Antigua, and St Martin
Moonshine
Thu 5 Apr 2007 16:19
Into customs with all our papers - wait in line - get to front - told to go to Port Control first. Went to Port Control - wait in line - get to front - handed 6 copies of same form to complete (no carbon paper) and told to make sure I put the same thing on each! clearly they have had irritated jokers in the past. All forms completed, but returned to me for correction. I had misunderstood the question 'GPS?' - They told me Everybody does! Teeth tightly clenched.
Handed 4 more forms to complete. 2 needed Sandra's signature, completed all 4 and went to collect Sandra. Both forms returned as needed completion in Sandra's hand as well as signature. They watched me doing it!
45 minutes of forms, and the boat was allowed in, but not us - go to 'Immigration' Went to Immigration - handed 6 copies of same form to complete.. . . . . . . 45 minutes.. . . . .Need customs clearance - Go to customs with forms - wierd - waited for 30 minutes while he checked the forms that the two previous offices had already checked accepted and stamped. Not a word was spoken during this time! Satisfied, he stamped them all again.
Now we could enter, and the boat could enter. - but we were told we needed permission to stay. Go back to first office for permit. Office now closed - come back Monday! Who cares - we were here, and the 7 clerks had jobs. A result.
The marina was sleek and sophisticated, with everything that was necessary, including a casino!
All we needed after that crossing was a beer, a meal, and a nights rest.
That part went according to plan.
The following day we swam, relaxed, and chilled out. A little shopping, even though this was Sunday and a light lunch.
We had been invited to a barbeque by Mark and Annie, friends from home, and they arrived mid afternoon to collect us.
We spent a wonderfull evening with them, and their friends John, Melanie, Jack and Emily at their family home here.
It was apparently wickedly cold that evening, but not to us. We were comfortable, whilst they were searching for pullovers! Aclimatisation does not take long.
On Monday we explored the town - St. Johns. Noisy, busy, vibrant, friendly, and good fun. That is if one avoids the cruise ship dock area, which is the same anywhere in the world - gift shops, mainly jewellery outlets, for rich people, and constant touting for custom.
Only two streets away, and there is not a cruise passenger to be found. The people are friendly and welcoming. We had a 'takeaway' - slices of fresh pineapple prepared as we watched and served in a dish with two forks. Incredibly ripe, sweet, and more than we could eat for a few pence.
I had booked the yard to take the boat out of the water on Tuesday prior to leaving. I had asked for this to be done in St. Lucia, whist I was home,and to save time, but had been assured it was not needed, and that instead a diver had cleaned it, and made sure all was well - for $150!
When it came out, it was covered in weed and barnacles. The propellor was unrecognisable, the log had been destroyed, the cockpit drains, w.c.inlet, and engine cooling water inlet were all blocked. We had been lucky. In fact the only work done in St. Lucia had been the 6 inches below the waterline that could be seen!
The yard was excellent and within the hour the boat was spotless. The propellor was buffed to a shine and it was back in the water.
We applied to Port Control, Immigration, and Customs for permission to leave. Same 6 forms - identical - and two hours later had been cleared to go!
Suddenly the boat was right. I knew it had been unhappy with me but didn't know why. Now It felt different, more alive, faster, and more reactive.
It was a sunny, warm Caribbean afternoon as we left for the 86 mile trip to St. Martin.
Rod Sandra and the mouse.
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