A week in review:

One week ago today we arrived in St. Thomas, USVI. Our initial assessment of this place was utter beauty and it has not changed one bit. In contrast to the Bahamas, we find it warmer, breezier, sunnier, greener and overall prettier. Best of all, it is cheaper. Right now we are still in an American territory so products are familiar and similarly priced to the US.

We spent the first few days working on Anastasia. First of all she needed a freshwater bath. We were so deeply crusted in salt we could have easily passed as a kettle cooked spud. Other jobs included reorganizing the interior for island living. We no longer needed the lee cloths and the dinghy is in the water instead of under the table. We searched out a sail loft and marine supply shop for a few fixes.

Right now we are in the Charlotte Amalie harbor next to where the cruise ships dock. It is quite impressive watching these mammoth floating boxes maneuver about. Each morning and evening we sit for the show. Also, there is a sea plane that uses the harbor as his runway departing every hour for St. Croix. Much to see as it is a city that hustles and bustles 24/7.

From here we will move onto St. John. We are really looking forward to visiting because St. John is mostly a national park. Hopefully there is plenty of untainted beauty to explore.

Our dinghy is the BOMB BABY. It goes SO fast and we can go SO far! Easily we have logged over 20 miles under her keel. It is like a whole new facet of cruising is open to us now. The dinghy is no longer for transport alone, it offers adventure itself! We go on dinghy rides! Just to ride! Super fun.

Today we write to you from an internet cafe ashore and also have had time to upload photos and video of the passage and of St. Thomas to SmugMug. Enjoy, here are the links:Chesapeake Bay --> St. Thomas, USVI & St. Thomas, USVI.