Oldies On Tour

Awake quite early and still feeling bloated with the enormous steak I had. We had some breakfast, and then started working, I am still doing the back log of the washing and ironing, but slowly getting it done, and Matilda is working well.

Geoff broke the floor tray in the bathroom again, but we decided it had to be re-built in Spain, so we will manage without one. Geoff was doing his emails and we have been trying to get mailasail working, without much luck, but hopefully it will be sorted in the morning.

We went shopping in the Marina, in this Gourmet Supermarket, spent so much money, none of it on basic food, but we did buy chocolate gateaux and carrot cake, they were lovely.

All in all a working day, and we are shattered, so another early night, but not before Geoff beat me 5 – 0 at dominoes.

Generator on early, to make toast, we are gradually testing all electrical appliances, to see if they work, yes that seems ok, switch the thing of though I want breakfast in peace.

After breakfast Geoff and I went into the Marina, to see if we could get internet, and to do Customs, that was fun. We went to the office to find they only open certain times; so we would have to come back at 1pm, so we went to the supermarket, which was brilliant, the first one we have seen for a while, that you could buy most things in, including milk. So we know where to go to stock up before Geoff leaves for the big trip home, he is getting excited now, and planning various things, and is happier now we have the new generator.

Jeff stayed on board, and finished the woodwork in front and back cabins, so the head linings are back to looking good again.

We walked back with all the shopping to the Customs office, we waited and waited, but no one turned up, we then found out, that if there is no one to book in they do not come, so we have arranged to see them at 3pm. Back to boat to deliver the shopping, and then out again at 2.30pm, we did not want to miss them again. What a difference, it is booking in here, to the Bvi’s they are really friendly helpful, and they do not charge you, we will probably stay more this side then the other, need to do some exploring here anyway.

Back to the boat again, cleaned the forward cabin, made the bed, ready for Brian and Robina, cooked dinner, and then Geoff wanted to go out again, so when Jeff got back we went to the Fat Turtle for a drink, made a change, and our good weather has returned so we sat and watched the world go by.

Missed out on our swim today, we were all so tired, we have to move the boat to help Jeff get to the airport, we thought that Brewer’s Bay would get him there easily, but apparently he has a 20 minute walk, so we decided to go to the next bay.

After breakfast Jeff cleaned off the small dinghy, ready to stow it away, then we hauled it up on deck to dry. We then decided to up anchor, well that was a job and a half, it was all twisted around the second chain, and it took both of them to clear it, we will miss Jeff when he has gone.

We motored around the corner, only a couple of miles, we can still watch the planes, coming and going, although it is a lot noisier from this bay. They have a huge hotel in the corner of the bay, and one end has what looks like the gas works, and the other has the airport, I would like to see the advertisement for the Hotel!

Geoff and I went for a snorkel, although we could not see much as the waters were really not clear, I guess too much wind around, it is a shame, because we caught sight of some big fish.

Jeff finished the dinghy off, and between the three of us, we put it in the locker in forward cabin, not likely to use it again, before Spain.

Geoff and Jeff decided to pull the chain right out, as it kept sticking, only to find a piece of canvas had caught up in it, and was jamming the links, so they took all the chain out, they scrubbed the chain, and the locker, and rinsed it all off, another job done.

I cooked chicken for dinner, and we had a bottle of wine, to thank Jeff for all his help on the boat, he has been really useful, and hopefully he has enjoyed his stay with us. We will be following his progress across the Atlantic, maybe even meet up in the Azores.

We left Jeff struggling to pack his bags, and had an early night, as we were all shattered after last night.

Had a lazy start, due to the rain waking us at night, and did not surface till 9am, why not, we are retired. Had breakfast, and then went off to internet for last minute emails, before taking Jeff to a bay where he can get his flight.

