Monday, March 9, 2020

Ocean World, Dominican Republic
19.49.685N
70,43,853W

Another miserable day.  Windy, rainy, cloudy with 12’ seas outside the marina.  We had made plans to go to the supermarket with the crews of Never Say Never and Zandolee but we were a few minutes late, so they left without us.  Our only recourse was to pick up a pizza and watch movies.  Our only exercise was opening and closing hatches with the rain and adjusting lines to keep us off the piers due to the wind and tide. 

The rest of the day I texted back and forth with family with more crises lurking in the mists.   

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Ocean World, Dominican Republic

19.49.685N

70.43.853W

Today started unusually early for us as the front did make its way to us during the night with winds measured at a sustained 28 kts at one point, so we had to adjust fenders to keep the Palace from clunking into the concrete dock periodically.  We did this at about midnight, 3am, 5am, 7am, noon 3pm and again at 8pm.  As it was cloudy, drizzling off and on and basically a miserable day, we contented ourselves, chasing down noises we couldn’t identify, scrubbing decks between rain showers, taping or zipping down flapping plastic or enclosure panels, catching flying cushions from our neighboring boat, and doing nothing.  We did get a kick out of all the activity on the docks on a Sunday with people on the docks re-tying their boats and the waves splashing over the substantial breakwater in front of us and decided that yes, pulling into this marina was the only sensible action we could have considered yesterday. 

Waves Cresting the Break Water

Waves Coming in the 

Marina Entrance

Dale trotted by Never Say Never and Zandolee on the next pier to see if they had anything going on and the only thing we could come up with was possibly a tour of the Brugal rum factory and the Amber museum on Monday, if Brugal allows children in. 

Fruit Bat Dilemma 

Zandolee was up for a walk into town this evening for dinner at the place Tim and Suzie had gone to last night with the boys.  While waiting for them to join us this evening at the marina office in a beautiful well appointed building, I managed to step on a dead fruit bat laying in the middle of the floor.  Dale picked it up thinking that it was a brown banana peel and then dropped it like a hot potato once he saw what it was.  We mentioned to the receptionist that she had a dead bat on the floor who calmly stated that she knew about it and that someone would be by shortly to take care of it.  A couple of Army guys came in and looked at it.  A man in a “Staff” shirt came by and looked at it but it was only when Roberto, the man who had checked us in, and his driver Pedro came by and looked at it, that Roberto instructed Pedro to take care of it.  Pedro got a broom and dustpan and was quick to dispose of the tiny body.  The tasks that roll downhill!  I noted that Dale was the only one who actually touched the critter.  I guess this means he’ll soon be coming down with God only knows what, as when the locals decline to come near the vermin, something’s amiss.

Our latest look at the weather still shows a possible exit this coming Thursday for a transit to Puerto Rico.  Fingers crossed, it stays as promising as it looks at the moment as we’re starting to collect quite the assortment of SIM cards. 

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Ocean World, Dominican Republic
19.49.685N
70.43.853W

Happy Birthday Gary!  What’s one more candle when the fire department is already on stand by. 


We made it!!  The winds and seas never did die down as predicted until well into this morning.  At one point, the table in the salon was jumping with every pound and the cabinetry was creaking and moaning with every movement of the boat, so I asked (admittedly in a very catty manner) Dale to slow us down.  I know he wanted to maintain at least a 5 kt average but we also said that it wasn’t to be at the expense of us or the boat.  It’s a good thing too.  Although he had mentioned that his stomach felt a little queasy at dinner time and he asked for the spaghetti with mushroom sauce, instead of something more spicy, I didn’t realize that it was the beginning to a nasty night of seasickness.  I felt really bad for him.  He hasn’t been plagued with this in a long time.  He couldn’t go inside to lay down without the world spinning and then couldn’t find a comfortable place to sit outside.  He was a good sport and still stood his watches, probably because he could sit forward and concentrate on something right in front of him.  In any event, by the time the sun came up, he was doing much better.  Also by this time, the winds and seas finally cooperated and died down to a point where we could once again rev up the engines and make 6+ kts. to make up for lost time.  Also by this time, we were no longer in VHF radio range with the others. 

