The night was quiet without much wind, but I kept waking up at the slightest noise waiting for the Gale to hit. This morning the wind had picked up but only to 15 kts or so, and it was partly sunny. It is 11:30 a.m. now and the wind has picked up to about 20 -25 knots of true wind; and it’s beginning to rain. Doug just let out a little more anchor line.
He also had a really good shower on the boat after we ran the engine for ½ hour to charge the batteries, which also heated the water and gave it more pressure, which is what we’ve been missing for the past few weeks. Now we know how to get a proper shower. I’ve been only taking showers when we are in Marinas; although I’ve been rinsing off the salt water in the boat’s shower after snorkeling.
This a.m Doug made me a fried egg sandwich on 5 small rounds of a baquette with thin slices of fried turkey; and I had two cups of English Breakfast tea with milk and equal. I think he had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast.
I read several chapters of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (the first book in the series) aloud to Doug, which is our 2nd book together. In the morning I tend to read aloud to him and he reads aloud to me in the evenings – just before going to bed. This way we can enjoy the same book at the same time and discuss it as we go along. Together we did finish reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon, which we loved!! I have also read other books – usually after Doug falls asleep – I stay awake for some time longer – maybe 15 minutes – maybe 2 hours longer, depending upon how tired I am. I read Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons; John Grisom’s Testament; Running with Scissors, which I loved; Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman; The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, which was also excellent! And Rotten Lies by Charlotte and Aaron Elkins, a light murder mystery, which was entertaining and written by a collaboration of two authors – unusual!
Doug just finished scrubbing and drying the entire bath/shower – it’s really clean now. We were going to go into the resort to buy bread, ice and find the library so I can get more books, but if the wind keeps building, we aren’t going anywhere. It gusted up to 30 knots a minute ago – which is about 35 mph.
We just noticed a sailboat having trouble in the harbor. They were trying to anchor without success in this 30-knot wind and sloppy seas. After many unsuccessful attempts and almost running into other boats, Doug decided to go help them. So, he put on his foul weather gear and took off in the dinghy. Just as he got to them, they cut their anchor line, so he grabbed the stern of their boat and they motored off to a more protected area in the harbor. Doug, seeing they were okay, went to the grocery store to get a few things…BUT he didn’t have his wallet!!! He didn’t get groceries (they wouldn’t let him leave his coveted swiss army knife as collateral). However the baker let him have a large cinnamon roll on credit. He checked with the Canadians on the boat again and some friends of theirs had already rescued their anchor (with a grappling hook) and had taken it to them. They had already hooked it back up and were using it. Amazing!!
Then, we saw a catamaran trying to leave the harbor (mistake) and were being pushed into the fuel dock next to the channel. It’s going to be much much rougher out of this protected harbor and so I hope they survive. We have no idea why they felt they had to leave – a medical emergency – a need to catch a flight out of Marsh Harbor? Who knows, but I’m glad it wasn’t us.
We’ve decided to try to sail to Marsh Harbor tomorrow a.m. and go on the FRIENDS field trip if the winds are down – it’s only 2 hours from here. Tonight more episodes of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency.
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