Back in Michigan

Well, here we are back in the north! We had a long day of flying and waiting. The flight leaving Grenada was late leaving because they couldn't start the truck that pushed the plane back. Then, there were thunderstorms in the States, so the flight arriving into Miami was 2 hours late - which meant a nine hour layover instead of seven. Charlie and Parker were there at midnight to pick us up from the airport, which was great!

We've loved being back and spending time with the grandkids. We still haven't seen Cody and Madison, but have talked to them on the phone.

Had a fun day with Char, Kelly, Parker and Brooklyn, and Shaun and his girls, Avory, Ryenn and Emmy.

Then there was Taylour's graduation from grade eight. What an absolutely beautiful young lady. And the best thing is, we get to take her back to Grenada with us for three weeks. We are all so excited.

Went and watched Zach's baseball game yesterday, and is that kid a good ball player, just like his mom!

I've posted some new photos on my Picasa Web Albums on the sidebar, so enjoy.

Cheers ~~~ _/) ~~~

Carriacou and Grenada

Left Bequia and decided to head to Canuoan to check out, since Union really isn't one of our favourite places to do that. Had a good sail, but no fish, pulling in with a good downpour to rinse all the salt water off the boat and give Allayne a refreshing shower at the helm. Hiked into the airport in the afternoon (the Customs officer stopped along the way and asked if we wanted a lift, but we told him we needed the exercise!) and checked out with both Customs and Immigration. How easy. Asked if the x-ray machine would show how broken my finger was but I guess it's just for bags. Up early in the morning, heading around the northwest coast of Union and into Tyrell Bay, Carriacou. Another great sail, but this time we got the anchor down in Tyrell Bay before the sky opened up. Took the bus into Hillsborough from Tyrell Bay (okay, so you're supposed to anchor in Hillsborough to check in, not Tyrell -- oops!) The new regulations are that everyone has to be at Immigration and show their faces because of the swine flu epidemic in South America, making sure everyone is healthy. That's fair.

When we anchored, we pulled in behind Sam and Margie on Encatada and found out that Carolyn and Rick on Wind-Borne III are still here as well. We haven't seen either boat in 2 years, so when we got together we had a great time.

Sam and Margie
-what a cute couple

Rick and Carolyn

Wind-Borne III - our sistership

Did our exploring in Carriacou and then headed down to Grenada. Sailed down the windward side, another fantastic sail with low winds and good seas but, unfortunately, no fish. Pulled into Prickly Bay and finally met up with Linda and Mike on Casa Del Mar and John and Nancy on Silver Seas! That time of year, the boats are pulling into Grenada - Dreamtime, Samji, Hoofbeats, Bees Knees, Drum ... the list goes on. We forgot how active Grenada is - happy hours, book swaps, tutoring kids, oil down, tours and more tours. We've done the Guave night, and hamburger night at Clarke's Court Bay.

Great music on a Wednesday night at Clarke's Court Bay

The adorable kids on

Stray Kitty

Mike and Linda on Casa Del Mar

Met up with Jim and Ann on Bees Knees again and asked Ann's opinion on my finger (she's an ER nurse). She said it didn't look good and I should have it looked at before I went home. Well, for $100 US I saw a family physician, had x-rays of my hand and saw an orthopedic surgeon. Couldn't do that in the States. Dr. Noel was great, but said that since we were going back to the States in a few weeks and had insurance, he thought I should see a hand surgeon instead of him doing anything. Stay tuned!

We're in the marina at Clarke's Court Bay now, cleaning up and ready to head home next week. Can't wait to see all of our babies. Best thing is, for Taylour's grade 8 graduation (she's our eldest grandchild at almost 14), we've booked her to come back with us to Grenada for 3 weeks. I don't know who's more excited - her or the two of us!!!!! The plans we have ..... ~~~/_)~~~

On to Martinique and beyond

Checked out Monday morning in Les Saintes, picked up fresh bread and a sandwich to go, and off we were before noon, pulling in after a great sail and motor sail, anchoring in Canfield in Dominica. Picked up anchor the next morning and I still say, our worst sails have been between Dominica and Martinique - this was no exception! Anchored in St. Pierre, Martinique, after numerous rain squalls, around 4 pm. Samji welcomed us in! In the next day, checked in, a few provisions, but constant rain, so no point sticking around for hiking. My finger already knows what it's like to hike in the rain!

Down to St. Anne's, one of our favourite anchorages. Just stayed a short time, stocked up on wine, waited for a weather window, and off we went to Bequia. Stopped down between the Pitons on a mooring ball overnight (how easy is that?), then pulled into Bequia the next afternoon, taking our favourite anchoring spot between Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay. Had an absolutely wonderful sail down the windward side of St. Vincent - well, until the wind died and then changed. Can you believe being on the windward side of an island with no wind and not too bad seas? Dennis ran the lures out, of course, and while he was cleaning the tuna, the other line went off and we hooked a 4' wahoo. Fish for all our friends! Pulled into Bequia and who should be there but Barb and Winston on My Island Girl, a 40' Bayfield we saw coming down the ICW in 2005 and finally met up with in 2007. Took a great hike with them and met up with Ed and Linda on Dreamtime from VZ, missing Mike and Linda on Casa Del Mar by one day! How frustrating!

Laundry done, water on board and south we head towards Grenada!

~~~_/)~~~