Yesterday’s boat day was an eventful one, if not too exciting. It’s amazing how manageable the pre-departure boat projects seem this year in comparison to last’s three page list of overwhelming fixes and replacements. Of course, there are always projects that we’ll have, ranked loosely in columns of necessity, upgrade, cosmetic appeal and just plain want, but the bullets to tick in order to get the boat launched are few this go round.
Andy did a bit of fiberglass repair in the bilge, which required grinding, though thankfully in a very small tent-able area, and I spent the day washing the boat down so we’d have a clean space to air things out, and then cleaning rooms and turning them back into spaces of intended use.
Without a sugar cane factory pumping ash out two to three times a week (a downside of our Indiantown storage) and with good air flow so close to the water, the boat was in great shape. No mildew, no film of ick, no flies on the fly tape!, not much to even clean, really, other than the dust created from a tarp that met its maker in the Bahamian summer sun.
Not only our we less frenetic in our work, but the entire boatyard is quiet and still. Last year at this time the travel lift was launching boats all day, grinders, sanders and cranes stepping masts created the background noise to our work, and people, makeshift workbenches and boat parts were scattered about everywhere we looked. This year, as far as we can tell, we’re the only people in the yard, which is wild. There are so many Canadian cruisers here in a normal year, and their lockdown measures are still largely in place, with any travel outside of the country being discouraged. It probably should be for us as well, but I’ll admit feeling relief that we were able to come. (Our day five COVID tests on Monday will further cement that relief if they’re negative.)
The girls’ school was off yesterday, but they spent it catching up with work missed on our travel days, and they’re both now so regimented about their responsibilities I feel superfluous in the schooling game. (Time to hang up my School Marm pinafore?) I have some projects planned for us once we’re in our actual rhythm, but it’s a major relief to know that they’re safe, occupied and productive here at the house while we’re working on the boat. I’m also hoping that it’s a precursor to our entire schooling winter, as the schoolwork arguments and stresses bouncing between us are the only things I dread about these trips. A school marm can dream.
I came back to the house for lunch to find V living her best life on the beach (they know not to go swimming without an adult here, but they happily take over the dry parts), with her shades, water and book. I delivered her a sandwich and christened her ‘Magda’. (She had slathered herself in sunscreen, but all I could picture were those foil sun reflectors, since she was set up like beach lounging was her new career.)
The afternoon consisted of finding our cottage’s collection of bikes, touring a friend’s post-Dorian home build, a trip to town, and some delicious ice cream. All in all, a wonderfully relaxed kind of day in this welcoming place.
Today the boat calls, but so do the waves. We’ll spend a bit of time on the beach with the kids so they can revisit their skim-boarding skills before seeing how much sand they can accidentally bring into the house. Ahh, the ‘troubles’.