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American Spirit II - Day 440; Heidi's Last Full Day in Grenada; Green Flash No. 41 & My Cell Phone Stops Charging; Sunday, March 22, 2015



One year ago today:

Day 78; Arrived Hiva Oa in Dark; Saturday, March 22, 2014. No sleep tonight. Even though my watch ended at midnight, with land fall imminent, no sleep for the weary. Joel got up at midnight for his midnight to 3:00 AM watch. He and I would be up all night henceforth until we were anchored in Hiva Oa. Mike got up at 3:00 AM."

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Up at 6:00 AM and departed for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Church and St. John's streets at 6:38 AM. I got there at 6:58 AM for the 7:00 AM service. But the time of the service was 8:00 AM. So much for the internet giving me the right time. The church was built in 1818 and was gutted by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. It sits on the top of a steep hill overlooking the harbor of St. George's. There were 2 priests doing the service and one altar girl. About 8 sisters were also in attendance,which wasn't surprising as a convent is located adjacent to the church. The air was comfortable inside the large cathedral, with windows open and large fans circulating above. There is no air conditioning in this church. The attendees were all wearing their 'Sunday best,' and a choir in a choir loft provided singing and musical instruments. There is only one service on Sunday, much like all the other churches I've seen around the world. During the mass when one came to the 'peace be with you' spot, instead of just shaking the hand of the people near you, many of the parishioners went around the church and shoot everyone's hands in the church. That took a while. Meanwhile, two sparrows kept flying around inside of the church during the services. Or where they small doves? The services ended at 9:45 AM, a 1 3/4 hour service. The internet I looked at said to expect 2 hours.

When I was away Joel was going to brush the boat bottom, but when he hooked up the hookah and dove under the boat it was so clean he didn't need to brush it. However, there were some bare spots on the hull. Meaning the new paint job I got in Cape Town, South Africa wasn't holding up as well as I'd hoped.

I was back at the boat at 10:02 AM. Joel, Heidi and I then went to the marina restaurant for breakfast. Joel and I each had a glass of guava juice, which was high octane sugar but very good. We were done breakfast at 11:30 AM. Heidi then got in her swim suit and headed for the pool for the day. A relaxing last day before her flight home tomorrow.

Joel and I worked on small jobs on the boat, adding 20 gallons of diesel to the main tank; putting adhesive on the bathroom window; greasing the rudder post again; trying to take the slack out of the starboard helm, which knocks in a sea way; installed a new fitting on our lower, starboard spreader; retrieved a cockpit latch lock for Folie a Deux; and got Heidi's suit case and Jeanine's storage bags and suitcase out from the hidden hold.

At 4:15 PM Joel and I joined Heidi at the pool.

At 6:05 PM we departed the marina for Coconut Beach,as the atmospheric conditions were favorable for seeing a green flash. We couldn't see the sunset from our marina as a mountain was in the way. We arrived at the beach in time and at 6:18 PM Joel and I saw Green Flash No. 41. Heidi, who was sitting on the sand, didn't see it. Bummer. The first one is always the hardest. It seems once someone has seen one they are better prepared on what to look for and how to look for the flash.

We them drove to the Timbers Restaurant, located next to the Budget Marine Chandlery. Joel had lobster, I had a sirloin steak and Heidi had...I can't remember. Joel and I ordered some grilled corn-on-th-cob which was delicious. Joel and I then split a cheese cake and some vanilla ice cream for dessert. During our meal Tim and Claire from Ghost; Russ and Laurie from Nexus; and Paul and Suzana from Rally control all showed up to have dinner there, also. The napkin dispensers in the restaurant were quite interest, with a pile of napkins being set in a large, wooden open hand.

On the way back to the boat we filled the four jerry cans with diesel, and were back at the boat at 10:15 PM. Heidi then packed while Joel and I read. To make packing easier Joel and Heidi each had a Captain Morgan while I had a port wine.

I called Janet to give her the bad news that my cell phone had a fatal disease. It wouldn't charge anymore. With 38% of the charge remaining, hopefully it'll survive a back-up to my computer at home. Joel has had two phones do the same thing, but his phones have batteries that can be taken out and charged independently. I also have one of my two Kindle's with a charging problem, in that one of them won't charge using the regular plug and USB, but will charge using a cigarette adapter and the boat's batteries. So for now I don't have a cell phone to text and to listen to music. Bummer. Darlene, Joel's wife, will be coming to St. Lucia April 5 so there is a chance she'll either bring my repaired phone back with her or a new, cheaper phone I can use until I get home.

In bed at 11:30 PM.

Brian Fox



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