OtherGoose: LAST DAYS IN GEORGE TOWN

Long Island and Back

Long Island was a glorious week...serene, calm, spectacular weather and if the dinghy were working better it would have been perfect.

On Monday morning, we unloaded all the school supplies and delivered them to the Tourism office, where they were handed out to the schools. The Tourism guy said that we didn't have to go to the airport to get our extensions done; the Customs officer would be stopping by at noon and would do it for us. What a change from Mr. Adams here in GT!!

Ross stayed in Long Island, too, so Susan drove us down to Clarence town so Ross could find a bank machine [ only 2 on the whole island -80 miles long]. We went to the Flying Fish Marina for lunch then drove back up, to meet the Customs guy. He had an emergency back in Clarence town. In fact, we passed him on the road, so we went back over to Susan's and sat and chatted for awhile. Around 4 we went back over to the Tourism office. Susan had an invitation to go out for dinner.

We waited with 2 other boats for the Customs officer. Tourism office closes at 4 but they waited, knowing he was coming...from 40 miles away! While we waited, I read one of the books sitting on their 'library / trader' shelf. It was a British mystery. When he arrived at 5:30 he checked all 3 boats in 15 minutes. We asked for 70 days - he gave us 90...?!?!?!

The next day Ross left for Rum Cay, and we headed over to visit with Susan. Well, I did. We talked and painted all afternoon. Rick and Todd walked over to the ocean, and beach-combed.

We spent the next day all beach combing, and dragged a lot of rope back to Susan and Al's cottage. They weave baskets from the old rope that washes up on the beaches, and sell the baskets to tourists. The money goes to the local youth center. They are amazing.

Speaking of baskets...Rick had mastered the skill of weaving palm fronds into baskets! We all have tried our hands at it but he is best!

Back in George town, we are tucked into February Point where the waves don't affect us much and there are no boats to come screaming through the anchorage. Stephane, our French "son" has headed south to Grenada - we will miss him!

So today is Friday...sails are patched and ready to go. I cleaned the winches and today will re-organize the cockpit. Get rid of and/or store the shells we are bringing home again. Rick is making a motor bracket to hang the dinghy engine.

We are having dinner tonight on Blue Heavens. We go over there a lot to play Euchre and Todd watches all of Gordon's classic cartoon disks [Gordon was a primary teacher.]

We are waiting for Ross and Carol to come back from Rum Cay so we can say goodbye to Carol, who has to go home on Sunday morning. Sunday night we will go to St. Francis with Blue Heavens for dinner and Trivia, where "Blue-Goose" will strike fear into the hearts of the rest of the boaters! [We won every game but one last year! That's a lot of rum!!] There has been only one game so far this year and we won that, but this will be our last game. We are leaving Monday morning to head north.

It has been a short season, and not very happy. The water had been very cold...no dolphins to speak of, and very few turtles and sharks. I haven't been swimming much, and Todd is addicted to his electronics...can't fix that for some reason ... sad ... thought this would be a life-changer for him...guess not.

I am looking forward to getting back to work. I think I miss routine, and I haven't been able to settle into a routine on the boat...too many variables every day.

So... next week...