What Do You Do When You Are Stuck in Paradise?

Ernie heading to the beach

Why we boat!

Landscape on Union Island

It is really hard to become a person on island time. We as Canadians are not geared that way. As boaters we learn to adapt, chill out and take it as it comes. This week is proving to be a test in control, patience, and utter tolerance.
Genesis needs a part. The part was ordered in St. Maarten and should be able to be delivered by plane in 1 day. It was a Saturday so I was giving it until Tues. Just a little extra time because. On Monday they were telling me 7 business days. Sat. does not count. I was saying no direct here. They say ok. I say great.  Tues. the courier company does not pick up the package from the marine store because their van is broken down. The marine store doesn't think to phone to see what the delay is. I get an email that it hasn't gone but they will take it to the airport early Wed. morning. They take it for 0800 hr and it sits until 1745 hr in St Maarten then flies to St Vincent. Customs in St Vincent now has it and on Thurs still does not make it on the plane to Union. Now Friday morning still not on the flight. Start to cry and get results. Customs is asked to get it on the 1030 flight as it is an emergency. 1100 I pick up the part. It is not exact but it will work with McGivering (as the guys call it). I am now happy.
Now on the plus side of being stuck in paradise. We walked the island twice, each time took us about 2 1/2 hrs. It was interesting to see the different bays and foliage that exists. We were surprised to see that there is pretty much nothing for birds. There are land turtles, iguanas  and lots of butterflies. I have been surrounded by butterflies which is a good thing for me as it makes me think Ken is near when I see butterflies.The locals have lots of goats for milk, meat and lawnmowers. There was the odd cow but not many. Very few had vegetable gardens and there didn't seem to be much in the way of tropical fruit. We found out later that the island has a water shortage near the end of the dry season. Some people have cisterns but the majority do not. This means that everything is brought in by ferry making it very expensive for the locals.
We decided to go have a few drinks and dinner as the boat part issue had gotten to all of us. We had an interesting conversation with the waitress. She works at the lawyers office during the day and the bar at night. We asked questions about politics, schooling, health care.  The answers were very interesting and informative. Their politics is much like ours being a British parliament system. They have 3 parties NDP,UNP, PPP (green party), The UNP is currently in government. They have free education (paid with taxes) Kindergarten - grade 11. At that point they pay for post secondary education. Their health care is non existent. They try to save some money so that if someone is sick they can pay to get a plane off the island. If it is serious the coastguard will come. There is one Doctor on the island and he spreads himself thin. There are clinics in the 2 main towns Clifton and Ashton. Nurses live above the clinic so they are there for emergencies.
The churches surprised me. The Catholic church was started in the 1970's. The first one. There didn't seem to be an Anglican church. The largest church was an Evangelist church. The Jehovah Witness make a presence but not the Mormons yet. Graveyards have always been something that intrigued me. A lot of history is told in grave yards. Unfortunately at this time I cannot get myself to go near them. Maybe in time I can explore them again but not at this time.

Unfortunately or fortunately there are now social safety nets. However you see the people out there hustling to get a pay cheque or money somehow. No one looks down and out.
Swimming off the boat was doable in this bay as the water flushed out very well and we were able to make nice clean water with the watermaker. The water temperature is 82 which is cool compared to what we have been swimming in.
We are now (finally) underway and hopefully it will be smooth sailing from now on as I think I have been tested enough.
The weather looks like it is going to hold for about 5 - 7 days. Any weather report beyond 3 days however cannot be guaranteed on. Everyone keep your fingers crossed and hope we make up the time we lost.