FROM BAD TO WORSE!

Aphrodite's Album - Rain, Rain, Rain and Golfito Grey and Everything Breaks!

I was somewhat premature in my last blog, stating that things were as bad as they could get. The following day we decided to re-anchor, closer in shore, which necessitated starting our engine. In hindsite it's a good thing, but at the time, while we were re-anchoring our 10 month old alternator was siezing up! The blue smoke and gentle aroma were the immediate warning signs! The good thing in hindsite is that had we not re-anchored it would have happened as we headed out to sea, and having discovered it in the safety of the anchorage, we were also able to discover Robert - genius, saviour - I could go on. He arrived the following morning, unsiezed the alternator and then proceeded to check why it had done so. He discovered a leak in our heat exchanger, and on closer examination found it badly corroded in one end. Some parts are still available, obviously not the ones we needed, in the USA, at exhorbitant prices. Once sourced they then have to be shipped to Costa Rica - no mean feat - and, should they arrive (questionable), you then pay your 37% import tax and away you go! This all happened on a Friday, and by Monday, Robert got back to us and said he was very confident that he could rebuild the offending item. Long story short, we hope to have it re-installed today. Then we can run the fridge, and THEN, we can have cold beer! For anyone heading to Golfito, if you have problems with anything either electrical, electronic or mechanical - Robert is your man - 861 6561, He's American but has lived in Golfito most of his life. He fixes outboards, fridges, engines, computers, radars, etc, etc, etc. But, on the bright side, the weather seems to be taking a turn for the better. The rain photo's on the site give absolutely no idea of what a good downpour is like! Paul is still labouring on the forehatch as a leaky stanchion diverted his attention when we found that most of our books on the port bookshelf were very wet! And today is gorgeous - sunny, lots of amps pouring into the solar panels means Paul's a happy man. As soon as he gets them in I plug in my computer and take them out again, which makes Paul's an unhappy man! But what with mouldy clothes, an upsidedown FILTHY boat with internal waterfalls, a girl has to find some solace somewhere! We hope to be moving on early next week