As soon as we checked through Customs and Immigration, we again raised the jib, and trundled on downwind to the little anchorage beside Sandy Isle. This little spot, about a half mile off Paradise Beach, is a low spit of sand and heaped-up dead coral about 100 feet wide and 1000 feet long. Apparently, it was once lovelier with mature palm trees, but a hurricane cleaned it a few years ago, and the little guys planted by the locals are just a few feet tall yet. Still, a pretty oasis, with a great little snorkel at one end. A swim and a few repairs brought on happy hour and another pretty little sunset. The primary reason we were here was forecasted low-to-no wind, and we could tell it was about to arrive.
Thursday arrived with the scheduled lowering of the breezes, and, after the necessary coffee and Sudoku competition, we set to some chores. I (Laurie) tackled a potentially thorny job: removing the engine exhaust mixing elbows for cleaning and re-gasketing. It took the better part of two mornings to carry out, and was also accompanied by a pop-out of an oil dipstick on the starboard side. Not only did I lose litres of sweat on the elbows, but had to stand on my head and mop out the oil that spit up over everything. With the shampooing and cleanup of the oil and the areas affected by the slight leaks at the exhaust elbows, I got the necessary warm feeling of a job well done. (Warm indeed!) Dawn was busy with her numerous own chores, and the great physical and moral support for my chores.
Magique arrived on Thursday afternoon, and July Indian arrived Friday night; and we found great ways to enjoy each others' company. As well, the snorkeling provided Dawn and me with a few new reef fish, most notably some Rock Beauties and Spot-fin Butterfly fish. Saturday, we understand, was Earth Day. The three vessels celebrated it with a 5-bag cleanup of the debris on Sandy Isle. We still may be making the planet uninhabitable for our species, but Sandy Isle looks better today.
An interesting footnote is that we befriended a tortoise we found on the Isle. We also found out that it was dropped off there by a local who found it on another little island. We have no idea whether it was a good idea, but we fed it a great vegetarian dish, and Garry of July Indian ran it back to the main island, where we hope it will find water, shade, better grub, and others of its own species.
We are now behind a bluff outside St. George's Bay, Grenada. We got under way this morning at 5:30, and had a 6-hour sail down. We caught a 6-serving big-eye tuna within the first hour, and the filleted sides are right now against the cold plate. Presently, we're doing a little planning: purchases, repairs, and how to spend time with Lefty and Anne O'Brien, who arrive Tuesday night. As we don't have a great internet connection, this note is going up without pictures. Please check back in a day or two, as we do have some great shots to share.
