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Larry's LogThe next day (the days here were starting to meld into each other) we ran more errands, mostly talking to vendors we wanted to get to do estimates for work. None of the work we were discussing "had" to be done except perhaps the bottom paint, but much of it was work that would make the boat look better or be more comfortable. The biggest job was the boat awning, and naturally, it was the canvas/sailmaker vendors that were the most overwhelmed at this time of year. But we also spoke to woodworkers, metal fabricators and others. We also made the reservation to be hauled on Sept 5, the day before we were scheduled to leave for our visit home. The remainder of the day was spent trying to organize the boat a bit and making plans for the work projects we had. I had bought the parts to reinforce the dodger frame but would have to find the tubing I had on board already. I knew where it was but it was going to a job just digging it out. That night we went to a potluck dinner hosted by the marina. People brought their own meat to grill and a dish to share. The marina supplied the grill, the tables and seating for the 35 people there. Although it threatened to rain, it held off through the event. There were some excellent side dishes and nice desserts laid out on the shared table. We met some very nice people and talked about some shared experiences up island. We also met some cruisers who had just come from Venezuela who gave us some good information. We planned to visit there after Trinidad so it was most welcome. Friday morning Diane went shopping again while I tried to fix the oven. The oven had stopped getting hot even though the pilot light would go. I had first tried to fix it back in Grenada. We had just gotten the other propane tank filled and thought it would remedy the problem, but it didn't help. I got out the spare part for the oven, installed it and tested it again. Still no good. I rechecked the connections and felt that it was installed correctly so I didn't know what the problem was. We could still use the stovetop but the oven was inoperable. The oven just wouldn't heat up. We would have to get someone to help. Fortunately, after Diane got back, she told me she had gotten a referral from another boat that had a problem similar to ours and had gotten it fixed by a local vendor. She called Wavedancer and got the name and phone number of the vendor and went to call. They usually require a trip into the shop to pay a deposit but Diane managed to get them to come out without that requirement. Someone would show up on Saturday between 9 and noon. Hopefully, they could fix it. Most of the rest of my day was spent re-inventorying the boat, making drawings for the woodworking projects I wanted done, and installing an indicator light, a small LED, on the refrigerator circuit. Diane had accidentally turned the refrigerator off several times without realizing it causing the food to start to get warm. So far, we had caught it without any damage, but I now moved the switch and put in the light to prevent any recurrence. The next day we woke up late and missed the morning cruisers' net. It must be the air conditioning - it makes you sleepy. In the morning, I went across the channel to the boat yards and ran some errands, picking up a small woodworking project that turned out pretty good and was done on time and at the agreed price. They had actually done a bit more than discussed but didn't charge anything extra. Very good, I would bring them more work. I stopped by the seamstress and asked when our shirts would be ready and was told that they would be ready later in the day - only a few days late. OK, it is Trinidad and this wasn't an important project. I dropped off another project at a fiberglass shop and the vendor said it would be ready Wednesday. After that, I walked over to Mima and talked with Tom a bit and looked at his stove, which had exactly the same kind of oven control as ours. The installation looked exactly the same as I had done. I called Diane back on Destiny and she said the stove repairman had been there. She said that the repairman felt it was the thermostat or possibly another part but that he would have to come back on Monday to actually fix the oven, and he would bring both parts with him. OK, I just changed the thermostat but he is the professional. Later in the day, we called the marina and found out that our mail had come in. Diane's parents had mailed it on Wednesday and it was here already. Yeah! Diane got the package and we eagerly opened it and looked through the new magazines and letters. It's always nice to get new reading material and see what's going on at home. The letters though were all billing statements - oh well, we needed to see those too. Sunday started off slowly. Diane made a nice breakfast and then we called Steph and Tom to say we would come over to use their sewing machine. They had kindly said we could use it so Diane could try to make the fender covers and other miscellaneous things that we wanted to get done by the canvas vendors. She couldn't do the awning but the simple things should be no problem. I continued making the drawing for the woodworking projects I wanted done but by the time we were ready to go over, it started to rain - what a surprise. So we waited until after lunch and the rain and then went over and I helped set up the sewing machine and watched for a while. Tom was helping Diane with the machine so I went back to the boat and started to do the brace for the dodger. I was installing a piece of tubing so that the dodger would be more stable; I worked for about 2 hours and it went fairly well but I only finished one side when Diane called to say that she was finished for the day. I cleaned up and went over in the dinghy to Mima. We talked for a bit and they invited us to stay for the potluck dinner at their marina but I was too hot and tired to feel very sociable so we went back to Destiny, took showers and just relaxed for the evening. The next day we picked up the shirts from Sherrie, the seamstress that Stephanie recommended. She had done a very nice job but they needed just a little modification. We also ran some other errands and Diane continued sewing some of the fender covers for the boat while I finished the brace for the dodger - another project done. We waited for the oven repairman but he didn't show up and so Diane called and she was promised that he would be here tomorrow. I suppose part of the problem is that we don't have a phone on the boat so if they can't show up for some reason, a vendor has no way to get in touch with us except by radio. |