I am still sitting here in Grenada waiting for this years hurricane season to pass us by. So far the only one that has come close was the same one that hit the US gulf coast. Its center was about 200 miles north of us. We had some moderate winds and rain but other than that it was just another day in paradise. If any of you are interested in tracking the tropical storms building off of Africa and headed this way you can do so on the National Hurricane Center web site.
In the mean time while we all watch the weather, I have been working on the boat to get her ready for the next leg of my journey. This is not to suggest that I haven't taken time to have fun by participating in all of the events here to keep us cruisers entertained. I would have to say the 90% of my time is allocated to fun while 10% is dedicated to working on Dolce Vita and spending needed $$$'s on her like a high maintenance woman.
Before I get into this years Carnival, let me share some details of what can happen as one cruises around the globe. Not all is romantic, with gentle winds and seas while you sit back to enjoy a cocktail. There are very few cruisers that don't experience a moment or two with the feeling that you are in a dangerous situation that can lead to cuts and broken bones or much worst. I have to admit that I have been added to this list. The good news was no one was hurt and the boat only suffered minimal damage. I ran up on a reef as Maggie and I sailed towards St Martin from the BYI islands. I called Mayday and a rescue boat and salvage boat came to our aid and pulled us off the rocks. Fortunately the seas were calm and the damage to the bottom of the boat was minimal. The rudder was untouched. Let me now show the before and after photos of Dolce Vita. She now has here best dress on and is showing off to the boats anchored near me.
These are the before photos. Here Dolce Vita is being pulled out of the water to be placed on the hard for needed repairs and paint revealing for the first time the damage that was inflicted on the boat.
This is the back of the keel.
A closer look reveals a damage done. Later you will see how this part of the keel is shaped when it is back to normal.
A view from the other side.
Deep scratches inflicted on the port side of the keel. That would be the left side for those of you that are land lovers.
This is the front end of the keel.
OUCH!
Now on the bright side, let be show the after photos. Remember what this looked like above? Just like new know.
This shows the front of the keel. Damage is fixed.
Looking good!
Proudly displaying here name and home port.
Getting ready to be placed back in the water.
OK, enough of that. Let's move onto the Carnival which is a five day event (party) when the islands population doubles from 100,000 to 150,000 or more. Grenada's Carnival is the worlds third largest, Rio and Trinidad being the largest.
The first event is the crowning of the Queen followed the next day by a four hour event in the stadium where we are entertained by 7 steel drum orchestras each in turn playing for a panel of judges that they select the best over all. Each band had around 70 drums of different sizes for the sound that they create played by individuals ranging in age fro 7 years old to 72 years old, men and women. Interestingly was that most of the orchestras had more women performing than men. Go girls!. The next days event started at 4:00 in the morning with a parade of load music and lighted costumes. Follow in the afternoon with a parade for the children. Then the next days event is where you must wear your throw away cloths because you are painted with motor oil and colored paint as a parade of load music again and revelers that have painter themselves and other watching from the side with stuff that washes off with a little soap and water. Finally the next event is the parade that we often see in the movies or television. Colorful costumes worn my both men and women displaying their stuff as they dance down the street shacking their bootee.
I will attempt here to display the photos in the same order of the events. Enjoy the Carnival.
Just to show you that the fun did not stop after the end of the Carnival. Here I am playing cricket for the first time in my life and also enjoying a dingy raft up where we enjoyed the music of a band playing from a barge off in the bay.
This is a photo of the cricket bat from the side and the edge
This is the wicket. I hope I have the spelling correct. I am not going into a lengthy note sharing with you the little knowledge of what the wickets present and how they work into the game. You will have to Google the rules and regs of this game. Good luck in understanding all of that. I had a great hit at bat but just like all Gringos, I dropped the bat and ran to the other wicket which unlike baseball, you are not to do. You must carry the bat with you. By the time I stopped and returned to pick the bat up and run again towards the wicket, I was thrown out. The end of my career in cricketry.
A batter
The pitcher which in this game is called the bowler.
Then onto the next event of the music raft up.
Maggie did not get to enjoy these two events. She started her return to Sydney, Australia after the Carnival ended and before I put the boat up for repairs. I am now single again looking for the next attractive woman to join be. This is all part of the sailing experience. :)
