Jun. 2, 2008 - All good things come to an end (sob)

So it was with much gnashing and wailing of teeth we pulled the good ship TF from the sea in the Power Boats yard in Trinidad last week.  Despite dire predictions of pirates on the trip from Grenada, strangely we didn’t see any.  However I had my new trusty flare gun well to hand, just in case.  Just for once we did the leg with three other boats who has the same plans as us.  They were more traditional types (Island Packets for those in the know) we left an hour after them and arrived two hours before them.  Once again I don’t regret our decision to buy a modern boat!! Oh and yes we caught yet more fish on the way.

We’ve spent the last few days with the boat on the hard, cleaning and servicing. Not too much of a chore as we’ve rented an air conditioner for the boat.  We are also taking advantage of the prices here and getting some boat davits made so next year we don’t have to continually remove the dinghy engine and hoist the dingy onto the foredeck.  Might also invest in some new cushion covers for the saloon and then it’s off to the airport on Friday to come home.

Some years ago we were sailing in the Channel Islands and at the end of a wonderful week were pondering what would happen if we just kept going, how long it would take the world to catch us up.  We had the same thought as we swung around a buoy in the harbour just before we lifted out and realised that this time there was absolutely nothing to stop us, indeed one of our new friends was keen to get company to go up the Orinoco river.  It must be an indication on how well the last 7 months have gone that we seriously considered cleaning her bottom and then just heading off to pastures new.  However we haven’t seen the kids in a while and there are some pressing domestics to sort out (and I have a couple of motor races already set up!) so we will be coming home. 

We’ve had a brilliant 7 months; travelled almost 2000 miles, caught fish, seen Dolphins and Wales, got fantastic tans, met loads of really nice people who we hope to keep in touch with and meet next year, had a couple of scares and some fantastic sailing and most importantly Fi and I are still talking !!!  Lets hope the next few months go as fast, so we can get back in the water and head off somewhere else.