Prickly Bay, Grenada 11.59.98N 61.45.80W

Tuesday February 8th
We
arrived here in Grenada late on Thursday 20th January, after
long flights - but with a pleasant overnight stopover in San Juan, Puerto
Rico where we caught up with our friends Ronnie and Babbie Ramos (whom we
met in Spain prior to sailing with them in the ARC)and spent some pleasant
hours wandering in the old town (16th century fortifications) and
catching up.
Boundless was in good shape when we checked her
out, apart from being very dirty on the outside, and expectedly some UV
deterioration. Inevitably there is a quarry or cement works where
boatyards are located!
We met "Kiwi
John" who is running the yard here, he knows Nick, Bob
Clifford, Dick Neville
and just about everyone else in sailing
circles. Work was organised and commenced - polishing, teak, impellors,
solar panels, stainless steel work, new shade cloths and fly screens, sail
repairs (sails having been cleaned in our absence)and bending sails on.
Dickie repaired a staunchion and spent hours with "Desmond"
trying to repair galley sink
leaks - impossible to buy a new mixer
tap here that suited. The French build beautiful boats, but it's not easy
replacing gear anywhere but Fance in our experience!
We had a
rental car for 10 days while we were staying in an apartment, so saw quite
a bit of the island and did a lot of running around looking for gear
between the chandleries, hardware stores, supermarkets etc. There is a
very good restaurant next door to the yard - "De Big Fish", with
happy hour, good food and great caribbean music, a friendly crowd of
cruisers and local ex-pat community hang out here. Met up with a fellow
from Devonport we had met last year, living and working from his boat here
for years. He is currently looking after Ken Gourlay's boat (Tas.
circumnavigator) that we're told he bought in the Med, while he is in Tas
before returning to cross the Pacific.
There are several
other restaurants and yacht clubs in the area and some local treasures we
have visited - but "oil down" made of chickens feet, fat, pork
sausuages and what seemed like anything else left in the kitchen has not
been my favourite!
We have now been back in the water for
close to a week, gradually going through all lockers
and gear
and rationalising as much as we can - even Dickie! The new solar panels
are working very well, more than doubling our energy input while the sun
is shining which is great. We remain in Prickly Bay while completing some
odd jobs, hoping to leave here by the 11th to head north through the
Grenadines to meet Dick Neville in St Vincent before heading
west to
the ABC's (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - Dutch Antilles).
Currently experiencing a period of particularly brisk trades and
frequent showers, and reaquainting ourselves with the up/down shuffle to
close hatches at night each time it rains.
Yesterday was
Grenadan Independence Day (37 years) and a public holiday and celebration
weekend. The Grenadan people love their country. We spent some time
at the beach over the weekend watching the work boats race from a beach
start - quite chaotic with a swell rolling in and the boys all very
competitive. Lots of fun.
There is a very strong cruising
community here, many cruisers spend the hurricane months aboard here. They
run a very comprehensive, informative daily radio net.
I'm improving my culinary skills - can now make consistently good
yogurt from powdered milk! Milk and other supermarket goodies that
we are used to, such as milk and yogurt, come in once a week from the US
and are very quickly sold out. I have also had some computer lessons
from a very helpful Texan - all interesting stuff!
After
several weeks with the very friendly Grenadans on their lovely island,
we're looking
forward to getting out of the bay and moving
on.......
Sue