Banyan's Back in a Marina.
We left the sculpture park, nursing
our MY wounds, and while they weren't real serious wounds, they were beyond itchy as you know what. Wounds in this case being the stings from the "invisible" jellyfish we encountered as were exploring the UnderWater Sculptures.
We both get stung, but for some reason I seem to develop an allergic reaction to them. The areas where I'd been stung turn red with huge welts and bumpy bumps and itchy spots that you don't even want to think about scratching because the moment you start you can't stop, and that makes it painfully worse for all concerned. Me most of all, and poor Dave who has to listen patiently while I whine and moan and groan and complain. It usually takes about a week for it all to go away, and well, it's not yet been a week and yes I'm still whining and I'm still Itchy.
So
Banyan's in a slip at Port Louis Marina, med moored at that. Med Moorings are widely used around these parts largely due to limited spaces and large volumes of boats. How we've managed to escape this process is a mystery to us. Well, no, it's not, the truth is we don't stay in marina's unless we have a specific reason to do so, and so we've never had to attempt this before.
Funny story there as a while back we met one couple who asked us where we were headed, and as we had some work that needed doing, we mentioned we were heading "Into a Marina". Immediately the eyebrows went up and with obvious disdain they said "We. Don't. Do. Marina's" as they turned away from us. Oh...
So, we are stern to, at F dock, and the process went as smoothly as pie, largely due to the Capt'N's complete explanation and re-explanation of the whole process before we arrived, for the benefit of yours truly, whose butterflies were developing faster than her knees could shake.
With our fenders out on both sides, our bow lines ready and the staff at Port Louis Marina ready and waiting for our arrival, we waited for their thumbs up signal and Dave slowly backed into our spot (between two boats already there!!). We were lucky and conditions seemed to be favouring us, very little wind, no current...
I, at the bow, threw one of our lines out to the guy in the dinghy and as he caught it, he quickly and expertly tied it to the underwater lazy line. Then it was on to the other side, repeat process. As instructed, I patiently waited for him to give the ok signal again, and when he did, I tensioned them as instructed.
Once done, I headed aft where Dave was already halfway backed into our spot and handing the stern lines to the guy on the dock who pulled us in and before you knew it, we were shaking hands and the butterflies were gone. Nice.
Funny, how, our 40 foot home on the water seems and feels large. It's roomy and just perfect for us. But somehow, moored between these two giants (yes you can, if you look hard enough, barely find our mast between them), we feel very, very small and quite insignificant indeed.
The next day we watched from our cockpit as a med mooring went wrong, right in front of our very eyes. Not as wrong as it COULD have, and although I don't have photos of the event (it would have been wrong, in my opinion, to dash below to grab my camera and take photos, of the Capt'N and marina staff, trying to bring the boat into the proper spot) as we were standing by and poised to help, if called upon.
End result, it was a tense time, for all concerned. We got queried later on for what we saw take place. And by the end of the afternoon the boat was gone. Don't quite know what specifically went wrong and in what order, but Dave and I agreed that communication and patience were two things that were missing.
So far here we're getting lots of work done, as one does, when one is in a marina with access to running water and all the amenities that come with being in a marina. We've turned the freezer off and our solar panels are keeping us topped up with our power needs which is making the Capt'N happy.
We've done a great job of "spring cleaning" and these last few days have been spent hurricane-proofing the boat within the specs of our insurance requirements. The sails have come off, and are ready to be dropped off to be cleaned, inspected, fixed if and where necessary. Lines are coiled and put away. Dinghy will be cleaned and come on deck.
And the list goes on and on and as we cross one item off the list, two more seem to take its place and isn't that always the way?
Like I mentioned we're on F dock, and F Dock has been lovingly nicknamed Far Dock.
Far from the (not so refreshing) Pool, (amazingly refreshing) Showers and Happy Hour with its' extremely Lethal Rum Punches and Delicious Pizza nights,
and what a great spot this is to recover from all that work that is being done and still needs to get done, all in the early morning hours before it gets too hot and you're sweating just THINKING about moving.
Just so you know it's not been all work, and no play. If you haven't already, "LIKE US" on our
Sailing Banyan Facebook Page and you can browse photo albums of Friday Sax Night at the Museum, or our Saturday Hash Shenanigans.
And with today's post we are
ONLY three more sleeps away from boarding that plane and flying home for a couple of months. Home away from home. Home to visit our precious kids, family and friends, all while leaving our lovely home here in Port Louis Marina, Grenada.