Back Aboard

We've been back in Grenada for a month now and have settled into the

routine of a cruisers' life in Prickly Bay.

It was nice waking up to a rainbow on our first morning here.

Hanging in Merengue's rigging was this burgee, courtesy of our friends

Hope and Steve, the Minnesota Vikings fans.

One side says "Minnesota is Mossome".....

while the other says "Green Bay still Sucks."

We have been trying to exorcise the demons from Merengue ever since!

No amount of incense, rum offerings, chanting, etc seems to be working.

We've had numerous boat problems and the Packers haven't played 

well ever since except that time when they

beat, now who was that, oh yes the Minnesota Vikings!

One of the net controllers on our cruiser's radio net has a saying that

I feel is very true.

"Sailing is not a Vacation but a Vocation."

Jim is getting too much vocational training since we've been back!

Here he is wedged into the head replacing the joker valve.

A few days later our dinghy sprang a leak.

This is worse than getting a flat tire on your car.

A flat is quickly changed and you're back on the road.

The dinghy had to be hauled out for several days while a patch was

applied and allowed to dry.  The hole was on the bottom of the tube.

This was a challenge because when the dinghy was deflated, you

couldn't get it to lie flat enough to apply the patch smoothly.

When inflated so that the tube was smooth it leaked!

Jim came up with a good solution where he applied a small 

patch that was just slightly larger than the hole and let that dry

for 24 hours.

Then Jim inflated the dinghy a little more to smooth out the hull, 

being careful to not blow the patch.  He glued this larger patch right 

over the top.  If you don't think this solution will work, please don't

tell us.  We prefer living in denial!

Many thanks go out to our friends who gave us rides back and forth 

to shore for the many days it took to do the repairs.

This morning we had a problem with our outboard engine, the same

 problem we had last year. The engine won't stay in gear.

Dear friends. I may be calling you again!

There has been time for some fun.  I've been doing noodle

exercises in the ocean which is a surprisingly good workout.

Bonus - you don't sweat!

We celebrated Jim and Hope's birthday.

And we celebrated Thanksgiving aboard S/V Certitude.

Yes, the person with the big catamaran gets to host.

Thank you Steve!

Despite all the boat problems, we certainly have a lot to be thankful for.