Buck & Judy Do The Indian Ocean

Buck:  Hmmmmm!  What should I call this piece?

WHAT’S NEW PUSSEY CAT

Our boat the Pussey Cat in the Seychelles

or

WHAT’S UP PUSSEY CAT

 or

PUSSEY CAT ESCAPE

May 1-7, 2007

It was hard for the Pussey Cat to escape

As we were scheduled to board her on Labor Day

But on a holiday all the stores were closed

No provisions, we could not get underway

So she stayed tied to the pier

And we were tethered with her

Good news was shower on shore

In sweltering heat waiting for the Cat to purr

The sun beats down, a winter overcoat

Heavy, hot sun on the equator

Nothing to do but check the boat

Get to know folks who have a Governator.

Chuck and Anne are with us

We met them in Tonga

Now on Mahe in Seychelles

Experienced sailors they know the sea well

With Anne and Judy the next day

To Victoria for provisions food and beer

We went to the market to change money

9 rupees to the dollar what cheer!

Farmers market with the catch of the day

Smiling fish all in a row

Lying on their bed of ice

Many dinners nature did sow

Vegetables of every kind

Mangos, papaya, star fruit to eat

Tiny bananas, large cukes, chives

Eggplant for an evening treat

Green skinned oranges that looked like lime

We went from supermarket to store to store

Some had one thing and some another

We shopped and shopped and needed more.

Getting back to the boat and ready to go

Keith after we got back was guiding us out to sea.

And found that the starboard engine transmission

Wouldn’t engage, we were not to be set free.

Turning back to the dock the mechanic came aboard

Down into the engine he did descend

Tools scattered around on the deck

A cable he could not mend

Between the helm and engine

He replaced the cable on island time

Slow and careful with a cigarette break

Finally after my nap everything was fine.

About 3:30 we got underway

Motoring out we hoisted the dingy

After a short time out into Sainte Anne’s Channel

Away from other boats we dropped our anchor thingy.

Skinning the tuna was a big job

Skin and bone too tough for our knife

Cutting up tuna steaks was completed

Tuna gave up living to give us life.

The stove is tricky hard to keep the burner lit

Gas tank turned on and panel switch thrown

Turn the burner control and hold it

Strike the little match start the flame and moan

Continue to hold, slowly count to ten

Let the control out watch the flame die

For a little puff of air will blow it out

Go though it all again don’t pout!

The big burner is finicky, it does abuse

For it is the one we want to use

The little burner on the right is fine

When all you have to do is wait the time

Sometimes it is not clear if people think

We found charcoal but not lighter fluid.

John donated part of his book to the cause

Why stock only part of what you need?

So we anchor in Sainte Anne’s channel

Lush green island like Jurassic Park

Perhaps Tyrannosaurus Rex will raise

Its head and come to us out of the dark

As we prepared our evening repast

We each missed Joyce who took control

Of the galley and Mark the Barbie boy

To feed the hungry tired and sweaty fold

Early to bed after seeing the video

Of the elegant flighty Bumble Bee.

Anne so excited that I showed it twice,

Turned out she slept thru the first you see!

So nice to be anchored with a cool breeze

On the other side from the cat flotilla

Looked like a convoy of cats

And in the air with wings spread wide, bats.

Up in the morning to reheat the coffee

Up early and up to the bow we did go

Nancy was ready again to lead

The eager crew’s morning yoga

Last night we saw flying fish

This morning Chuck saw porpoise off the stern

Lots of things from them. I wish

We could communicate, much to learn.

No time today for library hours

Again we missed Joyce but what to do

We turned to cold cereal and bananas

Yes, Joyce we really missed you!

Ready to get under way

Hoisting the anchor off the sand

We ran out of juice.

Chuck had to lift it by hand!

John discovered the circuit breaker

For the anchor did trip

After Chuck had got the chain up.

From Sainte Anne channel we did slip

Up with the main

And up with the jib.

We are sailing now

What a way to live!

Mahe grows gray in the distance

As we get about 12 miles away

We will make Praslin

On this beautiful day.

A 10 knot wind with whitecaps to show

Rocking and rolling good speed we make

Sky blue with scattered white clouds

The rush of water, a foaming wake.

Nancy went below feeling queasy

Hope she will recover it makes me uneasy.

After a while with a little rest

She comes up filled with zest!

Over to Cousin Island we anchored

We were ready for the 2 PM tour

The park guy in the boat said

Afternoon tours have been cancelled.

Come back in the morning at 9:30

For the island bird tour we are through.

Guide book says it’s $30 each

So we discuss a plan for something to do

We eat lunch and use the glop

Stirred up tartar sauce on tuna to dine

As a spread for sandwichs

A plan and lunch and we are fine

So we get ready to be underway

And the anchor windlass circuit breaker

Trips over and over again

Pull up a foot or so, a real trouble maker.

So we put out a distress call to Moorings

And had to have line of sight communications

And they have us going in circles

Before John calls them back, a bit impatience!

To meet us at about 3

They say a boat is on the way today!

