Last Bar Before the Jungle

So its Tuesday.  I’ve been here for over a week, working remote and actually making it mostly work.   A decent internet connection and I’m good.    Got into a routine, up early when the sun isn’t blazing and do a couple of boat chores, then change into some fresh clothes and sit down and the computer to take calls and do some work for the next several hours.  Used google hangouts to make calls and join.me to hold meetings all voice over IP.  Did have to close the hatches to stop the wind noise on the microphone.

A week went by fast.  I put all the sails up, replaced the windlass, washed the boat no less than 3 times, the dust coming across from the sahara was making everything quite dirty.  Replaced the joker valves in the toilets, still some jobs in the boat list, but knocked out quite a few of them.

Crew showed up on Saturday, we checked out of St Lucia on Sunday for a Monday departure.  Sunday we stocked up on more beer and food for our couple week adventure.  Got everything packed away and headed down to the Pitons and the south of St. Lucia and grabbed a ball from a boat boy.  Seems the helper fee goes up with the size of the engine, they wanted 40ec for hooking us on the ball.  Negociated it down to a 20ec and 2 beers.  We only ran the jib on that sail as we were in the lee of the island and made some good time, all systems running smoothly.  Chicken and rice and a few cold beverages.

Up early as we had along sail to go from St Lucia down to Bequia, to clear into the Grenadines.  Drug the fishing lines all day but only caught the sea weed.  Lots of sea weed.   At first we weren’t going very fast, was showing 5knots or less, that would make it a 10 hr sail, but eventually we got the sails full and managed with the engines too make decent time and make the customs office by 2pm.  Crew went swimming while I cleared us in.  Someone might have had a few too many beverages to cook dinner, so we went ashore and found something to eat and some adult beverages.  Was a challenge to find the mothership as we had forgotten our lights, but found it without too much trouble.  Thinking ahead Christine put the dominos and cards away so that the boys wouldn’t stay up late making racket.   Slept in.  Lazy start, we had but 25 miles on the agenda, with Salt Whistle or the Keys as a destination.

Started with one reef in the main, but eventually shook it out, and had full sails coming into Bequia, perfect as the photographer was there.  Got some good shots of the crew on deck and the boat under full sail.  Lazy bag was not falling down.

Presently in Salt Whistle bay, awesome sail down from Bequia today.  No engines full sail, smooth water, could not have asked for a better day.  Pulled into Salt Whistle and snuck up to the very front and dropped the anchor on the beach and backed down.  Perfect spot with wind and a view.  Went swimming, stopped at bar, swam some more, grilled some pork chops and played cards against humanity.  Perfect day.

   I Today?  Keys?  Relax?

Wayne, Jamie and I arrived to a sparkly clean boat and a very dirty Matt!  He had been working on boat projects and intended on showering before we arrived but the showers at the marina were closed due to “cleaning” for over 2 hours (evidently boat people are dirty).

He eventually got cleaned up while I unpacked and made the boat more presentable. We hit some yummy Roti and ribs for dinner and Jamie had shrimp and rice. Of course Pitons (beer) and Shandi (Christine’s beverage w/ 1.5% alcohol) were in order.

Headed back to boat where Matt and Wayne decided to make Merry until the wee hours of the night making what we lovingly refer to as “Donald drinks”.

It made for a late start on Sunday but after some last minute boat projects–Wayne and Jamie were still out so Matt and I cleared out of St Lucia, settled up at the marina and got some pastries for the sleepy heads.

After everyone was up we headed to the large and plentiful IGA grocery store–by dingy. Such a great store in the islands!!  $1800+ later (EC not US) and we pushed our two shopping carts down the road to the dingy dock.  Not something you’d see in the states.

After unloading and putting away our stash we cast away the lines and Sugar Shack motored away to Soufferie a small town between the Pitons.

A short 3 hour jaunt around the island and we met up with “One Love” our boat boy to help with the moorings.

Kicked back and watched the gorgeous sunset. Matt made kicken chicken and mango rice with salad.

Perfect healing.  Internet is weak. Photos to come soon