Today is Friday in the evening and this week has been busy as there never is enough time to do all the things on the to do list. We took a couple of days off on Tuesday and Wednesday. We did a little tour up in the jungle to a place called Asa Wright which is on the 1oo0 places to go before something bad happens. It is a birders Paradise with hundreds of exotic flying animals. I know very little of this subject but the place is a beautiful old plantation house up in the mountains with a most spectacular view and very tranquil. We went up with three others from "Stryder" and had a great time spending the night and enjoying the bird sounds. Lots of walks and just relaxing in the main patio over looking the jungle and reading my book.

Tropical forest and birds.

On Wednesday we went to a mangrove swamp, about 40 square miles to watch the red ibis's coming in to roost for the night. There were hundreds of them all blood red along with all the white herons made quite a sight. We also saw a four foot Cayman which is like a crocodile or alligator, will have to google it. A mean looking animal.

Caiman going for a swim!

Thursday Marian went into Port Of Spain to do some shopping and sightseeing while I had a VHF antenna put up the mizzen mast to run our AIS. We had the cable split before and were not happy with the results so now have dedicated antennas to each unit. Then as we were planning on leaving today we found that the out haul on the main boom had both seals broken so had to remove the gearing and it will be Monday before we can get it fixed. The good part of this is it is much better to find and repair the problem here where we have the support.

Today we found a wood working shop that is going to make us a teak cockpit cocktail table and will be ready on Monday. We were back and forth to a couple of chandleries and are tired out with the walking in the heat. Still not used to this much hot weather.

Yesterday we reinstalled the aft nav light and gps antenna, washed the boat which needed it as we did not get all the grime off when we were in the yard. We cleaned and greased some blocks then spent some R&R time up in the pool.

Kilkea II from the top of the main mast



This morning, Sunday, I spent about three hours up both of the masts cleaning and changed to an LED anchor light. A little squall came through with heavy rain when I was at the top of the mizzen but it didn't matter much as I was soaked anyway what with the sweat and the hose up there with me. Marian had the hard part of moving me up and down with the windlass on the main and the hand winch on the mizzen. I guess she still loves me as I wasn't dropped or left dangling.

Chaguaramas harbour

This evening we are getting together with a couple of other boaters for a pot luck dinner up by the pool.

The shark and bake was great. We had a good time and came back to the boat with friends from Strider for a few night caps. Yesterday the heat got to me so managed the mizzen sail up in the morning then Marian did the laundry while I had to lie down. I guess it was too much sun or heat stroke. Later in the day we put up the main sail and today we will attempt the Gib if there is not too much wind. They say that it is hotter than normal down here as yesterday it was above 37C and that is just too hot to be out doing anything. Not complaining too much but a little cooler would be nice.

Well it is Thursday the 19th of November and we are back in the water! What a relief as the dust and dirt in the yard was not nice. Also it was getting very tiring climbing up and down the ladder to get on and off the boat and all of this in 35+C weather with 90% humidity.

Tomorrow we will put the sails back on if there is not too much wind and then start to wash and clean up K 2 as it is in need of some tlc. I will have to spend a good few hours up the masts washing and cleaning so will try that early around 6.30 am when it will be coolest. That is it for now as we are off too dinner for a shark and bake???

Hi all we are back in Trinidad working hard to get Kilkea II back in the water. We arrived on Saturday morning around 1 am from Vancouver via Toronto and spent a short night in the marina hotel. Up early to have Kilkea moved from the secure yard to the working yard where we can stay on board and work on the boat. We have been busy from 7 till 7!! It is amazing how much work is involved to have those idyllic days anchored in a beautiful bay. It is Tuesday night and we will have the third bottom coat of paint on tomorrow. We had a man do the waxing as it is just too hot for us on that one. We will get the propeller back in the morning as we had all the bearings and seals changed. The anchor has been straightened as we tried to lift Greece onto the boat when we were there last year. Also had to take off the back port section of the railing to get straightened as we were hit by an anonymous boater in Antigua when we were off the boat in April. Nice guy!! Not too bad but had to take off the GPS antenna and the aft nav light. We have had all the anchor chain out for inspection and cleaning and will have it back in the locker with the anchor connected by the end of the day.

The good part of all this it is hot! Maybe that is the bad part as well! No just kidding as it will help me sweat away some of my over indulgences over the summer. I will try to keep updating this more often now that we are back home.