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Last update October 01 2013

Mount Hartman Bay is the place where we are staying, it is quiet and tranquil here, the water is clear so you can swim and we can paint the topsides of the boat. We start with that main task on our ever-groing list. This list has now become quite long already, time to drastic measures.
Part 1 consists of painting the outside of our JoHo, where not touched by Arthur last summer or during our haulout last month. Sanding and painting, sanding, painting, sunding, panting. No wind and the water is like a mirror, all we wish for at that moment but... it is bloody warm. After a week our JoHo quite beautiful blue again. This first big job can be deleted from the list. Next is t he inside of the hood, sanding and painting, music boxes are replaced, got a new frame and loudspeakers, check-up on wiring solar panels and all.

Between the Jobs we go on an excursion to a lake and waterfalls, we also visit the King of the Grill festival in Grenada. The latter is a local BBQ contest, only few foreigners to be found. John made some new local friends and this family invites us all on Friday, September 6th out to dinner at their uncles restaurant, we had quite a party that night.

Then there is Part 2 of the jobs, consisting of the painting of woodwork and renewing the wet cell (shower). We replaced the sink and toilet and the whole space was sanded and painted. And yes, again, even without direct sunlight we panted, boy it can get hot inside a blue-hulled boat in the Carib.
The cabinet doors in the front and rear are sanded and painted and finally, this is an easy job. Some things have to be replaced, fortunately we have many spare parts onboard and budget marine is close at hand. As the big question is where certain things are stowed...
Last but not least our engine got some TLC, we changed oil, filters and checked everything, even though she runs like a charm we'd sure like to keep it that way.

This month we also made new travel decisions. Our plan was to sail through the Panama Canal to the Pacific, but that is off for now. The news that John's dad Leo has had a heart attack made this decision for us. Luckily there was no big alarm, the damage to his heart was limited, but in these situations you realize how hard it is when you are far away from it all. A quick flight to the Netherlands is difficult to arrange from Grenada, but definately out of the question from the far Pacific. Glad there is skype in this Internet age, so we got an update with images and sounds.

Saturday, September 7th we went to hash (hike) again, this time it's in the vicinity of Gouyave on the northwest side of Grenada. The walk passes through a plantation up on paved roads and small mud paths. The views are astonishing, the locals friendly, they wave and point us in the right the way. Almost at the end, John slipped on a muddy trail and distorted both knees. He made it back but was in pain. Once back we asked for some ice and put it on his knees. The injury was bad, the next day he could not even move his knees.
We decided to take it slow the next week.
Now on a day at the beach you can do little wrong with your knees you'd say, so with our group and the local family -the one we met at the King of de BBQ- we went on Sunday, September 15th to the beach at Egmont Bay. They picked us up by car. There were local dishes, like fresh fish soup and callalou lasagna. Lisa made her famous raw meat on a fork for the BBQ and Stacy made pulled pork. It was a pretty relaxing day. But at the end John slipped again and fell on the ground, hurt his knees again...

By end of the month all the big jobs are done and with the rest we will begin in Martinique or St Maarten. We are already far too long in one and the same place, t ime to hoist the anchor and pull up the sails. It's the end of September when we leave Mount Hartman Bay to sail to Carriacou. Slowly along the west coast of Grenada up to Ronde Island and Carriacou. Next month we plan on slowly going up to Martinique, not to fast because it's still Hurricane season. We hope to arrive early November in Martinique.

Jolanda

I finished a special photobook, about our travels 10 years JoHo's travel from 2001 to 2011.
Curious ? Then click the link.
And if you're interested in sailing the BAHAMAS, BERMUDA, MALDIVES, BONAIRE or SURINAME have a look at our books at SAILADVENTURES where the books are available online.
You can always mail us for more info on these cruising grounds or cruising in general, we'll gladly help you out.

Jolanda

Current position

JoHo is on anchor in Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou at 12°27'3 N - 61°29'3 W.

Plans

Sailing the Caribbean mainly. Our floating home and office is always ready for us to work for ourselves as writers and editors compiling cruising guides on our way.
We'll see how things will run, life's too complicated to plan anyways. Live life to the max, it can be over before you know it is our slogan.

John and Jolanda