and this too!

have to post this

on the way from English Harbour to Jolly Harbor Marina

After four days of beating into 25 knot wind, we held still today in English Harbor, Antigua. This is an old English Fort, replete with cannons and old workshops. It is very funny to go ashore to find English style stone buildings with gray and white trim next to Caribbean style small bungalow shops. This is also the home of the mega sailing yachts where you can buy handmade Caribbean pottery, for $ U.S. 30.00 per mug!

We found some more cruising friends here who we originally met in the Baleric Islands, and saw several ARC boats. Our friends were appalled to hear we are planning to return to the States and to work. It is a different life out here, and those cruising for extended periods no longer want to go home. There is a song in there somewhere.

Sailing very quickly through the Caribbean Islands so we can leave the boat in Tortola after Christmas. The sailing has been intense with heavy winds and gusts off the mountains to 35-40 knots. Yesterday we blew out a shackle on our first reefing line while we were underway moving at 9.5 knots and the falling sail took out our sail bag which led to some drama (and another trip up the mast for me which was uneventful). Really glad we didn't have anything break crossing the Atlantic because it is very loud and a bit scary.

We sailed from St. Lucia to Martinique where we have been swimming and sleeping. After all the hype around the crossing, we are pretty happy to have some peace and quiet. The French Caribbean is luscious green tropical with daily rain showers and rainbows--a little like living in a green house.

We said goodbye to notre amis--the French family we have been traveling with since mid October--and while sitting at an internet cafe welcome another french friend who just completed the crossing. The sailing community gets ever smaller. Our other American friends just completed their circumnavigation, 38,000 miles and three years traveling...

Tia is busily finishing school work before Christmas. She is missing her friends and excited to come home to Vermont.