Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI
18.20.016N
64.55.440 W

Happy Birthday James!  No matter how old you are or where you go in life, you’ll always be my baby!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Boys Day!

New Vocabulary Word:  Airgasm:  When the air hits your face after removing your mask.

Can’t say we’re doing anything different this week (its hard to believe its been almost a week since I last posted).  The guys are still tinkering.  Nicky and I escape into town to run to the grocery store at least once a week.  Up until now, we’ve done the 6’ between each person but the wearing of masks has been a hit and a miss; some people wear them, some don’t.  Considering most aren’t wearing them properly in any event, it seemed ineffective at best.  This week, however, the island Governor started opening up more establishments but then decreed the mandatory wearing of masks (which means any type of cloth over your face) to enter those establishments.  We’re scratching our heads over this one.  They’re still saying that the best option is to stay at home. 

So this week, Nicky wore a bandana which was probably better in the long run than my N95 dust mask.  I had a problem wearing my mask and my glasses at the same time without fogging them up.  By the time I was finished putting the glasses on time and again to read labels, I accidentally pinched the bridge of my nose and found that I could suddenly see when the mask was molded to my nose.  I couldn’t breathe but hey, I could see. 

This week’s tinker project ended up being on Opal.  They’ve had off and on again issues with their refrigerator/freezer.  Even had the refrigeration people come out, check it and give a thumbs up a couple of weeks ago.  Unfortunately, it started tripping the breaker this week.  Gerry said he could hear the motor running but it wasn’t turning something, so he would put his hand in and give the belt a turn (yes, he is aware that he could lose a finger that way but he was trouble shooting).  It would start up, run for awhile and then the belt would stop again and trip the breaker although the motor sounded like it continued to run, it wasn’t.  Plus, he had a voltage drop that put the icing on the cake.  The Tinker Twins put their heads together to noodle around the various possibilities; motor? compressor? but in the long run ended up calling the refrigeration people again.  The verdict?  They need a new motor but since the compressor is the same 30 years old.  Both compressor and motor are being replaced, as an identical replacement plate that included both was available.  Slide one plate out, disconnect, drain gasses, etc., and slide new plate in.  The bottom line is somewhere between OUCH! and PING!  Closer to PING, I’d say. 

The 3 boats have come together for this one.  Texas Crewed has room in their freezer.  I had room for some items that needed to be refrigerated and the guys are going to tear out the stove/oven and a trash compartment to access some of the areas that need to be moved for removal and replacement to mitigate some of the monitary damages.

If that wasn’t enough bad news, a USDA representative hitched a ride through the anchorage on some type of official vessel stopping, taking photos of each boat, and advising them that we all had to take our garbage in to one specific marina for all 3 islands for processing, as our boats are “contaminated.”  Furthermore, any garbage onboard had to be incinerated at the cost of $35 per bag or a $500 fine.  We were dumbfounded!  Most boaters are pretty conscientious about where we place our garbage; we even pick up stuff floating in the anchorage and take it back to our own boats to throw away.  Most find a garbage bin somewhere to dump the refuse if one isn’t provided.  Most are aware that fresh food items from foreign nations have to be disposed of 3 miles out if they go bad.  I’d say most of us use up our fresh produce before it goes bad which is why we have to go grocery shopping on a weekly (if not more) basis.  Where we were at a loss was that most of us have also been here for 7+ weeks and the only fresh food we have on board at this time is from here!  Apparently, once it is brought on board, it is now “contaminated”. 

Thankfully, Dale and I weren’t one of the boats they stopped by but we certainly heard about it from other boaters.  I was so upset, I stayed up late trying to compose a letter to our Congressman and Senator as we are all feeling like we’re being targeted; and I don't need any more reasons for my hair falling out.  Where’s the money for our anchoring permit going?  What does it cover?  Many feel our only recourse is to bag everything from a couple of boats into the largest bag we can find each week and pay the cost, or become garbage outlaws and take the chance of being fined? 

Boats over on St. John in the Park have to pay park fees each day and had arranged for a local entrepreneur to pick up their garbage for disposal.  Apparently, their arrangement was also cancelled.  Somehow, somewhere, someone contacted the Governor’s office and he put a halt to this for the same apparent reasons the boaters had until things could be sorted out.  Dale has resorted to taking in little bags, that look like shopping bags and dropping them in the closest bin he can find.  He’s going to be a pirate yet!  Some boaters actually said, that’s it, fueled up and headed home. 

We’re still holding out.  Both Grenada and Trinidad have extended their lockdown until 5/15 but keep sending out notices to those of us with reservations, that they are working to open their borders before hurricane season.  Grenada actually put in one of their notices that they are not to be not to be considered a “safe haven," which caused us to raise an eyebrow.  There’s an international maritime law that says (if I may paraphrase) you can’t turn away a vessel seeking safe haven during a storm.  We have no intention of being the guinea pig but you know someone somewhere might push the issue and cause an international incident. 

Finally, we gathered on Texas Crewed for Cinco de Mayo.  Chris and Helen from another boat (sorry I can’t remember the name) also joined us.  Lots of good food and margaritas were shared.  We even flagged down a dingy going past to offer them a couple of “travelers” as they were taking their dogs to shore for a walk.  So we ended the day on a high note. 

Bottom line:  This too shall pass.  It might pass like a kidney stone but it will pass.