17 March 2022 | The Saintes in Guadeloupe
12 March 2021 | Sandy Island, Carriacou
11 February 2021 | The Pitons, St. Lucia
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06 January 2021 | Rodney bay marina, St. Lucia
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06 June 2020 | San Juan, Puerto Rico
16 May 2020 | Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
16 May 2020 | Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
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20 April 2020 | Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
01 April 2020 | Rodney Bay Marina, St. Lucia
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22 March 2020 | Rodney Bay Marina, St. Lucia
10 February 2020 | Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
27 January 2020 | Tobago Cays, St. Vincent and the Grenadnes
18 December 2019 | prickly bay
09 December 2019 | Halifax bay
16 November 2019 | Prickley Bay, Grenada
Tobago Cays
27 January 2020 | Tobago Cays, St. Vincent and the Grenadnes
Greg Seebart | sunny
Groups of hundreds of tiny one inch long fish jump out of the water in unison with the early morning sun reflecting off their silver bodies. They look like thousands of pieces of sparkling crystals being thrown into the air to catch the light magic. The multiple groups jump across the bay. Why do they do this? I haven’t a clue. I think it might be purely for my enjoyment.
Of course the waiting seabirds view it as their fast food breakfast stop. Their white bodies float overhead with out stretched wings. The inborn radar letting them time the descent down over the water just as the fish jump out of water. All they have to do is open their beaks and let the those sparkling diamonds fill the open mouth.
A sea turtle pops up its head to get a breath of air before diving back sown to eat some seagrass. It could care less about the dancing fish and the hungry birds.
Im attached to a mooring ball in the national park called Tobago Cay. This is a protected area for sea turtles and no fishing is allowed. Today there are over 60 boats surrounding me. The water is crystal clear and one of my closest friends calls it 50 shades of turquoise. It is a beautiful and truly magical place. Arriving yesterday around 12:00, I quickly jump in the water and I am surrounded by three sea turtles.
Yes I am finally off the dock and away from Grenada. The mechanics did a nice job of replacing my motor mounts and balancing the engine. It now purrs like a kitten instead of possessed demon trying to escape the boat. My newly replaced steering cables let me spin the helm like spreading butter on warm banana bread.( Which I had this morning since the yellow bananas were no longer yellow so time for the oven for them.) The cooling element of the fridge died so we are making due with the smaller freezer compartment that still works. I have just had to to set the temperature above freezing. The ice does not last as long so I am forced to drink for iced drinks( aka rum punches.)
In addition to other problems on the boat, my steering system did not feel quite right. When I took a closer look, I found some fitting that had cracked and broken over time. I sent an email the the company that makes them describing my problem and sending them phots of the broken fittings. Unlike many companies that you drop an emaiI into their general mailbox and it is forever lost, I received a response the next day.
His response was “Do Not Leave the Dock. It is worn out and could completely fail at anytime.”
Mmm, I could pretend I didn’t receive that and worry about it in the spring when I get done with cruising and just be oblivious to it. No that won’t work it will eat away at me the whole time. I call up the person who had responded to the email. He punches up the original schematic for the boat built in 1995 and puts all the parts together and walks the box to fed ex to make sure it will get shipped out on December 23 so I can have the parts to carry back to Grenada with me. That was amazing customer service above and beyond the normal of most companies. I checked you tube to see how to replace my cables and the person I had talked with the entire time is presenting. He is the president and CEO of this multimillion dollar company that had taken the time to get everything to me. It made me feel good about an American business. A big shout out to Edson Marine.
Today will be another low keyed day swimming with sea turtles, snorkeling and walking on the beaches. We will head north to Bequia tomorrow. We just heard last night that there is a music festival there this weekend. We might have to stay a little longer than expected.