Jules and Mike
17/12/2009, Chaguaramas

A week of preparation ... turning an eight month house-boat into a sea going vessel. The decks are now cleared and the hold sorted but there's still a fair amount of securing to do. I'm pretty sure though that however well we do there will still be something that goes flying once we leave, there always is.

We spent nearly four days last week helping Paul get ready to go. There was a point when he didn't think he'd make it, and maybe it would have been better if he hadn't. He left Sunday at around 6 p.m., hit bad weather, lost most of his shrouds, ended up with his rat-lines trailing in the water and waiting for the big bang of his foremast crashing down.

It was a real shame after all the hard work (and money) he's put in over the last few months getting Alessandra ready for charter. We were on board with him as he came out of the marina and we did a few laps of the bay; it was so calm I actually felt like staying on board (or it could have been the Bloody Marys!). Anyway, luckily, after an apparently hellish night, him and his new hostess Lesley-Ann, made it to Grenada and have been able to get most of his repairs done already.

On Monday night we were invited to a local Christmas street party. We had been planning an early night but Mike was really excited by it ... his first ever taste of Christmas festivities in the warm. It was actually quite a good night, with lots of kids around, a Parang band Ryan had picked up playing on a street corner, and probably the only taste of turkey we'll be getting this year. It still doesn't seem like Christmas though, can't even think of it as December.

Our friends Peter and Linda left on Tuesday for Grenada and John and Gill left today. Everyone seems to be moving on in one direction or another.

We got water on Wednesday but didn't manage to scrape the hull until afterwards which was a bit of a shame and made it that much harder. Simon's been down to clean the prop. We've helped him get both buoys over to a position well away from the channel so once we've gone he should have no problems.

We have an appointment tomorrow at 10 a.m. with immigration to see about getting the boys signed on to the boat. We've been told it should all be ok but everyone's pretty tense this evening. We're also supposed to be getting some fuel but it's 7.30 now and no-one's shown up yet.

Tomorrow we're going for a few sun-downers with some of the people we've met and who want to say goodbye. I think it's best we leave Sunday, immigration permitting, as I don't think setting out with a hangover is the way to go. It's about 16 hrs so we aim to leave about 4pm to clear the Bocas in daylight and then arrive in Testigos, reputed islands of the lobsters in the morning....maybe if we're really lucky, lobbies for lunch.. We can fantasise anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This may well be the last blog from Trinidad ... or maybe not!

BREAKING NEWS!!

A local tug/small supply vessel just showed up and supplied us with a much needed splash of diesel to at least get us to Margarita in Chavezland, there we'll try for a real drink of the pink (except there it's brown apparently).

Ciao for now....


Next morning .... PROBLEMS!!!!!

Just to been to immigration and the passports now have to go to Port of Spain and it's not clear if we can take the boys.

And I'm trying to withdraw money to pay everyone up and ALL my cards have been blocked!!!!

Comments [2]

Jules
10/12/2009, Chaguaramas Bay, but not for much longer!

The count-down is on. Within 10 days we'll be leaving Chaguaramas Bay. I know it's definitely time to go but I can't help feeling somewhat apprehensive. We will have been here for a total of eight months (minus my visit back to the UK) and I haven't been on board once when the boat's moved in all that time. Maybe I'll get sea-sick again? Maybe we'll have engine problems? Maybe we won't get the boys visas sorted in time and have no crew? Maybe everything will be just fine!!

It seems lots of people are leaving around the same time. The boat yards are looking increasingly empty as the yachties come back to go sailing for the winter. They don't tend to hang around Trinidad for long, and given the amount of rain we've had over the last few weeks who can blame them. Not that I'm complaining (honestly!) but since the end of the official rainy season we've had more rain than in the past few months.

The week has been spent writing various 'have to do' lists before we go. Only there seem to be so many days when we rush around achieving not very much at all. That being said the lists aren't all that long now and we've reached the point of crossing more off than we then put on.

It's looking like departure day will be Saturday 19th; because even if we were ready before then NOBODY sets sail on a Friday, some old sea tradition that everyone I know sticks to. And the decision has been made to head for Isla Margarita in Venezuela, land of the cheap fuel! We're planning to stop off on the way in Los Testigos for a few days and then be in Margarita for Christmas. How long we stay there is still open to discussion, but given our track record so far ....

During the week we met some really great American guys (Jeff, Scott and Ben) who were here to take our friends' boat (Jarandeb) up to Puerto Rico. The plan was for Ken and the guys to sail up there and Dick and Jane fly to join them a week or so later. Unfortunately they only made it 25 miles out on the first leg to Grenada when they started having problems with the rigging. They eventually turned round and came back. Since then the rigging has been condemned and has to be totally replaced; a not inexpensive or quick fix. Needless to say Dick and Jane were pretty upset but their resilience is quite amazing and they've adjusted to their change in plans the way many a younger couple would have struggled with.

The only good thing to come out of it is that we had the guys over for a sushi night on their return and we've ended up making some good friends. They've all promised to keep in touch and Jeff is adamant that he'll join us for the Panama Canal leg of our trip ... we shall see.

