Spring in the CaribbeanI

How can we tell it's springtime here?  First, the seagulls are back - we can't figure out where they go and even more interestingly, why?  It certainly doesn't get cold here and they're not leaving for hurricane season, since it ends Nov. 30th.  The pelicans are here all the time, as are brown boobies (yes-it's a bird!) and the amazing frigate birds.  On shore we have black hummingbirds with emerald green breasts and "sugarbirds", little yellow finches.  Anyway, I have no idea why I am going on about birds.

The second way we knew it was spring was all the PEOPLE.  Wow, everyone was ready to get out of the cold weather and have themselves a tropical party time.  We spent Easter weekend on Virgin Gorda, where they have a four day celebration.  Lots of LOUD music (why are they all not deaf?),  street fair, fashion shows, and our favorite,  a 2 day fishing tournament.  This year the winds and waves were both high and when the boats pulled up to the dock we could tell it was serious business for these fishermen.

Going backwards, we have had some company on Megerin.  Good friends and cruising buddies from Florida and the Bahamas, Ann & Art in Febuary, then Jim returned for a quick 5 days to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Cruz Bay,  Ray's friend Tom Landis from Carlisle and his son Jud from Oregon, and best of all, Megan came down for a week.  We are now on our own and just exploring some new anchorages with no set agenda - not bad.  I do a lot of reading and this is my recent favorite quote written by a fellow cruiser:

What do you learn about yourself cruising?  Simply, that you can do it.  Despite self doubt, if you try hard enough - you can do it.  All paths in life have challenges, you just need to figure out which one to choose.  

Tom - a rare moment of relaxation - he loves to sail

Top left - Jud relaxing on our deck, Top right - Jud & Tom
Bottom left - Ray and Tom discussing strategy?  And three guys on a dock.

Ann & Art are from Greenville, SC, but originally from merry old England.  Longtime sailors "think outside the box" kind of people, we always learn so much from out time with them.  Plus, the food is always delish!  Loved Ann's shepherd's pie and Art's yummy omelets.

So…..not to be outdone by other t-shirts hung up at Ivan's on Jost van Dyke, when Jim returned in March we headed there for a quick trip and he hung an Ohio University shirt and a Steeler shirt from the Baltimore fan club he started quite a few years ago.  The club grew to over 2,000 members, and though it is no more, the shirt and memories live on!

The shell encrusted  Ivan's Stressfree Beach Bar

The shell artwork that people make and decorate the inside of Ivan's.

Ray being "stress free" at Ivan's

Ivan turned 70 while we were there so we got to join the birthday party

St. Patricks Day in Cruz Bay, St. John.  Jim brought me the "Irish Steeler" pin.  At top is the crew of the Quiet Mon Pub, an "Irish Pub in the Caribbean" and gthe center of all the day's festivities.  Bottom left is their ceiling with the Heineken chandelier.

Scenes from the parade - it was crazy!  The only parade we know of when the drivers of the vehicles have a beer in one hand.  There was a beer keg in the back of the truck.  b otto picture is the "middle-aged majorettes"  -  turned out we knew one of them!

We can't forget to mention a special day when a family we knew in Sewickley spent some time with us on Megerin.  Pictured is Julie Frisch with more than cute daughters Heather and Megan.  We had so much fun having kids around, if only for a few hours.  Oh, husband Alex is behind the wheel having a pretty good time sailing along the coast of St. John.  After our sail we had a nice "spread" of food, then met "big" Megan McCoy at the ferry dock.  

Ray and Megan

Megan taking a "stern shower" - notice the hand gesture…maybe didn't appreciate me snapping this pic? - and generally being a great crew member.  Not to mention escaping Chicago weather

More pics of Megan's trip.  bottom is a Megerin spread ready to go up to the deck for happy hour

Sunset, Megan's last night.

Presently we are in the North Sound of Virgin Gorda but plan to head to Anegada, about 12 miles away.  Not a long trip but it is surrounded by reefs so care to avoid them is primo important.   It is called the "drowned island", as it is so flat,  really just a coral atoll.  Just thought I would show you what the chart looks like.  We have been there before, though not for a few years, so not worried about getting in - just follow the chart plotter and go slow!

OMG - It's almost Valentine's Day already!

Starting with today and working backwards - i am sitting at a fabulous beach bar in Cruz Bay St. John called High Tides using their very slow internet to try to update my blog.  Ray (St. Ray) is doing the laundry.  It is one week today that my brother Jim departed and we sat in this very bar waiting for his ferry to take him back to the frozen tundra that is the US this year.  Every day we meet visitors here to the islands who have so many tales to tell of the horrible winter back home and it is so surreal to them that they are here in a tropical paradise.  I have to say it  is a little fun to exchange pictures with friends and family - but I always say we are doing this for the adventure and challenge of the lifestyle, not just to escape weather.  Believe it or not, we miss cozy days by the fireplace watching the snow fall - winter was always a good time to catch up on everything like reading, housework, sleep - Ok, stop gagging !!

