Sunday

December 27, 2007
Admiralty Bay, Bequia

Happy Birthday to Jim!!!!

Well.....we finally left Grenada      Jim and I arrived in Grenada in May, I flew back to Maine to work, and he stayed on Bees Knees for the entire summer.  So....he was there about 7 months!  Almost getting to know the island, but we could have stayed for another year.  We love Grenada!


Since we last updated our blog, we've kept busy.....but luckily not on major boat projects.  We did have to repair our anchor light (that is part of the tricolor) and Jim and I both took a few trips up the mast for that....but great views from there! 
We moved from anchorage to anchorage....to Mt. Hartman Bay (the only boat anchored there)  , Calivigny Island, and Hog Island.  One day we decided to clean the bottom of the dinghy...but we needed to go to Hog Island to the beach and we were anchored off Calivigny.  So....we hopped in the dinghy and decided to sail, rather than run the outboard....but the dink doesn't have the conventional sails.....so Jim used his Large Tshirt and I used his hat as a "hattiker"....and off we sailed, downwind and doing pretty well.  We do use the engine as a tiller to steer occasionally...but otherwise it's all sail (Tshirt) power!  We do look pretty silly, but it's fun!  We've done it before in the Bahamas...in South Caicos and at Royal Island in Eleuthera.  We've been offered help by other sailboaters that we sail by....then they realize we're just sailing!  But during this sail we passed a megayacht  
that had been anchored in the bay for several days.  We watched as their bow of the boat opened up to the sky and a crane removed an orange inflatable huge dinghy.....sat it gently into the water and two crew with radios, lines, life vests came zooming towards us as Jim was holding his Tshirt a little to the port!  As they approached, one of the crew started getting a line ready to throw to us and I quietly told them we were fine....we didn't need any assistance....our engine was fine.....we were just sailing!!!!  They looked at each other and muttered some words I cannot print, and zoomed away!  We later thanked them on the VHF for their assistance and they were laughing by that time!!!!
We went on some spectacular hikes this past month.  We met up with some other cruisers:  Devi and Hunter on "Arctic Tern", Barb and Chuck on "Tusen Takk", Diane on "Jabuloni", and Ann and Steve on "Receta".  Hunter   is an avid hiker and explorer and travels with a machete!  That should have been our first clue!!  So.....on Wednesday, 12/9, Arctic Terns, Tusen Takks, Recetas, and Bees Knees rented a van and drove to the point in a road where the car wouldn't make it any more  .....and started our hike to Mount St. Catherine.  We hiked up a road for what seemed like miles...to an old power station....then into the jungle.  This was probably the most strenuous hike I've ever been on.....razor grass, mud, rocks, cliffs....just crazy, but fun!  Hunter and Chuck had machetes, so they were in front.....and they guided the way.  We stopped for a short break halfway up the Mt. to drink and eat  (pic of Devi preparing her snack!)...then had lunch at the top enjoying the solitude and beautiful views!!
 But then we had to turn around and come back thru the same "path" that we had just taken.  All in all it was a blast and there were no serious injuries other than a ZILLION razor grass cuts that took days to heal!!  On the ride home we stopped to get beer, water and at a roadside stand to buy oranges!    (picture courtesy of Steve on "Receta")
Hunter also would lead the group on morning hikes all over the Southern end of Grenada...usually starting from Clarks Court Bay....but at 0630 in the morning!!!  So.....wanting to stretch my legs....I went with the group while Jim continued his beauty sleep one morning.  We hiked thru cow pastures   , thru a dump, up a path between homes with children waving to us from the windows, up cliffs, onto rocks, under rocks.....but no razor grass!!!!  whooohooooo!  It was a blast....and did it all in about 2 hours.  The following morning Jim went with us.....we took a different path, but just as amazing and fun with great views  , walking thru neighborhoods, greeting people, picking star fruit (legally), and just having fun. 
One evening we spent with everyone on Tusen Takk, their 50' Kady Krogen, and Barb made multiple delicious pizzas while we talked, drank, and played Mexican dominoes....trying to add up the numbers and they seemed to grow with each hand!!!  I lost......Hunter won....and we both got prizes courtesy of our hosts!  Sooo gracious!!
Chuck had his 66th birthday and Barb got everyone together and we all went to dinner at Le Phare Bleu....a nice restaurant/marina/botique near Calivigny Island.  We danced to a blues band and stayed up way past our bedtime!!!
The next morning, Sunday the 20th, Jim and I lifted anchor, raised sail and sailed quietly away from the sunrise, rounding the SE end of Grenada, passing Grand Anse beach, St. George's harbor and the Carenage, slipping by the coast and finally seeing Grenada off our stern as the boobies bombed our boat!   
We sailed into Tyrell Bay in Carriacou and set the anchor around 1530.  The following morning we motorsailed over to Hillsborough, just around the corner, anchored, rowed ashore to check out with Immigration and Customs....officially leaving the country of Grenada.    (pic of nutmet courtesy of Steve on "Receta").  Jim cried coming back down the dock ..........having to leave Grenada!
We hoisted anchor and tried to sail, but had to motorsail to Union Island to check in to our next country, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  One of the more persistent "boat boys" came over to us while we were anchoring, offering all kinds of services and would not take No thank you for an answer.  Finally.....he realized we weren't giving in and he left.  Immediately another "boat boy" arrived and asked if we needed anything....after we said no thank you....he mentioned that we were safe there and "He who kills you kills me!"  About the third time that he said this Jim just gave him the "one love", kinda the Sammy Sosa sign, and he left!!!!  So.....we checked into Customs and Immigration and lifted anchor to motor over to the Tobago Cays and chill for a few days! 
The Tobago Cays are one of my favorite places in the Eastern Caribbean....clear water, white sandy beaches and turtles, flying cunards, small flounder, squid, and of course the barracuda....all for us to enjoy!
We stayed in the Tobago Cays for two full days, then set sail for Bequia on Christmas Eve Day.  We had a glorious sail!!    Sailing on a reach in 16-20K winds with two reefs in the main and the jib reefed....doing up to 7.9K thru the water.  That's really fast for Bees Knees and we had a blast!  We fished, but didn't catch a thing.  We arrived in Admiralty Bay, Bequia around 1230!  We went into the market to buy frozen fish ....and a few other supplies for Christmas dinner.
On Christmas Day we just lounged around on Bees Knees, opening presents and contacting family by Skype or email.  Nice, quiet day. 
Yesterday we wanted to walk a bit....so we took off on an island tour, by foot!  We walked over three miles (one way) to see Moonhole.....but weren't really able to see much since it was all private.  We did explore a deserted building that must have been the restaurant.   Pretty interesting place and if you want to see more you can Google Moonhole, Bequia, and read a bit on the development.  We had pics posted last year when we came thru.
Today is Jim's Big 56th birthday  .....I made breakfast, served him coffee and the day is his.  We'll go out to dinner tonight to get his traditional pizza for this birthday and just celebrate life!
Bye for now!