Wave Surf Sailing Cruise Ship

Today when we woke up this little vessel was anchored in the bay. All day the tenders (the little boats) ferried people back and forth to the beach for activities that went on all day. We enjoyed an afternoon of steel drums on the beach and just the general hub bub of busyness that ensued. Normally we have a pretty quiet day with just an odd parasail overhead and a jet ski buzzing by the stern.
We had a quiet day planned with a list of jobs on the go and first thing Brian unplugs the charger for the IPad to plug in the charger for the VHF radio and the socket has no power. Now I ask you what happened between last night and this morning. Only on a boat I say! After tracing all the lines Brian got the charger working but not my fan I use when cooking and the galley heats up to 35 degrees. Another day he says. The list of things just never stop on the to do list. But we are still totally relaxed and so enjoying our time here. I have read two books this week.

A walk to Cas en Bas

We left the boat at 9:30 this am and took a little ... ha ha!!! walk from the west to the east side of the island at the northern tip. It is a flatter walk on the first half and a steeper trek coming back. Cas en Bas is on the Atlantic side and therefore takes the trade winds directly off the ocean. there are several reefs and islets but a large,crescent beach at the shore. It is a favourite place for the kite boarders. So much so that Wind Guru actually reports the conditions there.

We are at the Jambe de Bois looking out at the boat replenishing our fluids wondering if we can make the last 100 yards! It is now 4:00 but we did meet friends and had a great lunch.
Other than the walk today we have been keeping busy with chores.Brian is working on the SSB radio trying to be able to send as well as receive.

Staying in Rodney Bay

We have decided not to go to Martinique this week after all. There is a bad weather front moving in and we just don't want to chance it. We have also had an offer of some help with the SSB radio and want to take advantage of that. We can receive but not transmit at this point.
We have been busy since of friends have all gone with scraping off the barnacles that so tenaciously attach themselves to our hull. It has taken about 5 swims and we are almost finished. The bottom of the boat looks like we have chicken pox with all the white spots left behind after scraping off the crusty stuff.
Tonight we are invited out for dinner aboard Wandering Star for BBQ a real treat since so few people have BBQs here.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weather system that is going to affect us..... heard it is minus 40 in Winnipeg today. Wow that's too cold for anyone!

Our Embarrassment of Mangos

While on our second island tour we asked to go to the Vigie Peninsula which is next to the airport in Castries. It is interesting in that the airport has isolated it from the busyness of Castries. So there is an aura of peace and tranquility about it. Some of that may be the fact that you drive by the beach front cemetery with its raised white washed crypts which are sandwiched between the airport and the public beach. The area was once a location for some significant military structures but most of the ruins have been assimilated into present day establishments. Their previous use is obvious by the architecture but now are either apartments or businesses. There are some ruins that the trees are trying reclaim, you can see they still have potential with a fabulous view of Castries harbour. Getting to the mangos....the area is so quiet and full of high-end homes there is very little traffic so we passed an area where the gutters were literally full of mangos fallen from one huge tree. Since we were stopped at the end of the road anyway we went back and picked up about 20 pounds of them. (See the picture) They taste wonderful. We have managed to give most of them away but are saving enough to make some chutney. While we were there we also visited the Vigie Lighthouse, enjoyed the views and spoke with the attendant who controls the traffic into Castries harbour. All-in-all a worthwhile inclusion to our island tour.

Second Island Tour

Well with two sets of company we have had two island tours in two weeks. This is such a beautiful island there is so much to see we have not minded a bit. Our tour guide knows his way around and certainly makes it interesting. We had lunch at Ladera Resort and what an experience. You are perched between the Pitons and the view is extraordinary. We looked it up online and for only 1000.00 per night you can stay there. We were a little intimidated to ask to look at the menu but when we did it was not unreasonable. The view,the ambiance,and the service were all great. The food was good too. Deb was still not feeling the best but like a trooper she got through the day. The pictures are from the resort.
We plan to take Deb and Neil out sailing on Sat and then say our goodbyes on Sun morning. Another quick week but a good one despite Deb feeling so bad. I do hope she takes the flu bug away with her.

Up the mast

Today is Thursday and Neil helped Brian up the mast. In Martinique we lost one of the flag halyards and only today got around to replacing it. It was Brian's first time up the mast and then it was only part way...... to the first spreaders.
Neil and Deb have not been enjoying their vacation to the fullest. Deb was sick on Tues night and was down for the count all day yesterday and still today is weak and barely able to take nourishment. We have an island tour planned for tomorrow and hope she will be up for that. Brian and I have been keeping busy with general boat tasks and the pool calls our name around 3:00 for relax time.
We have to apologize for scaring anyone on the last blog ......both Heather and Kendra were not too happy with us.
We hope to leave St Lucia and head out to Martinique on Monday or Tuesday .... weather depending. We will spend a few days or weeks what ever. We have never been so free of agendas it feels weird. We have just passed our half way point of the time here.

