Life continues. A couple days ago I paddled ashore
in the gray pre-twilight to go walk up a mountain and, upon stepping
ashore, found myself accosted by a large land crab. Like giant fiddler
crabs, normally they scuttle into their holes at the approach of a
human, but I had caught this one foraging on the windrow of sargassum
seaweed on the beach and it had no choice but to stand and defend. I
pinned it with a shoe and picked it up. One claw measured about six
inches from body to tip and about 1.5" in largest cross section:
tempting, but I had a walk calling me and released the critter. No
picture, sorry, but this google search should give you a good idea:
The
day before that I had sailed out of the harbor and into the
ever-increasing winds and waves and rain, finally having enough and
turning tail, surfing down the six-foot, white-capped waves toward my
mooring. About then I heard a noise that sounded like the sudden release
of high-pressure water.... perhaps something had broken loose in my
boat? I listened further, but the roar of wind and wave made things
difficult.... and then I saw a creature surface along the port side
beam. Shark? A minute later I saw the back again. I stood on the seat to
get a better look into the glare of the sun and, a couple minutes later
was rewarded by the sight of a porpoise peeling away from the Dorado
and heading off. My second porpoise sighting in the islands and the
first alongside! No picture of this either.
The
wind also seems to have been a factor in securing the wreck of the
Aurora on Monday. Apparently they somehow managed to end up too close to
a lee shore and the trio of happy chartering couples had their trip
abruptly truncated. My neighbor speculates that autopilot was involved,
but I know nothing.
http://stcroixsource.com/
I
sailed well offshore to dump my waste tanks yesterday, turned on the
pump and heard it working away for a minnute until..... clunk.... and
silence. NOT the sort of thing one wants to hear, especially since it
means I either need to do horrible work or hire someone to do it. Well, I
hemmed and hawed and finally told myself that I would buy myself a pint
of Ben and Jerry's Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz once I finished the
job. Two hours later I had a Pratchett book in one hand and spoon in the
other. In the meantime, however, I discovered that sea water had gotten
into the electronics of the pump.... and there were other issues as
well. Anyway, the pump now works.... somewhat... and I need to decide
whether to try a new pump ($200) or rip out the toilet and tank and
install a Nature's Head composting head (toilet) for $1000. The
composting toilet weighs less, smells far better, and never clogs. I am
sorely tempted, but am reluctant to spend the money. Well, I'll
contemplate... http://stcroixsource.com/
And here is a rainbow I saw yesterday: it was far brighter in reality.
And a coconut I found on my way to the grocery.
Life continues, life varies, and life is good.
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