St. Lucia

We had a wonderful sail from St. Vincent into St. Lucia, arriving at Soufriere in the rain with Kyeta and Equinox. We tied up to the mooring balls beneath Petit Piton, with a line to shore, with the help of the many, many boat boys, all with their hand out for helping or trying to sell you something. Memory and Columbine pulled in later that day, making for a full house.
It was a beautiful anchorage and we had one of the best meals at Harmony Restaurant, right beneath the Pitons. Did lots of exploring, seeing the waterfall, springs, botanical gardens and the town. St. Lucia had a bad reputation with cruisers because of crime, and they really seem to be doing something about it. The only bad thing we can say about it is the boat boys, or the men and boys that hang out at the dinghy dock, wanting to help tie up your dinghy - for cash!
Spent a night at Anse Cochon, where we did some snorkelling, and then a couple of days at Marigot. Marigot, while beautiful, is not a good anchorage and we'll skip that next time. We left Marigot, under full sail, on our way to Pigeon Island in Rodney Bay, where Dennis caught a small shark and I put letters on the mast saying, 'Yes, reef!!'
We spent a relaxing couple of weeks off Pigeon Island, swimming, hiking and exploring. Rick, of Memory, offered to be our driver on an island tour, so we all split the cost of the van and had a great day with Rick and Carey (Memory), Moira and Dick (Equinox) and Ann and Denny (Kyeta). St. Lucia is a beautiful island and the roads are probably some of the best we've seen - well, except for the curves!
Well, the winds and waves look good, so it's off to Martinique! ~~~~_/)~~~~

Grenada to Bequia

Greetings from Bequia, where we've had a wonderful time catching up with friends, new and old, during Christmas and New Year's. I've been having a few computer issues, so that's my excuse for not getting this blog out earlier.
We left Grenada with Kyeta and Vindomar and had a pretty good motorsail into Tyrell Bay in Carriacou, where we met up with Nereia, Columbine and Sea Cycle. Stayed an extra day so that we could get together and have lunch, but unfortunately didn't get to see Deb and Mark on Sea Cycle. Deb was sick and Mark was working real hard trying to get the boat ready to put back in the water. Needed to cool off after the afternoon in town, so we swam over to Nereia and visited with Dan and Jaime.
Left Tyrell Bay with Kyeta and headed up west of Union Island to be able to sail right into Canouan, while Vindomar headed into Union to meet up with Equinox, who finally made it out of Trinidad. Had a pretty good sail and pulled into Canouan in the early afternoon in time for a swim and what turned out to be a rolly anchorage. Kyeta came over for dinner only after the boat in front of them moved to a mooring ball after dragging down on them three times. Up the next morning and headed out around 6:30 a.m., just in time to get a downpour about half an hour out. Put the autopilot on and hid under the dodger and managed to stay pretty dry. That worked out well! Unfortunately, I didn't get my morning coffee and ended up with a headache, and by the time I went to take something for it, we had 6 foot seas and I spent the rest of the trip to Bequia hanging over the rail. That's the first time I've been sick since we bought the boat back in 2001. We pulled into Bequia around noon and I lay down for an hour so that Ann and I could head into town to check in. DW took good care of me the rest of the afternoon and I was back to normal (whatever that is) the next day.
It was like a Coral Cove reunion in Bequia and we all had a great time catching up. Went on a tour of Bequia with Elson and his nephew, and saw some new stuff that we missed on our last visit. Unfortunately, Moira from Equinox had some intestinal problems and ended up being admitted to the hospital in Bequia and then being transferred to St. Vincent. I guess that was quite the experience. The things we take for granted - like sheets, towels, hot water, toilet paper and a seat on the toilet! Thankfully she's back to normal now after being in the hospital for 5 days.
With so many people here it started to get way too complicated for Christmas dinner, so Ann (Kyeta) and I decided that we would just get together with PJ and Tom from Conch'd Out and do our own thing. Wish we had thought to take a photo of the great meal we all put together. Turkey dinner with all the good stuff that goes with it and enough for leftovers the next day!!
Headed down to the Tobago Cays with Kyeta and Conch'd Out on the 27th. This is still one of the most beautiful anchorages ever. Met up with Casa Del Mar and Ticketoo and spent a great few days visiting and snorkelling, with our last day having a beach potluck and a mean game of Mexican Train dominoes.
Left Tobago Cays New Year's Eve day and had another great sail into Bequia, just in time for our afternoon swim. Took finger food over to Just Two (Connie and Peter) and had a New Year's Eve with Memory (Rick and Carrie), Kyeta (Ann and Denny), Equinox (Moira and Dick), Vindomar (Roy and Sue), and then went back to our own boats in time for the fireworks at midnight. That was interesting! Had to stand on the deck with buckets of water while drunk cruisers shot off flares in a crowded anchorage!
We've just been hanging out in Bequia, which has turned out to be one of our favorite islands (except for the French islands with their inexpensive wine), and heading to the beach every afternoon for our two hours of treading water and exercising. Well, the women stay in the water while the guys hang out on shore. Something about the water being cold? Had one last potluck dinner on shore, since the weather was clearing and boats were heading both north and south. Vindomar and Just Two are heading south and west, and we don't know when we'll see them again!
Until next time~~~~/_)~~~~~
(photos will follow when we have internet)

