Week Two, settling into life “on the hard” in Trinidad

In the months leading up to us getting here, people would often ask the boys if they were looking forward to this proposed new lifestyle.  Given the chance, Eden (the 4 year old) would almost always reply “Yes, ‘cos I got a fishing rod for Christmas and I haven’t used it yet!”
Here’s the evidence of his first fishing experience with his new boat rod, (on our friends’ boat) only 10 minutes after dangling the line over the side…
                                           
The boys also saw a long tom fish swimming just below the surface of the water (photo by Cathy) and a turtle!
                                 
Tried fishing just down the road from the boat yard, turns out to be a very busy spot and we only snagged on rocks… and the tree overhead, twice!
                                   
Some work on the boat included:
                                                     
Eric and Dave pulling engine apart, cleaning up parts and cleaning up lots of oil from under the engine.  Found a German guy who’s able to fix the heat exchanger, a hole in the oil filter had rusted through  but now that it's all cleaned up it looks good and fairly hopeful so far...  They have even managed to turn it over by hand!  Very exciting, considering it had sat for six years in a humid climate.


                             
Getting rid of batteries, the previous ones were very dead.  Dave and Eric hooked up a car battery to our electrics and we have lights, vhf, electronics for navigation in the cockpit, water pump and fans working, woohoo!!  All powered by our solar panels.  This was a real bonus again, having sat for so long.
Dave and Eric also managed with a good amount of effort, to free up the prop.
                                                               
Eden took this photo of us straining to get these 73kg batteries out of the bilges.
                             
Eli was a big help with the pulleys to get the batteries up on deck and down to the rubbish below - they disappeared in minutes!

                                   
Cathy went through all the first aid equipment left on board and explained what it was all for and what needed to be thrown out.  I then got a hands-on tutorial on how to administer anaesthetic and how to stitch - hopefully I will never have to use it.

Cathy, Eden and I went by dinghy up the way to the sail-makers’ loft with boat plan to get
a quote for sails to get made.  This lady came and showed Eden around.

The workers are on the side, sewing at their machines, half-way under the floor boards.

We found some left over paint and an area that had not been finished of the previous owners’ artwork so let the boys have a go.
                                                      

Boys figured out how to hoist the fold-able dinghy up and over the side of the boat and lower it onto the ground.  They put it together and cleaned it up, then filled it with water to check for leaks.
                                                    

So we tried it out...

o.k, we got towed...

but no leaks, yay!

         
                              

Took the boys for an ice block down the road as the guys in the yard were grinding a boat

 next to us and the sound was horrendous, not to mention the toxic-smelling welding.

I love this word “liming”.  I have never heard it before and didn’t even realise the sign was there until after Cathy had told us, and after a photo!  

Pelican found a sweet fishy boil-up.

                                     
We have discovered a drink made from the Sorrell plant, which makes it feel so justifiably healthy not to mention yum.  I must admit though, it’s not a lot different from any other sugary cordial!

                                                                                                                                              

Turns out termites have a weakness for paper towels!  This had been bored right through to the cardboard roll-just as well we got the boat exterminated after we bought it!
                                                        

Took the boys into the Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago.
                  
Souvenir shop had top to bottom shelves of tee shirts along a whole wall and then some!
                                                      

Eden tries out the age-old “pan”, made of steel, there are notes written around the edges to 

play the correct tune in the correct spot.  Looking forward to hearing the pros play this.

Markets down town.  The man below made these very intricate sandals.

                            

                      

Fruit and vege stalls, got a bag of approximately six limes for all of NZ $2, same with cucumbers.

Hanging out at Independence Square.

                    

Some shots I managed to nab of our drive into town.

                  

Our neighbourhood:

Bananaquits' enjoy the view from the top of the boats.

                

The Greater Antillean Grackle has a slight deep blue within its feathers; it was very particular about getting it’s berry nicely washed in the puddle.

First Avenue South, Chaguaramas (boat yard on right).

        

Pirates' Cove opposite driveway into IMS boat yard.  End of the road where we tried fishing.

                          
Coconuts and papayas growing out the back of the workshop, yet to sweet-talk someone into picking anything for us, there is even a ladder up to one of the other trees.
                                     
                               
The view from our deck, IMS boatyard a busy place. 

Nice view from our deck in the other direction out to the hills.  “On the hard” means up on land.

One night Eden and I were walking down to the bathroom and were greeted by the security guard, he asked Eden what his name was and where we were going, then took Eden’s hand, walked us to the door and said, “Have a good evening.”
                         

                                                 
Had my first experience of doing dishes out in a thunderstorm, admittedly, under cover, but still, it's the most fun I've probably ever had doing dishes!  Tried to set up our water catchment system, and was drenched in about a minute!  So nice to enjoy the rain without the cold.  Boys loved it too, being able to play in the rain, for as long as they wanted... no surprises there!  Until next time, thanks for reading.

