Regardless, by the morning we really needed to get off Paw Paw for a break from the relentless weather and headed ashore to enjoy a morning coffee at the Port of Call restaurant, but not before we mustered up enough energy to build the box for our lithium batteries.
However, we’d barely sat down in the restaurant when the heavens opened and with no sign of the lashing rain abating any time soon, we returned to Paw Paw in the pouring rain. We were both definitely surprised, though, to find that the wind speed had actually reached 40 Kts while we were ashore; the highest recording we’ve had since arriving in Thailand. As Roy said: “We’re going to need dynamite to dislodge our anchor after the week we’ve had!”.
Tuesday was also our first day of being fully vaccinated, although it was a little disappointing to wake to the news that the WHO (World Health Organisation) was now recommending a booster shot for immunocompromised individuals on the very day we thought it was safe to emerge from our cocoons after shielding for months due to Elaine’s health.
By the time we were back onboard, though, neither of us could keep our eyes open, so, yes, another afternoon nap ensued.
At this point in our circumnavigation and after months of lockdowns and shielding, we unashamedly enjoy our afternoon naps. We could use excuses like an interrupted night’s sleep due to bad weather or the draining tropical heat or a night socialising with cruising friends, partying or playing Mexican train dominoes and keeping us up later than we intended or we’re getting to that age where our beauty sleep is a necessity, all valid reasons, but, in reality, we simply have an afternoon nap because we can! It’s one of the joys of the cruising lifestyle.
Fortunately, Tuesday night we had a great night’s sleep in the absence of these horrible storms we’ve endured, waking to glorious sunshine yesterday morning instead. However, Elaine had no sooner started the washing machine for laundry day when the first rain shower appeared and these continued on and off throughout the day. With a warm wind, though, she was able to get everything dried while hung on the lines under the cockpit roof.
In between rain showers, Roy dinghied ashore to take another walk to G&T chandlery and to drop off our documentation with our agent for our next round of officialdom, our last before our departure from Thailand. Yim and Richard, off Charon, also stopped by for a quick dinghy chat and to finalise arrangements for our “coming out party” after months of shielding; a morning tea aboard Paw Paw this morning, accompanied by freshly baked crumpets and Irish soda bread was enjoyed by all. It was lovely to just sit and chat to cruising friends and enjoy a good laugh, like “normal people”, albeit in an airy cockpit, thanks to the fresh breeze, under sunny skies and Elaine wearing her mask.
It was close to 1400 by the time the “party” wrapped up with all of us having the very same objective on how to while away the rest of the afternoon; an afternoon nap!
