Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Charlotte Amalie, USVI
18.20.072N
64.55.483W

Another productive day!

While Dale studied the boom and the how and where to run the main sheet, I lowered the dink and started cleaning the rust stains on the starboard side and worked my way down the side until the rain forced me to stop.  By that time, I was tired anyway. 

Gerry and Nicky came over shortly after that, so that the guys could replace the main sheet.  Although Dale had reviewed Utube videos from the maker of the boom and eventually called the installer of the boom, it became evident that this was not going to be a simple job.  It took them the better part of the day and they finally resolved the problem of not being able to run the line without jamming until they removed the pullies at both ends of the boom (one being riveted in place) and used every tool on both boats (including my straightened out clothes hanger with a hook at the end and Gerry’s shop vac) to complete the job.  Once done, I rewarded them both with ice water and chocolate chip cookies.  When completed, they had just enough time for Dale to catch 40 winks and Gerry to take a shower before Dale and I went over to Opal (Gerry and Nicky’s boat) for dinner. 

In the meantime, I ordered Dale’s prescriptions via a mobile app (that only works in the US; mainland or territories) and tried once again to clear up the issue of having an Experian app to lock our credit report while out of the country.  The long and short of it, I had to unlock the app for a week so that Dale can straighten out his Social Security/Medicare issues.)

While the guys were working on the boom earlier in the day, Nicky and I had divided the tasks and had formulated a dinner of chicken kabobs, sausages, Hasselback potatoes, salad and chocolate chip cookies. However, when Dale and I arrived, Gerry was elbow deep in his cockpit transom, trying to figure out why his generator had suddenly stopped.  The Tinker Twins were on it again!  Together they attacked the problem of non existent water cooling and by the time dinner was ready they had figured out the problem and corrected it (something to do with an impeller). 

It was a great dinner and one that was devoured with relish (for some reason, fresh air and sunshine makes you ravenous).  When Dale and I first left the Palace for Opal we had noticed smoke on the shore but really didn’t think too much about it.  By the end of the evening, there were a multitude of fire engines being police escorted from what looked like the airport to the ship terminal directly in front of us.  Not sure what was ablaze but it was becoming the talk of our evening. 

Gerry and Nicky caught up with Abigail, their daughter back in Australia, and apparently, things are just as crazy there as they are here.  Nothing on the shelves, people getting in fights over toilet paper and hand sanitizer and again, the world on edge and going crazy rather quickly.  We decided that being on boats, not within easy swimming distance, was probably the safest place to be during these times of stress and uncertainty.

Tomorrow, we’re hoping to either get our batteries that Dale ordered yesterday or go shopping for groceries (if any are to be found).  In either event, neither task will be an easy undertaking.  As always, wish us luck.