Our first week in Trinidad and Tobago

After wrestling with sleeping almost upright on three flights, zig-zagging back and forth across a room amongst hundreds of others awaiting U.S customs, sleeping on airport floors of L.A and Houston, we finally popped out of Piarco Airport late Sunday night into the sauna that is Trinidad and Tobago.
Eden and I had a window seat the last flight and I pointed out what I thought were the lights of Chaguaramas, where our boat is stored on the hard.  He let out a small squeal, clapped his hands with a big cheesy grin on his face, wrapped his little hands around my neck and planted kisses on my cheek, saying, “Yay, we’re almost in Trinidad!”  Then yelled across the aisle and two other helpless yet gracious, people: “Salem, we’re almost at the boat in Trinidad!”

First impressions, Chaguaramas
                                                                        

Eric and Cathy were waiting for us at the hotel (their boat was about 20m from there).  They had the air-con on in our rooms, wine and some groceries for us and an inflatable world globe.  Not to mention helping us lug our very heavy bags upstairs.  Very nice way to enter a foreign country with so many unanswered questions in our minds.                                                                       
I’m guessing you’re all wondering, how is the boat.. really?!
Eric and Cathy did a HUGE amount of cleaning, clearing and tidying for us which made it actually live-able and nice to come on-board.
                      

     Before Eric and Cathy cleaned up..                                 A little sample of rubbish on-board. .

                                                
                                                  Eli sorting out the tools up front.

All this week has been spent pulling out everything, from under floor boards, behind wall panels etc. to see what’s on board and how the hull is looking and Dave’s remark was that he was pleased with it and the amount of extra gear discovered. not previously listed e.g. loads of plumbing parts, Hawaiian sling, bosons’ chair, loads of containers for storage, charts, extra tools… 
                                        
                                                   Saloon overtaken with stuff !

                                                
                              Insulation all through engine space, filled two large rubbish bags

The first few days we kept wondering what the funny smell was, it was confirmed when lifting up the floorboards in the saloon (living area).  There were three large-ish containers stacked , mostly with canned food, one container was very strong smelling the moment we opened it.  Lots of canned food at one end, all in-tact and a bag of something.  Upon closer inspection I discovered over 20 canisters of…. parmesan cheese, easily six years old!
                                                                             

Boat tour video

                                       
Further discoveries on-board:

-the only standing room for Dave inside is in the saloon (and flat piece of floor, for that matter!)

-it’s not as big as advertised.  Another great find was the original plans of the boat, stating the boat is 43 ft. long as opposed to 56 ft.  Which means it’s easier for us to work with and will be a lot cheaper for materials, berthing, canal passage, travel lift etc.

                                                                        

-no power hooked up yet till we get batteries ordered in and check over all the connections etc. but we do have a lead and extensions for power from the boat yard

-our only cooking at the moment is the outside bbq, taking one pot or pan at a time, as long as it’s not windy, gas still needs to be connected to our new cooker inside (probably too hot to cook inside anyway)

-a lot of very impractical spaces that could be better utilised for storage, but can work for now till we’re ready to deal with it

-water yet to be dealt with, we have tanks but plumbing and probably draining of the tanks needs to happen first.  We do have a hose and the use of the boat yard taps which comes from the main town water supply and is fine to drink, which is great; same applies to the bathroom, yet to be connected but we have use of the boat yard facilities

                         

         Eden having a swim in the cockpit.             I’m going in to clean….

                                                   

                     the head; apparently the whole boat was like this, Cathy ended up finishing this too!

                   

                                               

The first night was almost unbearably hot and up all night trying to plug any holes where the mozzies might be getting in.  So it was a huge relief getting the air-conditioning unit which Dave built in to the butterfly hatch the following day using materials he found about the place. 
The boys have all had a good go at scraping off the barnacle shells from the hull and helping with other jobs.  The workers in the yard call them by name already and are all really friendly, not so sure about the monkey in the workshop though!


 First night on the boat, bbq dinner on deck.

Overall, we are still very happy with our boat.

Fun new discoveries:
                      

                                                  
-iguanas in this fenced in industrial area
-buzzards (bird picture) that warn of rain coming, they like to fly by the hundreds
-tiny fern looking ground cover plant that closes up when you touch it
-zebra fish and tong fish in the marina
Cathy showed me around down town in the main centre of  Port of Spain.  From the maxi taxi station it is a block radius to the bank,  pharmacy and shops.  There are also supermarkets closer to the boat yard, as pictured.  So far I have found everyone to be very friendly and the drivers are very courteous.

                                       

We were able to get out on the water for a bit with Eric and Cathy..

    
                                           

The big red and white ship (pictured above) had massive spools of cables all along the top deck.

                                   
Road-side stalls are close to the boat yard, this one sells cow heel soup, pig tail soup and other delectable nutritious treats!

                                                                
                                              

Customs and Immigration building for sailors entering and leaving Trinidad and Tobago; Viking ship built for a movie contrasts one of hundreds of oil rigs (background).

  
Some local flora and fauna.

                                               
                                         
Other new experiences: you know it’s hot when….

• you feel like your whole body is cascading a river
• you make a salad for dinner and look forward to leftovers for lunch next day, only to find there are mould spots all over it
• an avocado is rock hard in the morning, yet ripe for eating at dinner
• you drink loads more water than usual and go to the toilet less
• you sleep on towels to save on washing                                            

                                                                      Thanks for reading, bye for now.

Trinidad, here we come… Part II

 

A little glimpse of what we are leaving behind to pursue our new lifestyle: