Calgary connection, twentyeightfeet, new dodger windows, dinghy ladder

It is now February 13^th, and I am in a much better head space.  Our mechanical problems are behind us (for now) and we have enjoyed a couple of new sights and snorkeling areas – I’ve gotten to swim more and worry less. 

We enjoyed the BVIs again, going to Waterlemon Bay, a favorite spot and met up with another couple from – Calgary!  Had happy hour on their boat with their buddy boaters  - also from Calgary and made new friends.  We had a longish, pounding day to get to Virgin Gorda where our new dodger windows were ready and were thrilled at the quality and agreeable to the price.  Our boat got a facelift and I am gradually getting rid of the old dated teal and black and updating everything with a dark navy and white.  We look pretty spiffy, for a 10 year old!

We have encountered some very interesting characters.  If you have a moment, look up twentyeightfeet.blogspot.com, where you will read about the exploits of two Nova Scotians, both under thirty, living on a shoestring and and having the adventure of a lifetime.  Dave and Evan are on Lizzie Bell , a 60’s something monohull in need of constant repairs.  We enjoyed their company one night when we played Phase 10; the night they showed up to play Balderdash, they were too far into their cherry rum to catch onto the game. 

At Norman’s Island, we snorkeled the caves, which are magnificent.  Bill always lasts longer and sees more but I truly enjoy the sights as well.  We used our new dinghy ladder, which allows us to board from the water in a dignified manner, even easier than the steps on our big boat sugar scoops.  With the new larger tubes and my deteriorating knees, I was getting to the point where I couldn’t board from the water.  Bill isn’t there yet, but he’s close too.  We watched another lady try to get on board her dinghy who required the very personal assistance of both people on board and in the water.  She flopped unceremoniously and comically into the bottom of the boat, and with good humor announced that she had “found the anchor”.  Meaning she landed on it, poor thing. 

We met another couple there from Australia who had brought their little 36’ monohull across the Altantic from the U.K. and were headed to Australia; planned to land there in November. She has to provision in Panama for 5 months before going through the Panama Canal.  5 months!  I have a hard time with 5 days!

At Lameshure Bay, we invited the Canadian couple over for happy hour drink who were hooked to the next mooring ball.  They’re from Lunenberg Nova Scotia and had been living aboard for almost 20 years.  They had to quit for a short period of time when they came to the conclusion that she shouldn’t have been 50 feet up the mast doing repairs when she was 8 months pregnant!   Interesting people we meet.

Government Building Charlotte Amalie Harbour

I never get over the sights here in Charlotte Amalie Bay.  We are accustomed to the float planes taking off and landing, the log jam of behemoth cruise ships, the constant buzz of dinghy’s around us, the clank of anchors being dropped and raised and the general mayhem of down town St. Thomas (which rings the CA bay), but yesterday, we witnessed an event that caused our jaws to drop.  A float plane came in for a landing OVER THE MAIN STREET.  He narrowly landed in the water next to the edge of the promenade and made a short touchdown and took off again, clearly with some problem.  He was less than 100 feet off the ground, and looked for all the world like he was going to scrape his undercarriage on the 3 storey government building.  It was breathtaking, and not in a good way.