So long mate

Posted by on Oct 11, 2006 in amanzi, blog, Voyage 1 | No Comments
So long mate
Kim

11/10/2006, Hog Island, Grenada

We pulled up anchor from Hog Island after spending several months waiting out hurricane season. Sadly, though, we leave with one less crewmember. One of our feline crew, Billy bob, unfortunately will not be coming with us on our journey north. He didn’t jump ship, as we expected him to do so often, on the trip south. Instead, he became ill and died unexpectedly while in the care of the terrific staff at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in St. George’s, Grenada. So, we leave a little of our heart behind in Grenada.

Billy bob was one of those cats who just had to be on the go all the time. When we were first planning our expedition to the Caribbean, and including the cats on the trip, we knew Billy would have the toughest time of adjusting to the space on the boat. His sister Buddy, however, was hardly aware she had left Toronto even after ten months of traveling. She rarely came out of the cabin. Billy was different. He had to know exactly how things were going to be on Amanzi. If David went forward to reef a sail, Billy went forward to watch. When the dinghy was hoisted on deck and strapped down, Billy stood on the side checking it all out. When coming into port and getting ready to drop the anchor, Billy stood behind and meowed, just to let you know he was there. David often joked, he was the only crewmember to go forward when the weather got rough.

During the day, he settled into his “rope nest” at the base of the mast, to watch the comings and goings and yet, still be out of the way. As dusk approached, he was much more active and had the run of the boat prancing up and down the deck keeping an eye out for jumping fish. He would finally settle into his favourite nighttime spot, on top of the dodger, where he could see everything, yet not be seen. As the stillness of night settled around the anchorage, Billy could be heard howling or meowing loudly just a few times, letting us know he was on watch. And to our surprise, his sister Buddy knew to come up on deck, as she too felt safer with Billy on watch.

We noticed Billy was not his usually energetic, talkative self for a couple of days. We became concerned and talked to other boaters. Thanks to Sharon and Andrew on sv Paragon who alerted us to the seriousness of his condition, Keith, a veterinarian on sv After You, who diagnosed the problem and Inga of Homeward Bound, who helped us contact the Veterinary Clinic, we rushed Billy to the emergency clinic 10:00 pm on a Saturday night. Under the direct care of Dr. Wayne Sylvester and an amazing team of clinicians and support staff, Billy was given exceptional care for 5 weeks. If we had been on any other island, this would not have happened. Grenada is the only island in the Caribbean with a Veterinary Teaching Clinic and Veterinary training program at the University.

Billybob with Dr Sylvester at the Veterinary Teaching hospital

Billybob with Dr Sylvester at the Veterinary Teaching hospital

Sadly, we leave Grenada without our first mate. But, if there is one consolation, we know he helped in the training of new Veterinarians. We’re not sure Buddy’s sad about his absence, but lately we’ve noticed she’s adopted some of her brother’s habitats, oddly enough.

After our last visit at the clinic, I beamed when one of the attending Veterinarians, Dr. Flynn said “Billy’s a great cat”. I couldn’t agree with him more. Thanks mate, and fare winds to ya, Billy.

Billybob with his sister Buddy investigating Lobsters that we had caught back in Bahamas

Billybob with his sister Buddy investigating Lobsters that we had caught back in Bahamas

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