Monthly Archives: April 2011

Tax day, did you file the extension?

After the morning hike which I forgot to post, and since we are miles away from internet, will probably fill in the gaps next time we get some real wifi. This update is coming from Tabbago Keys in the Grenadines, just inside the reef/turtle sanctuary/marine park.

We only had 6 miles to go to get here, so we didn’t raise the sails, with the intention of making water and cleaning the water maker on the way. Then I read the manual and its going to take 3 hrs to complete the cleaning. Circulate the hot cleaning solution for 1 hr, then let stand for 1hr and repeat each time with the solution @ 150 degrees. I’m not exactly sure how to run a stove in the engine room to keep the cleaning solution warm. So I decided to just ‘flush’ the water maker to make some semi-clean water to bathe in as we are running under 1/2 of our water supply. The rinse process started out fine, but when it came time to take the salt out of the water, nothing came out of the water maker. Doh! So today’s project was try something then have a beverage and try again later, eventually running a warm ‘fresh’ water instead of the ‘flush’ process started things working, so we can no make water. Or course that was well after we arrived and Christine had navigated through the reefs to Tabbago Keys. We made a little water just to verify it was working and didn’t taste to bad, so we went snorkeling after all the tourist boats had left.

We had a grand snorkel in the Turtle Sanctuary, lots of turtles and a couple of stingrays, I have some pretty fun video of them, but will have to wait till later to upload. Then we went out to the reef and swam around, this time there were a whole lot more fish than last time we were here. Was fun found a few more stingrays, in fact one just jumped out of the water as I sit here on the bow typing this update. Lots of parrot fish, and even some dog faced puffers eating the sand where our anchor chain is stirring up the bottom.

Lovely sunset behind the moat, pretty close to a full moon and a nice breeze off the atlantic. And Donald drink to boot, can’t ask for much more!

Probably 40 boats out here in this big wide open area. Nice and peaceful even the seaguls love thie place.

We have found the secret to the boat boys, just tell them you landed fish on the way over, and they don’t try to sell you fish and lobster.

We had a nice dinner, some grilled Shrimp pasta, its lent after all, was quite yummy no leftovers.

Tomorrow, maybe Salt Whistle bay, its only 2 miles away so we’ll see, it is the quintessential island spot tho, so we might just have to camp there tomorrow and make water on Sunday.

Let there be Sun and Sunburn

Surely you knew it was going to happen, as soon as we leave St Vincent to head south the weather clears up, and the sun comes out to play. Nice long sail 24+ miles as the crow files, but we went on the windward side of the islands, that means the east, so we were pretty much exposed to the Atlantic ocean. A few waves but nothing too bad, nice steady wind and even tho we had the engines running in gear at just over idle making electricity to make up for the cloudy days previously we sailed the whole way.

We dropped on line in and one teaser. And wouldn’t you know it, the fridge is full and we get another water trotter to the boat, at first we thought it was another Mahi and we were gonna just let it go, but it was a Tuna, or Bonita if you is from Texas. Steaked that puppy up, and thats what Wayne and I had for dinner.

We had walked all over Canouan island trying to get to the otherside where some spectacular beach is supposed to be, but damn those hills are huge and it was hot outside, so we bailed after walking several miles up and down the hills. Stopped by the Moorings bar and grill for a cold beer before heading back to the boat to clean up and cook some dinner.

There wasn’t a real sunset yet, but we can see the moon, so the weather is cooperating.

Tomorrow we’ll head south a whopping 3 miles or so to the Tabago Keys or Mayreu for some snorkeling and chilling in a nature park behind a protected reef.

Hope Shawn and Sharon made to St Martin safely.

Sorry Charlie

Sorry Charlie

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs

With the clearing skies its time to bid adieu to Shawn and Sharon. Taxi has been ordered.

Last night we walked the town/village and found a nice restaurant with a balcony that over looking the blue lagoon where we are moored. The fish de jour was MahiMahi so we let them serve us instead of grilling up the catch.

The forecast shows the overcast skies going away and the winds clocking more to the north but also weakening. We are thinking about heading to cannouan but will formulate those plans along the way.