When we approached Ocean World at noon and saw plastic bottles in a row, I thought I had somehow guided us into a fishing net strung out by a local fisherman.  I put our engines in neutral to keep from tangling our props and then started forward again when we got past them.  I had no sooner started forward motion again when we saw more and more.  Then Dale said that it was all trash in the water.  I would have expected this around Luperon after the rains wash down out of the mountains and anything not anchored gets flushed out to sea, but I was surprised to find it here, something akin to our Sea World attractions. 

We turned into the buoyed channel and was guided into the fuel pier where we took on fuel, had our Coast Guard inspection for weapons and contraband (what they found were tumbling chip cans every time they opened a cupboard) and Dale went in to check us in without the usual “gifts” to be handed out or overtime charges.  That was really nice. 

Never Say Never and Zandolee were already here and both agreed, that was not the transit we had hoped for.  It sounds like Zandolee really had a nasty time of it with water over the deck house and their dinghy swinging wildly.  All crews elected to spend the afternoon napping but Dale and I went up to the marina restaurant for dinner later in the day.  Never Say Never have 2 children, so were told that the kids couldn’t be served after 6pm.  Robin and Louise elected to take showers and head back to bed; they look beat.  At dinner, Dale and I agreed that the nasty front coming down from the north had better make its appearance tonight as it was great motor sailing the remaining portion of the day.  

We sent a quick message to Michelle to let her know that we had made it and another to Gerry and Nicky to let them know that yes were are in the same time zone as they and hope to make it to Puerto Rico during the next window, possibly Thursday-Friday time frame.  

Friday, March 6, 2020

At Sea
21.02.325N
71.19.311W

Both Dale and I were up by 5:15 this morning but were surprised to find the skies somewhat overcast and thus still dark but we were at a high tide; a good time to leave.  So we killed time by eating breakfast and getting out lifejackets and lanyards.  By 5:45 we saw Bob, the marina owner walking towards Winterlude, a large motor yacht that had been in a slip behind us for the entire time we were there.  We had no idea that they were leaving the same day as us, so as they motored by, I asked Susie where they were bound and learned that they were headed back north to Long Island, Exuma.  We waved good bye and then thanked Bob for his hospitality when he came by to help us cast off.  We followed Winterlude out the channel as soon as they had cleared it without mishap and as they turned north, we turned south. 

Crossing the Caicos Bank

As fortune would have it, we saw another catamaran approaching us as we made our way to the southbound waypoint.  Dale spotted that it was another Manta and when they hailed us, we learned that their name was Twocan and they had spent the last season down in the Caribbean and had just left the DR and more specifically Ocean World.  They gave us some advice about Ocean World and reminded us that Luperon was a hurricane hole that might prove a better spot with the predicted 30 kt winds coming out of the north by Saturday evening.  We in turn told them to “hug the reds until you make the turn and then hug the greens” getting into South Side Marina without going aground. 

The rest of the day was without event.  The winds didn’t die down as soon as we had first thought but eventually subsided enough to make a decent transit.  We approached Six Hills island and started hailing Zandolee and Never Say Never with no response.  We made our way through the cut to the ocean and the last island in the Turks and Caicos, Great Sand Cay.  Ahead of us was another catamaran but too far ahead to make out who it might be, and as no one had answered our radio calls only minutes prior, I didn’t think to call again.  They were clearly moving faster than us but as I learned about an hour later, it was Never Say Never.  They told us that Zandolee was about the same distance in front of them, and as all of us were already lined up, we elected to skip the stop at Great Sand and just continue on to the Dominican Republic. 

We’re still waiting for the calm seas that were forecast, so hopefully by nightfall, things will settle down.  As we all know, everything feels worse at night but tonight, we have almost a full moon, so hopefully, it won’t be that bad.  

