CURRENT LOCATION: Anchored in Mosquito Cove, just outside the entrance to Jolly Harbour, Antigua
17 04.505' N, 061 53.541' W

Behind our boat is the marked channel leading into Jolly Harbour. Every day is like a parade of boats. Even if we are down below, we often pop our heads up like a gopher from its hole to see what type of vessel is motoring along this highway of water.



The other day Sheryl was playing gopher when I quickly saw her dash the rest of the way out into the cockpit. She was waving and yelling at a passing boat even before I realized who it was. Good friends of ours, Kenny and Kathy on s/v Mer Soleil were headed in to check-in to Antigua.

We first met Kenny and Kathy in Manzanillo Bay in the Dominican Republic. We had both just completed an extremely rough crossing from the Turks and Caicos, only to arrive in a very different sort of country. Adversity is often an ingredient for forming strong bonds, and we developed our friendship while spending time together in Luperon. Our paths crossed again last year, briefly, in Culebra. Earlier this year, we overlapped by just a day in St. Martin. Neither occasion gave us more than a few minutes of time to chat. Our meeting here in Jolly Harbour was to be the first time we would have the opportunity to spend a little time with them and get caught up on all of their adventures and future plans.

Jolly Harbour is a small place, and we saw them in 'town' the next day. We were doing computer stuff and they were taking care of laundry and renting a golf cart. We had a chance to meet their daughter, Natalie, who is staying aboard with them for a month.

The other night we had the opportunity to enjoy a lovely dinner on Mer Soleil. They are tied up at the marina and the conditions were perfect for an evening repast. Cool air, calm water, good friends, good food, and good conversation.

They will be pushing on south soon, as Natalie has to be in St. Lucia to catch a flight at the end of the month. I wonder what other friends from our past the 'parade of boats' might bring us next?