Let's Go Sailing! Pics of our trip underway

😊Capt. Brandi picks us up for a day of fun before we get underway

Snorkeling in the middle of a starfish party at Waterlemon Cay

Off to the Indians for a deep water snorkel

 

 

Stop 1 Pirates Bight Norman Island

 

 

Time to hydrate

 

 

and of course a game of Jenga

 

 

One more before the next stop

 

 

 Off to our next adventure

 

  

The Willie T - Nothing like a quick lunch and a jump!

 

 



 

Time to rendezvous with our home for the next 7 days

The Captain and his Mate

Capt Guy

Mate Caz

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Snorkeling Fun!

 

 Capt  Guy and the Sea Cucumber

 

   

 Snorkeling in the Rain
 

Our Chariot for the Week!

 

 

 



 

 

 



St John Limin’

Friday Evening & Saturday
May 21 - 22

There is no secret among friends and family that St John is one of our favorite places on the earth. Albeit our visit this trip was reduced to a couple dinners and one great day of snorkeling. After a traditional happy hour gathering at Woody’s we headed to Rhumb Lines for dinner. The eclectic Asian fare left everyone was very pleased with their dinners, and then it was the walk back to Villa Papaya above Cruz Bay.

Located around the corner from Gallows Point and up, Villa Papaya, consists of two buildings Papaya I and II. Papaya II has two bedrooms and the other unit had one, which was perfect for the blue water gang. Both had kitchens, but the only thing cooked was coffee in the morning. The units can be rented separately or together. We were able to talk the owners out of the three day minimum required, if we paid the cleaning charges. The units were clean, comfortable, and most importantly we could walk to town eliminating a need for a vehicle on our short stop over. Bob and Marlene, the owners, were off island, but they had made arrangements for a smiling face to meet us and take our luggage up the hill in a vehicle. There is also a watchful eye overseeing the safety of the units.

Saturday we caught a taxi to Hawknest and had a wonderful snorkel all the way past Gibney, Oppenheimer, Very Little Hawknest and out to the rocks on the point. A good size turtle three rays, and procession of squids were our nature sighting for the day.

Janet and I were excited when about half way out to the point we raised our heads and saw an old friend, Capt Mike. Mike runs a day charter, Fury, out of Frenchman’s Reef on St Thomas. So we took a break from the snorkel to tread water for a while and catch up. If you are headed to St Thomas give Mike a try - Really Good Folks! http://www.usvisailing.com/

A 3 ½ hour snorkel day one was probably not a good idea, but it was so beautiful day an after a the swim we had worked up an appetite… for a bushwacker or… two and a mahi sandwich.

Me, I am a Dark and tonic kinda guy, but these ice cream drinks are very pleasing to the eye.

On the way to be Beach Bar we walked into town, and it was a buzz. Saturday was water safety day in STJ! The Coast Guard was there in force. There were also folks handing out all sorts of stuff, tours of the 87’ CGC, and an air demo. All the kids got free life jackets and it seemed everyone was wearing a green T-Shirt proclaiming water safety in St John. Yep, the Blue Water gang all got T-Shirts.

It was lots of fun to sit watch all the happenings beach side, but even better when it was over relaxing and taking in the empty harbor.

Janet and I slipped off to Mass and then rendezvoused with the rest of the gang at The Lime Inn. I know we go this restaurant almost every time we visit the island, but on such short visit we were taking no chances with one of the many new places. Not a rut - Just a sure bet on the Lime Inn.

Slept pretty good that night I must admit.

At Last….

Friday
May 21


37,000 Feet above somewhere and headed south! We had shaky start to our long awaited getaway. After the door was closed, the Captain announced that we would have to sit as they completed some maintenance paperwork. Being an ex-aviator, I agreed with that decision. Unfortunately the Captain mumbled so badly I could not detect what was the maintenance issue. I just kept hearing safety of flight (good thing) and fuel pump (bad thing), but the FAA had released us.

As we taxied away from the gate all things came to a stop as Capt. Mumbles came back online talking about God knows what, and then I heard Fuel Pump again. Evidently some one in the safety of flight chain of command decided we need more fuel. Hmmmmmmmmm… More fuel was added and we taxied away form the ramp area. Then the plane stopped again….

Silence… Time goes by…. Silence… Time goes by… Big Tom is not happy!

Capt Mumbles comes on and my ears have now been fined tuned to his lack of oratory skills. “Well we have an abnormal warning light that is related to our fuel pump problem…but… our mechanics and the FAA inspector agree that it is not a safety of flight issue and has released us to go to Puerto Rico one more time.

Not sure if anybody has looked at a map lately, but there is a lot of blue space between Washington DC and San Juan. Now I was confused. Should I scream let me off this plane, or scream yee hah we are underway to the blue water. There was also a third option which I decided was the best . I remained silent, closed the window shutter, and began reciting Hail Mary Full of Grace.

My confidence of a safe arrival grew when I heard the Copilot, with clear diction just announce that we are 24 minutes from San Juan.

After a few of those wonderful frozen coconut and pineapple drinks and gate change in San Juan we began the final leg. Yep, delayed again… Evidently there was a problem locating a crew. After a 45 minute wait we were herded into an American Eagle Turbo Prop and the pilot taxied to the runway at 45 to 50 mph. No kidding! He was accelerating around the final turn and I swear the front wheel was off the ground before we completely straight on the runway. 19 minutes from SJU gate to the STT gate! We have traveled here many times, but never from San Juan to St Thomas in such a short period of time.

All of us had carry on luggage so we quickly grabbed a taxi to Red Hook, bought a ferry ticket and cleared STT in less than hour - no worries no problems.

Our arrival in St John was toasted with some Mango Rum at the ferry dock.

We have arrived!

All my bags are packed…

… I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside the door

Cmon Sweetie, Richard is waitin'
he's blowin' his horn
HOT DAMN babe I’m so excited
it is finally time go!

Cause we be leavin' on a jet plane
And it will be 10 days of blue water before we will be
back again

Oh Richard, step on the gas and lets’ go!

Yep – It is SHOWTIME!

So since we first made the decision, clouded in a coconut orange fog at the Annapolis boat show, time has moved slowly

Yep it has been 228 days
Or 7 months, 16 days
Or 19,699,200 seconds
Or 328,320 minutes
Or 5472 hours
Or 32 weeks (rounded down of course)


But we have not been counting….

One Bag, a pair of flip flops, and a passport...

Lets Do It!

Is it time to go yet?

Last October our traveling buds, Sally & Rich, decided we should go to the Annapolis Boat Show. Sounds Fun and So off we went. After walking the docks climbing in and out beautiful boats, daydreaming of possible trips, and saying what if... it became apparent that we were going sailing somewhere.I am not totally sure, but the 2 or 3 painkillers from Pussers may have helped us come to the conclusion that the BVI would be the perfect destination. The bad news was we would have to wait until the Spring, May 21 to be exact, for our adventure to begin.

Ohhhh it was soooooo long to wait!

Well after enduring one of the worst winters in the history of Virginia, the time has come! Joining our sojourn are new friends, Dick and Anita. We have named our group the "Blue Water Gang". More importantly, the calendar now shows that we are just single digits away from arriving in a Blue Water Paradise!



This trip we are going to ease into the vacation mode by spending a few days in St John, USVI to achieve a state of mind known as “limin”. Then it will be off to Tortola, BVI to board our 44' Lagoon Catamaran for 7 days under sail.

 

It is my hope to update while we are on the trip, but it may have to wait until our return.

 

Why?

Because We be Limin’