Lazy days & turqoise waters? Not always!

Like new again

 
Just in case any of you think that all we ever do is laze around on white sandy beaches, dipping our bodies into tepid turquoise seas and sipping on cocktails decorated with little coloured umbrellas, think again!  Life on the ocean waves can be a tad tedious at times.

Paul and I have been at various jobs non-stop since we arrived back in Danga Bay.  After spending a full morning flushing out the bilges, scrubbing, brushing and generally exhausting ourselves in this oppressive heat, I decided to take note of what everyone else was doing on their boats.  And lo and behold, they were also all scrubbing, painting, fixing and working like the proverbial beavers.   The old adage of "cruising is just fixing your boat in exotic ports" is definitely a case of 'truer words were never spoken'. 

Paul tagging

We never normally stay in marinas; it's just not in our budget to do so.  However, here in Danga Bay, the marina is about to be pulled down, the rates are very inexpensive and there is literally nowhere to anchor anyway.  So we took the opportunity to use copious amounts of their water to flush and wash down everything imaginable.  Also, it was a golden opportunity to end for end the anchor chain and remark it all, not a job that's possible when it's being used to hold you in place in an anchorage.  Paul spent two days out in that heat sewing little tags to mark it at five metre intervals so he doesn't have to guess how much chain is out each time.  The old tags finally wore away.  A great job, one of many, finally done!

And as for the clear, turquoise waters.  Ha, not even a hint of blue.  This water is positively revolting and there's a constant repellant odour not to mention the more than unpleasant appearance.  

We hear things will improve on the eastern side.  

We're waiting for the currents to change direction at the appropriate times so we can make it past the Singaporean port control limits within daylight hours.  It's totally taboo to anchor anywhere there and it would be a bit hair-raising to traverse those waters at night so we need to know that we can cover the distance during the day.  Only by having the current with us all the way will that be possible.  There are literally hundreds of monstrous tankers, tugs, container ships, ferries, tour boats, fishing boats, you name it, out there and, guess what?  They all go faster than us!

 EVERYONE AT WORK:

Francine washing

Francois fixing

Myra sewing

Jan chasing mold

Paraic fixing, Myra fitting

  

Power washing

Our not so inviting marina waters