Plans changed, our campervanning trip to Italy got shortened because Covid closed in around us and it became more and more difficult keeping up with the latest restrictions. We returned to lockdown Britain with Luke and Phoebe at home, not surprisingly they opted to lockdown in Mettingham rather than London. With Hannah not able to join us for Christmas we decided to head back to Grenada and get back on board Polepole as the Caribbean opens up again. A lot to organise in two weeks during lockdown – endless Covid tests, buying boat parts and getting enough supplies for 7 months away. The biggest heartache was putting down our beloved Coco the evening before we left. He was nearly 14 and showing signs of aging, it was definitely the kindest thing to do, but made a very sad emotional departure. He was such a loving dog adored by so many, he went the happiest of dogs after his ‘Gran tour de Coco’ (our family WhatsApp name for our 9 week campervanning trip). I think he would have summed it up this way – the beaches of Donegal and Connemara were spectacular but the smells of the beaches and countryside of Puglia were riveting! He loved every minute.
After our direct flights to Grenada on Virgin were cancelled the week before flying, we flew to Barbados instead. We had to do a night in transit at a quarantine hotel which was amazingly efficient but a real rigmarole, with endless amounts of form filling and health checks. We then charted the same little plane that flew us from Grenada to Martinique in July. This time we had the whole plane to ourselves, just as well as we had 4 enormous cases and two huge boxes. It was quite a flight with the pilots dodging huge big stormy clouds. We were the only people at the airport in Grenada which was brilliant for getting through all the new Covid hoops. Not so good for passing bored customs officers! When they saw all our baggage they immediately started asking questions and when we said we were returning to our boat, they said we had to pay Duty on any boat spares. What a shock! Luckily they seemed very happy to just enquire about the boxes, so we got off extremely lightly!
We got wrist banded and sent straight to our chosen quarantine resort, Coyabu. This was no hardship, a lovely resort on a stunning beach. We had to stick to one side of the resort, had our own dining area and we were allowed to swim in the sea in front of the resort. We couldn’t stay on the beach we had to return to our sun beds under the trees in beautiful grounds. All manned by security guards checking we didn’t leave the hotel area or talk to anyone on the beach, particularly the local beach vendors. It also helped that the resort was empty, very peaceful and restorative after our manic departure. Blissful for us but desperately sad for the staff. Only disturbed by a loud, brash, Trump supporting couple from Florida, that we were very happy to see the end of. Loads of downpours were very welcome bringing relief from the heat.
View of our confinement grounds from our room
5 days sped by as I learnt to crochet on youtube. I was making an edging for my new mosquito netting for across the sliding door. The mozzies were terrible at the resort, they made an effort to get rid of them, by enveloping us in a white out of antiMosquito fog, very noisy and smelly, most probably did us more damage than the mozzie bites to be honest. So I think my new door net will be very handy. Kept me very busy anyway.
The nurse arrived on Wednesday, day 5 and did our test. We are getting so used to doing these tests now (4th one!), they have to push the swab so high up your nose, it feels like they’re tickling your brain, very disconcerting! 9pm Thursday night we got the happy news we were free to stop quarantining, our wristbands removed.
Friday morning we headed to the marina, Rowan was grinning from ear to ear to be reunited with PolePole who looked very smart with her new copper bottom, no more toxic anti fouling paint. They have done a very neat repair on the rudder we shortened when we hit coral crossing the Caicos Sands. We also have new lithium batteries to be able to store more of our new solar power load.
We splashed (official yachtie term) at 3pm and worked way into the dark unpacking and sorting everything out, desperately trying to remember where we left things. We had the electrician working and Devon (handyman who did the copper coating) cleaning and polishing off all the rust. He did a great job, Polepole is gleaming not a job Rowan and I would get around to. So glad we are employing locals as they are struggling with the season being terribly quiet for them.
After a very welcome rejuvenating shower back at the hotel, we had a short walk to a sushi bar for supper. Absolutely delicious a very good recommendation from a sailing journalist Rowan was talking to earlier in the day.
Such bliss to collapse into our huge comfy hotel bed after a steaming hot exhausting day.
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