Jules
13/05/2010, Admiralty Bay, Bequia

Something of a quiet week ... well except for the banging.

Paul left 6.30 Saturday morning and thankfully arrived in Margarita 27 hours later without encountering any pirates on the way.

On Sunday we moved the Buzzard more into the middle of Admiralty Bay among the commercial boats so we could get back to doing the decks. The boys have been doing a wonderful job and both side decks are pretty much done now. It's frustrating knowing that we did them all a year ago and they need doing again already. Hopefully though we're getting better and better at the prep work and this time they'll be ok for considerably longer than a year.

We went for supper at Fernando's Hide-away with John and Ann from Honah Lee. It's the first time we've eaten in a restaurant for ... I can't remember how long as it's not really in our budget. However, it was a nice place up in the hills overlooking the bay and surrounded by trees, and the callaloo soup followed by chicken in fresh coconut was pretty good (almost as good as the lobster and lomito we cooked for Paul).

We're continuing to work away on the water-maker but still missing various bits and pieces so can't finish it. We know we're running low on water as we haven't filled up since we left Trinidad six months ago, so it's becoming something of an issue. We've been in touch with the docks at Kingstown and apparently we can go alongside and get water there so that's what we aim to do. It'll also fit in with picking Julie and Twent up at the airport on Saturday.

Apart from taking Toby to the beach we haven't been ashore much ,.Every time we go, we get a grocery bag of fresh fallen mangoes, if nothing else it's healthy and very affordably, FREE! When we do go into town you really notice the heat and the lack of breeze, oh and the mosquitoes which we don't get out in the bay. Haven't had any bad mosquito bites since Trinidad come to think of it, in Venezuela hardly any at all which is not what we were expecting.

We had a visit from the captain and one of the crew of Windrose of Amsterdam which is a big racing schooner that charters in the islands. They called by because they just couldn't believe the Buzzard was here and thought she was beautiful ... always good when that happens.

We've been reading on the BBC about the UK elections. It seems so distant and unimportant from here ... unlike Chelsea winning the league!

I've started reading Allen Carr's 'Only Way to Stop Smoking Permanently', which is a GREAT book that I've read before (the last time I stopped smoking permanently) and highly recommend (for all the smokers out there). I know it'll work but at the moment I'm at the stage of hating the taste of cigarettes but still doing it, basically the worst of both worlds. I've just got to try and get through the rest of the book before the weekend or otherwise the next two weeks are not going to be good. Still, if Mike can do it ...

So ... this afternoon (or maybe tomorrow morning) we're going to head over to St. Vincent, all of about 10 miles. I'm posting this now, and have just managed to add the latest photos, while we still have a connection. Not sure whether we'll get one in St. Vincent and know for sure that we won't once we head back to Union Island and Tobago Cays. I'll try for brief updates when I can but don't worry if you don't hear from us for a while. According to the rough itinerary we've got for Julie's visit we should be back in Bequia, and possible internet contact, around the 25th May.

Love to all ...

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Jules
07/05/2010, Bequia

Another week in paradise. Still hanging in Bequia and enjoying the beauty.

We had a day over in Kingston, St. Vincent, meeting up with a local guy to talk about the possibility of finding some work for the Buzzard. Unfortunately nothing has come from it as yet but you never know.

Kingston is relatively small and very busy compared to most of the places we've been over the last few weeks. It has more of the feel of Port of Spain (Trinidad) than the Caribbean islands we're becoming used to.

The ferry ride over was pleasant and nicely air-conditioned. Coming back, after walking the hot streets all afternoon we were more than looking forward to it. Only it was a different, non-air-conditioned ferry and rolling so much I was almost sea-sick and had to lay down on a wooden bench on the top deck.

Back in Bequia we're still spending a lot of time with Paul (who is set to leave for Margarita tomorrow) and have made quite a few local friends. There's actually quite a large ex-pat community out here ... only not too sure what they do.

Food shopping is expensive and you get constant harassment the minute you step anywhere near the market from the local rastas wanting you to buy more. We're having to be quite inventive in the menu department; we've been having to eat the fresh lobster that Johan's been catching in the rocks near to where we're anchored. So far the most he's caught at any one time is nine, but unfortunately the season has just ended so we're going to have to think of something else to supplement the still plentiful supply of fresh mangoes.