Arrrgh, Matey

Left Bequia Monday morningwith Kyeta and Exquinox for a 3 hour trip to Wallilabou, St. Vincent. Wallilabou was the set for Pirates of the Caribbean. We had a great sail between Bequia and the tip of St. Vincent, when the winds came off the mountains and changed direction, so we ended up motorsailing into Wallilabou. We hooked up to a mooring ball and tied a line off the back of the boat to shore (with the help of the numerous boat boys, all with their hands out). Walked around the area taking lots of photos and then hiked a mile to the waterfall. Probably the smallest waterfall we've seen to-date - all of 13 feet high. Swam off the boat and then headed into dinner at the Wallilabou Anchorage Restaurant, where the food was great and they deducted the cost of the mooring ball off your meal.
Up at 6 a.m. to head to St. Lucia. Another day of sailing and motoring, but mostly sailing. Pulled into Souriere around 2:30 and took another mooring ball just north of Petit Piton. Again, lots of boat boys, but it's absolutely gorgeous. Plan to hike later after the rain stops. ~/_)~

Loving Grenada - Except For The Boat Stuff!

Greetings from Grenada, still! We've had a wonderful time here, but it seems to be that everyone has had one heck of a shakedown cruise. Just In Time wins the prize for the most money spent with a new sail drive, but everyone that pulls in seems to be experiencing boat gremlins. We just weren't charging properly, and Tom from Conch'd Out came over and helped test the batteries -- yes, four new batteries needed. Kyeta needed to have their shaft aligned, a new radio and new antenna (which Dennis went up their mast to put on - at least it was less time than being up on Mobetah!). Vindomar had alternator problems, as did Squiz. Enza Marine, Budget and Island Water World are making money!
We've thoroughly enjoyed Grenada! The group from Coral Cove did a potluck on Thanksgiving, but we headed out for dinner with Ann and Denny (Kyeta), Tom and PJ (Conch'd Out) and Roy and Sue (Vindomar) and had a wonderful evening. No turkey, but a lot of fun. Did an island tour with a group of twelve and it was great. One of the group (I won't name Linda) paid extra to have the waterfall guy jump off naked.
Last Friday headed up to Gouyave for their Friday night fish fry, and the rain let up enough to let us enjoy the town. Of course, the taxi ride there and back was quite the trip. Slow down for speed bumps? No way!! Kidneys and spleen in the same place they should be? No!
Left Prickly Bay and headed up to anchor near Grande Anse Beach. Great when we got there but way too bumpy in the morning, so we headed into the Lagoon. Can't swim, but we do have free internet! Hoping to head out at the beginning of the week when the seas die down. We don't mind wind, since it takes over 15 knots to get us under a good sail, but really don't like 12 foot seas.
It's so nice to not be in a hurry to get anywhere and we can just hang out and wait for good weather and seas!!
Until next time ~~~~~/_)~~~~~~~~~