January 19, 2012

Thursday January 19, 2012

We didn't even have our first cup of coffee until we were leaving the harbor of Stocking Island, Georgetown.  The morning was just calling us to the seas and we heard it!  It was exciting to be on our way again.  I was at the bow, winding up the snubber in a perfect little coil just behind the anchor locker,  as the windlass pulled the anchor out of the clear blue/green water onto Casa Mare’.  There is always some rush I get when that anchor comes up.  It means another new destination with always something of an adventure ahead.  As I started to stand back up I heard Fred say “Hold on”.  The engine shut down and before I could ask what was wrong he was already below.  All I heard is “smoking”.  Smoke means fire to me and I was already trying to plan the fastest route back to the bow to grab our lifejackets out of the lazerette.  Fred was already removing the cover to the engine and billows of smoke poured out of the companionway.  ‘Oh good’ I thought.  “No flames...yet’.  Fred was quiet, he gets like that when he is thinking hard, but captain or not, I wanted to get a game plan going and I needed some information.  “Are we in trouble?” I asked.  And he said “no, not yet” studying the engine.  ‘OK’, I thought…’not yet is good’ then silence.  I asked again and nothing.  I guess he was still thinking.  Then I took a stand and said “Fred, you need to think aloud when we have smoke coming out of the engine”.  He looked at me and said, the oil is full, I don’t see anything going on here.  There may have been oil burning off...” (and I was unable to understand ‘off what’ and didn’t dare ask.  After all, he was just thinking out loud.  He climbed back into the cockpit and started the engine again.  Hummed like a baby and I (thinking I knew what I was doing) grabbed the flashlight, surveyed the situation and found not a trace of smoke coming from the engine.  I looked up at him, gave him a big thumbs up, yelled “no smoke” and he came back down and covered the engine back up.  He is my hero.  What happened?  I don’t know.  What did he do?  He saved me from getting wet!  We exchanged smiles and off we went!  As we approached Giddeon, anchored about 100 yards or so from us, Fred decided to circle them as we waved good bye for now although we do hope to see them again before we all head back to the US in the spring.  Mary snapped a picture of us leaving.  Rapid Roy blew his air horn as a farewell and Fred blew ours.  They had a bit of a dueling horn blowing and we were off, heading south.  What a great couple.  Great Christians and a great example of a good healthy marriage.  I am sorry I will miss Roy’s sermon at Beach Church on January 29th.  Where ever we are, I will be thinking of him, wishing I were there to hear it.  I’m certain he will have a great strong message.  They are a special couple and special friends.  I brought up our coffee, put out the hand line and planned the day.  I was going to cut Fred’s hair and beard for him but he suggested I could make bread.  Go figure!  His order?  Two loaves of cinnamon bread.  I am here to say, it is not easy to make bread while under sail.  We had enough wind for both the main and jib and...motored anyway.  Light winds but it is awesome to see those huge sails up.  There is power all around us.  The power of the seas, the power of the wind and the power of God, taking us where he wants us to be.  IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!  The waters changed from one breathtaking color to another.  My heart was pounding from excitement of the beauty and I once again, thanked God for this gorgeous morning.  The seas were clear and at 60 feet we could see the coral heads dotting the bottom of the ocean.  I tried to take pictures but I am certain they will look like shadows.  The water colors though, Mercy!!!!!  Islands scattered here and there, one which looked like a perfect shelling beach but I couldn’t talk Fred into changing course for just one hour to go see although he agreed about the good shelling.  I put it on my to do list when we return someday. We both did another first today.  We tried that ugly looking sweet apple.  Fred said he would watch me eat it.  I cut it opened and it did look about as nasty as my wound but I tried it anyway.  It was really good!  Reminded me of a slimy pear but sweeter.  Fred couldn’t stand it.  He tried it also and we found ourselves in a sweet apple seed spitting duel, laughing at each other.  We decided we liked it, now the next step is to find out what they do with them besides eat them.  A very interesting fruit.  After we dropped anchor, we cleaned my wound out and bandaged it.  Fred thought it would be a good idea to take the tweezers and lift all the jagged skin and make sure there is no more dirt under there.  It looked like a surgery going on, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, band-aid hurt free antiseptic wash with lidocaine, a numbing additive, q-tips gauze wraps and paper towels.  I turned my head and he sang to me as he poked around on my nearly numb knee.  I could never be a doctor.  Fred would be a great one!  He’s pretty funny.  He laid down in the salon because he didn’t get to sleep until 5:30 this morning, (his ear was bothering him), and that looked like a good idea to me also.  I checked the SPOT which still had not sent a message out, and came back below, grabbed a blanket and Stasia and we all slept until 8:00 this evening.  I got up and walked over to Fred, poking him in the pitch dark and said, “better get up, lets have soup or something simple tonight”.  He agreed and said bread and soup would be great!  He’s already asleep again, and I think I will hit the hay too!  I am worried about his ear still hurting.  I thought he would feel some relief by now.  We may end up seeing a doctor here in Long Island also.  Once we hit the smaller islands, there is not much medical help.  If we do go, I may have the Dr look at me knee also. 

Conception Island is on our list to visit for a day or two and I am trying to figure out how to keep my knee dry and snorkel, which is what that island is known for.  I am just worried about infection.  Fred said he just bought a new hacksaw blade so if all else fails, we have that, for my leg!  I may have to give in and get a lookie bucket anyway.  I have a strong feeling swimming would not be such a great idea with such a nasty wound.  Besides...there are sharks in these waters.