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

Today was one of those mixed bags; some good; some not so good.  I awoke early this morning at 5:30 hearing a boat getting underway, thinking it was Louise and Robin I popped my head up to take a gander and saw that it was the large blue party boat heading out.  I did see movement on Zandolee, so I got dressed and headed down in their direction to see if I could lend a hand tossing off their lines.  Louise appeared from behind me and was all atwitter about how she hadn’t set an alarm and they were late getting out.  It was 5:45 so I really don’t think they were all that late and the sun was just peeking up.  Once on the boat, Robin started the engines, I handed them their lines and they left without any issues. 

However, the big blue boat that had left at 5:30 appeared to have anchored just outside the harbor.  Then the tender to the boat came in and the boat’s captain said that he needed to have the marina call customs.  By this time Dale was up and we could only guess at what had happened that caused this scene.  As long as customs was being called, might as well check out ourselves as we have 24 hours from the time we check out to the time we need to leave.  So we thought.  As it turned out, when the officials asked Dale when we intended to leave, he told them day break tomorrow morning, well within the 24 hour time limit.  But . . . we were charged extra for overtime for both customs and immigration.  Their explanation, daybreak is outside of their normal working hours, so its considered overtime.  Not the time we actually checked out midmorning on a workday, nope over time.  I was fried.  Dale was resolved that we are at their mercy. 

I worked off my energy in sweeping and scrubbing floors, washing and hanging out the laundry until Dave and Brandy from Stargazer came by to take me shopping.  They are having more issues with their boat repairs and I really feel for them as I know how frustrated I am when things aren’t going right.  In any event, I was able to pick up my final items and some ice cream bars for them for being such good sports and we all headed back to the marina to talk Dale into joining us all for lunch over at the Green Turtle Marina. 

We had hoped to stay there originally but were told that they couldn’t get catamarans into their marina due to silting issues.  However, their restaurant was in fine working order and we had a marvelous lunch with Dave, the owner, and Caitlan, his daughter.  We’d met Dave when we first got here during the first pot luck dinner we had but had never put two and two together until today.  In any event, I forgot how angry I was at the officials when I listened to what Dave and his family had to endure running a business on this island for over 50 years.  They must have the patience of saints.  One really cool thing, his permanent home is in Ocala, FL.  Just a stone’s throw from us. 

Ready to Leave Southside Marina

Once we got back, we busied ourselves getting ready to take off tomorrow.  We folded and put away all the clothes, paid our bill and then after helping another boat tie up, asked if they would help us in moving to an outside slip so that we could make a clean getaway at day break tomorrow morning.  This was done without mishap or loud voices.  We even looked like we knew what we were doing. 

I made a casserole for dinner so that we will have some left overs for our transit over the next 30 hours and we’ve entered the waypoints to guide us from here to there.  We intend to leave about 5:30 am, cross the Caicos Bank to meet with the others somewhere near Big Sand Cay.  Then with any luck we’ll transit over night and arrive at Ocean World in the Dominican Republic around noon.  At least that’s the plan. 

This time, we’re really on the move.  Wish us luck. 

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

I can’t say a whole lot happened today.  We got together with the other boats and nothing much has changed as far as the forecast, so depending upon draft, the monohulls that needed the extra depth either left today at high tide or will leave tomorrow at high tide.  We don’t need the extra room (although its always nice) so will leave at first light on Friday and sail straight through, stopping only if we arrive too early to make the crossing to the Dominican Republic at sunset.  Basically, no matter when everyone leaves, we’ll rendezvous together at Big Sand Cay to make the crossing to Ocean World together.  We all have reservations, so no one will be left out in the cold.  Then we’re all hoping to catch another window at the end of next week. 

We returned and started preps.  Dale has already run the fuel polisher for a full cycle the last 2 days and jumped in to scrub the grass that has started to form at the water line.  He had lots of help from the fish taking shelter underneath the boat.  I contented myself with scrubbing the bathroom and doing dishes.  Yes, I guess my reprieve from dishes is now officially over now that the splint has been removed.  Tomorrow I’ll make another casserole to tide us over during the transit, run the last loads of laundry and make a final run to the grocery store. 

