Alright… yucky chainplates notwithstanding…

We had a great time in France.  Good sail down to Deshaise and checked in at the Pelican Gift Store.  There were 3 boats in front of us so we decided to drink some beers and come back in the morning.  Got there in the morning and there was only one boat in front of us - WITH 47 PASSENGERS!  Do you know how long it takes someone to hunt and peck that in to a computer.  Especially if, like her, you haven’t done it before.  The french keyboard is wonky and they spell the names of the countries wrong.  When you go to enter someone’s nationality as US you start typing ETAS-UNI.  Try 47 variations of that.  Poor girl.

Yumm - more mahi dinners!

Sailing along with Quest

Anyway, once we were legal we went to the local grocery and bought up some baguettes, cheeses wine and rabbit pate.  Also some Leffe beer - Belgium but close to France!  Yay crazy french food.  Fun in Deshaise.

After two days of charming the locals with my quaint french dialect we left to get to Les Saintes. 

Les Saintes through Pam's picture window

Colourful waterfront

A local guest house - real cheap!

Windswept beach - not great for swimming - huge UnderToad

End of the runway... at the beach

Prehistoric sea monster - about 4 feet long

Bo loves this beach

If you follow this blog you will know that we really like Les Saintes.  It’s a vacation town so lots of restaurants, boutiques and bars.  But also some really great hikes.  Got a chance to give Mr. Bo Jangles some really good beach walks.  Bo didn’t mess with the topless sun-bather.  I was really hoping!

Colourful Caribbean shuttered doors

That's a beauty

Bo's eager to get going

Popular beach

Another picture window shot

Our plans were to carry on from Dominica while Sid and Cate would double back to Antigua to pick up their friends.  We would dawdle on down to St. Lucia and hook up with them along the way.  But that’s all changed now.  We will enjoy some significant fun time here and then dawdle back up to Antigua with jury-rigged shrouds and seriously reduced main.

I’ve ordered the replacement chainplates so after Pam goes home on February 25 I will begin to tear the boat apart.  Once that is complete I will hire a fibreglass guy to prep and install the new chainplates.  Then piece the whole thing back together and… Bob’s your Uncle.  Good old Uncle Bob!

Not sure if Pam will come back down for a season ending couple of weeks or if other family/friends will come down in late March for a spring holiday.

More non-plans!  Always an adventure!