Nov. 7, 2008 - It ain't half bloody hot mum!!!!!!!!!!

Well we’re back in the boat yard in Trinidad after a straightforward trip from the UK.  What can I say; the title gives a clue to the temperature.  You can tell it’s really hot in the Caribbean when the locals start complaining – and they were today.  Bearing in mind the UK was about ten degrees when we left, ‘climate shock’ is probably the best phrase.  Still things seem to be going OK.  The boat was in great nick, no mould inside, the hull already sanded and ready for antifouling, the davits all fixed.  We made a little list on the plane of things to do, I spent all day on the boat and it only seems to have grown longer!!  I have invested in 4 new batteries as the last lot were a bit suspect – they are really cheap here and having literally sweated half a stone in the process – they are now snugged down in their storage charging away.  As I write this, Fi is just half way through her first rum and coke and quote ‘it seems like we have never been away’, and that about sums it up.  Where on earth did the last 5 months at home go?  The problem is of course, that we will be saying the same about this trip when we get home.

We aim to be in the water next Tuesday or even earlier all being well.  My last major job is to mount the solar panels over the top of the davits – a far better place for them and it will give the boat a ‘formula one’ type wing at the back, that along with twin fishing rods either side should make us look really cool – hmm maybe some chequered tape down the side and some furry dice from the Spray Hood?  Not photos as of yet I will save them up for out first decent sunset.

For those interested in out plans, and I know some of you are (cos you said so) this is the current ‘plan’:

Leave here and mosey up to St Lucia for Christmas – we are flying home 20^th Dec to 2^nd  Jan  (Fi missed the kiddy widdys lat year).

January – Fis sister is coming back with us and Pete A is threatening to come the next two weeks (make up your mind).

End of  Jan we aim to meet up with our chum Troutbridge who should have sailed across the pond by then (takes all types).  Really not sure after that, I quite fancy a dirty dash up to the Virgin Islands or even Puerto Rico and then a more gentle trip back down.  However we also might look into some charter work in the Grenadines, Oh dear decisions, decisions - when/if we actually make any I’ll let you all know.

The returnees.