Tonight we met with Louise and Robin off Zandolee (one of the boats we’re making the transit with) and Brandy and Dave off Stargazer (who are heading back to Florida until next year when they will come back down and came over from the shipyard where their boat is being repaired) up at the restaurant to listen to the music and chat about our plans.  Although Louise and Robin were planning on taking off at day break, Brandy was telling Louise how to download movies to her computer, so Robin may be up later than expected after all.  As always, sailing plans are only as firm as jello. 

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

Today, I was a bum.  I’ve been nursing a cold for a little over a week, so I took an extra nap after sleeping in.  I did attend a little impromptu meeting Dale and a couple of other boats threw together talking about checking out and moving to the DR at the end of the week.  We’ve lost a full day as the weather window is moving in quite a bit faster than we had anticipated and we all want to be tucked in before getting caught in nasty weather down by the Mona Passage, a swath of sea very much like the Gulf Stream; it can be calm with a glass like surface or nasty with monster waves beating you up.  One of the boats that wants to travel with us, Never Say Never, has a couple of kids on board, so they are very cautious.  We’ll all get together again tomorrow to look at the weather once more before making our decision as to whether to check out tomorrow with an early Thursday morning departure or waiting another day for better weather conditions.  We may separate out with the monohulls leaving one day and the cats leaving another. 

Other than that, not much happening. 

Monday, March 2, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

Today finds us knocking on wood at every opportunity.  Dale installed the replacement water maker control valve yesterday but wanted to check with his tinkering consultant to ascertain the direction the cleaning valve should be pointed in order to make sure we didn’t accidently do something wrong and find ourselves right back to where we started.  Once that was clarified, he went down this morning, told me to throw the switch, made a couple of trips hither and yon to make sure brine was flowing overboard and ‘product’ was coming out of the right hose before very, very quietly stating:  “we’re making water”.  Halleluiah!  The saints be praised!!  We’re finally making water. 

We also have insurance to continue our trip.  Yep!  Got a copy of the policy today; everything is printed, paid, all I’s are dotted, all T’s are crossed, all surveys accepted, approved and we are now free to move about the world’s waters excepting a list of forbidden areas.  We had no intention of visiting those areas anyway and there are a few more that we were surprised weren’t on the list.   All this was just in time to find that our weather window is starting to slam shut.  There is still about 36 hours which is  open enough to continue to the Dominican Republic, so we are planning on leaving Thursday morning at day break to make the hop across and then wait for the next 24 hour opening to finish the trip to Puerto Rico. 

The remainder of the day was spent going to the grocery store to stock up on fruits, vegetables and snacks for the trip.  I also needed something for the Monday night pot luck offering.  Apparently, everyone liked it as there wasn’t anything left.  Thank heavens it was easy to make as Dale really liked it. 

The rest of the evening was spent chit chatting with the other boaters who are also making the transit as we’ve all been bemoaning the horrid weather we’ve had to contend with. 

Now keep your fingers crossed that we can actually make it this time. 

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

I’m back!!!  And there’s nothing you can do about it.  

For the past 2 weeks we were in Texas again trying to help family.  Without going into details (because that would be airing my family’s dirty laundry and family dynamics are difficult enough as it is without doing something as public as that), I feel I’ve done what I could and can now return with less guilt and less divided attention to what can be a dangerous hobby if you’re not 100% focused.  So now I’m 89% focused and Dale feels he has a chance of survival with whatever might come our way.  

While in Texas, we had the opportunity to once again take on Social Security/Medicare/TriCare for Life and the attending Deers computer system for military benefits and learned some useful information.  As in--last year, we thought we had completed the entire process and could leave with benefits in place.  Not so fast, apparently.  Each year, for the next 2 years, we need to complete and file the same paperwork to keep said benefits.  In straightening Social Security out, Dale’s Medicare benefits were no longer being reported to the Deers system, so his TriCare benefits now had to be straightened out.  He’s still trying to get that back in place.  In other words, it’s a domino effect that we get to do all over again at the end of this year (and there are those who think we should all be on this system).  

