Monday 2 March – engine troubles send us back to LBJ

We made the decision to head back to LBJ as soon as we were awake. We had the double whammy of bad news that Jonny had a terrible night vomiting and upset tummy, he must have Rowan’s bug. Rowan is definitely on the mend and managed some toast this morning. He is fully occupied with sorting out the engine. Luckily the mechanic was available to come on board at 2pm. Rowan managed to contact the Australian boat Houdini to come and help us get onto a mooring ball, as without the one engine it is much harder to steer in tight areas. Thankfully Brooke came out to help us and got us safely onto our ball we had last time so we knew it was good and secure. Brooke’s husband had just got back from a week in Australia she has spent the time all on her own. I certainly couldn’t do that!

We decided that Dulcie and I should head into town with the kids, so that Rowan has room to concentrate and Jonny can recover in peace. We got a water taxi in as Rowan needed the dinghy to ferry the mechanic back and forth, and to get spares if needed. We had a late lunch at a very good burger restaurant, the kids needed something they could eat as the food they eat is pretty limited and Arthur is stick thin, the burgers went down very well and ice creams afterwards! We felt a bit guilty eating as we were right next to the mosque, the Imam was calling to prayer which meant a stream of Muslims going by who must all have been fasting for Ramadan. We met Rowan in town at around 5pm and he took us back with the mechanic who Rowan introduced as Dim, we subsequently learnt his name was Din! He was anything but dim, he managed to get the starter motor off and had gone back into town with Rowan to check it was working ok which it was. Poor Din was with us until after the sun set, at least we could give him a glass of water to break his fast. How he could survive all day in this heat with no liquids is baffling, especially in a hot engine locker in full sun. Incredible! He finally worked out the battery had some charge but not enough to start the engine. Tomorrow they will hopefully get a new battery in town.

It was a subdued evening but the good news is Jonny has turned the corner and Rowan seems fully recovered.