The boat is coming from Coco

And John decides to meet them halfway.

So here we are rocking and rolling

But now going in circles

Going nowhere and getting there

Very slowly

So Anne and Chuck don’t like

Having the Terminator

As their chief of state

Or better known as the Governator.

We are bobbing around here like a cork

The sun beating down on this fiery place

On sweating bodies getting broiled like pork.

On the ocean’s glittering, blinding, silvery surface.

Anchored off the Praslin Beach Hotel

The Octopus Dive Center, here are the facts

Where we waded off into the surf

Intrepid divers with tanks on their backs

A cattle boat filled to the brim

12 divers with the crew of the

Pussey Cat making up a third

Entering the water problems occurred

Buck’s tank slipped off the BCD

Chuck needed additional weight

John’s reg was leaking air

Finally a good dive but a little late

We sucked up a lot of air

In the excitement and who guessed

We were first back on the boat

And then picked up the rest.

In the Seychelles at 4 degrees

Below the equator like a dog on a bun

There is no place to hide

From the blazing, broiling, baking sun

When there is a breeze

It is still hot hot hot

And when there is no breeze

We broil or bake if you please

At night with no wind

We lie in bed to marinate

In our own juices

We sweat and toss till late.

Skin on skin is sticky

Clothes damp never dry

In the ocean snorkel in bath water

On the boat sweat and fry

Sweet as she is this boat

For all this time kept us afloat

Has more problems than those

Twice her age. She’s a tired boat!

The port battery holds no charge, the jerk.

The anchor windlass trips the circuit breaker

The large burner on the stove doesn’t work

Pressing the starter on the port engine is intermittent

Sometimes you can see that designers

Never actually were on the boat

As they made design decisions

That were dumb and stupid to quote.

The forward cabin fans are mounted

To blow into the storage shelf

And not cool the folks in the beds

Hot and sweaty a miserable self!

And the storage shelf is made for someone

Perhaps who is very very tall

The bunk is too high off the deck

Causing skinned knees for one that is small.

The cat stretches her back

And arcs around the anchor, nothing new

With the sun swinging from side to side

Looking for a way to parboil the crew

Then can you possibly imagine

How can two creatures of 500 pounds

Or so reproduce?  It’s not easy

But when they do what happy sounds

Females have long hind toenails

To dig the nest with bowed hind legs.

 In open sunny places digging a hole

And then bury to incubate the laid eggs.

So many tortoises, some in the pond

Others in the shade some solitary

But most in groups to tired to go,

From 5 years old to 120 or so

Paul the ranger on Curieuse

Gave us a good talk on the tortoise

And showed us a hatchling and a 15 month old

That was as big as a dinner plate

At 5 years they are big enough to fend

For themselves against predators

Set out on their own

They don’t become prey for terminators.

Rats and land crabs are their enemies

Paul said the tortoise egg shell is so thick

You can drop it six feet and it will be ok

But he doesn’t recommend doing this trick.

Fruit bats are tasty according to Paul

With a detailed description of how to prepare

But don’t plan on eating one of his tortoise

Unless you have 500,000 rupees to spare.

From there over to the Doctor’s House

Only 1.7 KM according to the sign

But going up over the ridge

Thru the mangroves sweating like swine

Chuck the Chicken whacker

Was an appellation given him

For with the big knife no slacker

The neck his favorite part to trim.

Two chickens he did whack

An ol’ navy man what a thrill

Veteran of the scullery to hack

Pieces of chicken ready to grill

The world’s most beautiful beach                 

Anse Lazio perhaps a bit of a reach

White powder sand a quarter mile long

With boulder bookends to finish the bay

We were rocking and rolling

As a storm sweeps thru, we were riding.

At dinner time towels on shelves

To keep bottles and food from sliding

Food on the table ready to eat

Had to be held or stowed till the waves

Settled down.  We watched a mono

Making 30 degree arcs.  They were really swinging.

We used all leftovers as we went along

Potatoes in scrambled eggs

Baked beans in rice

Some didn’t look so good but turned out nice

Will Chuck buy Anne a laptop?

Or will she spring for it herself?

She bought a video of the Seychelles

Played on my laptop very well.

Downloaded photos from camera

So that all could see part of our trip

Nancy wanted more pictures of the Cat

So we could tell where we were at.

Another brief note I must make

About the flies.  John and Chuck

Killed hundreds for goodness sake!

With those swatters, flies were out of luck!

So we had travails and problems it’s true

However thru thick and thin

We handled them well as the crew.

Bearing them with a grin and some gin!

A watched pot will not overflow

Coffee and adventure thru adversity we grow

And then back to the Wharf Marina

In the pouring rain a fresh water shower.

Keith showed us how to light the big burner

The car always works fine when I take it for repair

So yet another trip, this was a real page turner

Now back home to rest from wear and tear!

So goodbye to that cursed Pussey Cat

Back to the Coral Strand to rest

In air conditioned luxury we sat

For Seychelles fond memories we possess!