Dale taking time off 

from his vacation!

One bright point was that we did go visit with our daughter’s family in Houston for a long weekend.  As soon as the decision was made to return to Texas, we had our mail forwarded to her and Dale took the opportunity to have the next component to the faulty water maker sent too.  We returned the favor by lending a hand for a couple of days in laying new flooring in their house.  I did demo, so I guess you could say, I had the most fun.  We had hoped to get 3 bedrooms and the hallway done but only completed 2 bedrooms and the hallway.  At least it’s a start and the knowledge is in place to finish the project.  Our daughter and granddaughter turned around and surprised us with a visit to Ft. Worth the day before we left, when Houston had a huge watermain break and the company she worked for closed for the day.  Although brief, and I did put her to work with me, it was good to see them before we had to return.  

Our flight back from Dallas into Ft. Lauderdale was a little interesting.  Years ago, I was on a fun flight that had to circle until a tornado passed by but neither Dale nor I, in our many trips have been on a commercial flight that was waved off.  Our 1^st attempt into Ft. Lauderdale was clearly being blown to the left as we landed and the decision was made to go around and land on a different runway without mishap.  In fact, if you weren’t paying attention, you wouldn’t have known it had even happened as the touch down and take off  was that smooth; as opposed to the tornado flight that came down so fast, steep and hard you had to hang on; however, it was the fire trucks with flashing lights years ago that left the lasting impression.  

Another observation over the past 2 weeks was with regard to the coronavirus.  Although I’ve read the articles associated with the computer headlines about it when I first boot up, I didn’t realize the global obsession this has become until I was inundated with information on it from every point of view possible.  TV’s, radios and monitors surround you everywhere you go back home and this was the topic of conversation everywhere.  We were asked health questions in regard to the virus as we entered the US 2 weeks ago but when we returned to the Turks & Caicos, we were just given an additional health form to fill out about the virus.  With Dale being well versed in the medical field, we simply smiled at the fact that the forms were handed out, dutifully completed and turned back in, but no one was reading them in real time.  If someone had been exposed and dutifully acknowledged that they may have been exposed (like the lady in the next lane), they wouldn’t be stopped at the entry point but instead had to be contacted at whatever destination they put on their forms.  By that time, who knows how many people would have been exposed.  As I always come down with a cold 10 days after I fly, I tried not to cough in their faces as we passed through but it does make you think. 

We're the catamaran 

on the right side of the dock.

Within a couple of hours after landing, we had emptied our bags, squirreled away our Bucky nuggets, and resumed our life on the boat.   Our spur of the moment trip home now seemed almost surreal.  Dale dug out his weather software and returned to the routine of weather watching.  It appears that there may be a 2-3 day window coming up at the end of this week in which to move farther south and east.  We sent an e-mail to our Aussie friends warning them that we may be on our way for real.  We know that they have company at the moment, so they won’t be able to escape quite so quick as they might have hoped. 

Finally, as I know you are all wondering just what happened, the splint has been taken off my finger and replaced with a bandaid.  Nothing ever turned black.  It appears I have good circulation in the tip as it is pinker than the rest of the finger, particularly when I try to exercise it but I most likely will lose the nail.  Right now, it looks very well attached and even growing but the nail bed itself is white and there is an eighth of an inch gap to where it needs to be; thus the bandaid to keep from accidently snagging it on anything.  Obviously, that is where the freezer hit and cut through the finger.  The tip does move ever so slightly, so I think the tendon is still attached but there is a sensitive knot to the side of the tip that I think may be part of the bone that isn’t healing straight.  Nothing to do about it now and considering my age, probably not worth doing anything about in the future.  So there you have it.  I have survived yet another attempt by fate to ruin my day. 

We hope you all have a good day as well and can sidestep any misfortune fate may throw in your direction. 

