Cats, Chickens and Diesel Maintenance
28 April 2014 | Case Pilote, Martinique
Lynn
We have moved on from the Saints (I think we have mentioned them enough), bopped past Dominica, and landed in Fort de France, Martinique. We have had fun getting to know David and Donna on ‘Merlin’ much better, including Donna and I being “mall chicks” at one point. Fort de France is a stopping and shopping place for us, as there are some things that are just more accessible, or better, in the French islands. And there are some things that you can’t get anywhere else.
One of the highlights of our Martinique visit this time around was renting a car with David and Donna, and going for a drive. Our weather for the Mount Pele visit was better than the last time with David and Alex on ‘Banyan’, and we visited the St. James Run Distillery, which is also a museum and has an excellent display on the history of distillation. This feels like I may make that a blog entry all of its’ own. In a nutshell, if you have an interest in rum, or the distilling process, this is a “must see” while in Martinique. They also provide free taste samples, except for the 30 year old rum.
Every couple of years, we like to get the diesel in for a check-up by experts, and there is no better place than Inboard Diesel Services in Case Pilote, a fishing village a mere 6.5 nautical miles as the boat sails from Fort de France, and downwind, too!. We contacted Frank, the owner, and he said to come to the dock when we wanted to, and they would get to us when they were able. We arrived on Sunday (yesterday) as we were getting very low on water and wanted to be on the dock to fill up.
Case Pilote does not have a marina, it has a fishing harbour, with some space to tie up on the wall. It is easy to get into, which is a blessing for boats with a questionable diesel. Our diesel is healthy, so it wasn’t a necessity for us. However, there are no other amenities to speak of. Water needs to be carted from one side of the harbour to the other, and there is no electrical service available. Fine by us!
We went for a little stroll, in the (fruitless) search for an ice cream or something. This sleepy little place is closed up on a Sunday. The only activity seems to be cats and chickens. A LOT of cats and chickens. They are attracted to the cast offs from the fishermen, and the cats are semi-feral, and the chickens plentiful and well-fed. If the fishermen have a bad day, chicken is an easy fall back, for the people and the cats.
Monday morning Frank stopped by the boat to discuss our needs. Ludwig, his “small diesel” expert, was coming up from Le Marin to do some work in the shop and to take care of our boat. By 11:00, he was busy changing the mixer elbow on the exhaust and rebuilding our raw water pump. Fortunately for us, his English is quite good, and he is a pleasant conversationalist and a nice guy. He is also quite happy to teach us about our diesel.
The solution to carting the water about half a kilometer was provided by Frank. They use Swedish Postal Service electric “bikes” to get around with tools and oil and whatever they need when they aren’t using a truck around the docks. Frank offered the use of the tap in the workshop, and showed me how to use the three-wheel bike. It has the turning radius of a Mac truck, but it sure beat having to carry two loads of four jerry cans. And it was fun. They would be a hit on Toronto Island!
So, the diesel is happy for now, with a little work to be done on the saildrive when we haul this summer. St. Lucia, here we come!