We were Boarded!!!!

Last night we had walked back to the boat from dropping Neil and Deb at their hotel. We didn't notice but we must have been followed. We prepared for bed and I was reading and thought I heard a noise but didn't pay much attention. Brian got into bed and we both heard it..... a face looked right in the hatch over the v berth! My shocked squeal might have frightened him off. Brian got the flashlight and checked out the deck but it was gone! It was a cat. We had never even seen a cat on the docks let alone on a boat. We are also at the outer most dock a far walk for the little thing. It might have been the chicken stew we had for dinner or perhaps the waste that we put on the dock, but well away from our slip. Who knows what lurks in the mind of a night prowling cat! Cat burglars got their name from somewhere!

All's well!

Company times two

We took our first company to the airport on Sunday and picked up the next. Deborah and Neil are here for a week...... also boating friends from London. We have had a bit slower week Deb and Neil are happy to sit by he pool and read and relax. We took the dinghy to town explored a few shops and had lunch at the food court. Actually about the same lunch as the market alley and the chicken was better. Mom you would love the chicken here. It is certainly the meat of choice. Today we were supposed to head out for a sail but Deb was up most of the night with a gastro thing going on. So we'll postpone until tomorrow. Today we are picking away at small jobs that never seem to end. Brian removed our too large,out of date life raft from the deck and we have found a good home for it. We couldn't see around or over it. We had an estimate of around 800.00 to have it re-certified. Since we don't plan on any ocean crossings we feel it is unnecessary. Our dinghy will be our life raft. John just pulled up behind us with a water taxi and took it away.
We really had a great week with Warren and Linda. They had never been on a holiday that was not an all inclusive. So the idea of grocery shopping and exploring for things to see and do was a new experience. They said they enjoyed themselves and we'll take them at their word. The flowers are from the island tour at the Botanical Gardens at Soufriere near the Pitons.

Relaxing

Here we are after lunch and just relaxing with a rum punch at the pol.

Island tour

Our company Warren and Linda from London Ontario arrived on Sunday evening. We have been having a lot of high winds and the most rain hat we have seen since we got here. But we are having a great time ... Weather is just something you can't change so carry on. Monday we took the bus to Casties and toured the market area and had lunch in the alley. The best lunch deal for 13EC. Even Warren who has food reservations enjoyed most of it. Linda tried a Piton beer but still white wine is the drink of choice. Wednesday we had a wonderful island tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. As many times as we have been here it is always a treat to see so many beautiful views. The rum distillery was a highlight for 4US ... so many rums so little time. Today Thursday Warren and Brian stayed on the boat and repaired the mast boot. I took the car ( the dinghy) to the store for the first time by myself ... with Linda and she had to go to the store by herself because I couldn't get the lock undone. But an accomplishment for me! The rest of today we plan to hang out at the pool. Tomorrow it is supposed to improve and we might get the boat of the dock and have a sail. The pictures are of the tour yesterday.

Waiting for company

The weather has been very unsettled and we have moved into the marina from the bay. The winds are supposed to be from 25 to 50 knots depending on who you listen to. So we played it safe and are tucked between a 61 foot Oyster and a 60 foot catamaran. Tomorrow our friends Warren and Linda arrive from London for a week. We have so much to show them I'm sure a week will fly by. They are not staying on the boat with us..... a hotel very near the marina will be their home base.
We have been busy getting small jobs done and cleaning ..... Just like home when you know company is coming. We have to replace the sailing instruments and have been doing some research and will try to have them installed while on the dock. Dawn and Laurie gave us side panels to attach to the bimini for protection from sun and rain.We have had alot of rain lately and it is sure more comfortable in the cockpit than inside when it rains. Another hand me down item came our way the other day also. A man came by in his dinghy and saw our wind generator and said he had an old one we could have for parts if we wanted it. Brian has been wanting to take ours apart and clean and service it but since it is old and still works he has been reluctant to tempt fate. Now another unit to practice on is perfect.
Note the lettering on the back of the boat. We were placing the name while hanging off the transom in a rain storm in Martinique and Plenty took a bit of a twist. Another thing to replace next year. But it is a source of fun when people see it.....some feel we did it on purpose "Jaunty" as one friend put it. But we feel Kristen was just being kind.
Hope all is well and you are keeping warm!

A little Walk

We walked to the top Fort Rodney on Pigeon Island today ....... Here are some pictures. Our boat is down there but it is hard to pick out. The smallest??