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!