Saturday 22 December, Jolly Harbour Marina: Food shopping and the fridge fixed … again!
What a great feeling to have breakfast in a clean cockpit, and with cushions! We can actually sit like civilized people now and enjoy our coffee, no more obstructed view. We’ve had all that clutter in the cockpit for too long, and hopefully I won’t be seeing any of those boxes coming out any time soon.
It’s been a relaxing morning all around, just reading and replying to comments on our latest video, Bermuda to Antigua. It seems to be quite a hit, thanks for watching.
The only “cloud” we had on our overall very good mood was having to call Philmore and ask him to come back and re-braze the leaking day fridge pipe.
Glen returned the hire car, with no drama, all tyres intact this time 🙂
Then he stops in the marina office to inform them that one of the boats has a serious diesel leak. On the surface of the water we can see a few millimeters thick layer of diesel. Not good at all 🙁 Plus the smell…
The marina guy seemed to know about it and he couldn’t care less “oh, it will go away”. I am sure there are measures that could to be taken under such circumstances. An environmental company that would come and clear the diesel, like they do when big spills occur. But here they don’t seem to have any environmental concerns.
In Europe or USA that boat would probably get at least a fine.
At mid-day we gather our energy to go to the supermarket. The freezer worked fine for two days now, so we assume it’s safe to buy new provisions to replenish our stock. And vegetables, fruits, fresh milk, yogurt – we are keen to revert to our normal healthy eating: vitamins, fiber and protein.
The supermarket in Jolly Harbour is well provisioned, especially now before Christmas. We don’t have that much to buy but we do take our time to browse along the aisles. And once in a while comment “no need to get that here, we’ll find better in the European supplied supermarkets”, on the French or British dependent territories where we will sail to next.
Even so, we do manage to collect a few “don’t have to buy now” items. And at the check out counter, although we were bracing ourselves for the bill (supermarkets here are rather expensive) we are shocked to realize just how much it has all amounted to. 5 bags of shopping and a cool bag at over US$400. Ouch.
Philmore arrives early afternoon and gets straight to it. He doesn’t seem to be too bothered that one connection has failed. When I see him with all the rusty equipment and the lit burner inside the boat, I hold my breath and cross my fingers that he doesn’t accidentally burns our teak! But the rebrasing is quite quick, accidents free. No immediate leak revealed at the soap test, only time will tell if it is rightly done this time.
After he leaves, Glen – who now considers himself a refrigeration expert – thinks the gas pressure for the freezer is too low, and pumps more gas in. After which the pipes start showing signs of ice, meaning the pressure is too high. Gas is then let out, and all returns to normal. Let’s just call him a semi expert eh? … but not out loud 🙂
Not sure if it was a good idea to buy the gas bottle and gauges, now he will have them to mess around with the fridges. Or maybe it was a good idea we bought such a big bottle and not a silly little one.
After floor boards go back down and screwed firmly in place (I hope they will remain like that for a long time), we retire in the cockpit to relax with a tea. There is a steel band playing in West Point bar, which creates a nice atmosphere over the marina. And we have a relaxing time listening to them.
An uneventful evening – sooo good for a change!
