Sailing BrainWaves

December 5, Monday Don walked all over the place trying to find someone who could do some work on the alternator while the boat is here.  Our guidebook told of several places that would be so happy to help.  NOT.  Every response was "not posseeble".  Don decided to try to change the leaky hose himself.  He got the hose off and took another trip to get a new hose.  Bought one back but it was metric instead of SAE and didn't fit.  Then he decided to change the oil and filter.  He got the oil changed and went to get a new filter but the store was closed for siesta.  He went back again at 2 o'clock but same problem as with the hose - everything was metric.  He put the old filter back on.  He'd tried to bring more extra filters and had taken all they had at the time. When Don checked in this morning, he found that we have to move the boat by February 2, since we arrived early.  We had thought we'd be able to extend the time here...

December 2, Saturday.  Don went into town for pain au chocolate in the morning.  Since it was Saturday there were a number of street vendors who hadn't been there previously.   We left the mooring again and moved the boat over to Anse Marigot at noon.  We anchored in a grassy area and didn't feel we had great holding.  The air was light so the chart plotter just showed a wandering pattern.  Don dove on the anchor and it seemed to be set.   We watched pelicans dive, Frigate birds soar, turtles surface for air and goats roam the mountains.  Also took the dinghy to check out some wrecked boats.  A catamaran came in before dusk. Deb

December 1, Friday.  Don hiked up to Fort Napoleon in the morning.  I was up early thinking I might go but it was already blazing hot and it was a steep climb.  Everything in the fort was in French so he couldn't read much.  He said the views were spectacular in every direction.  In the afternoon we left the mooring to check out the anchorage by Pain de Sucre but it was crowded and also had mooring balls so we went back to our old spot.  A boat comes around near four o'clock to collect the fee for mooring.  We made sure we were in town by five o'clock to get crepes for dinner.  Of course, this time it didn't matter because we it was Friday and they were open until eight.  The woman was very nice and helped me with the WiFi and the crepes we're good. Deb