We’re still in Bequia, anchored off the lower end of Princess Margaret Beach. The wind and rain continue, sometimes with outrageous squalls. Still, we’re having a pretty nice time.
We hike with a crowd every 2-3 days, choosing old and new destinations and walking and climbing for 2-3.5 hours in the morning and hitting a restaurant at the end. The Port Hole is becoming the favourite, and they are used to us coming in and rearranging the furniture for 8-10 people. Their food is good, and their service – most of the time – is great. On other days, we tend to stay onboard, doing chores, correspondence, and reading.
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| Hope Bay, Bequia |
We are meeting some great people to offset those who have swallowed the anchor or left the region over the last two years. A fun addition to our group also the couple, Garry and Linda, who were close friends in and prior to 2010 aboard their boat July Indian. They are ashore, moving from rental to rental, and have joined us most days. They seem to be seriously considering another boat, and the talk is interesting.
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| Looking behind us at yet another beautiful rainbow! |
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| Along the side of the road, we had to work hard to sort out from where this pumpkin plant originated. Finally we found that it had climbed up into a mango tree via another invasive vine and then went through the mango tree and dangled here and there with loads of pumpkins hanging all over it. What a jungle it is in the tropics!! (No, we didn’t help ourselves…this time!) |
Christmas and New Years involved get-togethers, with New Years Eve on Dakota Dream being a blast. We took control of the boat while Captain Fred took the ferry to the big island to pick up wife Sandy. They got back around 6 pm, just before things got in full swing. All in all, 20 people filled his cockpit, stern platforms, and the galley. The food was fantastic, the drinks flowed, and the conversations great.
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| Pot Luck dinner at the Fig Tree - Steve & Maria, Garry & Linda, Fred and of course the owner of the restaurant, our good friend Cheryl Johnson. |
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| New Year’s Eve onboard Dakota Dream. Many are missing in this picture because they were in the galley or out on the bow! Twenty people in all!! |
We’ve never seen so many boats in Bequia’s main harbour. Many cruisers are complemented by crewed and bareboat charterers and some impressive megayachts. The bare-boaters are interesting to watch as they seldom understand how to anchor and drag about. Funny they don’t just google it! Our own anchor is at about rhode to depth of 6/1, and buried in the sand. Luckily, we have not had a problem with boats dragging in front of us…yet.
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| Dawn with Ravine Bay in the background. |
One impressive megayacht is Sea Eagle II. It came in yesterday with all sails up and spray flying. See it here, but don’t forget to come back: https://www.yachtingworld.com/news/sea-eagle-ii-launched-worlds-largest-aluminium-sailing-yacht-126624
We are arranging two events before we leave: a Friday hike of the Soufriere Volcano on the big island of St. Vincent; and a January 12th trip to the Tobago Keys aboard the schooner Friendship Rose. Hopefully we’ll both survive and get good pics.
We’re healthy and happy and hope the best for all of our friends for the New Year.
TECHNICAL
We finished renovating the hatches, with a feeling of accomplishment. This should decrease further deterioration of the levers and latches for a while and save a dollar and some stress. The stern lifeline 8 snap-shackles have been cleaned and lubricated and we have a solenoid and warning light on the propane line. I’m looking at other issues from the insurance survey, but the key ones are done.
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| Laurie working on getting the gas tank to sit up straight while located at the bow of the dinghy. It was designed to sit on the flat part at the back, but with the engine at the back, it’s just too much weight. |
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| Mixing epoxy and gluing down little pieces of wood to keep the gas tank well behaved in the dinghy! |
The waterproofing of the Bimini was done reasonably well, considering the wind, but the rain has shown some spots that were missed.
The main issue is a new sail. I’ve worked through 4 quotes, settled on North Sails in Antigua, and have completed the specifications for them. We have the work scheduled for completion in early February, delivery in St. Lucia, and we put the deposit down tomorrow. It was a lot of work to get to this point. Now to find a weather window to get to Rodney Bay with the delicate cloth we now have.
