After a long, cold Red-eye to Miami, we are on the plane to Trinidad. I can see the blue water and puffy clouds below. Already my spirits are lifting. I hear the lilt of Caribbean voices and see smiling brown faces. Time seems to be slowing down. Ladies are chatting in the aisles. One of the things I love about "Trini" is its diversity. Everyone has a story of where their families come from and what interesting blend they are. The population is a mixture of African descent, East Indian, Chinese, European French, Spanish, and..... We see it in our Swiss rigger, East Indian painter, Chinese/black winch rebuilder, and black mechanic. Although we are warned that the crime rate is high and to be vigilant, the impression is of a very integrated society that seems to coexist in relative harmony. Everyone we speak to is shocked at the discord in the US. They all ask us what is going on.

Tomorrow we begin the work required to get Frannie back in the water, then we test all of her systems. We hope to be away in about ten days. Our plan is to once again work our way up the chain enjoying the perfect sailing that the Windward and Leeward Islands offer. We also hope to do some diving, snorkeling, hiking and to reconnect with some old cruising friends.