December 30

December 30

Today was a great day!  We got up early and watched GMA while Rick made pancakes and I checked emails. Then at 8 am we switched the radio on to listen to the Cruiser's Net. It was good to hear so many names we remembered from last year, and especially Sue the Net controller.

We talked to Saltshaker and arranged to meet them on shore but before we got away Bicher came from Jasmine City [that's a boat] to pick up his generator. He came on board and we had a good long talk about so many things... what a lovely person.

We went ashore to get some much need fruit and vegetables, cheese and bread, and a Snickers Bar!!!

Coming back to the boat was a hoot. We got soaking wet in the dinghy because the waves were so high rushing under the bridge and the wind are still high!

We changed, had lunch and decided we needed to move but first we went back to town to upgrade the phone, and visit some places.  Went to see Cleo, my facebook pal, who owns a spectacular gift shop in the town, and I went to the straw market to see how the ladies were doing. The tent that Sandals lent them when the market burned in the spring fell down and now they are working in the open again. They need a permanent building like Bimini and Nassau have.

We came back to the boat, got soaking wet again and moved it over to Monument where it's much calmer.

I don't know what is wrong with us. We decided that we would re-think the drive lift mechanism....a rope and pulleys...when we got here, so we just tied a rope around it and pulled it tight into a clutch.  But when we... or rather, I, backed up to set the anchor, somehow the rope pulled loose and I managed to get it wrapped around the prop!

Luckily I am so used to screwing up the prop with something that I immediately recognized the sound and threw the motor into neutral!  I am getting quite expert at NOT completely destroying the drive. Thank god we have a line cutter on the prop!!!

So we have had dinner, and we are going to crash. Tomorrow will be a late night, The Aussie kids with the fireworks insist on doing it at midnight, not 9 pm, the boaters' usual midnight. I guess they don't get to stay up too late usually and since they [Tika] and Saltshaker  both bought bags of marshmallows today, I'm guessing that they'll need the extra time to wear off the sugar high!   Ttyl J