Snowing in Lancaster PA

We are back in Lancaster to spend the holidays with family and friends.   It's a beautiful snowy morning here on Boxing day! 

 

We will return to the Caribbean on January 8th.

Happy Boxing Day and a very happy New Year!
Our best wishes,
Nancy and John

Entertaining trip to St. Martin

With the Trades dropping to 5 to 10 knots we left Eustatia Sound at 2.50 am and arrived here at 5.20 pm just in time to catch the 5.30 bridge-opening on the Dutch side. After waiting around for ten minutes a local came by in his dinghy to tell us “they” had changed the bridge opening times and we had missed it – the opening was now at 5pm! Oh well, I guess “they” are the same the world over. But at least we had enjoyed a less than boring motor-sail.

Leaving in the dark is not so tricky as arriving blind: you know where you are, have seen it in daylight, and can calmly plot your exit: and by leaving early morning we were fairly assured of arriving 75nm later in daylight. Even so we did have two chart plotters going to help us out of the reef strewn waters between Eustatia and Necker Islands.

This normally boring passage under motor turned out to be quite entertaining.  We had a beautiful sunrise

Then the engine revs dropped, signaling a dirty fuel filter.  We pulled out some jib and hove-to

 

 and John changed both the primary and secondary filters.  We are hoping this is the last of dirty fuel problems.  We are down to a quarter tank and will fill with fresh diesel here in St Martin.

By mid-morning large convection clouds were all around and yet we dodged all of them: but they were quite impressive

and produced Rainbows

On the trip we had passengers fly in: two Martins resident in Eustatia had decided it was time to see the island named after them. Early on we saw them flying astern, and later one decided to hitch a ride. He perched in various places topsides before flying down below for warmth and a rest.

We wondered what happened to the buddy, and then a couple of hours later, there he was, clinging to the helm seat sheltering behind Nancy. He cuddled up close to her and fell asleep: John decided that he was a very discerning bird. Nancy was able to gently pick him up and put him down below.

Hours later we arrived at Simpson Bay on the Dutch side.  We opened the hatches and our two feathered passengers flew off to start their new life!

Our very best to all of you!

John and Nancy December 4, 2013

 

Hanging in St Thomas, and now bound for St Martin

We had an unusual amount of rain during our stay in the Virgins but still managed to have a great time thanks to my college buddy Donna, and new friends we met through her.  We again met Wayne whose work shop proved invaluable in sawing 3/8" off the bottom of Adventuress’ sticking head door.

 

Thanksgiving dinner was superb at Sue and Dewey’s spectacular new home perched on a high bluff with a panoramic view of the BVI and American Virgins

 

 

    Sue and Dewey with their radiant smiles, and here is just a taste of the view from their living room and terrace:

 

 

 

Wayne ....relaxing at the Soggy Dollar Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                             

                                                      

 

 

 

   
                Is that Nancy and Donna playing horseshoes on White Beach, Jost Van Dyke?
                             (Photo by an observant and observing JFK)

On Sunday afternoon we had a hearty brunch at the St Thomas Yacht Club and then we took everyone for a farewell sail on Adventuress.

 

At dusk yesterday we anchored off Saba Rock, North Sound, Virgin Gorda, after a beautiful sail from St Thomas on SE winds: we were treated to a lovely sunset over the  BVIs as we entered the Sound.

 

The forecast tomorrow is good for a 70 mile motor-sail to St. Martin:  East winds 5-10 knots going ENE with a half knot adverse current and 6 to 9 foot swell from the north east.  We will leave at 3am when the winds are the lightest.  It’s a bit of a pain but now you know why they call it the “Thorny Path” when you voyage against the trade winds. 

So tomorrow evening we hope to arrive in France. Ahhh those baguettes, the cheese, the pate and of course, the wine!

Best, Nancy and John 

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