Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Tuesday April  29

Travel Day

The Gear
(we left some behind with the good chance of a return visit)

Eric - Jim - Cecilia
Pit stop at Black Dog for a pre-airport refreshment and lunch

 St Lucia -> Atlanta     (Overnight Layover)

Atlanta -> Toronto

Toronto -> Halifax

Monday April 28, 2014

 Monday April 28

With our crew a bit lighter, Eric Jim and I left Rodney Bay sailing past Pigeon Island towards Martinique. With no intentions on completing our bearing to this far off Island, we turned around  and brought the boat back to its base for the last time.  

Donnie at the big wheel

Jim at the other big wheel

Later, Doretta and Marie joined us for dinner at Cap Maison.  My favourite place to dine on St Lucia.  Without thinking possible, the cliff-side dinner and service surpassed my memory of my last visit.  

http://capmaison.com

Time to pack

Sunday April 27, 2014

Sunday April 27

We left Rodney Bay on a short day trip over to Pigeon Island for a picnic lunch.  We choose to drop an anchor but it would not set.  We tried again and again and again.  Finally the anchor caught but unfortunately it was wrapped around a heavy massed, unidentified blob.  Betsy went in to investigate.

The Blob

The Rescue Crew

We called the Moorings base who deployed a rescue crew.  It was determined to be a big piece of coral.  Utilizing the windlass and the halyards we were able to release the coral back to the bottom of the bay.

Coral - with 'No Regrets'

********

With the excitement over.  We headed back to the base to prepare ourselves for Marie's big concert with her students at the Cathedral in Castries.    

With support by the week-long instruction with the Venezuelan instructors, this concert was amazing. Classical with a Lucian beat.  

Well done Marie!!

Saturday April 26, 2014

Saturday April 26

Back to Base Camp (Rodney Bay) we cleaned up, dressed up 

and were off to a chariety recital at the residence of the former Director of Music at Marie's school.

Music For A Cause

A very civilized affair

Beautiful home and grounds

jim and Margaret

A frog enjoying its home

Friday April 25, 2014

Friday April 25

We set sail for Marigot Bay, South of Castries. 

After securing a mooring ball we jumped in the dinghy, then a cab destined for the local rum distillery. 

St Lucia Distillers

Doolittle's Bar

We all agreed that today is the hottest day yet.  

With our distillery purchases safely on board we dinghied off to Doolittle's Bar for some cold refreshments that only a blender can achieve.

From there we went back to the Rainforest Hideaway before dinner on boat.

Marigot Bat Sunset

Rainforest Hideaway

Ken & Eric
(Eric's hands look like they could be knitting mitts)

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Thursday April 24

Back into Rodney Bay to prepare for a cocktail reception on The Unicorn, a square rigged ship used (in part) in the making of the "Pirates of the Caribbean".

The Unicorn

Pirate Betsy. Aye Aye!!

Venezuelan Instructors with Marie

Marie arrived with the youth instructors from Venezuela.  The students are here conducting a week long music camp with Marie's students.  They will be presenting a formal concert in the Castries Cathedral on Sunday night.
 

Donnie - Doretta - Ken

Wednesday April 23, 2014

Wednesday April 23

We did a top up on our provisions and slipped the lines.  We decided to go to Pigeon Island.  The same island as Saturday night.

Tuesday April 22, 2014

Tuesday April 22

Betsy - Ken

Heading north, destined for the Moorings base in Rodney Bay, we stopped at resort and ordered some take-out sandwiches.  And While we waited a cold drink was in order.  Yummy drinks, yummy sandwiches.

We had a beautiful 4 hour sail where we peeked at 8.9 knots, arriving at the marina at 4:30.  

Followings showers we dressed up for a cocktail reception at the Windjammer Resort.
Drinks, dinner and a limbo floor show.  Back to the boat.

The Windjammer & Charlie's Band

Charlie is a fiddler player.  He and his bandmates perform at the Windjammer Resort for the evenings poolside Manager' s reception, Lucian style. 

Monday April 21, 2014

Monday April 21

South to the Pitons.

