Jules
26/04/2009, Trinidad

Some crew news to report. Mic and Marie are leaving us next week to go and join up with their friends in Colombia. It was always their intention to leave us in Venezuela but they spoke to their friends when we arrived and they found out that they would only be there for another few weeks. As it will be more than that before we make it to Maracaibo they've decided to catch the ferry over to the mainland on Wednesday, and then the bus up through Venezuela, so that they can get there in time to see them.

It will be strange for us to not have them around. They've been a great crew and have helped a lot. We've had some fun experiences together, not to mention quite a few nights of Pastis, in the three months and over three thousand miles they've been with us. Mic's still determined to catch a big fish before he goes, and there are lots in the bay where we're anchored, so I really hope he does. (We had dolphins close by last night and as I sit here typing I've just seen a big ray jump out of the water alongside us.) Anyway ... we'll miss them and wish them all the very, very best on the next leg of their exciting journey.

On a more positive note we managed to achieve quite a lot in the week we've been here. Mike had an engineer come out to look at the injectors and for the last few days we've been running the engine on an idle with a mixture of kerosene and diesel. The black smoke has all but gone so hopefully that's done the trick (considerably cheaper than the special chemical that was recommended too).

We've also had the boat measured for the Canadian registration and are now waiting for his calculations. The Buzzard was quite a challenge for him though so I think it might take a while before he completes it. We've managed to source the Racor filters and other parts that we need quite close by which is a bonus. Mike's down working in the engine-room/sauna at the moment re-wiring the generator on the engine so that the control box is up on the main panel rather than on the generator itself. We're hoping that will stop all the problems we've had with it so far (the mounting plate managed to break yet again during the crossing and has had to be re-welded as well).

One of the local fish-boat owners is organising for us to get water and fuel, we're running on fumes just about. That should happen early next week ... but then we're learning Trinidad time is another one of those nebulous concepts!

We haven't managed to do much in the way of sight-seeing yet, surprise, surprise, but hopefully that will change next week. The rest of the crew have been off exploring the local beaches (three so far) which are apparently really beautiful.

It was Al's 21st yesterday (my son). I managed to phone him in Australia which was really good, but somehow when you speak to them it makes you miss them all the more and realise just how far away you (they?) are. (When we were in Cabo Verde we looked on the world map and realised that with Al in Brisbane and Jess in Vancouver the three of us were as far away from each other as we could possibly be.) Al had organised to go sky-diving on this birthday ... my first reaction was to worry, but then I remembered I did it when I was 21 too, I guess what goes around comes around!

We've been getting up at 6 a.m. with the idea of getting work done before it gets too hot - some hope, by 7 it's too hot to sit outside. This morning we met up with an American guy called Ken who bought us the local Trini delicacy of Doubles for breakfast (some kind of tortilla filled with chick peas, peppers and chutneys). Not normally what you'd think of eating first thing in the morning but very good, they sure made the mouth tingle and we didn't even have the hottest version ... even Mike had to admit they were hot. And tonight we're going over to the pub for yet another Trini speciality of Shark and Bake, I'm assuming the name says it all. (By the way the ribs were ok the other night but a bit more than our budget allows so we just shared a plate ... then again it's so hot you don't feel like eating too much anyway.)

Just remembered another thing that happened crossing the Atlantic: Marie and I saw the green flash of sunset. Marie had heard about it since she was small but had thought it was myth as she'd never seen it. With a clear sky the sun sinks below the horizon and a couple of seconds later there is a clear emerald green light that comes up in it's place ... quite amazing! (I also saw my biggest ever shooting star ... just a few things to keep you going miles away from everything!)

Love to all ...

PS Will Mic and Marie's departure mean the end of our French followers? And is there anyone out there who fancies a little crewing themselves?!?!

Comments [6]

Jules
22/04/2009, Chaguaramas

So we're into our third day in Trinidad. The boat-lag is beginning to ease but we're all still hot and tired and a little stressed ... but then I guess it takes more than a day or so to get over the journey we've just had.

We've spent the last two days trying to organise for the Canadian tonnage measurement and to get the injectors sorted. Apparently there's a chemical cleaner that we can put through them but it's expensive so we're looking at other options. We also need more water and fuel but although it's cheap here for residents it's not for visitors.