We didn’t leave until after lunch, and had a slow sail, to another part of the Island, different coastline here, very rugged around this side. We saw the airstrip, sticking out of the water, and made our way up the channel, no buoys, although they were all on the charts, we had to keep slowing down, as several private jets and a big 737 came over us to land almost in front of us, very interesting. We turned into the bay, and we are now anchored in 4m quite close to the shore.

We all went into the water, and the first fish that Geoff and I saw was a white-spotted Eagle Ray, it was so big, bit scary but exiting. We saw shoals of tiny fish, a couple of bigger ones, and of course the turtles. Fantastic.

We ate our cold lamb, with salad, and tonight we played rummikub, had to teach Jeff how to play it, and he then won all the games.

We were all tired so went to bed early about 1.30am I woke suddenly the wind was howling, and there was a squall, on top of that I said we were drifting, which Geoff tried to convince me we were not, anyway, eventually he believed me, when we were halfway out of the bay, and we upped anchor, and went back to the shore, we all got soaked, then as quick as it came it finished, and we sat outside exhausted having a cuppa. I could not get back to sleep, so I dozed in the saloon, with the chart plotter on, with me looking at it periodically. The joys of sailing!

Went for a swim around the boat, it seems so boring now, having done so much lovely snorkeling, we did four laps round, then had a good old fashioned English breakfast.

We went off to internet, to find they were closing in ten minutes, so didn’t get much done, will have to come back tomorrow, we decided to go into Town, so we wondered around, Geoff wanted to still do internet, I was trying to buy some things, but everywhere was closing, plus the market was a rip off. Geoff went to internet, I carried on looking at shops, and we eventually met, after going up and down loads of different streets, back to the boat, for a relaxing afternoon.

When we got back, Geoff presented me with an Easter egg from the Belgium Chocolate shop, no one else sold them, I was really chuffed, and I have been hankering for chocolate for a few days.

I cooked roast lamb for dinner, it was a whole leg, and it seemed to take forever to cook, but it made a change from mince and chicken, which have been the normal dinners.

We played dominoes, and Geoff won everything.

Up at 8am, and Geoff and I went for a snorkel, it was another fantastic one, first thing in the morning is the time to go, we saw everything, even a very big one, that we had not seen before, and cannot name, but he must have been 24 inches long. There were shoals of fish all around us, all shapes and sizes, with the pelicans hovering above, waiting to dive for their breakfast. Jeff had gone out to deeper waters, and seen an octopus, as well as all the normal ones.

We were just getting back on board, when the biggest of turtles, came up to say hello, the only downside today was the wind, it has turned to the north, and it seems very cold.

After breakfast we made ready to leave, Jeff went over and paid for the moorings, which is a platform in the middle of the bay, all done on trust, and we headed out.

Wind on the nose again, as it has turned, but we managed to get a little sail with the staysail, but not much wind about anyway.

We arrived in St.Thomas, anchored, and then I decided I was not happy as we were close to a buoy, so we moved nearer to the roadside, after another failed attempt we managed to get settled, had a cuppa, then went into the Marina Village to do internet, and get some shopping.

I cooked dinner, and we played dominoes again, I was losing, the boys had won two games each, then I came back and won the last three games.

Up early, and went for a swim, Geoff and I are aching all over, it must have been all the lifting of the heavy sails, and trying to get into places, that we could do 20 years ago easily, we both went in for a swim, but I was having trouble with my mask so didn’t manage a long snorkel.

We decided to move the boat to another buoy, so we would be nearer the best places to snorkel, to save the long swim before we got anywhere. Jeff was not on board at the time, but he soon found us.

We had our breakfast, then down to jobs again, I cleaned the Sugar scoop, we have moved all the fenders, and after having the generator there for a while, it was really dirty, it took several attempts, but now back to how it should be. Geoff carried on trying to fit the plug in the forward lazarette, and Jeff finished connecting the generator.

Geoff still feeling not right, but he took some strong pain killers, and he thinks it made him feel strange, he cleared away all the tools, the boat looks a mess at the moment.

We had dinner, then Geoff went to bed early, and Jeff and I played dominoes, I won 2-1.