Long Time No Blog

We've done a lot of traveling since our last blog from Barbuda - both on Saralane and by air. But first, to bring you up to date on the IT front, the Mac magicians in St Maarten were not able to help, so we are limping along on my wimpy PC - that in spite of its shortcomings - works. Mr. Mac is now in the hands of a new Mac magician stateside who may be able to resuscitate, but a final repair decision has yet to be made.

After a season of few itineraries, we found ourselves balancing schedules and timing for much of April and May.  My mom (Kathy) turned 90 in early June and we celebrated in St Croix. Last year's trip to the Buccaneer was to celebrate my dad's 90th and this year we were invited again, along with my sister Cindy and husband Dan, for a week stay there to celebrate again.  A quick flight from St Maarten to St Croix - thank you Liat - and we were in a king size bed, had endless hot water, and were waited on hand and foot.

 



All of us... Maddie, Me, Mom, Dad, Cindy and Dan
 




Me, Mom, Cindy, & Dad




Cindy & Me

For a long time, Mom & Dad have booked their Buccaneer stay in late April and coincidentally, partners Tom & Giovanni also book the same period. Over the years they became acquaintances, and now are very good friends.  An unlikely foursome, but happily times are a-changin'.

Tom & Giovanni

Mom and Dad & "The Boys"



Helping hands

Almost 90!



Who is missing?

The birthday girl gets her cake

All in all it was a relaxing week with family, but now time to get back aboard and continue with our schedule.  My daughter Eliza was arriving in the BVI in a week and we also wanted to connect with Dave & Wendy, friends who were beginning a charter in the BVI. As soon as we got back to St Martin we cleared out of the Dutch side, checked out of the marina and moved across the Lagoon to the French side. To do so we made our first passage through the new causeway bridge that bisects the Lagoon. Very cool LED lighting at night!



Much better at night!

We promptly headed across Anegada Passage to Virgin Gorda - unfortunately the forecast was for light winds directly behind us. The trip was made easily in daylight and we dropped the hook behind Eustatia Island for the night, then cleared in at Gun Creek in Virgin Gorda. Once again we confirmed that the ocean is indeed fished out of mahi and tuna. 



Leaving Marigot at dawn



About 13 hours under power - the dreaded Anegada Passage

Dave & Wendy had just picked up their giant charter cat and met us at Mountain Point for the night before they collected their family/guests.



D & W's BIG cat dwarfs Saralane in the background

Evening  sky in Mountain Point... a change in the weather?

Eliza was arriving in West End on the Jet Blue red eye from Boston in two days time, so we meandered to Tortola via Benure's Bay at Norman Island - a favorite spot. It had not rained significantly for months and on the morning Eliza was due to arrive, we awoke to torrential rains that continued all that day and into the next. A lousy way for Lize to start her holiday, but things improved quickly and were more in keeping with the BVI.



Snorkeling the Caves at Norman Island

And the weather got better

Prickley Pear Beach

 

Eustatia Sound

YCCS at North Sound

This is what happens after a week in the BVI

After a great week, we put Eliza on the ferry back to St Thomas and home - then we had to hustle to our next scheduled activity - namely I was to deliver an Outbound back to RI while Maddie held the fort down in Nanny Cay marina where friends Ted & Claudia (and kids Max & Anya) work and live aboard.

After returning from the delivery, we left Nanny Cay, cleared out of the BVI and spent a week over in Francis Bay, St John. More about the delivery and Nanny Cay later. Hopefully this hasn't been to much of a travelogue, but it brings us fairly up to date. These images, from our vantage point in Francis Bay in St John, were taken within moments of each other as the sun set. Definitely a better view than in the HOT marina...