I awoke early at 06:00 and am currently drinking my first coffee of the day. Today, I’m preparing Zanshin for storage in Grenada. I have both today and tomorrow available and I’ll concentrate on the interior today and the exterior tomorrow. Although the waters are quite calm, I might get the dinghy outboard removed and stored later on today.
Morning
It is almost 10:00 in the morning and I’m on my second coffee, but haven’t done much boat work yet. I’ve checked the internet for hotels in Grenada – I’m still looking for a good last-minute booking and can’t decide what I’d like to do. My Iron Ranger boots have a bit of growth on them, but that should brush right out.
I’m going to finish this cup of brew, then store the laundry in airtight bags so that it will be fresh upon my return.
I also put a second garbage bag attached with painter’s tape to the mast as a second layer of water protection. It is a bit jerry-rigged but should be sufficient until I return.
Noon
I’ve disposed of my few remaining supplies of pasta and rice and the fish had grand old time with the droppings from Zanshin. Must be like Manna from above for them; nutritious food appearing suddenly from above. This is a big part of preparing for storage here in Grenada. I want nothing edible to remain on board that isn’t sealed in tins. That should prevent undue surprises upon my return.
The next wave off the Sahara desert is approaching the NHC chart now shows a high likelihood of turning into a storm. I will be hauled out and in Grenada by the time this system is going to arrive. But it still bears watching.
I managed to clean and get the cockpit cushions inside. The bilge pump sensor is out, the pump relay is working, so it must be a corroded sensor. I’ll let it dry out overnight (I dump several gallons of water with cleaner in the bilges before testing this.
Afternoon
I decided to get the dock lines and fenders out of deep storage today. I went into the dinghy garage and it smelled of fish. Initially I thought this might have been from all the shrimp larvae on the dive BCD and other equipment. But then, all the way in the back of the garage, I found a rather large fish – recently deceased. I don’t know what could have prompted it fly into the dinghy garage. But it wasn’t a good move, in retrospect.
While cleaning the fridge, a sharp corner of the freezer drawer allowed me to practice some first-aid medicine. At least my bandages won’t go past their use-by date. I wonder if one bleeds stronger as one gets older? Of course that can’t apply to me, but perhaps to others?
I let the dinghy outboard run empty (to prevent gumming up the carburettor) and everything is ready to get the engine aboard tomorrow morning when the winds and waves die down.
Evening
I wanted to go ashore with the Paradise Beach Club launch, but they seem to be keeping to their side of the island tonight, so I’m going to have either a MRE or my emergency packet of beef ramen noodles. The latter is more likely, because I’d need to dump it before storing Zanshin in any case.
The launch didn’t come by, so I enjoyed the gustatory pleasures of instant Ramen for my evening repast, washed down with a fine cold Caribe beer.