As if we had never left
Does it seem strange that Rebecca and I consider Grenada to be more a home to us now than Canada? I know it doesn’t seem weird to us. Only minutes after we made it to shore in St. Georges on Friday after our passage, we were already reconnecting with old pals. It was as if we had never left.
We cleared into the country at Port Louis Marina which was a first for us. I would definitely use that C&I office again though as the guys working there were friendly and efficient. We celebrated our successful trip from St. Lucia with our friends at happy hour but called it an early night to have dinner back on ZTC. The fatigue from the 27 hours of sailing was slowly sneaking up on us.
With the wind and seas once again forecast to pick up, we figured that we’d be better off in the very protected Hog Island anchorage than we would be at St. Georges where we initially stopped. With that in mind, we picked up anchor yesterday morning to make the 8 mile trip around the corner. As we rounded Pt. Salines to head directly into the wind and seas, we immediately felt sorry for our friends who still need to make the easterly trek from the Virgins to St. Martin. That kind of trip is never fun. Fortunately for us, we only had a few miles to go.
We just completed a 27 hour passage and now you want to move the boat again? Are you crazy?
Hog Island was just where we left it and we were happy to see that our preferred anchoring spot was wide open. After ensuring that our boat was well secured, Rebecca dropped the kayak in the water to go for a bit of a tour. When she returned, she again said that it was as if we had never left. Many of the same boats that were here 6 months ago are here again, anchored in virtually the same spot. Or is it that they’re still here, never having left? If not, who can blame them?
With today being Sunday, we anticipate that some sort of party will be happening at Roger’s Beach Bar later today. Of course, we plan to attend and are looking forward to reconnecting with even more of our cruising pals.
It’s like we never left!
Nice dinghy!
Nice photo, but it’s not mine.
I find interesting that the travelling wanderers now have a place they call home and recently you talked about needing to sell off some of your accumulated “stuff”. You need to find someone to adopt your pet again as you embark on a new adventure. You even got a job. 🙂
You have come full circle. It really is neat to see that life is life, even if you have traded snow boots and touques for bikinis and snorkelling masks.
If we had waited until we had a bazillion dollars our path would have been different. Of course, then we’d have been old…
Being old is fine – it is much better than the alternative. But there are a few disadvantages compared with being as young as you two. 🙂
Mike
I know there are people who do this when they’re in their 60s and 70s. They must be smarter and more efficient than us.
We just quit cruising last September (though not quite
as big time as you two). We are 66 and 67. Wouldn’t
have missed a minute of it for the world. And a good
friend of ours is 71 years old, and she (yes, SHE!) single
hands a 38 foot boat up and down the east coast – and
she prefers the ocean to the ICW.
That’s obviously possible. More power to her (and you two).
I’ve never been able to get behind the “work like a dog for 50 or so years so you can then retire and finally begin to enjoy yourself” mantra. Far too often, life ends early and abruptly, leaving dreams unfulfilled. More power to you guys…I’m glad you found a way to continue your escapades afloat. Best of luck with this new venture.
– CC
Thanks, CC.
I feel fortunate to have had a good blast of the lifestyle in my late 30’s and a little beyond so that now jumping back in at 60, I know exactly what I’m in for. “As if we never left” (almost)
Like riding a bike…
M & R
Just to clarify as been off the grid a bit (travelling in Vietnam) are you guys going to sell, get work as charter captains / crew. As you seem to packing up for some reason – been a ‘follower’ for ages just trying to catch – tah Stewie
Don’t fall behind, Stewie! 🙂
Yes, we will be running a new boat. Now, we are not presently selling ZTC but will be storing her on the hard here in Grenada.
http://www.zerotocruising.com/the-next-chapter/
M & R
great stuff – “living the dream” – love your site as both technical & adventure intertwined in a great way – standing by to stand by
🙂
Thanks!
Additionally, as far as gunking up the carbs, I’m assuming you’re referring to an outboard. You can simply shut down the fuel petcock and let the engine run itself dry. You’ll want to not try and save gas in the tank. It’ll be far more aggravating in the long run then simply running out of gas and bringing fresh stuff upon your return. I recently had to deal with thiswhen I bought my boat. Previous owner said that the outboard had ran perfectly in the past but had recently been giving him trouble. Upon inspection, it looked as if silicone had been run through the entire fuel system. I had to clean everything from the tank to the cylinder in order to get it to run correctly.
Our boat is powered by outboards, not inboard diesels. Running the main tank dry is not going to happen. There is too much fuel in it. We can starve the engines though.