We jumped out of bed this morning a rush on deck to cover out nice pretty teak before lowering Puff our dinghy into the water. We got lucky and we hit slack tide when it was nice and calm in the anchorage. We showered and took off for shore as the taxi or teaks as it's called out here was set to pick us up for the trip to get our new photos and then over to the Thai Consulate. As expected, the man at the photo shop was a tad late but we got the photos and were at the consulate before they opened (only about 15 minutes late) and got in line. There we about 15 of us all waiting to get help. The major domo of the applicants made use we were all in a nice straight line as we waited("Do you understand English?" was his spiel). As we filled in the forms, who should appear but Richard and Susan off Sea Bunny. They's left well before us and had pulled in at Pangkor and were at the marina there since they could never get in to the one here in Penang. The "official" web site for Thailand had said that if you fill in the papers today, you can get your visa the same afternoon. "I've to a bridge in San Francisco that I'd love to sell you". "The check is in the mail". Take your pick, all have about that much chance of happening. We were told we could pick ours up on Monday after 1400. Not sure what Richard and Susan found out though coming from Great Britain, maybe there's was different.
We caught a cab and took off for the Gurney Plaza for breakfast and shopping. We'd left so early we never had a chance to eat. We had a nice breakfast and then Tracy decided it was time to have her hair cut. First time since we left Fiji two years ago. We found a nice looking shop and wandered in. The one and only beautician was having his breakfast and asked us to wait. Ok fine, this is Malaysia after all, not the US. We waited a few minutes and then in went Tracy. In the end, she decided to get a perm as well and as we all know, that takes a ton of time. I grabbed a cab and headed for the Samsung repair place down town and took our poor computer in for repairs. It had stopped working a few days ago and we thought it might be the "on/off"switch. Their tech wasn't in but would be in about 1500. They would call us with a report and a cost to get it done. It took me the better part of an hour to find a cab as first, it was lunch time and second, it was time for Muslim prayers. I finally got one and headed back to the first shopping center where Tracy was getting her hair done. I got there just about 1400 just as she was finished. We had a nice lunch at McDonalds and then hit Cold Storage for more food. We didn't buy much as there isn't much we need. Jumped back into a cab and headed for the marina. I stopped in at the office to see if we were still going to get a slip tomorrow. I was advised that the slip was already available as John(marina manager) had had him move out and get retied along the seawall so when high tide came(about 2300), he could just go out. We climbed back into Puff and headed for Zephyr. The seas off the marina had turned ugly with a stiff wind and a 3-4 foot swell was moving swiftly through the anchorage throwing all the boats all over the place. It was down right nasty. We somehow managed to get the outboard off with only a few cuts and bent knuckles and then we got Puff back on board. Both of us felt quite whipped by what we had done and decided to wait till tomorrow morning when it's calmer to go in. High tide is about 1100 so we will be heading in then. Once in, it's tourist time again.
Ohn by the way, we heard from the Samsung folks. It was indeed the on/off switch. It's out of stock but they are having it shipped in from Kuala Lumpur so it should be in with luck tomorrow. Total cost--$2.50 ringitts--less than a buck!!!

It's now Saturday and we are safely tied into the Straits Quay Marina after a fun time backing Zephy into the slip they assigned us. We spent the morning straightening up around the boat and getting the docking lines out and the fenders over the side to protect us from ourselves as well as other boats in the marina. I hooked up our new water pump for anchor and chain cleaning so I could spray off the mud the anchorage is famous for. By 1050, the anchor was on it way up. I'd already called the marina to make sure they were ready.

In we went, with Tracy at the life lines with the dock lines ready to go. As I entered the marina, I did a fast hard turn to starboard and swung the bow to the right and the stern to the left. Around we went until the stern was pointed(sort of) at the slip we were to go into. Into gear and turn the wheel. Out of gear and turn the wheel. It was a ballet with a 45,000 pound dancer. We backed up nicely across the marina and slowly made our way towards the slip shifting to the right and left to correct for wind and the current that goes through the marina. There were three men on the dock to take our lines. I'd warned them we back up like a drunken elephant. Amazingly, we glided right back towards the slip and Tracy could HAND the ducklings to the men. Bill on Solstice(owns a Liberty that we have been traveling with (on and off) for the last 4 years) came out to help and had a fender ready to go as he stood on the boat next to our intended slip. The men on the dock took our lines and we were in. NO PROBLEMS!!! Any docking that doesn't involve fiberglass damage or people getting hurt is a good docking.

After getting squared away, we walked back up to the marina office and filled in all the paperwork and prepaid for our slip for the next four nights. With luck, we should have our visas and the computer all fixed by then.