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

I guess today was the day to get underway if we were going anywhere.  Stargazer actually moved last evening to the opposite side of the marina for a “quick getaway” at dawn this morning.  Unfortunately, in the process, they wrapped the “lazy line” around their prop stalling the engine midway out of the slip and every hand on the dock and neighboring boats scrambled to help try pulling them back in before any damage was done.  Poor Dave was cursing boats in general as he jumped in to clear the line. 

In an effort to help, Rum Truffle (the Brits), started their engine and tried to move a little out of the way so that Stargazer could clear their bow but ended up running over their own “lazy line.”  They had line cutters on their prop and sliced right through it.  So, we divided our efforts to help keep them off the dock as they retied their boat to keep from bumping into their French Canadian neighbors. 

Everything was in good nature and we all joined together later for our Valentine’s dinner up at the marina restaurant in the evening. 

Today, Stargazer was first and made their dawn getaway.  Then, Texas Crewed left mid-morning after repeatedly losing their GPS position on their chart plotter. Rum Truffle draws 6.5-7’ and waited for high tide at about 2pm but still had the most problems maneuvering through the shallows getting out of the channel leading to the marina when they left.  We counted at least 3 times of touching the earth.  Then after a change of guests, La Perle Blue, left this afternoon for a week but will return on Friday.  So, after a couple of days of playing bumper boats, the marina is considerably less crowded and much quieter. 
We on Gypsy Palace contented ourselves, washing the boat, getting the laundry done and in general getting ready for our departure tomorrow.   As it will be a day or two before we are able to connect to the internet again, please be patient.  I haven’t abandoned you yet.

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

I guess the most important thing to tell you about is we finally got the rigging survey and forwarded it to the insurance agent.  Bless her heart, she contacted the surveyor and worked with him to get a more polished report to submit to the underwriters.  So now we will have 2 insurance carriers to choose from.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute. 

Other than that, we had 2 new boats come in.  It took almost everyone on the dock to get one boat into the slot Bob, the owner, wanted to put it.  It fit but the two side boats had to be pulled apart to put the new one between.  No small feat but accomplished without any damage.  The Brits aboard were good natured about it.  They tried to drop their dinghy hanging over the walkway put forgot to put the plug in so it started filling with water as soon as it hit the surface.  A quick retrieval saved the day. 

The weather window seems to be shifting more.  We were hoping for a Friday departure but obviously we’re sliding it a day.  Right now, we’ve lost a part of a day as it extended to Monday before closing again, that’s barely enough time to get to Puerto Rico.  We’ll check again tomorrow.  Where we’re sitting, the wind has not died down in the least.  Not a good sign. 

We changed things up a bit and concluded our day by playing dominos on Texas Crewed this evening.  I made a new recipe called chocolate chip cheesecake bars that went over well.  Gotta keep those recipes that are easy to make on the boat. 

Guess that’s it for today.   

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

Unfortunately, today’s blog is going to be rather boring.  I didn’t even get off the boat today.  Instead I spent my morning filling out yet another insurance application and praying that our rigging surveyor sent the report to our insurance agent as promised.  I had asked for a copy to be sent to us but so far, nothing. 

Dale studied weather and waves from 4 different sites comparing data in determining a go/no go decision on Friday.  Gene dropped by and looked over the information as well.  I think Gene is leaning towards a northern route whereas we’re leaning towards a southern route in case we need to tuck in somewhere if things don’t go as planned. 

Then I added to my collection of recipes.  Renee lent me a book on making bread, so I copied a few to my compilation.  I may not be a great cook but I have a great selection to choose from. 

After that I tried to catch up on my on line computer game before making a casserole that not only served as dinner but will be put into the refrigerator for meals during the transit. 

This evening, I think I surprised Dale when I asked to see “Heaven knows Mr. Allison” an old movie I hadn’t seen in years and probably came out before either of us was born. 

Other than that, we’re just sitting here listening to the wind howl (when doesn’t it howl) and reading yet another book. 

Monday, February 10, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

Happy 16^th Birthday Kyndall!

Happy 60 something Birthday Geri!!