Jim's visit was a lot of fun.  the winds were very high the whole time, which led us to chill out for a few days at each stop instead of fighting winds and waves - it was great right where we were!  After a few days on St. John visiting the Quiet Mon Pub (Irish Pub in the Caribbean), snorkeling in Caneel Bay and Hawknest Bay, chilling in Maho Bay watching fish jump and turtles swim, we finally sailed on to the BVI (it only takes an hour) for 4 days on Jost van Dyke - our favorite.  We left Jost with plans to sail east and eventually make it to Anegada but squalls and high winds put us in Cane Garden Bay, where we took a cab up the steep winding hill ( I closed my eyes) to a place called the Bannakeet Cafe - an awesome view and our favorite local singer Reuben Chinnery (brother of Ivan) was singing and playing guitar.  We hope to return this year.  On to Norman Island, great snorkeling at the caves, wonderful calm anchorage at Benures's Bay (we needed the quiet), then Great Harbor on Peter island.  Jim was mega-snorkeler and took some underwater pics we hope to get soon.  We ended the visit with 2 nights at Nanny Cay Marina ( the best darn bathrooms/shower facilities in the Caribbean) & watched the Super Bowl at Captain Mulligan's and Peg Leg's.  Not much of a game but most of the islander's were more concerned with winning money on their bets.  The last Super Bowl the three of watched together was here when Pittsburgh beat Arizona (2009).  So, we watched Jim's DVD of that game on the boat while on Peter Island - so much fun to watch and Bruce Springsteen's halftime was the best.

Speaking of DVD's, we have watched the first four season's of Modern Family and love it. Presently are watching 2nd season of Homeland - so good but scary, so to go to sleep we put in Boston Legal - the writing on that show in amazing.

I have listed my favorite blogs on this site but have to mention Windtraveler.net.  I am hooked and have read it from the beginning - Brittany is an amazing writer and photographer and wise beyond her years.  I also love The Lettered Cottage - it is a decorating blog but have just fallen in love with this couple, who at the present time are trying to adopt a baby from Haiti - I send good vibes their way every day.

Congrats to granddaughter Alyza on getting into the sorority of her choice - DG at Miami of Ohio.
Congrats to Art & Judy on new granddaughter.

OK, fish tacos have arrived - to get notice of updates sign into my blog - just don't expect them frequently!  keep warm and remember the daffodils will be up soon!

Beautiful Nanny Cay marina

View from Beach Bar waiting for Jim's ferry (Blue boat in background) from St. Thomas.  We have our dinghy at the dock you see there which is how we get him and his LARGE suitcase to the boat.

Jim getting first rays of sun

He arrived with 5 lbs. of raw almonds, plus cough drops, lifesavers, dry milk,   and new snorkel mask/camera  We supplied the beer.

The famous Quiet Mon Pub in Cruz bay, St. John

We left this picture of Jim with Ivan 4 years ago at Ivan's Stressfree Bar on Jost van Dyke.   Some obviously frustrated fans of opposing teams have defaced it - probably the Browns fans!

Strange sighting - some ducks wandering into the ocean for a dip on Jost van Dyke.  they live in a little pond back of a bar.

On Megerin

Steeler hats, Jetty tee shirt, Quiet Mon beer cozy

Had a great time at Skinny Legs on Coral Bay with a great band performing

Jim found a Steeler sign at Coral Bay

Picture from the front page of our home town newspaper in Pittsburgh while we were here in the  balmy weather.  I do feel guilty !

On the beach at Nanny Cay

At Capt. Mulligan's watching the Super Bowl.  It is essentially an open structure in a field near nanny Cay where they put up big screens for TV.  the day before it was packed for a Rugby game between England and France.

Jim forgot his shoes this day.  At Skinny Legs he lost one, so threw the other one in the trash can.  When he went ashore the next morning to buy a pair of flip flops both of his shoes were sitting on the wood steps.  ???

clear water from Maho beach, St. John

We went provisioning yesterday on St. Thomas - 3 cases of beer, lots of paper products - hope there's room for me.

Hello to 2014 cruising season

Had to show off the Ladies Christmas wine glasses - we know how to drink fashionably

January 1
  Wow, I cannot believe it is 2014 !  It seems like we were just celebrating Y2K.  It has been COLD - I mean Frigid -  in Pittsburgh.  Hard to believe we are heading to days of tenps in the 80's and lows in the mid 70's - I know I will probably be complaining about the heat. Hopefully the sunshine will get rid of the last of our bad head colds we got right after Christmas - so much illness going around it made the news!
  We spent New Year's Eve at the Hyatt at Pittsburgh airport to catch a 6:35 AM flight.  Tonight we will be staying at the Inn at Blackbeard's Castle in Charlotte Amalia, St. Thomas, which is the US Virgin Islands.  I think we are treating ourselves pretty good so far this new year.