The boys started on the decks when we first got here but within a few hours we had complaints from the shore and the next day the Coastguard came round to tell us to stop so there's not much heavy work going on. We're continuing to work on the water-maker and various other projects but have run into something of a brick wall as far as parts are concerned. We've asked Twent to come over, hopefully with Julie if he can get the same flights, to bring out some stuff and help for a week or so.

We're also still having major problems with the internet connection. Apparently some of the photos uploaded but there's a whole lot more that didn't. I'll keep trying.

Anyway ... will post this not so exciting blog now from Paul's while he's still here otherwise who knows when you would get it.

Lots of love to everyone ...

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Jules
02/05/2010, Admiralty Bay, Bequia

Yes, I know, I know ... we're about a week or so behind with the blog. We are currently in Port Elizabeth, Admiralty Bay, Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We arrived here last Saturday (24th) but have only just managed to get organized and an internet connection.

We left Chatham Bay and went back up to Clifton and between Union and Palm Islands. Have to say I'm not too keen about going between the reefs but the Buzzard handled well and the views were spectacular (or at least what I saw between my fingers!). The journey from there to Tobago Cays was only three hours and we were anchored in the 'small cruise ship' area by midday.

So, what can I say about the Tobago Cays? AMAZING!!! Must be one of the wonders of the world ... and I'd never even heard about it. It's now a national Marine Park and they protect the reefs and wild-life. We swam with turtles; beautiful hawksbill ones with dappled brown heads and beautiful shells. We snorkeled Horse-shoe Reef which was like being in a giant aquarium, swimming amongst the myriad of bright coloured fish and trying hard to avoid the coral.

We met up with a great Canadian couple (Sharon and Phil) and spent two nights sharing hospitality and some of the most magnificent sunsets we've seen so far. We also went to their boat for lunch one day and watched what we were convinced were green sea-gulls, but apparently it was just the reflection of the aquamarine water. We've used all different camera settings trying to get the true colours but we haven't managed to produce any photos that reflect the intensity of the colours out here.

After that we weren't sure we could get anywhere better but actually Bequia is proving to be a very close second. It's the largest of the Grenadine islands, roughly seven square miles, and has about 5000 inhabitants. So far we haven't ventured out of Admiralty Bay (apart from a ferry ride over to St. Vincent which is about nine miles away).

The bay is ringed with white sand beaches and small coves. They don't have their own water but are not as dry as Grenada, the hills are green and the waterside is dotted with frangipani, flame trees and mangoes. So many mangoes that we've already made about five gallons of chutney and the boys get through at least six each a day. We pick them up from the grounds of a deserted beach hotel and there's still plenty there ... sure beats paying the EC$2 each they wanted for them in Union.

There are a fair few yachts anchored but it's definitely not crowded. Port Elizabeth is the largest 'town' but apart from a couple of small supermarkets and half a dozen shops there doesn't appear to be a whole lot here ... well, except the bars of course.

It's obviously geared towards tourists with bright coloured bars and restaurants playing live music and attracting people in. That being said, there aren't that many tourists around and a lot of the hotels on the island are going out of business.

One of the main reasons for being here now is meeting up with our friend Paul who we spent so much time with in Trinidad and who's just had a lousy few months since he ended up in jail in December. Anyway, he arrived two days before us and we anchored up just behind him when we came in.

He's still a bit down but we're doing what we can to cheer him up and keep him company ... could be another reason we haven't been as organized here as we should. It was really good to see him again and his dog Sammy and Toby went straight back into their mode of relating: Toby trying to hump Sammy's front legs and Sammy (who's a golden retriever) getting Toby's collar in his mouth, dragging him around and barking in his ear. We take them swimming every afternoon, drink fresh coconut juice, eat mangoes and watch the dogs frolic in the surf. It's all fun at the moment.

So ... there is more news but I'm going to post this now while I can and hopefully I'll do another in the not too distant future ... I'm sure you just can't wait!!!

Lots of love to everyone ...

PS Just heard that Julie's coming back to visit on the 15th May, great news!

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