Thursday, June 11, 2020

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

Never got a name but 

it appears to be 

some type of research vessel

So many coronavirus jokes out there, it’s a pundemic.

Well, the shade cloths have been either removed or rolled up.  The sail covers have been removed.  The jacklines are laid out, our open water life jackets are out, harnesses are out.  The dinghy is up in the davits and snugged in tight. 

While Nicky, Savannah and I went in to get the last of the laundry done this morning, Dale and Gerry scrubbed the bottom of Opal.  Nicky made one last trip to the grocery store to replace the laundry soap we used up while Savannah and I babysat the washing machines.  We crossed the street from the marina to fill our dinghy jerry can with gas.  Tomorrow morning we’ll take the Palace up to the fuel pier for a top off of diesel and water in the big boat.  Things that might shift have been secured or moved to the floor.  I couldn’t stuff another thing in the freezer or refrigerator if I tried. 

3 smaller boats on the back deck;

later we saw a submersible too!

This morning Dale discovered that the second of his hearing aids had died.  I had put the first one in a baggie of rice hoping to revive it; Dale put the second one in with it when it died.  Since we’ll be out of touch for a while and we are still in an American territory, he made a quick (and less expensive call) to his doctor and a new (very expensive) set was put in the mail.   His doctor suggested a couple of other ideas to get the old ones functioning again.  Tonight, he pulled them out of the rice and tried some of the suggestions.  Now they’re working.  Doesn’t matter, its probably best to have a back up set, particularly if these are going to start acting up. 

Then we checked out with the Customs and Border Protection.  Normally, when leaving the US or its territories, you don’t need to check out.  By checking into another country, they know that you’ve left.  However, Grenada required it; so we got the necessary paperwork in order to check into Grenada.

We received an e-mail this evening from Grenada checking to see if we still intended to go there, if we had already submitted our paperwork and paid for our “jail” spot on the map.  They also sent along paperwork, so that if we anticipated purchasing a SIM card on our arrival, it would be waiting for us.  The problem?  They wanted us to send our credit card information to another cruising boat who is organizing the purchases.  Although we wrote ahead and informed them that yes, we would be purchasing a SIM card, we unfortunately would not be sending our credit card information.  In this day and age, I’m surprised they even asked.    

We had word today that Trinidad will not be opening to cruisers prior to mid-July.  One more time, let's all say it together:  at least we'll be out of the hurricane belt in Grenada.  

This sign is on everything:

busses, stores,

 restaurants, gas stations

Tomorrow will be an early day.  Not that I’ll really sleep tonight.  Again, if I can make an internet connect in St. John, I’ll try to let you know.  If I can’t?  Well, we’ll let you now when we make it to Grenada.  Hopefully on Wednesday of next week. 

Wish us luck!

Finally:  Nail salons, hair salons, waxing centers and tanning places are closed. It’s about to get ugly out there.