Clarke's Court Bay, Hog Island, and Prickly Bay

We left St. David's Harbour on Wednesday, and made it to Clarke's Court Bay in time to join some cruisers at a marina for a hamburger barbecue. We met some new cruisers as well as older friends Mike and Linda of Casa del Mar. It was a nice night, although we met a true Texan hawk supporter of Bush, who insists that the next US administration will bring much needed wars against Mexicans and Muslums. Most others just rolled their eyes at the old bastard. It was a new one for us, who had heard of these people, but never had met one.

Thursday found us behind Hog Island, where we had a lovely, quiet night, surrounded by mangroves and birds, albeit with 30 other boats.

Friday had us in Prickly Bay, where we investigated another boatyard, bought some needed maintenance supplies from Budget Marine, and hosted Casa del Mar for supper. They expressed great gratitude over the baked pork tenderloin and the chocolate desert, both gifts of Ron and Judy Roy so many weeks ago. We were asked to pass on that the Roys would be welcome on their boat anytime.

The water is rather less clear here than on and around other islands, but we are enjoying it anyway. We are waiting for old friends from 2006 aboard the Colorado boat "Aspen" to catch up, so we can enjoy their company and travel to Trini with them.

Just a side, again about boat names. We have often heard three friends call each other down the chain. The names are: "Quietly", "Whisper", and "Tranquility". One can imagine what irony it might be if one or more of their radios were not up to snuff. Well, indeed, they often cannot make contact with each other or the controllers of the various nets, with responses including "say again", "speak up", "can anyone else here that boat", and "I can't make you out"; following or preceding these boat names.

Ourselves, we might hesitate to make friends with some, so that we would never have to call them: "Sold the Farm", "Preparing for Take-Off", and others. This morning, another Canadian boat, aptly named "Excusme", had real trouble calling in to a radio net, where you start by calling out your boat name and wait to be recognized.

Bye for now,

Laurie