01/22/2012 PREPARING TO LEAVE THE TCI

01/22/2012 PROVO


SUNDAY

0 NM

DOCKED AT TURTLE COVE MARINA IN PROVIDENCIALES

SUNRISE AT PROVIDENCIALES: 6: 30 AM

SUNSET AT PROVIDENCIALES: 5:32 PM

The last coat of varnish (making it 6 coats on all the brightwork) was applied before our move from these lovely islands. Tom and Jennifer kindly toted me to the well stocked IGA Market to provision and Quest was moved to the fuel dock for a fill-up and the final night’s stay. We are ready for tomorrow’s early start and eager to explore the Dominican Republic.

TOM AND JENNIFER AND THEIR WHEELS

We will leave at first light, exit the marina, make our way out through the reef, proceed counter- clockwise around Provo to its south shore then head SE across the Caicos Bank towards Big Ambergris Cay where we will alter our course a bit to continue on to Ocean World near Puerto Plata on the north shore of the Dominican Republic. We expect this to take us about 24 hours of continuous sailing, if all goes.

Some of the names here on Provo are just too, too charming. There is Ooh, Aah Hill ( you are saying ooh, ooh all the way up the hill and aah when you coast down) and Leeward-Going-Through but I think my favorite is Suzie Turn with the story of its naming. Seems there were two business that did a lot of work together and “Suzie” was always taking things between the two (pre-FAX days). Now Suzie was forever missing the turn and her boss erected a sign in hopes of guiding her. SUZIE, TURN!! (As in turn here, now) Whether or not it solved the problem, the name stuck to this day. Cute?

SUZIE, TURN!!!!!

It has been a really nice stay here but, man, the fees sure rack up. First it was $15.00 for Immigration then $50.00 to Customs for a 7 Day Permit. Due to the windy weather we were forced to extend our stay and had to purchase a Cruising Permit for an additional $300.00 and now we have had to pay a $50.00 exit fee. It wouldn’t have been so bad if we could have left on Thursday but extending our stay until Monday really added a chunk!!

01/21/2012 SNORKELING THE REEF AND EXPLORING IN con-QUEST

01/21/2012 PROVO



SATURDAY

0 NM

DOCKED AT TURTLE COVE MARINA IN PROVIDENCIALES

SUNRISE AT PROVIDENCIALES: 6: 30 AM

SUNSET AT PROVIDENCIALES: 5:31 PM

Dan the Man got two more coats of varnish on the brightwork, one in the morning and the second in the late afternoon. Boy is it looking good.

Jennifer and Tom from Ohio took a little excursion with us in our con-Quest. We did a little snorkeling but the waters were just too rough for total enjoyment. I did spot a big eel lurking in the crevice of a huge coral head, a barracuda and the usual crowd of little reef fish.

Heading on east along the coast we feasted our eyes on some of the fabulous beach resorts like the Beaches, Point Grace, the Club Med and Pelican Beach to name just a few of the larger ones. After entering Leeward-Going-Through we nosed around some of the man made channels with homes and boat docks adorning the shores. On our way back we “rescued” a couple and their darling 18 month old son who had ventured out walking and over extended themselves. We just gave them a ride to a dock where they could grab a taxi back to their hotel. Con-Quest to the rescue!!!

ONE OF THE LOVELY  HOMES IN THE CUT AREA

THE MAN MADE CHANNEL LINED WITH  HOMES AND DOCKS

01/18/2012 MORE BRIGHTWORK

01/18/2012 PROVO

WEDNESDAY

0 NM

DOCKED AT TURTLE COVE MARINA IN PROVIDENCIALES

SUNRISE AT PROVIDENCIALES: 6: 30 AM

SUNSET AT PROVIDENCIALES: 5:29 PM

Still windy but the force is diminishing.

This morning I worked on sanding the remaining unfinished brightwork while Dan tackled the fresh water pump that falters now and again. Although he didn’t find the cause or a total cure, it seems to be working fine for now. We will have to rebuild or replace it when parts and new equipment are more readily available.

We got the first coat of varnish on the rest of the wood and boy did that feel good! We will continue to sand and add coats until we equal the six coats on the parts we did in Bimini and then add several more coats on all the surfaces. Looking good!

DAN HARD AT WORK APPLYING VARNISH

As a reward for our hard work we took the tender out of the harbor for a bit of exploration. That didn’t last too long due to the still rough conditions but we did make a stop at the beach near the harbor entrance.

Sandi and John picked us up and we spent a delightful evening at the Hotel Sibonne’s Bay Bistro. The wind had died down allowing us to enjoy their enchanting outdoor setting. Plans were made for Sandi to pick us up in the morning so that we might join them on their journey from the south shore Caicos Marina and Shipyard.

01/17/2012 TIME FOR AN OIL CHANGE

01/17/2012 PROVO


TUESDAY

0 NM

DOCKED AT TURTLE COVE MARINA IN PROVIDENCIALES

SUNRISE AT PROVIDENCIALES: 6: 30 AM

SUNSET AT PROVIDENCIALES: 5:28 PM

And still the wind blows!

After taking off yesterday as a play day we had to get cracking and change the oil in both engines, always such a messy job! Once that was done we got our bicycles down and made a trip up Ooh-Aah Hill to the Napa Auto Parts store. Now we needed to change the oil in the transmissions and it was necessary to lug back 5 gallons of the stuff on our bikes. At least we were now going downhill under the load! Poor Dan, he has to do all the dirty work and I’m just the “gofer”. It was sure nice to get that dirty chore done and out of the way.

John and Sandi came by after checking out of their hotel. Their little rental car was all packed up with everything to take home to Hanco. They are eager to be back on the water and hope that Hanco will “splash” around 3:00 this afternoon.

Dan and I walked up the hill to Magnolias for cocktail hour and enjoyed the spectacular view of the harbor from their high vantage point. Another lovely day

01/14/2012 A WORK DAY IN PORVIDENCIALES

01/14/2012 PROVIDENCIALES


SATURDAY

0 NM

DOCKED AT TURTLE COVE MARINA IN PROVIDENCIALES

SUNRISE AT PROVIDENCIALES: 6: 30 AM

SUNSET AT PROVIDENCIALES: 5:26 PM

We started at 8:00 this morning when Watson and Paul arrived to assist in the boat washing chore then Dan and the guys moved onto sanding the still untouched brightwork while I was involved with inside cleaning tasks. The constant activity went on until 4:00 quitting time. Dan hopes to get all the preliminary sanding done tomorrow and put a first coat on this newly sanded area.

WATSON AND PAUL WORKING THEIR MAGIC ON QUEST

Our evening was spent at Shark Bite Bar and Restaurant watching a most exciting football game as San Francisco eked out a last-minute win over New Orleans. Talk about a “cliff hanger”!