In between collecting the laundry; definitely Elaine’s idea of “laundry day”, we also confirmed the haul-out time which had to occur at the highest neap high tide because of Paw Paw’s beam and to ensure the chime lines would be above the concrete sides of the haul-out bay; in other words, floating as high as possible above the concrete bay.
Having to stay onboard for most of the day to ensure we were available for anyone needing our attention, Elaine also finished editing our latest video, “Magnolious Malaysia - Out and About on Penang Island”, then, while Roy enjoyed a sundowner before collecting our takeaway dinner from the Boat Lagoon Resort Café, Elaine sanitised the cockpit, transom and deck areas after the mechanics had left. Dinner was a very tasty Thai meal, with Roy savouring the traditional “Tom Yum Goong” soup for the first time, although he didn’t care for the bar snacks that were presented to him with his sundowner; dried anchovies.
Although we had postponed our beach day until yesterday, we had to wait on the mechanics finishing up, so Roy, feeling energetic, replaced the windlass foot control which had completely disintegrated, causing the windlass to attempt to raise the anchor all on its own, while we were underway and making our way into the marina last Friday.
Elaine, however, eased into her day by enjoying a nice long chat to Keenan, as well as the videos and photographs he’d sent of the grandchildren having a blast on the beach in Jacksonville, Florida, where they were spending the weekend with Keenan, since his training is scheduled to continue for another few weeks. This is always the best possible way to start our day, but Elaine’s heart was a little saddened by the fact that we would have loved to have had the family out in Malaysia last year as originally planned or indeed in Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia or Australia, to enjoy the beaches with us, but there was always something that prevented the visit and then the pandemic, of course!
It’s been more than two years since Elaine last hugged and kissed them all and now William’s 6th birthday is coming up, when we should have been with him to celebrate his 5th; separated indefinitely from loved ones is definitely the hardest part of this pandemic, but we’re grateful for the technology that helps alleviate the situation a little, nonetheless!
With the mechanics done and the windlass foot control operational again, by 1000 we were back in our hired car and heading south. Our first stop was the Big Buddha, which Elaine had first spotted through the binoculars just after we had left the quarantine anchorage en route to the marina, but seeing it up close was another story altogether; it was beautiful! Standing underneath it and looking up, it was hard not to feel completely insignificant, though. The panoramic views of Chalong Bay and out towards Coral Island were fabulous as well, so we purchased an ice cream each and a cold beverage, found a seat under one of the pergolas and took it all in. Seeing two working elephants on the hillside topped off this particular outing.
Unfortunately, our next destination was not at all what we were expecting. In fact, seeing the devastation to the tourist industry of Phuket was staggering and very sad indeed. As we drove from Kata Beach to Karon Beach and on to Patong, all we saw were closed up and, in some cases, boarded up, shops, restaurants, bars, cafés, resorts, literally for miles. There was absolutely nowhere we could even stop for a drink or a bite to eat. Deciding to continue further north to Kamala Beach in the hope of finding something different, didn’t yield the results we were hoping for either, so forgoing our beach day altogether ended up being the best option under the circumstances.
However, on our return to Boat Lagoon marina we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Dean and Deluca, which certainly made up for the disappointment of not whiling away our day under a palm tree.
Once back onboard, it was all hands on deck to prepare for our haulout this morning which included marking the position for the travel lift straps, removing the top of the SSB/HF aerial, moving the topping lift to the centre of the boom and then clearing the cockpit, stowing the cushions below deck, etc. Elaine then also ironed a pile of her “non-boat” cloths to ensure she was more presentable in the resort, but, thankfully it started to rain, which helped cool the temperatures too.
This morning we woke to a cloudy, overcast, rainy day, given that the rain had continued on and off all night. By mid-morning, though, it had all cleared up and by 1020 we’d cast off the dock and had the opportunity to wave cheerio to Charon (Yim and Richard) as they were leaving the marina.
As we rounded the bend heading towards the haul-out bay we were amazed at what awaited us; firstly we couldn’t believe just how high the water level was and secondly, how many boatyard staff were on-hand to guide Paw Paw into the bay.
Once Roy had reversed her to the front of the bay, lines where thrown to Elaine and the marina staff member who was onboard to assist and from there she was gingerly pulled in, with further ropes thrown to each bow. To say it was a tight squeeze was a complete understatement, but the staff did a marvellous job and before we knew it, the travel lift had taken Paw Paw’s weight, we were instructed to disembark and she was lifted out.
While the pressure wash took place, we headed back to Dean and Deluca for a mid-morning beverage and a freshly baked French pastry and by lunchtime Paw Paw was positioned and chocked on her hardstand. By then we’d also checked into our apartment at the Boat Lagoon Resort, leaving only the task of packing what we needed and vacating Paw Paw for at least the next two weeks. However, spotting three young ladies on a motorbike, dressed in their finest to celebrate Eid Mubarak, as we walked back and forth to the boatyard, we simply couldn’t resist asking them if we could take a photograph. Delighted, although a little surprised, they were happy to oblige.
Of course, in this era of COVID-19, although the apartment was spotlessly clean, Elaine wasn’t taking any chances and sanitised the entire place from top to bottom, to be sure, to be sure!
Both exhausted from our day, we enjoyed dinner in our new, temporary home and raised a glass to a very successful first week in Thailand.
