Takes longer and longer to settle in.. Am I getting older or ..

Vacation takes a while to settle in. First part is balls to the wall, then over do it, then recover, then finally settle in. Took about a week this time.

First the struggle to get out of port, wasn’t a real struggle, but we spent an extra day there. Then made it south met friends, after a long sail and too many beverages. Hooked up with friends in Mustique, that are simply awesome. Finally, the rhythm started settling.

Great sail from Mustique to Tobago Keys, even hooked up with a black fin tuna for that we have yet to break into, we finished the first one last night at the Tabaggo keys. Not sure how much if this is a repeat of other posts, but here it goes.

Leaving Mustique the wind had shifted out of the south of east, of course the direction we wanted to go. We raised full sails and beat into the wind, again a port tack, about 42 degrees to the wind. Great sail. We looked back and the 62 foot GUNBOAT had spotted us a 3 mile head start. Carbon boat, carbon or mylar sails, its fast. We watched it catch us for hours. (wink), they were pointing at around 30 degrees and thought they would clear the island to the east the we would have loved to clear. The Gunboat could have cleared South Africa with his point.

As we approached Canouan, the cedar plug hooked up. Tuna again, onboard. While we doused the gib and and headed into the wind to reel the 2 meal’er in, the Gunboat appeared on our side of the island. Huh? Oh well beat a $5M boat in a race that they weren’t aware they were in…. and scored a tuna. About 2 hrs later we found them in the Tabbago Keys, a chillin. I could look up “zenyatta’ but its charter rate is probably beyond our comprehension.

Two nights at the Tabaggo Keys, watching the Kiteboarders, and saying hello to old boat boys like Walter, its always fun. Still into the rhythm (and yes I did have to look up how to spell rhythm), a little swimming relaxing, sleeping, hiding from the sun — back into a groove.

No particular place to be, but still have a deadline.

We did the math and we have been in Chatham bay at least 6 times, and almost always stop by Vanessa’s beach bar. The first time Shookie came out to meet us, this time, I yelled Vannesa name as she came up while we anchored. Christine spouted, 3 for dinner as we are already releaving my cooking duties for dinner this eve to Vanessa. Conch and MahiMahi are on our dinner menu tonight.

Quick trip to the ‘fancy’ resort, for beverages and to get the wifi code, as they they changed it. Damn them. I had under 6 boats in ‘how many here this time of year’ and lost. Still less than a dozen, but this is a swirly place, the wind comes in all directions. We have been here 5 hrs now and have done at least 2 360s based on how many wraps are on our stern USA flag.

Right now, the biggest decision is…. Sunset on the boat, or at the beach bar.. Its not like they will feed our food to the seagulls.

Love this place, no better place to spend a birthday. Maybe sharing with some more friends, but Christine makes up for all that. Someday every one will come and enjoy this humidity and sticky feeling.

Cheers ya’ll and thx for the bDay wishes for all those emails that found me in the 12 degrees of Latitude.