Mike & Anne's visit

We are truly enjoying the visit with Mike and Anne O'Brien over the last few days. After picking them up at the Prickly Bay Tiki Bar on Tuesday night, and of course getting them settled on board, we had a quiet night and a slow morning. Mid-morning Wednesday, we motored upwind to tour four other bays, stopping in one for a great lunch in a very quaint restaurant, and stopping in another for snorkeling, a happy-hour ashore, and another night at anchor.

We up-anchored after another slow morning on Thursday, and had a reasonably speedy downwind sail back west to St. Georges. We fished along the way, but fish were not biting. By 2:00 in the afternoon, we had Mike and Anne safely dinghied to their resort, and enjoyed the resort's pool with them. I (Laurie) also took advantage of their running fresh water in their room to wash a shirt.

Mike and Anne don't snorkel nor swim, and the heat is almost too much for Anne, but they seemed to like the sailing and sight-seeing, and we have to give them top marks for courage for trying boating in the Caribbean. They are both sporting sunburns and are trying to figure out how to get outside and not continue to burn.

Friday, the four of us toured the shops of St. George's, with Mike and I taking time out from the shopping to climb to St. George's Fort for a discussion about cannon technology. Dawn and Anne met us with lots of great finds.

Yesterday, Saturday, we took an island tour with Mike and Anne and two other couples. It was a great, albeit long day. The highlight for me was a tour of the Rivers Rum factory, where they primarily turn sugar cane into rum. Most of the crew were amazed at how little care is taken towards cleanliness until after the distillation process, but most tasted and/or bought the products on the way through. We finished the day with Happy Hour and pizza at De Big Fish, Prickly Bay; where we also caught up with Brian and Paula of "Magique". A band was playing great music. It all began at 5:00 pm, and by 8:30, the band was finished and the place was clearing out. That's the cruisers way.we all seem to be in bed by 9:00, often called the 'cruisers midnight'.

We'll complement this report with pictures and video as soon as our wifi connection allows.

We're off to see Mike and Anne this afternoon and enjoy their beach, lounge chairs and fresh water pool! Sadly, tomorrow, Mike has to work, so we'll do something with Anne. Tuesday morning, very early, they head for St. Lucia for 3 days of work for Mike. Anne insists that she will try the new "zip line" St. Lucia has to offer, but we are insisting that we have video confirmation of such an event!