Waking up, we decide that today is the day for the new camera. We know which one we want. One of our guests had a fabulous one which seemed to have all the features we need. We have already done some research on the internet regarding costs so we can work out a deal with the rogues in Phillipsburg, and wait for the shops to open. And they don’t. Sunday, low season, duh! Luckily, we phone ahead rather than trundle off in the dinghy so at least we don’t have a wasted journey.
Mike, as usual, checks the weather systems. The ‘bit of wind’ that he already knew about, is now developing into a ‘system’. Not yet a numbered depression, let alone a named tropical storm or hurricane, but something with a 50% chance of turning unpleasant. Having just arrived back in St Martin after fleeing Ana and Bill (neither of which ended up doing anything), we are ‘not best pleased’ at being in the same position again. This time though, it’s not as clear cut. The weather models show this ‘50% chance of development’ with four possible different paths; one to Guadeloupe, one here and two heading north into the Atlantic. All we can do is wait. I hate it.
The information sobers our mood tremendously. We had a lovely day yesterday and today we come down with a bang. Johanne and Steve are coming out from the UK to join us on Friday. Whatever state will the boat be in when they arrive? This ‘development’ is forecast to be less strong that the one last October (Hurricane Omar), but we might have to strip the boat and the chances of us having put it back together again before they arrive are slim. We have made the decision that we will head south anyway once they arrive so that we don’t have to go through this again. All the work that needs doing on Jeannius ie hauling out etc, can be done in Grenada, well out of the usual hurricane belt.
We motor round to Simpson Bay and wait for the bridge to open, which it does, promptly. One boat comes out, one boat (us) goes in and the bridge closes again. I hate anchoring here. All that smelly mud and weed. We made sure our water tank was full before entering – no way would we make water out of the lagoon stuff!
Photo: The Lagoon on the French side, near Marina Port Royale, Fort Louis in the background
Mike motors over to the French side, we anchor just outside Marina Port Royale and he tries to check in. Customs everywhere on the French side is shut so he will have to try tomorrow. We pull the anchor up again, motor further back into the lagoon and re-anchor.
Photo: Taking the dog for a walk, yachty style!
We both feel very flat. We can’t make any decisions yet. We don’t want to start stripping the boat until we know what’s coming our way. Maybe we’ll find out more tomorrow.
I search the freezer and end up making soup which is not the best I have made (to put it mildly!). Mike probably won’t eat it. Ah well, he could go hungry!
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