Finally!

Hashes, Hikes, and Hauling

I've talked about how great Grenada is as if I were painting it using broad, not fine, brushstrokes. But now is the time to add greater detail.

The 3 h's - hashes, hikes, and hauling - are a bittersweet composite of the most striking moments of our last month on Grenada. It's not that we didn't want to come back to Maine - the hauling part - but that we wanted to continue to enjoy Grenada, specifically the hashes and hikes. So, what is a hash?

There are hash organizations worldwide, and there even has been one in Portland though I believe it is not very active presently. A hash has been described as a socialized run (or walk) geared to "runners with a drinking problem". It was much more for us on Grenada because it was an opportunity to visit parts of the island we would not normally see as the hash venues change weekly. One week we began along the coast before heading inland, and other times we headed into the interior of this mountainous island. We experienced different eco-climates such as lush bamboo stands, partially dried out grazing fields for goats and cattle, and terraced terrain for the growth of spice trees, predominantly nutmeg. The distance covered was very doable at about 2-3 miles for walkers, and a bit more for the runners.

We cruisers were just a small part of the hashing crowd as the local inhabitants represented the majority of the participants. After all, the locals are the ones putting on the hashes. Thank goodness for that as the ambiance fitted them perfectly - the music was loud and lively and the BBQ jerk chicken was just spicy enough. Beers were sold at 3 for 12 EC$ or about $2.30 each, and the meal cost 15 EC$ ($6.00). As if we weren't enjoying ourselves enough we got to revel in the discomfort of others (such a schadenfreude feeling) rightfully so because we ourselves had been targeted as virgins on our first hash, and doused with shook-up beer. The trail planner seemed always to face condemnation for some drummed-up charge and as, as a result, was soaked by beer; he was also required to drink beer from a bowl while having his arm unbending within a PVC pipe. Granted, the routine doesn't vary much from week to week, but everyone seems to enjoy the fate of those who have offended the hash gods. This includes those wearing new shoes; their fate was to drink beer out of the offending article.

As you might imagine, cruisers and drinking go hand-in-hand, but not necessarily all the time. The second h - for hikes - started off with only water to drink but on the next two hikes, after swims in pools at the bottom of waterfalls, finished with wine, bread, and cheese. Somehow it didn't feel decadent at the time but just right. We had fellow cruiser Steve on Slow Flight to thank for these hikes; he and sometime fellow cruisers Lou and Claudette would preview the potential hike on Tuesdays, marking the trail if need be. On Thursdays we would use the local van as our transportation, asking Shademan (Patrick), Christopher, or George to pick us up at this place and that time. We can't say enough how accommodating the van drivers were; these 3 gentlemen with their own vans provided the means to go on the shopping trips, the hiking trips, the hashes, and even brought us to less organized events.

The last h - hauling - meant for us a lot of work in preparation for the long layover on the hard (land). The oil in the engine needed replacing, the bilge needed cleaning, the deck needed covering, all food stores needed to be looked over and either tossed out if opened, stored securely, or given away, the interior walls needed to be sprayed with vinegar water to prevent the growth of mildew, all washable sheets and towels needed to be cleaned, dried, and stored securely away, and boric acid/sugar traps laid out for any trespassing cockroaches or ants. Some of this we could do before Katahdin was hauled out at Spice Island into its cradle home, and some had to wait until it was secure on land. And with outside temperatures high and with the inside temperatures reaching 93 degrees, we were drenched by mid-morning.

We had allowed 2 and ½ days on the hard (on land) to finish all the preparations for summer storage, and we barely made it. But we left Katahdin in good hands with the Island Dream folks checking in on her every 2 weeks, and at a good marina, Spice Island, which has cruiser-approved security. It won't be until December before we return to take her out to sea again. Even though we'll be spending even more than a few days getting her ready for the upcoming cruising season it'll be time well spent; we want to ensure that next winter's sailing goes as smoothly as possible, and preparation plays a big part in making that possible.