Roy got up early on Saturday to bake his baguettes during the cooler part of the day, then we popped ashore for a morning coffee and a swim to stave off the heat of the day that had already set in.
Back onboard Elaine became a woman possessed for some weird and wonderful reason; scrubbing the cockpit and transom soles, reorganising the navigation station and putting away numerous cables and plugs that had been hauled out over the months, but were no longer being used nor ever returned to their rightful place, along with a dozen smaller tasks that had started to irritate her. While she ran around like a headless chicken, Roy decided it was safer to remove himself from harms way and do a dinghy run to fill up the diesel jerry cans to commence the re-polishing efforts on the port fuel tank, as well as purchase dinghy fuel.
Sunday was Elaine’s specialist appointment which didn’t require an early start this time, since she didn’t have to fast. That meant we had a slightly less frantic start to our day and enjoyed a brunch at Dean and Deluca after Elaine had completed her blood work at the hospital, although we were both drenched in perspiration initially from the short walk in the heat and humidity to collect the hired car. Our entertainment for the day, though, which had us in stitches, was seeing a poodle having a ponytail and bow arranged on its little head by the owners, while at Dean and Deluca, especially since the wife was clearly not happy with the husband’s assistance and enthusiasm, or rather, lack thereof.
It was, however, our return visit to the hospital to see the specialist that put Elaine into a tailspin after receiving very unexpected news; news that could put a halt to our circumnavigation if things don’t improve / change over the next two months. Unfortunately, the additional new medication, which was supposed to be an alternative to the cocktail of medications she’s been on since seeing the specialist in Singapore, had caused a serious Catch 22 medical situation.
Completely floored by the news, she wasn’t giving up that easily and by yesterday, once Elaine was able to compose herself and think straight again, she was able to work out a possible backup treatment plan. If required, in the event of the current situation remaining unresolved, this alternative approach will require buy-in from the specialist, but persuasion and assertion have always been Elaine’s strengths; it is her body after all, but not forgetting that the specialist is the one writing the prescriptions, so we’ll see. In the meantime, we remain hopeful that the new medication will pan out as expected, we’re saying our prayers and progressing with everything needed for a January departure.
Regardless, it was a very long day and late in the afternoon by the time we returned to Paw Paw, having completed our provisioning after leaving the hospital. Thankfully it didn’t rain while we were transferring our purchases to Paw Paw, but we made it back just before the heavens opened.
After sanitising everything, stowing the fridge and freezer items, having a light dinner, a shower and bed followed in quick succession.
Yesterday was not a good day at all for both of us; worry and concern for Roy, achy, discomfort and heartache for Elaine, the latter at the prospect of having to call it a day after everything we’ve been through, when this circumnavigation is the only thing that has been keeping her going. A video call to Keenan and the grandchildren certainly helped brighten up the day somewhat, but Elaine eventually went back to bed.
When she awoke, Roy was nowhere to be found; he’d taken the opportunity to collect a few parcels at the marina office and do another jerry can run for diesel, this time to start the re-polishing exercise on the starboard fuel tank.
Feeling rested and after a lot of discussion, philosophical debate, a long chat to Elaine’s folks in Ireland, who ironically had experienced the end of their original retirement plans after a catastrophic medical incident, we were able to articulate and rationalise our thoughts and put together a plan for each of the scenarios that could materialise.
Today, although it was another rainy, miserable day which allowed Roy to wash the rest of the deck, we both had a much cheerier disposition and dinghied ashore for a coffee to review our plans and cement our thoughts.
Happy that we’d covered all the options and had a sensible plan of attack, Elaine continued with her notes for the Maldives Yacht Rally, while Roy enjoyed a phone call from Richard, off Charon, giving us the latest scoop on our Thai visa options, which continue to take twists and turns as well, then had an afternoon nap, before he headed ashore again to dispose of our garbage and collect a FedEx delivery package we’ve been expecting.
Receiving photographs from Charon of a rainbow visible over Paw Paw for the past two consecutive days was the sign we needed that all was going to be okay.
