Work, work, work!!
18 February 2018 | St David’s Harbour
Ros Brice
So much for getting the washing dry overnight.....it poured most of the night! We woke to overcast sky but at least the rain had stopped and Trilogy was shiny bright after the wash down.
The boys were itching to test their skills at installing the new freezer thermostat. This was not going to be an easy task but they figured it was not beyond them either. The saloon area was progressively pulled apart as access for the rewiring was either behind or under the cabinetry. It seemed that every single tool box was required and several tools were improvised when the need was not met by Trilogy’s fairly extensive kits. It was quite a sight to see both men simultaneously squeeze themselves into tricky positions in order to help each achieve a particularly difficult step. The final stage was to cut a hole in the plywood panel that lines the saloon side walls in order to mount the controller. The long panel was manoeuvred onto the marina pontoon and a movable set of steps served as a workbench, so that the hole in the plywood could be accurately cut to the exact size. There was a bit of anxiety about making sure the controller was perfectly positioned, in alignment, safe from accidental knocking but seen at a glance. The reward for their diligence was seeing the thermostat spring into action, for the first time giving an accurate reading of the freezer temperature. There were a few ‘high 5’s’ given out as we watched the compressor cycle on and off to keep the temperature a steady -10 to -12 degrees C. The ultimate benefit will not only be better certainty that food is properly frozen but also about half the power usage, which in turn extends the life of the batteries.
The next day was declared a day of rest and we all read and swam and generally relaxed. The weather was much nicer and it was no time before we were enjoying a round of drinks and dinner at the marina restaurant, The Deck. The restaurant was full as it was Valentine’s Day and many couples were having a special night, dressed in their best, gazing lovingly as the champagne flowed.
Next morning the skipper reported feeling like his head cold was getting the better of him and he decided to see a doctor in St George’s. He was taken straight into the surgery and reported he had a most thorough history and examination. Meanwhile I was served a cup of tea in the waiting room! It was then off to the pharmacist to get antibiotics and again the service was most professional. The only blow came when the pharmacist advised that there should be no consumption of alcohol while taking the medication! After a quick top-up on the fruit and vegetables at the supermarket, we phoned our courteous taxi driver Pedro, who got us back to Trilogy via all the shortcuts. Meantime, Garth had been very busy cleaning Trilogy once more, while there was access to shore power and water. We dined on board with a vegetable curry and all had an early night.
Next morning, the skipper was feeling a bit more chirpy and we agreed to depart Le Phare Blue marina at 11:00. Tied up beside one of the pontoon arms was a strange looking vessel that turned out to be an old Swedish lightship, which had been purchased in 2005 by its present owner. It was currently used for hotel guests to have breakfast and in the evenings live music was on offer on the upper deck. There were around 40 of these lightships built and their purpose was to be positioned along the Swedish coast wherever there was a shipping hazard, in other words, a mobile lighthouse. This sometimes meant it was encased in ice through the winter and this put incredible forces on the wooden hull. Some stayed for years in the same spot, so what a boring existence that must have been for the crew!. This lightship, Västra Banken has been transported to the other side of the world, is well maintained but does look like it doesn’t belong...and it doesn’t!