Although this morning Chris Parker (the weather guru) didn’t fill us with a lot of confidence, he did offer a glimmer of hope in that there may be a weather window for the southern route (along the coast of the Dominican Republic) to Puerto Rico later this week.  Dale hopped on his computer to check another source and we watched the progression of wind and waves that looks promising.  So now, we just have to get the rigger to hurry up on the report we’ve been waiting for, so that we have insurance to leave. 

Then he went up and down the dock talking with the others who have been waiting for the same window, so we may have a small caravan heading out on Thursday or Friday.  He wants to make sure that it firms up a bit more before we commit to it. 

Also today, we had signed up for a tour of the beer facility here in Turks & Caicos called Turk’s Head Brewery.   We were told that the tour started promptly at 1pm, with or without you, so we made sure we were on time by arriving about 20 minutes early and were forced to drink a beer (or in the ladies’ case, a rum and coke or vodka and cranberry) to kill the time.   Believe it or not these last drinks were also made on the premises and sold in cans already premade.  They were great!

The tour was informative and although it didn’t show the packaging portion, it did end with a flight of 4 different beers or in Dale’s case 8 different beers.  I had noticed that they also had a flight of the rums that they make, so I chose that one, naturally, as it was a beer tour and not a rum tour, this was extra.  The coconut rum was excellent but the other 3, I just had to knock back as they were pretty strong and not conducive to sipping.  By the time we walked out, we were pretty happy.  Of course, we purchased a couple of cases of the rum and coke drinks.  You couldn’t beat the price of $1.50 per drink and since they are canned, it’s perfect for the boat. 

Of course, once we made it back to the boat, it was siesta time as I had thought ahead and made our contribution to the pot luck tonight before we left. 

Once again, we really enjoyed getting together with everyone at the pot luck and compared notes on sailing, where we had been, where we’re going, and in my case, the young lady I was sitting next to had cut her finger severely, so we were comparing injuries. 

Tonight the wind is howling again but we’re tucked in tightly (Bob put another boat between Le Perle Blue and us), so no one is going anywhere without half the marina going along too.  So, I bid you all good night. 

Crews of Gypsy Palace and Texas Crewed

Dale & Lorie and Gene & Renee

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Turks & Caicos

21.45.631N
72.13.429W

Abandoned House

Happy Birthday Nicky!!  Hope to see you soon.

Entry stair case

Today was a fun day.  The Texas Crewed folks and we decided to keep the rental car for another day and go exploring in the opposite direction than we had traveled yesterday.  The idea was to find a restaurant named Da Conch Shack for the 5pm dinner special, a sea food “pot” which sounded like a low country boil-island style-with lobster, conch, fish, etc.  We started out finding an ice cream shop along the way and stopped to sample their wares.  Then on to find Da Conch Shack.  The problem was, we arrived at 2pm and started with a pitcher of rum punch and conch fritters and fries as poo poos.  We graduated to various sandwiches and then strolled along the beach looking at the local ladies’ conch shells and home made souvenirs. They would have made the “boat boys” down island proud. 

Kitchen

Once we decided that we weren’t going to make it to 5pm, we decided to go exploring some more.  We’d travel down various roads until they turned to dirt roads and down them until we couldn’t go any further.  Then on to the next road.  Obviously, the place I got the biggest kick out of was a house that Dale had explored on one of his walks.  We piled out of the rental and explored the house.   A double door entry, with circular staircase.  Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, pool, statuary, servants' quarters; you name it! It was great!  I’m sure any self respecting interior decorator would have had a heart attack at the various styles combined in the house but it made for great exploring.  At the end of the day, we kicked around the idea of keeping the car one more day to go grocery shopping again and possibly a tour of a beer garden of some sort that Renee had heard of.  We’ll see what happens tomorrow. 

Fountain off Dining Room                Staircase Finial                  

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

Well today was a bit more interesting.  It started the same way; the weather gurus said in no uncertain terms that no one should be heading east for the next couple of days.  Dale ran the bilge pumps on our neighbor’s boat.  Two of the three Canadian boats (the two that are French speaking) have visitors for a few days; and Texas Crewed and we split a rental car to check out another marina on the north side. 

