Long Island

We have spent the last few days cruising Long Island.  We started out in Salt Pond and made our way up north almost to the tip, there we encountered an annoying swell, so we turned back south and eventually came back to Salt Pond.

We have met some interesting people in this island.  First we met Socrates, a Dominican who took us to Dean's blue hole while stopping every few minutes to top up his radiator with water... When he wasn't topping up his radiator fluid he was generously topping up his cup with rum, needless to say that after a while he was wasted and asked me to take the wheel.  Driving down the left lane of the island's main unlit road at night, with a crazy Dominican rambling about music, while getting blasted from opposing traffic's high beams and trying to stay in my lane was kind of scary! However, it was also fun to see the inside of the island with its abandoned structures and wild goats and pigs!

Then we met a young, engineless singlehander called Alex.  He went with us to the blue hole.  I can't understand how people make it so far upwind without an engine! It seems to me that no matter how much we wait for weather, I always end up motoring against the wind!

Then we met Charles, a south Floridian who owns a fish processing plant which is under renovation, he gave us a ride to a blue hole and offered to hang out with us for some drinks.  It seems his family has long ties to the island.

Shortly after Charles dropped us off we met Mark and Jill, they have a super nice oceanfront property overlooking their Pearson ketch moored right in front.  They have built the house themselves and have done a great job, they have all the amenities of a regular house, but are also totally off the grid, relying on rain for water, and solar panels plus a wind generator for electricity!  They recommended we check a local bar down the road.

We went to Blue Chip bar and there we met Mario, the owner and apparently, local historian... Mario is a descendent of the first settlers of the island, loyalists from North Carolina.  He was happy to discuss chat about the island and ended up offering us a free round of beer, which we eagerly accepted!

On a different note, I did some battery rearranging and the batteries are charging perfectly! A small victory that is letting me sleep much better at night.

I've been thinking about the time when this trip ends and how difficult it will be to cope with having to work now that I've had a taste of freedom... I really wish I could retire at this age, like my friend Matt... Working for a living is no way to live, however, lacking any other obvious means to make money, I suppose that work is an element in the set of activities that compose my future... :(