Hacking At It
10 June 2018 | Tipperary Waters Marina, Darwin
Saturday 9 June 2018
Having had my evil way with Vietnam and Cambodia it's good to get back to assaulting the marine realm. Arrived into Darwin at 0500 Monday and hit the ground napping. Following a ten hour sleep that night, Jan had her third to last Herceptin injection Tuesday and we resumed normal biking Wednesday morning with recommencement of boat projects that afternoon. It's coming together. Mainsail furler motor is fixed, more or less (brushes are worn and will be replaced if located - 20 year old motor). It's working and should last for awhile under any circumstance. Bimini is resewn and remounted with solar panels. A month after life raft sent for inspection, Nautical Supply may get to it next week (it's old and they sell the things, so not sanguine about a positive result) and stripping and sanding of teak and brightwork for varnishing where necessary is proceeding apace (remember previous admonition that, notwithstanding dictionary definition, a pace can be slow). Everything else is dusting and cleaning or background noise (except, of course, the critical stuff I've forgotten that Jan will probably remind me about before it's too late).
After various tests, probing and poking, Jan's doctors have given her the all clear, big thumbs up. No more examinations, scans or interviews will be necessary as she completes treatment with last two shots and continues with just regular, yearly mammograms. She's free and we're free!! On Wednesday 18 July 0930 we sail on the outgoing tide bound for Cocos Keeling, 2000 nm due west. Cannot adequately express the radiant anticipation embraced by those words.
Given all the abuse leveled at Australia and Darwin in particular, must admit that leaving here will not be without many good thoughts and gratitude, especially to the people who have been so good to Jan and me and for the wonderful treatment she's received. We've enjoyed the extensive biking trails, great coffee shops and good restaurants plus there are two Irish pubs. Do not, however, assume any mellowing as there is no amount of inducement that could make me return... ever.
Sunday
Long weekend due Queen's birthday celebration (you know, head of the British royalty US fought a war to dump, but now can't get enough of). Seems like every time you turn around someone is celebrating the blessed event with a huge piss-up. It's really only twice a year for the current monarch, but Canada also celebrates for Victoria who died in 1901 at 81, so they do come around pretty often. Vicky's holiday was declared the year she died partly to show what Toronto thought about a movement in Quebec to join the US. Upshot is that after a long, intemperate weekend tradie action is shackled (a little nautical humor) for awhile. Onboard maintenance crew is picking up the slack with preparation for varnishing. This is primarily sanding (second least favorite activity just behind toilets), taping and scraping. Painting is actually the easy part. It would be even easier if someone could convince Jan to do it.
Hoping weather would remain ideal for more than three weeks this year (lost time spent in Indochina) we prepare for disappointment. Temperatures and dew points have already begun to sneak upward. No aircon yet, but nights have become ever so slightly stuffy. Five weeks, two days, eighteen hours, twenty one minutes and fifty eight seconds (UTC +9.5). Will someone check WWV for a time hack please?
Jack