In my haste to let you know we'd arrived safely I forgot to mention the last few days of our Atlantic crossing. With about 36 hours to land we were welcomed to the Caribbean by a whole host of dolphins. There must have been over a hundred of them playing around the boat and constantly coming towards us, it was a beautiful sight ... we have video footage but I haven't worked out how to edit it or put it on the blog yet, hopefully soon. We were also met by a military boat about 40 miles out. They just stayed a ways off and watched us for a while, we all wanted them to board, I guess we were getting desperate for outside contact! They're mainly looking for boats going from the Caribbean, not coming.

Our first rum in Trinidad proved somewhat of a disappointment. In Chaguaramas marina (the only marina in Trinidad), where we're anchored, there's the usual expensive yachty bar which is a bit outside our means, and then the more local cheaper ones ... only they don't serve cocktails and the rum and coke was weak. Oh well, at least the beers are cold and only 12TT$ each, (8/euro or 6.33/US$)..


The day we arrived the crew gallantly washed the boat down in an attempt to get rid of the black stuff (I think they actually had fun with the pressure-washer), and yesterday they took a bus (maxi taxi) into Port of Spain (about 20 mins). We were in organise mode, and spent the day trying to sort out everything that needs doing. We did, however, manage to have the boat to ourselves for a few hours in the evening, something that doesn't happen very often. We sat on our own water-front veranda watching the sun go down behind the verdant hills, drinking our own pina coladas (coconut rum punch from Santo Antao and a box of pineapple juice we've had since Las Palmas) - who needs expensive bars!

Toby has had his first Caribbean shore leave but I think it's a bit too hot for him. Nellie doesn't care where we are as long as the food keeps coming and she has a shady place to sleep. I think she put on a bit of weight as we were crossing; every time I got up she wanted feeding, and it was more than her usual once a day.

Judging by the local tourist brochures we've got there seems like an awful lot to see and do on the island (apart from see industrial areas which, surprise, surprise, seems to be all we've done so far) We're planning on hiring a car for a day to go out to see the bamboo cathedral, the rain forest,the pitch lake and the famous turtle beach where apparently they're hatching their eggs at the moment. There's also every type of food imaginable ... although the sushi doesn't look as good as Mike's and is very expensive. This evening is rib night at the local pub and Mike's been salivating ever since he found out; we eat well on board but haven't had much meat for quite some time, I just hope it lives up to expectation.

It's quite strange to hear so many birds around after being so far out. There's a lot of pelicans and turkey vultures and swallows, lots of small chirping birds and some bright yellow ones that add to the real tropical feel of the place.

Apparently things aren't quite as idyllic as it looks though .. 1.5 million people and about 600 murders and 500+ missing persons per year...mostly unsolved.. some dark undercurrents in paradise !!!

More later ... love to all ...

PS Yes, Shell, I think being in the middle of the ocean does lead towards self-enlightenment. Not always fun but luckily it's been mainly positive, just need to put it all into practice now ... and stop sweating the small stuff!

Comments [8]

Jules
20/04/2009, TRINIDAD

Hi Everyone ... We saw land for the first time yesterday and anchored just off Port of Spain at 1 a.m. this morning. It's all quite amazing, everything is so green and lush and, once again, we've made it!!!

Sorry ... still quite get over the fact. All those people who doubted us and the Buzzard's ability to get out of Maryport, never mind across the Atlantic ... and we're here!

First impressions are wonderful. Lush green vegetation (apparently Trinidad is least visted due to it's being so south but yet one of the most exotic islands with the only Caribbean rain-forest).

We're still really tired. Just made port to clear customs and immigration and now Mike and the rest of the crew are moving the boat further in as I check out all the local facilities and work out exactly where we are!

It's been so good to read all your comments (thank you especially to my Mum and Mic's mum ... your English is fine!). While we were crossing we sent blogs but didn't get any of the comments; thought maybe everyone had stopped reading, but then being so far away from anything does make you think weird things sometimes!

Anyway ... as I've already found an internet place (it's also air-conditioned which is great as it's 32C outside) I'll try and keep the blog going regularly and get some photos up.

The crew are itching to get ashore ... apparently it's rum time! And I know we're going to take quite a few days to get over the boat-lag(?). Then we have to get organised and hopefully get the parts and water and more fuel and more supplies, the list never seems to end.

I already have a great feeling about Trinidad though and have faith that everything will work for us. It's great that everyone speaks English, such a change after the last four months, there's even English tv and radio.

Lots of love to everyone ...

Comments [14]