The Pitons

With winds gusting at 30 knots we picked a mooring before deciding to head to the more sheltered south side of the mountain off of Soufriere.  After dinner on the boat we sat in the cockpit listening to Bruce Springsteen, 'Live in Dublin' and because there was some distance between us and other boats the volume crept up a bit.  

Soulfriere 

Sunday April 20, 2014

Sunday April 20

Following breakfast "a la Eric", we hauled anchor and crossed the bay back to the marina to pick up Doretta who was going to spend the day sailing with us. Destination  - Marigot Bay

Donnie
You only have to wear foul-weather gear once to justify packing it

Unfortunately, we ran into a bit of a rain storm and got a little damp.  The sun was back in no time. 

No Regrets - Marigot Bay

Betsy - Donnie - Ken - Jim

Jim shuttled Ken, Betsy and I ashore to check out the shops.
Being Easter Sunday, most of which were closed.

Doretta & Eric

Marigot Bay

Rainforest Hideaway

With a 7:00PM dinner reservation we dinghied to the Rainforest Hideaway restaurant.
After a great dinner with even better service, 

Eric, Ken, Jim, and I stayed back for a couple of (Eldorado) rum drinks with John, the owner.

Saturday April 19, 2014

Saturday April 19

Following boat orientation and showers we were off to the local supermarket for provisioning.  At 4:00 we finally slipped the lines and headed for nearby Pigeon Island.   With the mooring balls taken, we set anchor overlooking a 'Sandals Resort' and 'The Landings', the same resort we dined the night before.  

Ken & Betsy - Fort Rodney, Pigeon Island 

Eric rigged and raised the Canadian and US flags on "No Regrets" while Ken, Betsy, and Jim snorkeled the surrounding waters.  While cockails and snacks were enjoyed, dinner was planned. Striploin and Tofu on the BBQ with a side of Potato, Zuchini, and Onion.  The tofu was for me.

Unlike the Bahamas last year and Tortola 6 weeks ago, I was missing the 'wow' factor mainly because, I feel,  I have become familiar to island lifestyle.  This is not a negative feeling by any means. The 'wow' was replaced with a warm welcome comfort of belonging.  I suppose this is the same feeling some people have after being in Cape Breton a couple of times. 

Friday April 18, 2014

Friday April 18

At 5:05AM Butch is at the front door of the Holiday to take me to the airport. He is on the same flight,  AC607 Halifax -> Toronto. His itinary would have him home in Charlotte, NC by noon.  

In Toronto, Flight AC689 started boarding at 9:15AM, direct flight to UVF, St Lucia.  

Upon landing at UVF, it didn't take long to recognize the heat and humidity.  Eric, his brother Jim who had sailed with us on week 1 in the Bahamas last year and our driver Cecila were waiting for me to clear customs at 3:30. 

We arrived at the 'Mooring' base in Rodney Bay after a beautiful 1.5 hour drive from the most Southern end of the island to the most Northern and boarded 'No Regrets", a 43.3 Beneteau monohull. Our other 2 crew members, Ken & Betsy Cooper, who had come to the island from Seattle two days earlier soon joined us. Beds were assigned and we were off to the "Landings Resort" for cocktails and dinner. 

At the Landings, Doretta, Margaret, and Marie all whom I had met in February were awaiting  our arrival.  After a beautiful evening of drinks, dining while listening to a sax player, we repaired back to the boat for night caps. 

Thursday April 17, 2014

Thursday April 17

ST LUCIA - 2014

SAILING

My flight leaving for St Lucia leaves Halifax on (Good) Friday at 6:44 AM.  Thursday, I left home at 1:00 on route to Halifax. After checking into the  Holiday Inn (Airport) Hotel, I crossed the parking lot and walked into the Hilton destined for a bite to eat and a cold drink. "How was the sailing trip?", this gentleman asked as I approached the bar.  Sitting at the bar on the same stool as on Feb 02 was the same gentleman I shared a few drinks with on my way to the BVI's. Butch works for an energy company based out of North Carolina and is overseeing work in Port Hawkesbury. His travels have made him a frequent flyer and a regular at the hotel.  We repeated the course of our original meeting.