MsChievous

Eating out is always an adventure in a foreign land. Saturday, Susie found a Mexican restaurant in the marina that had gorgeous online photos of their delectable entrees. Nothing that we couldn’t get at home, but we hadn’t eaten Mexican in a while ( except for Susie's great tacos). When we sat [...]

19 April 2024 | Le Marin, Martinique

Reflections

Our ensign (national flag) has taken a beating this year. They usually last a couple of seasons, but the higher winds we’ve encountered this year have taken their toll, much more so than on other national flags we've seen. That’s probably because other countries’ are usually a single piece of printed [...]

12 April 2024 | Portsmouth, Dominica

All aboard - and hang on!

Susie solved a problem that had been perplexing us since we got to the Caribbean: if we were to swim off the dinghy, how would we get back in?? (The tubes are big, and the freeboard is over a foot.) We considered a variety of steps/stairs, but nothing fit. A common problem was your legs disappearing [...]

10 April 2024 | Anse Joli, Ile de Saintes, Guadeloupe

On the seas again! (Sorry, Willie)

We had a great two weeks home for Summit's 7th (!!) birthday, seeing family and friends and enduring two dumpings, the second of which caused us to scramble and change our return flights - but we made it back to Antigua . There were, of course, lots of boat projects in our bags, but I wasn't expecting [...]

20 March 2024 | Jolly Harbour, Antigua

Italian tonight!

Last night in the islands before we head home for a few days. Susie does great Italian dinners, but we're eating out tonight. (Last night, too - great Mexican wraps aka burritos and margaritas that took us down for the count!) Finished up our pre-departure projects today and had a refreshing dip in the [...]

18 March 2024 | Deep Bay, Antigua

Antigua

We've been having such a good time on Antigua that I forgot to keep posting! The clearance was tortuous (2 hours and most of the forms filled out online - and printed - were ignored!) but things got better quickly. English Harbour and Falmouth were filled with megayachts, and we got to see some behomoth beauties sailing. We went to a community BBQ (with reggae and steel drum band) atop a beautiful vantage point (Shirley Heighrs) with two other Hylas owners and ran into other friends we had made several islands ago. They are a delightful young British couple who sailed across the pond earlier this year, and we shared the wild beauty of Antigua's (shallow, reef-strewn) North Sound a few days later. We're now heading to the marina where we'll leave MsChievous for 10 days while we head home for a "vacation" and Summit's birthday.

With Ma with her Flamingo...

01 February 2022 | St. John, USVI (Salt Pond Bay)

James AuBuchon | :-)

Twas the eve ‘fore the passage to Ol’ Christiansted
Border formalities were behind us with no fear or dread.
We were headed to snorkeling reefs and stone fortifications,
And we prepped our spirits with appropriate libations.

With Ma with her flamingo and I with the swan,
we had just splashed in with tropical elan.
When up toward the beach there arose such a clatter,
I slid from my noodle to see what was the matter.

A turtle, a turtle, “Tortuga!” they say,
And there it was, just floating in the bay.
A turtle, “Tortuga!” there arose the loud shout,
As he popped his head up and we could see his snout.

His carapace was broad and humped in the back,
And he looked like a peddler carrying his pack.
His flippers were broad and no doubt packed a wallop,
His eyes were tiny and black, just like olives.

He gave not a care to the swimmers around,
And turning his head dove down with a bound.
He returned in a jiffy and paddled about,
Then head out to sea with snorkelers in pursuit.

But I heard him exclaim as he slipped ‘neath the waves,
Happy sailing to all and to all a good day!

(See picture gallery!)

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