Life in a Boat Yard

One of the main events in Grenada is a trip on the shopping buses! Shade Man (aka. Patrick) drives a very old red minivan that tightly seats 12, but often carries up to 18! Don’t even consider looking for a seatbelt – unless you are in the front seat and in the city areas. There you must buckle it so he doesn’t get a ticket. Of course, I couldn’t get the buckle to work so I just held it to look like I was buckled up!

Going shopping with Shade Man at least once a week for five weeks was a fun experience. Aside from the fact that he had to shut the doors to make sure they would stay shut, he used a screw-driver to pull the windows up from the outside and on the driver’s side he used a vice-grip tool as a door handle, the trips were a highlight of each week. And the ride was wild at times! But all part of the island experience.

I found it interested how easy it was to discuss skin color issues with Patrick. He made us laugh when he told how funny white people are when they drink to much! He imitated their slurred speech and described how their faces turned red – especially the nose. It was quite fun and there was absolutely nothing racially discriminating about it. In fact, in all the countries where we have been the minority as whites, there has not been any discrimination issues or tensions like in the USA. It is so matter of fact: our skin is lighter and theirs is darker; we are all people! It is so sad that we are so touchy about it in our country!

A Big Exhale!

While in Grenada, we met up with several other WARC boats who were also being launched. It was fun to have a sundowner or dinner with old friends. We found Stella and John (Exocet Strike, UK) in the marina and a few days later, Lauri and Bob (Barbara Jean, Michigan, USA) arrived, too. On a shopping trip, I found Vicki and Peter (Carrango, UK) having a beer while waiting to splash their boat in another marina. We had dinner with them later that night.

Dinner with Vicky and Peter of S/Y Carrango (UK)

A night at the Brewery with Tim and Magda (S/Y Belafonte)

and John and Stella (S/Y Exocet Strike)

There is a very strong cruising community in Grenada and I could tell by the conversations on the VHF radio that many of them have spent the winters down here. As a result, they are very close knit and have organized all kinds of activities. We realized how much we were going to miss our WARC family this season!

Happy Hour at Adrift with Lori and Bob from S/V Barbara

Jean. They are from Sturgis, Michigan and we completed the 

2016-17 World ARC with them.

Most of the days here were spent on the boat early in the morning and later in the afternoon due to the heat. When we had the apartment, it was very pleasant to go in and cool down. However, we were here for five weeks total and only had the apartment for 10 days. Some days were overwhelming with the heat and humidity - and, of course, the at-least-once-daily rain shower!

On one of trips to St. George's, we shopped at the fish market. I have to admit my most favorite fish market is in Noumea, New Caledonia, but this one was fine. The women seemed to be the ones handling the fish and wielding their sharp knives. I don't know how they keep from losing their fingers!

She is cutting our piece of shark!

My first attempt at cooking shark. Neither of us have had it.

We had to bring in the patio table for our meals in the 

apartment, but it worked well. Just a little crowded, but

too hot to eat outside when you have air conditioning!