SO LONG, SAILING SEASON OF 2016

Time has flown, as usual.  We returned to the Pittsburgh area, Sewickley to be specific, after a long travel day that included 3 cab rides, 1 ferry ride, and flights from St. Thomas via Charlotte, NC - 18 hours after waking up we were finally safely and gratefully in our own bed - what is it about sitting around airport terminals that is so exhausting?  Then we hit the ground running - attending Charlotte's graduation plus watching her go to prom, visiting my mother, Dr. appointments, etc.
Although we love being home with friends and family (and going to Macy's, Target, Giant Eagle and farmers markets),  we are already nostalgic for the island life.  We are two lucky people!
Here are a few pictures to recap our last weeks.  While we did a lot of snorkeling, not many of my underwater pictures turned out - I am seriously bummed. I think I need a new camera.

Oddly enough, we had never before stopped at Salt Island in the BVI and we loved it.  It is not very protected in high or north winds but in May it was perfect and we had it to ourselves at night.  The charterers come by during the day for snorkeling and exploring but at night they want to go somewhere to PARTY.

Sea grapes

Salt island is uninhabited now, but piers remain for visitors and fishermen.  At one time they harvested salt and the house remaining looks like it was really nice.

I think this is a perfect fixer-upper for us.

We also found a small cemetary covered with conch shells and hardhats - not sure why  the hardhats.

Hard to believe this palm tree is still alive and growing like this but the roots are intact.

Backing into the haul out slip at Nanny Cay, Tortola, BVI

Getting in the sling

Out of the water.  Our keel is sitting on a cement block but the boat is in the sling while the crew power washes the bottom.  Ours was really clean this year - hardly any barnacles.

The propellor, which needs a rebuild.  Ray removed it (with great difficulty) and we brought it home in our suitcase.

Our rudder

46 feet long, 13.5 feet wide, 17 ton vessel being moved to her land home.  It's always a little scary to watch.

Line up of boats stored on jack stands for hurricane season.

                                      Amazing sunsets the last few nights at anchor

Last night at Nanny Cay.   See you next year !

A Change in Latitude

While we love our lifestyle living on a boat, recently we had been pretty homesick - actually "familysick".  We needed to see everyone we love and care about, and, truth be told, a little break from the boating life sounded more than fine.  Change is always good - it makes you appreciate what you have and keeps life from becoming stale.  And at our ages now we try not to get in a rut.  Soooo - we found a very good air fare from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago and set off for the 3 hour sail from the Virgin Islands to Culebra, one of the Spanish Virgins 20 miles off the mainland of PR.  We found Culebra unchanged from previous visits, which means it is still a somewhat shabby little place with lots of dogs and chickens running around.  But the anchorage in Ensonada Honda is safe with a large  number of boats anchored around us to watch over Megerin while we are gone. The cruising community is active and friendly and the dinghy dock easy to reach.  We discovered a place called Zaco's Taco's with delicious fresh ingredients - yum.  The ferry ride to the mainland is $1 for seniors, so off to San Juan and then the US for 2 weeks.  When we return we will sail back to St. John and then the BVI's with only 40 days before our return June 1st for summer/fall in Sewickley.

View from our hotel in Old Town San Juan

Old San Juan

Narrow Cobblestone streets in Old San Juan

Our hotel the El Convento

Old San Juan

Narrow streets lead right to the water

A non-stop flight from San Juan took us to some chilly but mostly pretty weather in the Windy City.
Of course, we had no clothes but a trip to Macy's solved that problem for the week.  We had some great meals, especially Joe's Crab House, and a new one - City Winery in the West Loop.

Definitely a change in latitude - and attitude - view from street in front of Megan's building in the West Loop of Chicago.  We love this area as it has been gentrified the past few years and all the "in" restaurants are here.

