Hurricane!

Directly after my last cocky entry about how the hurricane didn’t seem that bad I left with the other new volunteers to head back to the garden. By the time we got back, feeling very good about ourselves for having changed a flat tire and gotten unlost several times, we were informed to pack everything up top speed cause the wind might destroy anything left. So we moved all of us and all our stuff across the island towards town into this house owned by the archaeological society. It’s actually quite posh here comparatively, we have a microwave and in-house internet and hot water in the showers. On the other hand, 7 people crammed into a house all day for two days is a bit much… but we have left to wander around town whenever possible, so it’s not too bad that way either.

Anyhow, Wednesday morning we went back up to the garden to tie down all loose wood and move the potted plants to the ground and lash benches to trees and all that stuff. The afternoon began to get rainy so we came back with the dog and all 7 of us to begin our house-arrest. This seriously gives me a respect and comprehension for people in hurricane shelters with tons more people in smaller and dingier spaces… people get on each others nerves and space feels cramped pretty quickly! However, I guess the actual hurricane moved mostly west of us after all, because by the time the debate ended at 9:30 there was still power and internet. During the night there was some strong winds and rains and we lost power, but nothing worse than I’ve felt on N Manitou, and we woke up to beautiful sunny skies. Unfortunately we’ve still been mostly stuck in the house and yard most of the day today waiting for the power and lights to come back, for the debree to be cleared from the roads, and to hear from our boss. We still haven’t been back to the garden, I guess it was on the stormward side–town is pretty well sheltered by the volcano–and the road is still impassible due to downed trees. Hopefully tomorrow we will make it out there to survey the damage and begin repairs.

So moral is, I’m darned lucky. And you can all stop worrying, in case you were. And I’m making a killing giving back rubs here…