Back "On the Hard"
        
        Log September 22nd - October 10th
        Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 17:03:26 -0700
        
        From: rudys03@attglobal.net
        To: rudys03@ibm.net
        
        
        This will be the last Log until the New Year.  Hurricane Joyce has changed our
        plans. We will be flying to the states a week earlier, the 10th of October instead of
        the 18th and staying until after Christmas. We, as well as many of our fellow
        cruising community, put ourselves on the hard (boat goes on land in a Marina) to
        escape the hurricane.  However, thankfully, she never hit Trinidad!!!   We had a
        good amount of rain, but no wind. Since we were going on the hard the following
        week anyway, we decided to stay put and go home a week earlier. On September
        28th (the day our engine was finally running), a tropical wave went through the
        area and kicked up a small localized storm in the body of water between Trinidad
        and Venezuela. This created a Southwest wind of about 40 kts for an hour or so.
        Our harbor is susceptible to swells from this direction. It created havoc in our
        harbor. There were docks damaged and some boats damaged by the swells. It was
        a wake up call that even in paradise we had to be ready for mother nature.  This
        small storm was far worse than the Hurricane, but it also was the reason we were
        all well prepared for Joyce as she passed about 50 miles North of us.
        
        This small storm was an excellent example of the value of the entire Cruising
        Community. During the storm everyone came out of their boats and gave
        themselves and equipment to others. We put out more lines and bumpers and made
        sure boats with no crew on them were secure and safe. The next day, we were
        helped when we went on the hard since we only had one hour to prepare. There
        was one long term storage space left and we could have it before the Hurricane if
        we could be ready to be hauled in one hour. With Joyce a day or two away it was
        an offer we couldn't refuse. The next hour was very intense.....we had to take down
        canvas, sails, electricity, phone and TV cables, and secure everything inside and out
        on a boat that hadn't been moved in almost 3 months!!! We did make it with a little
        help from our friends.
        
        The following day, (9/30) we helped two of our friends pull their boats out and
        then put them back in the water on Monday 10/2 after the Hurricane, actually a
        tropical depression, passed Trinidad.  To celebrate the unevent, about 20 of us
        played Dominoes (Mexican Train) for about 4 « hours on Sunday, the day of the
        storm.
        
        Rudy and I stayed in a Bed and Breakfast called Tammy's  Friday and Saturday
        nights and then in a hotel on Sunday. We dined in the hotel with two other couples;
        Marcia and Kumar, who live in Red Oaks Mill, about 1 mile from our home in
        Poughkeepsie, on Wave Dancer and Julia and Paul on Coral Bay. Before we all
        went to dinner, the electricity went out.  No problem, the generator started about
        one minute later. However, after we got back to our rooms from dinner the
        generator died for about 15-20 minutes. Rudy and I decided it was time for bed! 
        Then the generator came to life again and we had a chance to see the closing
        ceremonies of the Olympic's and the amazing Fire Works!! I was happy we were
        not in the elevator or still eating dinner when the lights went out in Trinidad!!
        
        Today (10/4) it was quiet except for the EARTHQUAKE!!!!!!!!  Trinidad is on a
        Fault Line and this is the second one we experienced here. However,  this one was
        much stronger and lasted longer (6.1 and 10 miles away).  I was worried about the
        boat on the land, but all was fine. Just another day in Paradise!!!
        
        We are excited to see our family and friends in the states, but it is also hard to leave
        our Cruising Family especially when we share so many experiences together!!!
        Life is great!!
        
        
            See you next year
        Rudy and Faith