On Monday morning we went into Port of Spain with Paul to pick up Mike's new Canadian passport and get Paul's German one extended. Then Paul had to finish his last minute provisioning. We ended up spending ALL day shopping, not something either of us enjoy, and especially not when it wasn't even for us. We ended up at the bulk food warehouse and Paul bought so much stuff, I think by that point he'd gone shopping mad, that there wasn't enough room in the car for us all. We tried getting a taxi but it was pouring rain and there were none around so Mike gallantly suggested that him and I catch the maxi-taxi back. By this time it was 3.30 p.m. and rush-hour was just starting; we waited for nearly two hours on the side of a busy highway as maxi-taxi after maxi-taxi sailed by either full, going in the wrong direction, or full and going in the wrong direction. By the time we got back we were hot, tired and definitely not happy campers.

Our local Wheelhouse bar at Tropical Marine was held up the other night. Luckily we weren't there at the time but apparently two gunmen went in just as they were about to close and demanded money. They also pistol-whipped two Swiss customers and ended up getting away with TT$9000 (£900). I know we read a lot about all the crime over here but it really is something else when it happens so close and to people you know ... lets hope Venezuela isn't so bad(!)

Oh well, back to the lists and the provisioning ...

Love to everyone ...

Comments [3]

Jules
03/12/2009, Chaguaramas

Yesterday saw the first anniversary of our departure from Maryport. It's one of those occasions where sometimes it seems like we've only just left and others like we've been gone for so so long.

So much has happened in the last twelve months it's difficult to summarise. We've met so many people, seen so many places ... drank so many beers! There have been ups and downs and I guess a few quiet times in between, although they don't readily spring to mind.

The first few weeks and months of our journey were fairly difficult. Teething problems with the engine, a popped rivet across Biscay, the storm off Portugal. Things not working out as well as we'd hoped with Tim and Bex and Ed; having to say goodbye to Bob and Glenys. They were all good crew, helped to get us where we are, and all their hard work continues to be very much appreciated.

Our time with Mic and Marie, Andrea and Marina on board was good, and crossing the Atlantic has been one of the highlights so far.... WE DID IT!

It's also been good to know that people back home (UK and Canada) follow our progress. The blog comments and personal emails have kept us going during quite a few of our not so positive moments.

The work we've done along the way, and continue to do, has been hard going at times but we get a wonderful sense of achievement when new people come on board and marvel at our tenacity and the ever growing beauty of the Buzzard. We've met some brilliant people and made great friends that I know will last a life-time ... just a shame our time together is limited, or maybe that's what makes the friendships so good.

On a personal level Mike and I are going from strength to strength despite being together 24/7 and having a fair amount of stress .. we're still planning the wedding anyway so that's a good sign. It's not so good being so far from family and friends though. Today it's Jessie's 24th birthday and so far I haven't even been able to talk to her. Al left Australia and is now back in the UK and I haven't seen him for almost two years. It's hard sometimes.

And now for something completely different ... the weekly update!

We've had quite a bit of rain. So much so that Paul's had to delay his expected departure date because he hasn't been able to finish the varnishing and teak deck sealing. However, his boat is looking better by the day. Mike spent the other afternoon up his mast installing both up and down-lights on the spreader bars which look really good (but only at night).

Our friend Sallie fell off her bicycle while under the influence of tequila and ended up with a face even worse than Mike's. It's become a definite no-no to mix biking and alcohol. Toby went missing yet again and was grounded.

We had our immigration appointment and my visa is now extended to match Mike's ... which doesn't give us much time before we leave!! The boys now all have new passports which is great, but now we are trying to sort out visas for their entry into Venezuela. It seems to be one hurdle after another and we're not quite sure what to do if the visas aren't granted. Either we have to go somewhere else or ....think again.

Most the last week has been spent working on the crews. This is the only part of the boat that hasn't really been done yet and has been used as an extended paint locker, fishing trap room and assorted crap collector for as long as I can remember. Now, however, it's cleaned out, ground, primed and a hatch made onto the side deck for further ventilation. The plan is to reinstate it as crews accommodation and we're going to build in a shower, toilet and galley area, which doesn't sound like a lot if you say it quickly !!

We've been having outboard troubles for months, with only one out of three working (and that one not even belonging to us!). But Paul's sold us his Yamaha 25hp which has added a whole new, and quicker, dimension to our dinghying. . That being said Mike's just had to take it apart because the handle jammed, oh well, you can't have everything.

Our friend Ryan took us to Port of Spain to fill up our four 100lb propane bottles (yes, we really are getting ready to leave). The depot is only about a mile from the city centre but between a main highway and the sea. It was quite an experience; we visited the Sludge Swamp (aka Black Lake) and passed through the Old Tyre Hills to the Dead Car Mountain. I'm guessing it was a tour that none of the recent CHOGM delegates got to go on.

As I'm typing this John and Gill have just passed in their catamaran. Apparently the Orinoco was wonderful and they went 17 days without seeing another yacht. Can't wait to hear all their stories ... especially the one about being chased by a jaguar, not the car variety...

Love to all ...

PS We had a bit of a problem with Skype, not quite sure how or why but we've lost ALL our contacts, names, numbers, everything. If you want to let us have your number and Skype address that would be great. Thanks.

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