Up and Out!
Mystic
Archie Massey and Jo Wood-Hill
Thu 15 Mar 2012 02:58
79:57.07W
After a very good night's sleep after our sail to Shelter Bay, we were up early this morning, and on the free bus into Colon that the marina provides. It's a pretty good service, if you don't pay too much attention to the driver's abilities! We didn't actually go all the way into Colon today - that delight is saved for later in the week. Today we just went to a shopping mall where we managed to while away a few hours in the hardware store. I am really starting to wish that we could speak Spanish so that we didn't have to mime "If this loo-seat doesn't fit, can we return it and change it?"
On a side note, what is it about boys and hardware stores? They're like Topshop for men. All rational decision making abilities go out the window and you wander round aimlessly for hours, eventually walking out with more stuff than you needed but convincing yourself you'll use it one day, whilst frustrating your partner at your inability to decide what you really want. Exactly like girls in Topshop actually.
Anyway, only a quick trip to the shops today, as this afternoon Mystic was hauled out of the water and into the work yard! It was quite an experience - I've always wondered how on earth they got boats from the water onto the stilts you see in the yard. Well now I know. A pictorial essay will follow :-)
Tie up in the dock and the travel lift drives moves towards you - a bit like one of those automatic car washes!
The straps are put in place by a guy in boardies with a mask, then the hauling begins...
Gulp as Mystic hovers over the concrete...ready for her pressure wash...
Token cheesy photo big tyre as tall as me (ok so not that tall then)
Getting towed by the tractor into the yard
Windy! Please don't blow over sideways! (At this point held up only by hydraulics on that trailer!)
Textbook reverse park no problem for these guys. Then the supports are put in place...
And here we are! Our home on the hard for a week or so.
We are planning to anti-foul the hull (apply a special kind of paint to keep the snails and weed off) as well as replace a couple of sea cocks that are corroded, and a few other tasks. We hope to be done in a week and then splashed back into the marina.
We have also already spoken to a guy about getting a new dodger and he is coming round on Friday, and have also spoken to a canal agent about the process and costings. So it's all go again, and Archie is happy as he has lots of projects to get on with (and lots of new toys from Topshop :-)
That's all for now
A&J xx