What difficulties? Glad you asked.
The micro-filament that held Bit boy's lens in his glasses broke shortly after we got on the boat. A gal from Footloose said she'd had glasses like that and had to go to St. Thomas (USVI) to get them fixed. He's been managing with mom's duct tape fix. (Did I mention that you should never, never ever, travel without duct tape?) A more permanent fix will have to wait until we get to St. Thomas.
On the subject of Bit Boy's eye sight, he has found his contacts more uncomfortable than he expected and was snorkeling without them. He was having a hard time figuring out what we were all so excited about while snorkeling. We found a dive shop (in Leverick Bay) that had a mask that fit him and could put some corrective lenses in it. Unfortunately the lenses were elsewhere, so we ordered them at Leverick Bay and picked them up at the dive shop at Scrub Island Resort, while we were moored at Marina Cay. (Got that?)
Also, Hot Dog has been having problems with his mask leaking, so we bought a different mask. It's better, but still leaks. He gets cold pretty fast while snorkeling, even wearing a shorty wet suit, so all we need is a mask that will last as long as he can.
Charging the electronics has proven challenging. Despite Firelord's best efforts, not everything likes the 12volt adaptors. Also, I didn't realize that there was a right way and a not-quite-right-way to shut down his LINUX computer, and accidentally only shut it down part way. It discharged completely before we realized my mistake. Also, it is one of the electronic bits that doesn't like charging on a 12V, and we haven't had shore power since Spanish Town, a week ago. (See my good excuse for not posting?)
Wi-Fi is at some establishments, but the connection is iffy and slow. Firelord had the brilliant idea of using his smart phone as a hot spot, but that only works if he can pick up a US signal, rather than a BVI signal. (U.S. has 4G, BVI doesn't) Still it's a good and functional idea. .... Assuming his phone worked. Which it didn't, being one of the devices having trouble getting charged. And THEN, in the process of trying to clean the (presumed) sand out of it, Firelord accidentally damaged the connectors. Damaged beyond fixing with the equipment at hand. Sigh... could it get worse? Why, yes, yes it could.
All fixes would have to wait for the USVI, since the BVI didn't have the necessary supplies on hand. Anywhere. Remember, it's an island territory, everything is shipped in. Speciality items are ordered and waited for. It's just as quick for us to get it ourselves in the USVI.
Which brings me to last Thur. (2/7/13) when we checked into the USVI at Cruz Bay. That is a post unto itself, which I will let Firelord do. I will share that we had more technical difficulties which involved multiple anchor attempts, and the need to sail out of a crowded harbor without a functional engine. Why? Because of yet more technical difficulties - the button which was supposed to pop in and out to engage and disengage then engine got stuck. Oh, and someone accidentally bumped the switch and turned off the anchor winch, which was, at the time, terribly problematic.
BUT, all is well. We finally found a safe place to moor, got checked in through customs, got Firelord a shiny new phone, and soothed our nerves with ice cold smoothies and baguettes.
I have left out some technical difficulties, dropping a family radio into the drink, the smell of the boat when I bought too much meat at one time, the challenges of docking and mooring... we are figuring it all out as we go.
At the moment we are moored in Trunk Bay, St. John. It's part of Virgin Islands National Park. We will go snorkeling and go play at the beach, and leave all worries of technical difficulties on the boat. (I hope!)
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| Sunset at Hawksnest Bay 2/8/13 |
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