Monday, January 20, 2020

Georgetown, Exuma, Bahamas
23.31.160N
75.45.475W

This morning started as they all do, listening to weather (lamenting the 3 day weather window missed that could have been used to transit to the Turks & Caicos).  Then listening to the net to catch up on what’s going on in the harbor.  Then breakfast before hopping in the dink and making our way across the channel to George Town.  Thank heavens it was calm and we arrived dry for our hike to BTC and topping up our minutes and data.  Then back to town where we picked up a couple of T-shirts commemorating the 40^th George Town Regatta (hopefully we won’t be here when it actually occurs) and running by the grocery store for a couple of items.  We fill a jerry can of water and then back to the boat.  We were even dry when we returned. 

Dale does 2 more trips to fill up the water jerry can and I start to put away the groceries.  Humm.  Now seems to be a good time to defrost the attack freezer.  There’s nothing like standing on your head for an hour to really put things in perspective.  Like glancing over and noticing that the gasket on the refrigerator side isn’t even touching the opposite seal.  Never noticed a problem with the refrigerator but I’ll mention it to Dale when he gets back. 

Once we finally do sit down, first on the list was checking the status of our remaining two shipments.  They seem to be stalled in Nassau.  Dale decided to give a call to the person he had talked with last week to follow up.  He called, was put on hold, and then cut off.  He called back and went through the tree again, only to be cut off again.  The third time’s a charm, right?  Not so fast!  He got a recording telling him that he had run out of money on his phone!  We were dumbfounded.  We had purchased a new plan just this morning, so what’s the problem?  Back in the dink and over to BTC again.  He tells me that he was able to speak with the young man that helped us this morning to explain the situation.  The young man, typed a few keys and said that Dale needed to put a dollar on the account.  Dale explained that he had just purchased the plan this morning.  That’s OK but he needed another dollar.  Dale reminds him that he’s been given 60 already.  He’s told that was for the plan, now he needs a dollar to activate it.  Dale gave him the dollar, checks to make sure he can make a call, and returned with steam starting to build.  There’s nothing like being in another country to make AT&T look good. 

However, when he does return, he makes his call and this time is finally able to speak with a human but not the one he spoke to last week.  Although this person is very friendly, she asks for the same documentation that we sent in last week, to be sent to her.  I send her a copy of the documentation with the email thread asking for it last week, the copy sent back, as well as the confirmation of its receipt.  We again receive a confirmation receipt of the documentation.  That’s it.  No ETA, sorry for the delay, nada!  The steam continues to build.

I show him the gap in the refrigerator door.  Ah Ha!  He can fix that.  A quick trip to his lair and he returns with a length of gasket to place along side the original and the problem is solved.  Plus, he’s in a better mood. 

Today’s activity on the beach was supposed to be not only informational but also a lesson on an easier way of tying a bowline knot.  We stepped outside into the cockpit to leave and saw sprinkles on the water.  We were in the process of debating whether to call it off when the organizer came on the radio and said that he had just checked the weather and it was going to clear up, so the talk was still on.  OK, we’re off.  Into the dink, find a place to beach it, tie it off and over to the picnic tables when it starts sprinkling again; the wind has shifted directions.  The decision was made to do the knot tying demonstration first and I’m just starting to get the hang of it when the skies open up.  Dale and I head into Chat N Chill for a couple of Cokes to wait it out.  45 minutes later, it lightens up enough to slog back to the dink and back to the boat.  However, I now know how to tie 3 knots.  A bowline, a clove hitch, and the good old fashioned girl scout square knot.  I’m good to go.  That clove hitch and square knot have gotten me through 30 years of sailing.  Now I know a new one, I’m good for another 15!

Tonight should be good sleeping.  Calm wind; calm seas; calm husband.