Ketchup

So... I've got some catching up to do. We've been jumping from place to place and most of the time we've got no internet so posting has been difficult.

But tonight, I'm anchored in Carlisle Bay with great internet, some rum and some time so here's a brief run-down on our journey.

Our trip to Culebra was easy... decent wind... but Otto the autopilot was not behaving. That was a concern considering we were planning 2 overnight trips. No fun manning the helm 24-7. Turned out, a bunch of fiddling and re-trying gave us Otto but without confidence that he was going to stick it out.

Swabby Lawrence 

Hector the Protector on Culebra

Big Ass Tarpon at the Dinghy Dock

Big Ass Ribs for some Big Ass Guys

More tarpon, just because. Nice new Yamaha, huh?

We jumped from Culebra to Water Lemon Cay on St. Johns, USVI. Fun to tour the old Sugar/Rum plantation. Some very good volunteer guides to help us with the history. Then a quick trip to clear into the BVI at Sopers Hole.

The last time I was at Sopers Hole my kids had arranged for me to pick up a case of Pussers Rum as a birthday gift. I went inside to inquire whether there had been anything waiting in my name. Alas, I had to pay for my case of Pussers this time.

Pussers!

We thought we might need a few more things before our run to St. Martin so we stopped at Kellys for groceries. Internet was down so we had to wait for 20 minutes before we could use our credit cards.

Island time.

Out exploring at Normans. No treasure.

Cooling off at Normans

After an over-nighter we found ourselves in St. Martin. Not the best crossing. You have to go east from the BVI to St. Martin and guess where the wind is from? From the east. We chose this day 'cause the winds were lighter.

Still, we had to deal with a broken engine belt 5 miles in, a freighter who really wanted to run us down and a finicky Otto, who wanted to crash intermittently. Other than that, it was brilliant and we dropped the anchor in Marigot Bay at 6 am. After a nap 'til 10 we were ready for adventure.

Because you have to tie up your horse somewhere, right?

Cleared in and went for a nice wander. Checked out the fabulous yachts ready for the rich and famous. We picked up some bottom paint to get ready for next year. Found our favourite grocery store to stock up. Had some beers and internet at the "Dinghy Dock" and made the obligatory trip to Maho Beach to watch the planes land just a few feet over our heads.

Modest St. Martin yachts

I'll have a Mango Daiquiri, please

Lunch at the Dutch Bridge, SM

Plane watchers at Maho Beach

So that gets us from Fajardo, PR to Culebra to the BVI and to St. Martin.

Next installment will update you on St. Martin to St. Barths to Antigua.

So much fun.... hard to keep up!!!

Cheers!