Mission Accomplished - 1180 miles from Brunswick, GA to Tortola, BVI

Well. they say you can't go home again, so we were a little worried about returning to the Virgin Islands - would we think it was as good as we remembered?  Would we be disappointed and regret leaving US and Bahama friends behind?   No worries - it is as wonderful as ever !!!   In fact , it looked even better to us.  After the flat landscape of the Bahamas, the green high hills with ridges and valleys are so pretty and change colors all day long.  The water is clear and best of all, deep, so that we don't have to worry all the time about going aground in shallow water.  Also, love hearing everyone talking in British accents around the marinas or the musical speech of the locals.  They also love to sing, even sometimes when checking you out at the grocery store.  We are so happy to be back.  We WILL miss so many people - so "Come on Down!"

We only spent 10 days here so will have lots to do next year when we get back.  We spent about 3 weeks in Puerto Rico, cruising the south coast then anchored in the harbor of Culebra, a Spanish Virgin Island 20 miles east of Puerto Rico.  The town of Dewey always reminds me of a dusty border town and it has not changed a bit. There are some fun restaurants, basic stores, and a ferry to Fajardo on the PR mainland that costs us senior citizens $1/person.  So for $4 roundtrip we went to PR,  rented a car for $25/day,  shopped and then went to the El Conquistador resort to meet Megan and Judd for lunch.  Easy-deasy.  Judd won a trip through his company and after their 4 days there they took the ferry over to Culebra and joined us for the sail to St. John and stayed a week.  Highlights were Ivan's and Soggy Dollar on Jost,  lobster dinner at Abe's on Jost,  great beach day at Sandy Cay, wonderful dinner at Caneel.  Megan and Judd especially loved the night time rain squalls
 1) Close ports and hatches
 2) Open them back up 5 minutes later so you can breath again
 3) Do this 2-4 times a night.  Welcome to cruising  in the Caribbean.

After they left to go back to Chicago we then had three days of intense boat work (cleaning, taking off jib sail, engine maintenance,etc.) , which we did while anchored at Maho Bay, St. John.  Next and last stop was Nanny Cay Marina on Tortola, BVI, where we had the boat hauled out for hurricane season.  Nanny Cay is our most favorite place and it is looking better than ever.  It felt like a homecoming, we ran into so many people we used to know.  Out on the beach we found Jose, who was my brother and our favorite bartender at Peg Legs, so right then and there he called my brother Jim to tell him we were together.

Ray with the island of Culebrita behind him.  It is about an hours sail from Culebra and a beautiful place to anchor while waiting for company to come.  It is uninhabited, therefore quiet beaches and trails.

We dinghy to the town of Dewey thru this canal dividing the island of Culebra.  The American Navy put this drawbridge in accommodate fishing boats but is never used now.   

Megan and Judd on Megerin

Megan found a perfect place to hang her feet!

The busy lawyer at work on Megerin.

The view from the upper deck of Caneel Bay on St. John, USVI.  We love this place.  Even though it is a resort, no problem to go there for drinks and delicious food.

Caneel Bay

Megan the dinghy captain

Ray in his favorite place to sneak a cigar - the swim platform

Ray talked Judd into playing dominoes

A drink called "The landscape" at the Peter Island Beach Bar

Girls drink.  Ray had Heineken (shocker) while Judd loves the "Painkillers"

Megerin at Maho Bay

While walking around the boat yard at Nanny Cay we saw this horrible sight.  A brand new 45 foot catamaran went on a reef off of Jost Van Dyke and ripped the whole bottom off.  Supposedly the captain went below to take a leak!  Now he has a leaky mess on his hands.  We couldn't believe  the wiring and hoses hanging out of it

Love this sign - the islanders keep it simple

Nanny Cay Marina

Steelers hat at Nanny Cay beach looks right at home

The crew at Gladys's restaurant on St. Thomas.  We used to go here a lot and when we walked in after four years they said "Welcome Back".  We were surprised they remembered us.

With Megan and Judd at Peter Island

  In conclusion - five things we can't live without on a boat
1  Beer
2  Wine
3  Ritz crackers &/or chocolate
4  Chart plotter
5  Head phones

Anyone care to tell us theirs?