Oldies On Tour

We walked to timber yard, and DIY shop, then onto Crown Bay, we did not have much luck with parts, the American ones are slightly different to ours, we bought two new taps for the water tanks, but could not get the rest, we had a coffee, then started to walk back, fortunately a bus stopped and picked us up, 2$ so that saved the walk back, very hot and sticky. Dinghy ran out of fuel, but we just got back to the boat. All good fun… We fixed the new water taps to water tanks, now we can all turn them on and off.

Not much news at the moment, we went to hire a car, and apparently it is waiting for us in St.Croix, not sure how that happened, but we could have one if we paid 100$, so we decided to go without it, we just wanted to pick up bits for the boat, but the parts are expensive enough as it is, without adding a car to the list.

Jeff ran to the airport, to sort some flights out, and found us a timber yard, and a DIY place, so we will try that out.

Didn’t start very early, as we are not going anywhere, feel lazy and did not swim either, the sea is very choppy, and I had a bad night.

We had breakfast altogether, and Geoff wanted to go to internet to do his bits, as he could not get it very well on boat, he has a lot of forms to do for the ARC, and for the crew members. I cleared out one of the cupboards, to take some of the food Geoff has bought for the trip, and I emptied one of the lockers under the forward cabin, ready to start the storage process of the food, did some more washing and ironing, and generally kept busy.

Geoff came back with two pizzas, which were lovely for lunch, and then Jeff exasperated with the internet went to the café, to see if he could do better there.

Geoff and I measured the generator, so that we can cover it, made lists of what we want to buy tomorrow, took bits of, so that we can take them with me, we want to try and source all the things we need in one day. Should be fun!

We had roast chicken with roast potatoes, and vegetables, chicken and mince are the main diet out here, so it’s a bit repetitive.

We played dominoes, Geoff won easily the first game, and I thought he was going to do the same on the second, but I managed to just beat him, we then won another each, then I emerged as the overall winner. We then had a game with Jeff, we prized him away from his computer, and Geoff won.

Everyone up early, as Robina and Brian were leaving today, we had breakfast by 7.30am, then Jeff took them over in the dinghy, so they could get a taxi, no room for us to go with two big bags, and three people. Thanks for the lovely card, and I hope you really enjoyed your stay with us.

Back to work now, we have to get the boat ship shape for the crossing; we are both tired today, as we had a sleepless night, with the rocking and rolling, so it is a planning day. Geoff and Jeff went to big supermarket, to re-stock with food; I stayed aboard and did the washing ironing, and cleaning.

We are going to hire a car tomorrow, to get odds and ends we need for boat, then move to a quieter area, we are in the path of the ferries where we are anchored, so a lot of movement on board.

We had an early dinner, and then played dominoes, Geoff won 2-1, but we were very close all the time.

Lazy morning, Geoff and I went for a swim, but it was very choppy with the ferries coming and going all the time. Lots of turtles coming to the surface for air, and going down, could be the same one, but I don’t think so.

We left Red Hook, and decided to have a little sail for Brian’s last day, so we went right out of all the Islands, and had a lovely sail back into the harbour we first met them, we did about 10 miles, the wind was just right, and it was very comfortable.

We went into the harbour, to re-fuel, take on water etc., then came on anchor. Brian and Robina went off for their last look around town, whilst we tidied up, got changed ready to go out.

Jeff took us all across in the dinghy, and we walked to French Town, it is Sunday so most places were shut, which is a shame, we found a little one and had starters of conk fritters, potatoes skins, mozzarella cheese sticks, and jerk chicken wings, for main we had steaks, which were very tasty. Think we have eaten too much.

Back on boat we had drinks, and then tired out, we all went to bed, Robina has to pack yet.

Instead of swimming around the boat we went for a snorkel, I swam to shore, which was quite a way, the waters are so clear here, with lots of fish around, the only problem is, if a pelican sees a fish he dives, and you could be really close, not sure how they do it, fascinating to watch, they dive from a great height, and then sit on the water to eat there fish, it’s a wonder they don’t break their necks. On the way back I saw two stingrays,

After breakfast, we left to go to Cruz Bay St.John’s, just to show Robina and Brian the capital, it is a very small Island with only about 4000 inhabitants. We tried to anchor in the harbour, but I said it was too shallow 1.8metrs, we draw 2.1m, so we went to the bay outside, and dinghy in, long way to go, and Brian got wet.

Geoff and I had a quick look at the town, it is very small, and then we had some lunch overlooking the sea, which was lovely. Then we met back with Jeff who was on his computer, then when Robina and Brian turned up, back to the boat.

We quickly got sorted and let go off the buoy and onto St.Thomas, just as we were leaving the bay, the biggest turtle I have seen yet, came up, looked around and went down again.

Arriving at Red Hook we were going to take up a buoy, but a local said some of them are not safe, so we anchored, it is a bit roly poly, as the ferries are running back and forth, but other than that it is ok.

Robina and Brian went into town with Jeff to look for the Iguana’s, we said we had seen some there last year, all they saw was the grass that they should have been on with food waiting. Hopefully tomorrow they will see them.

Back on the boat, Geoff had cooked corned beef hash, it was lovely and tasty, and no one left any. Jeff cleared up, whilst we played crib, five games to decide who the champions were, first two games went to Robina and Brian, then we won two, the decider, it was right down to the last game, and they won, by scoring first. Geoff obviously taught them well.