Pretty as a Picture

On the shelf in a local grocery store... just a little reminder of how beautiful it is here.

Living literally at sea level, we don't get the bird's eye views these covers have without some effort but it's always worth it. A hike on Virgin Gorda gave us great views of the east side of the island and back over to Saba Rock, Prickly Pear Island, Eustatia Island, Necker Island and the surrounding reef.

Saba Rock is tiny, but they fit a lot of stuff on it! See the kite surfer at the bottom right?

After a few months of lazing around in the Virgins Skip and the dinghy were both badly in need of a haircut.

The dinghy goes first...

Much better!

Then it's Skip's turn...

Also much better...

I haven't done much in the way of flora and fauna shots lately since we haven't been hiking or swimming much - (both tricky to do when not breathing well) but I'm getting back into the swing of things and we've gotten out and about more lately. So - flora and fauna!

This guy looks menacing but he was only about a half inch across! Tough guy, eh?

Orchids growing wild in Virgin Gorda

If we don't get a boat cat.... perhaps a boat goat? The little ones are pretty cute.

We've also been running into friends out of the blue! Some Outbound owners... Tom (Farasha), Tim & Sharon (Fisaga), Bruce & Susan (Andiamo) and Ted & Toni (Spree) who were staying on land up in North Sound. Vacationing with Ted & Toni were Sasha & Chris (daughter and son-in-law) along with their two little ones, Nicholas and Lara.

Sasha and Chris bring the kids over to Saralane for a visit.

Our friend Jim, who we met in the Bahamas, kept his boat "Top of the World" (great boat name) in the yard in Virgin Gorda where we hauled out for hurricane season last year and we ran into him there in time to watch the Superbowl together. There were some grim looking Patriot fans in the bar at the end of the game. We're hoping "Top of the World" gets wet again soon!

Jim & Skip on Top of the World - high and dry in Virgin Gorda.

On a quick stop in Road Town to do some errands we ran into our old friend Hank Schmitt who runs Offshore Passage Opportunites (OPO), a group that along with other things, connects crew with yachts. Congrats Hank and Kathy on your FIFTH grandchild!!

Skip & Hank

Our youngest new friend, Libby, is five years old and has already covered more miles on a boat than most adults we know (except for Hank!). She befriended us on Saba Rock and when I asked where she'd been sailing she took a deep breath and started ticking off all the places.... Turkey, Greece, Thailand, etc. She's been sailing with her parents (who we eventually met) since she was two and has such great confidence I wouldn't have been surprised to hear her say she was single handing. Sailing kids are such cool kids!

Libby finds a starfish.

A hike on Norman Island gave us a great view of Saralane in Benures Bay with Peter Island in the background.

I have more to post but I don't think the wifi signal I'm poaching is strong enough to load a MOVIE! Yep, I have a movie to include in the next blog. All I'll say is that it was just about the most incredible thing Skip or I have ever seen underwater and I can't believe I captured it. Check back soon!!