Oh NO! A Leak in the Dinghy!

Mary sprung a leak. Our inflatable dinghy (aka the family car and also know as “Air Mary”) had to be patched this morning. On our way to shore last night (for a cook’s night off) we stopped to chat with another boat and as we were talking, Michael heard a strange hissing noise. We headed back to the boat, got Mary on board and sure enough, a small leak in the port side tube in a very awkward location. Michael patched it this morning – thanks to some glue from a nearby boat “Evergreen IV Rest.” We owe them a tube of glue. (Frank: more stuff you’ll have to bring!!). Its “curing on deck now and we’ll see I it holds. Barbara still has to get her laundry from shore. (and she never got her cook's night off!)

Yesterday, she sent laundry to two different places – Martin the “boat boy” (or we prefer to call them yacht services) took two loads (picked up at 9 and back by 3) and she brought two to a woman on shore. It’s always funny to see your t-shirts and underwear hanging on someone’s clothesline. This is a pretty inexpensive place to get laundry done – though there are no do-it-yourself Laundromats.

So we are trapped on board with no dinghy – so its boat projects day. Michael’s already repaired the cockpit table; installed an expansion tank for the water maker; cleaned the water maker filters; repaired (?!?) the dinghy; cleaned his sextant that had a battery explode in it; and, reloaded the V-berth. Barbara’s been captioning pictures on the web site (we have internet here); cooking and doing some cleaning. Maybe we’ll both cool off with a nice swim after this.

Last night we went on the tour with Martin up the Indian River. Another couple from aboard Sweet Caroline joined us. It was a great trip. Martin has to row up the river (against a three-knot current) because it’s pretty shallow and no motors are allowed as it’s part of the National Park. It was quite beautiful – especially in the late afternoon light. We saw these magnificent roots of the Blood Wood tree – they are flat and look like sculptures. There were lots of birds singing, crabs scurrying and fish in the river. The trees and ferns were all large and lush. Martin shared a lot of knowledge about Dominica’s history and was well versed in the flora and fauna. This island depends on a lot of holistic remedies – different plants for different ailments.

After a way up the river we got out and hiked along a trail – where we saw beautiful and exotic flowers, lots of varieties of bananas and plantains, pineapples and other spices like bay leaves. He collected a coconut and “macheteed” it open – and still has all ten fingers! He also made Barbara and Carol (from Sweet Caroline) a palm frond bird. Barbara got a parrot and Carol got a hummingbird. We swam in the fresh water river (always a treat after so much salt water) and ate coconut and headed back in a typical afternoon downpour. Martin ended the trip with an exotic bouquet for each of the women. (Gee all this stuff and no vase on board!!)

It was a great trip that we both enjoyed tremendously. At night (Saturday night after all), there was late music on shore. Only this music wasn’t very melodic – Michael actually thinks it was karaoke (which should be outlawed).

Tomorrow (Monday) is another island holiday – they sure do celebrate on the island a lot. It’s Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday). Everything will be closed. We haven’t decided if we’re staying or moving on. A lot depends on getting the dinghy in the water and seeing if she floats. It also depends on collecting the laundry from shore. And of course the weather!

We’re flexible.