with me and my three bags of shopping! Of course nobody got off for quite some time. There were bus stops along the road but anyone wanting to get off just knocked on the roof and we’d stop almost immediately. Nobody spoke a word but money was passed back and forth, notes one way, change the other, some having to wait until someone else paid before they got their change. I was gobsmacked! When we arrived in Woburn I was told this was my stop and again the fare was 2.50 ECD. What a bargain: It was the most entertaining afternoon!

   The sun was now sinking very low and I was glad I didn’t have to find the route to the dinghy dock in the dark. As it was my shoes skidded on the loose gravel and I slid most of the way down on my bottom! I called Illusion on the VHF when I got to the dock and within minutes Gayle kindly picked me up in the dinghy. What a wonderful day and made possible by so many lovely people. J A perfect end to my day would have been to talk to Simon but tonight there was no internet at all. L