Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Trip to the States

     We got to go to the panhandle of Texas for some family time!  Those trips always go so fast!  Thank You, Stephen for dog sitting and boat watching!!!    
     We were fortunate to watch Lyric on two of the days while Jessica and Craig went to work. Boy, little ones sure keep you on your toes! He is so cute!  And such a happy child.     
     We saw our really great friends a couple of times. We stayed with my dad and had good times with him!  Never seem to get enough time with Darrell's mom, either. We sure had some good laughs with her!! We saw her ornery side!  lol    
     Time went by at warp speed and we left Tuesday EARLY to fly back to St. Thomas. All went well until Orlando - that plane was an hour late. We had a one hour layover in Miami before our flight - yep, missed the flight!  American Airlines put all 20 passengers up in hotels and paid food vouchers because they couldn't hold the plane for us. We were the first in line next day (yep no more flights that day) to get seat assignments. The flight was overbooked so we figured we would take a travel voucher and get the next flight. When you have already lost a day, what the heck. Anyway, we have always wanted to do that but were usually on too tight a schedule to make it happen. We made the best of a bad situation.     
     As I sit looking out the window of the airplane, I am amazed!  In a couple of hours on a plane, we are making a similar journey that took us weeks or months to do on the boat.  When the clouds part, I can identify some of the Bahama islands as we fly over.     
     On St. Thomas, we hiked a little way then caught a Safari (open air taxi) to Crown Bay Marina where we picked up some necessary items at a marine store (none in the TX panhandle). Another safari ride to the ferry dock in Red Hook to reach St. John. Alas, we were back aboard Alibi in 8 days and Roxy was happy to see us!  So the sailing story continues. . . . . .     

Thursday, June 7, 2012

US Virgin Islands

     We made it!!  Our ultimate destination to visit our great friends, Stephen, Kelly, and Jake!  We last saw them in 2009 when they left on a similar voyage as we have taken from Key Largo. We have been in St. Thomas, St. John and Greater St. James (Christmas Cove) since leaving Culebra. We arrived a few days before Memorial Day. We have gone snorkeling and sailing on their catamaran and our boat. I took my first car ferry ride and Kelly and I did some shopping in STT. We have had a beach for Roxy to swim and she gets a nice long walk up and down the hills once or twice a day. Life is good!    
     We are on a mooring next to a boat named Highland. We met Tom (a singlehander) in Boqueron or Luperon.     
     We left early in the morning of June 5 for a trip to TX. Stephen and Kelly have been gracious enough to watch the boat and the dog do we could get some family time. We have been trading dog sitting since we both were in Key Largo!    
     Arrived Tuesday in Amarillo. Have been enjoying time with family and friends since our arrival. The grandson, Lyric, is close to walking!  He is so precious. Pictures will follow!!!!!    
     I think we have convinced them to come to the Caribbean for a visit this fall or winter. I want them to wait for hurricane season to be over and a little cooler weather for their sake. Lyric is getting a life jacket for his birthday!  He loves water so I cant wait to show him the ocean!!!    
     When we get back to the boat, we hope to join up with Celtic Rover and continue a journey down the windward islands and leeward islands. I am trying to locate paper charts for that portion of our trip - not very successful, I might add. We like a paper backup to the electronic chart plotter.  In fact, our bags will likely be twice as full as when we left on the return trip.     
     In the meantime, we are getting plenty of Tex Mex and family visiting!