Gene had already rented a car a week ago, so we nominated him as driver for the right hand drive car (left hand road) and off we took.  Bob, the marina owner where we’re at, had explained to us that the Turks and Caicos don’t use traffic lights as it requires money for upkeep and replacement after storms, so they use round abouts exclusively.  The rule is, if you’re in the round about, you have right of way.  Talk about Mr. Toad’s wild ride.  Dale and Renee acted as navigators and I was look out for the names. 

As luck would have it, we found it, although we did pass by and had to come back.  At first blush, it appeared to be out of our price range from the gates and condos leading up to it.  Sure enough, the boats that had slips were high end but we got out and went to the office for more information as we had heard it cost $1/foot. 

Local Fish Eaters

Apparently, there is only one operating dock of the original 4 but Hurricane Irma knocked out 2 with all of the accompanying finger piers.  There is only 1 dock that has finger piers with water and electricity and another that is just the dock, no finger piers, although you’re allowed to dinghy in for water if you want.  If you do decide to use that one dock, you need a dinghy to get back and forth to anywhere else, as there is no connecting pier to it.  It looks to have been a very nice marina at one point but now there are no plans to reconstruct it.  

We took a stroll out to the end to get a good look.  Beautiful boats were at the end and one of the charter fishing boats was cleaning its catch and collecting some local underwater attention.  Yes, I know that they are “only” nurse sharks but if they are darting about expecting food to fall in the water, I wanted to keep sure footing while in their area. 

More Rum!

We headed back to the car and then went in search of a liquor store as Dale and I are getting low on our rum supply and Gene and Renee are wine drinkers.  We each found what we were looking for and then went in search of lunch.  We had been in search of Big Al’s but ended up finding a place called Danny Bouy’s for humongous sandwiches for lunch.  Dale, Gene and Renee had beers but since I’m not a beer drinker, I had the specialty of the day called Liquid Marijuana that was made up of Captain Morgan Rum, Coconut Rum, Melon liqueur, and a couple of other liquors I can’t remember.  Trust me, you only drink one.  With a huge sandwich and watering the drink down every 5 minutes, I considered myself lucky to be still walking without a sway as we left. 

We made one more stop at the grocery store for milk and fresh fruit before making it back to the marina and a much needed nap (at least on my part).  We were sill full from lunch come dinner time so Dale had a snack and I had another bottle of water. 

Guess that its for today.  At least you didn’t have to hear that we were sitting on the boat, reading books and waiting for weather again. 

Friday, February 7, 2020

Turks & Caicos
21.45.631N
72.13.429W

Today was another of those killing time days.  We repaired a couple of snaps on our shade covers.  Dale did his good deed of running the bilge pumps for our neighbor and took a walk to stretch his legs a bit.  I prepared some poo-poos for our sundowners on Texas Crewed tonight.  We helped one boat get underway and another come in across the dock from us. 

During our reading, playing computer games, catching up on e-mails section of the day, Dale found a couple of e-mails from our insurance company that showed up in his technical information folder for the boat.  When I went back to check my e-mails, I couldn’t find them anywhere, so we’re going to have to double check on both computers from now on. 

We heard from Goin’ Sum Ware today.  They called their transit “marginal at best” with a wave across the bow that “caused some damage and a minor injury” but didn’t go into detail.  They did say that they pulled into the Dominican Republic after 27 hours to get some rest. 

This evening, we did the show and tell on Texas Crewed.  They are an Antaries 44 that is about 9” wider and 2’ longer than us.  Those 2’, a different layout and not as much clutter as we have, made their boat seem so much larger than ours.  We played a bit of dominos for a couple of hours and made plans to rent a car tomorrow to check out another marina on the north side of the island to get a pre-stage idea for the next leg to Puerto Rico. 

Other than that, not much is happening.  Sorry to be so boring.