January 2
Here we are at the most beautiful marina in the world - Nanny Cay.  So far the trip has been glitch-free, efficient, on-time, etc.  So un-island like - even customs and immigration was swift.  Now waiting for the boat to splash and get it into a slip.  since we haven't been boaters for seven months it is always more nerve-wracking than usual.  The winds are a little high today which is a big factor, and which also made for a pretty rough ferry trip here from St. Thomas.

View from our window Dec. 31sr.  Brrrr  Too bad I didn't think to raise the screen.

Even though the Steelers didn't make the play-offs this year their presence is everywhere - like the Charlotte, NC airport.  This is not the team plane either, but guess USAirways has the spirit.

Shortly before we left Pgh. I was grocery shopping & looking around realized what abundance we have here in the US.
Yesterday the store here sold out of bananas again.  And no point in talking about the cost of and condition of fresh produce after it has been shipped here, then left sitting on the dock awhile, slowly unloaded - ok, you get the picture.

Blogging can make me nuts!

It's early November in Pittsburgh, the gold, red, and orange leaves on the tress are absolutely beautiful.
But we are really starting to yearn for the boating life, so I thought I would go onto my blog and do some work.  I have never liked how BIG the picture of our spinnaker sail is on the home page - I don't know how that happened and have tried before to change it with no luck.  But recently,  my new Dr. went on my blog for the first time while I was there and when that picture came up he went "Whoa -big!"  Sooo,  today I decided to try again.  That was an hour ago!  I couldn't access it,  had to change my profile,  then needed a new password - maybe for a 12 year old it would have been a cinch, but for poor old me it was a frustrating challenge.  I have been following a few blogs these past months and so admire their skills and creativity.  Maybe I am not so much a blogger but rather a blogee?

Nov.22  Hmmm - not much luck increasing my skills.  I even checked out other sites like word press and sailblogs but they didn't look much different.  So, sorry, you will just have to deal with the BIG spinnaker.  I did manage to add a few gadgets - a "favorite blog list", but would really like to add a weather gadget that would show the weather wherever we are, and also a map that could show where we are.  so if anyone wants to send me advice on how to do that I would love it!

Meanwhile, I'll practice a little by posting some pictures from this past hurricane season spent in Pittsburgh.

We started off the summer by attending our first grandchild's graduation from Upper St. Clair High School.  We just can't believe it!  She is now at Miami of Ohio and has made the transition really well.

A trip to Chicago in July (but it was chilly!) to visit Megan.  These were taken at Millennium  Park downtown - a truly beautiful place to listen to a concert.  When you ever go to Chicago don't miss it.

We left Chicago and followed the Lake Michigan shoreline, stopping wherever we wanted in small, cute and quaint towns.  We then finished the trip on Mackinac Island and this is the picture of our historic Bed and Breakfast.

I forget the name of this arch on Mackinac but it is awesome

The front of the Grand Hotel which has the longest porch in America.  We were told every room is decorated differently.  Very beautiful grounds and interiors.  Site of the movie with Christopher Reeve "Somewhere in Time"

View of Lake Huron from the top of the Grand Hotel

The town is filled with magnificent Victorian houses and the flowers are amazing.

We were just amazed by the foliage around this entrance.  Summers are short and winters are harsh up here but it sure produces some gorgeous landscaping.

Mackinac can only be reached by ferries and there are no cars or other motorized vehicles (except of course on the golf course), so all transportation is walking, biking, or by horse.  Here is a delivery being made to a grocery store by horse drawn dray after it met the ferry to get the supplies.

The middle of town, which has no less than 17 fudge shops and also 17 bars.  The smell of the fudge mingles with the pungent horse manure in abundant supply on the streets.  There are workers constantly shoveling it into wagons and then rinsing off the streets.  There are about 800 horses on the island during the season.

We all got together at my brother's house on the Chesapeake Bay and Mom got to crabbing again one year after her open heart surgery.
 Jim's crab boat "Bluegill" was my Dad's on Seneca Lake in Ohio.  Jim has completely redone it, including all the fiberglass.

boating on the Chesapeake in Jim's other boat, a Pursuit called "Day Dream".  His last name is Day

Sunset on the Chesapeake

In October we were lucky to be included in a family trip to La Jolla, California.  Alyza was in college by this time so here are Jane,12, Charlotte,15, Mac, 17, and Gigi 10.

Hanging at the beach

the beautiful La Jolla shoreline

A beautiful fall day in Sewickley, PA.  Notice this is a cemetery !  We went there to see the Tuskagee  Airmen memorial.  They were all African-American aviators in World War 2 who flew 1600 missions.  100 of them were from Pittsburgh.  What a beautiful spot for this memorial.

                                           Finally  -  a blast from the past    Finally  -  a blast from the past

We have been going through boxes of stuff from the basement and found lots of old pictures.  This is Ray on our first sailing adventure on Houston Woods Lake in Ohio - just a little sunfish but I guess we caught the bug.