We are anchored today in Grande Case, St. Martin (French territory), having crossed from the BVI just 3 days ago, the 19th of January.
We left our friends in the USVI on the 8th to try to get moving along on our trip south. Our first stop was back in Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke, to clear customs and to enjoy a nice meal. After enjoying our first roti of the season in a neat little bar called Ali Babba's, Dawn and I went looking for trails for a hike for the next day. By the time we found a trail, we had done a hike just about to the tallest peak on the island. It was steep, but a great afternoon. We had been adopted by a nice dog who accompanied us for all of the hike - although he did disappear from time to time to give the local goats some exercise (he would not be discouraged!). The views of the both the British and US Virgins were fantastic; as they were the next day, when, after moving the boat to Little Bay, we hiked again to the top of the hills to walk the Mountain Trail road almost back to the previous day's hike. We finished that day with a run into Sydney's Love and Peace Bar, where you mix your own fancy drinks from special mixtures and the booze of your choice. A very dangerous bar; and although we found a fantastically interesting couple to chat with, we had to cancel supper and get back to the boat and get to bed. We are not mature enough to mix our own drinks without a jigger/measusre!
We left for Norman Island the next day, and the sail helped us straighten out a lot. Norman's Bight was chosen as our anchorage to wait out a period of high wind. During the 5 days we were waiting, we enjoyed meeting a couple with a Fountaine Pajot Mahe 36: same make as Cat Tales, only a foot longer and 10 years younger. They are Henry and Catherine of s/v Mowzer. At the same time, we got reacquainted with two Canadians, Dawn and Gerry, of s/v Chinook Arch; who we had not seen since Trinidad in 2005.
The wind calmed down, but not before it messed up something in our windmill, causing it to quit altogether. With lower winds and a call from s/v Aspen for us to join them, we sailed up to North Sound, Virgin Gorda on the 16th. While waiting in the Sound for a proper weather window, we got fuel, some laundry done, and a nice meal ashore. We also went snorkeling, and saw our first and second Queen Helmet Conch. Stunning creatures. Hopefully you will see the pictures shortly.
We finally had to give up waiting for a north or northeast wind, and with s/v Silk Pajamas and Aspen, we motored over to St. Martin just this Monday. It was a long day of motoring, starting at 5 a.m. and ending at dusk at 6:30 p.m. Still it was fun, with constant chatter on the radio amoung our 3 boats, and real excitement as Cat Tales caught 3 Mahi Mahi. These, and the one that got away, ravaged our equipment; including the sea rod that Doug Chown gave us a decade ago. Again, pictures are coming, hopefully.
We are waiting for word on our windmill, which we removed and ran into a repair shop here in St. Marrtin. With only apologies so far for inactivity, we hope for a better effort from them next week. So with our weekend free, we will check out for a few days, and head for Anguilla tomorrow.