This sweet silly dog-person named Audrey was waiting for us when we got to Chicago.  She is so lucky to be adopted by Megan!  What a life she leads with comfortable cushy surfaces to lie on,  an abundance of toys, elevator rides up and down to her walks.  Life is good for Audrey.  We also like this city life - nice doormen, walk to numerous eating/drinking establishments, a 5 minute bus ride downtown for shopping - not too shabby for boat people.

Audrey thinks she should also be at the buffet.

Signs of Spring in Chicago

Amazing breakfast pizza in Chicago

The limited availability of good fresh food in the islands have made us appreciate these kinds of scenes in the USA.   Amazing.  This is the French Market in Chicago.

Couldn't resist one last picture.

After a week in Chicago we drove Megan's car to Pittsburgh (she left on a trip to Amsterdam and Italy),
and took Audrey with us to visit family and new additions to the Madson family - puppies Henry and Theo.  Guess Erin and Mark just have to have a full house !  It was great to have some beautiful Spring days in Pittsburgh.  Here are a few pics.  Now back to the Caribbean we go !

Beautiful

Henry and Theo

Love Spring !

Henry and his older brother Cooper on a walk in fine Spring weather

It's now Easter Sunday so here's a brief wrap up.

 Just a few pics from Anegada - we really grew to appreciate it this time more than we had before.  I like the dramatic hills of the BVI islands and Anegada is flat like the Bahamas, but the beaches are beautiful and it's nice for a change.

We didn't catch it but sure did cook it - after Jim and Ray did some major surgery.

Great to spend time together.

The colors here are amazing at Cow Wreck, Anegada

Conch shells everywhere

Ready for sunset watching on Cow Wreck

After Jim left Ray got to snorkeling with friend Jerry who caught this huge lobster.  We fed about 8 people that night - this poor guy!

Our big thrill lately are the Luci lanterns Jim brought down for us - living on a sailboat means you have to be energy conscious all the time, and these little things are inflatable solar lamps with bright LED lights.  We just hang them out in the ever present sun daily and have bright light at night - NO batteries.  Love them.

On St. John there is a place called Concordia, which is an eco-resort.  On Monday nights they have open mike night where anyone with talent (or not, I guess) can come to jam with the house band.  Usually there are some of the same but also travelers, maybe on vacation or frequently someone from a visiting band to the island.  Anyway, we get treated to some great music in an incredible setting.

Check out the view

Sky above the band

Beautiful reflection on the water.

Where Have All the Hippies Gone?

     The answer is.....Coral Bay.

Coral Bay, on the south side of St. John, was the center of plantation life in early 18th century, and there are still a few ruins laying around.  Now it is known as a home for some eccentric sailors and artistic types who want to keep the same laid back and somewhat seedy atmosphere it has always had.  Donkeys roam free, along with the goats and chickens.  But since it now has some great restaurants, bars, and art shops, it is being discovered more and more by tourists. 

Recently, Ray, Jim and I went to a place there called Pickles, which is a deli/bar with a backyard.  To give you an example of how quirky this place is - the bathroom also has shelves of books for sharing with titles such as "A Study in Existential Philosophy"!  The occasion was a benefit for a guy called Mike who has the ice cream truck, from which he fell and broke his foot and needs to go to Florida for a major fix.  We had heard there was going to be music, so thought we would like to see it.  No one told us the theme was 60’s hippie - but as Jim said, I don’t think it was much of an effort for anyone to find clothes to wear.  The whole community came out in support and to have fun on a beautiful night where the sea breezes mixed with the aroma of a certain herb which is now legal in some states.  We had a blast!  (Drug free)

Mike himself performed early on - from his wheelchair. All evening different people performed in a jam session.
 $7, 000 was raised that night.

Glad he clarified he is talking about edible crabs.

Even in hippie-land they have to check their iPhones.

Are they getting married?

Don't worry-Be Hippy

Is this an AARP convention?

The end of the night the evolving band really rocked.  We have seen Channing, the girl playing the clarinet, before and she is so talented.

Jim and Ray 

Unique use for a conch shell in a bathroom.

At Ivan's Stress free bar we hung up a new Steeler towel - look closely for our names on it.