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ULTRA ADVENTURES
ST. MARTIN TO GUADELOUPE
MARCH 1, 2012 - APRIL 20, 2012
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AHOY, EVERYONE,
AS WE ALWAYS PRAY, WE HOPE THAT THIS EMAIL FINDS ALL OF YOU HAPPY AND HEALTHY! WE HAVE BEEN MAKING OUR WAY SOUTH, SINCE WE LAST WROTE TO ALL OF YOU. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN GUADELOUPE AND WILL BE LEAVING FOR DOMINICA IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THIS BLOG AND WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR LOVE, SUPPORT AND PRAYERS WHILE WE ARE CHASING OUR SAILING DREAMS!
P.S. - WE ARE TRYING SOMETHING NEW. WE HAVE UPLOADED OUR VIDEOS TO YOU TUBE FIRST AND THEN SUPPLIED THE LINKS THROUGH THE BLOG. JUST DOUBLE CLICK ON THE LINK TO OPEN IT UP. ENJOY!
CHEERS AND LOVE TO ALL OF YOU,
BILL & JOANNE : )
MARCH 1 and 2, 2012
St. Martin /Sint Maarten
We spent our last hours in St. Martin doing last minute projects and then we sailing to St. Barth's. While here, we met friends Steve and Alice of S/V Ocean Star, that we had in Grenada that are from Texas and George and Jan of S/V Wild Thing. Steve and Alice lived in Clear Lake Shores/Kemah and they used to see Ultra go out on charters, but we never met until in the Caribbean. George and Jan are from Dallas and moved their sailboat to South Shore Harbour one dock over from where we were docked, the day after we sailed away from the dock to go cruising. We never met until the Caribbean. What a small world. They know alot of the same people that we know from Clear Lake. It is a small, small world. They will be catching up to us after we go to St. Barth's. We are meeting them in Montserrat for the biggest holiday of the year there, St. Patrick's Day!
MARCH 3, 2012
Today we worked on boat projects and then off to the boat store and ice cream at Carousel.
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ON THE TO DO LIST WAS TO GO TO THE CAROUSEL ICE CREAM SHOP FOR THE FIRST TIME
BEFORE WE LEAVE SINT MAARTEN |
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THE BEAUTIFUL CAROUSEL
DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND UP SCALE ICE CREAM SHOPS WE
HAVE EVER SEEN! IF YOU HAVE THE DESIRE, THEY HAVE A FULL BAR THAT YOU CAN EVEN ORDER A BOTTLE OF 30 YEAR LIQUEUR TO GO WITH YOUR ICE CREAM. |
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| BILL HAVING AN ALMOND ROCHER ICE CREAM! |
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| DELIVERING HOMEMADE BANANA BREAD AND FISHING GEAR TO MICHELE, THE FISHERMAN, FOR HIS HARD WORK IN GETTING US A 55 GALLON DRUM TO STORE FUEL IN ABOARD ULTRA. |
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| MICHELE |
MARCH 4, 2012
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| THE HEINEKEN RACE WEEK PARTY AT MARIGOT BAY |
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| PASCAL IS WHIPPING UP A HUGE BATCH OF SEAFOOD PAELLA. YUMMY! |
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| OKAY, NOW JOANNE HAS BEEN RECRUITED TO STIR IT UP |
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| THE MORGANETTES |
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| BILL AS CAPTAIN MORGAN |
MARCH 5, 2012
Tonight, the HEINEKEN RACE WEEK PARTY was at Buccaneer Beach. We picked up Capt. Ron from S/V MOLLY BLOOM and headed to the beach.
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| THESE GIRLS WON THEIR RACING CLASS AND ALSO BEST OVERALL! GIRL POWER! |
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| WOW! HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS LONG STRETCH OF BEACH IS WALL TO WALL PEOPLE. |
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| SOME RACING VIDEO STILLS |
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| WHAT A GREAT SURPRISE. ROSEE, CONNOR'S GIRLFRIEND, IS HERE! |
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| ROSEE AND CAPTAIN RON |
MARCH 6, 2012
Happy Hour at Barnacle's and learn about some new navigation software.
MARCH 7, 2012
A crazy thing happened on the way to Simpson Bay.
Bill was picking Alice and JoAnne up at the marina and floating in the lagoon by the marina was a small Ziploc bag with a wallet in it. Bill scooped it up right away and the wallet fell out. He quickly rescued it. We looked for info that might be helpful to find the owner. We took Alice back to her boat. We found a sim phone card inside with the cell phone number but no answer. No boat name, but got on the VHF anyway to ask for the person by that name to contact us asap. Did not say for what....
After dropping Alice off, we went back to the marina to see if anyone knew this gentleman. He was Australian, so that narrowed it down a bit. No one knew him. We had to go to Budget to get some boat parts. While there, we asked customer service to ring the number again. No answer. Back to the marina for wifi to Google him and he came up on Facebook and the Australian Yacht Club that he belonged, too. We emailed the club asap. While checking email, we received an email from the manager of Budget that traced our email address to our account since they knew we had asked about this gentleman and the lost id, not entire wallet. The gentleman had rang back Budget, since he knew that the person that found the wallet would be the only ones to have that number. We emailed the manager and told him, yes we found an id, and we would meet the owner tomorrow morning at 10 at the store. We would recognize him from his id. Bill was getting the dink repaired and JoAnne waited inside for the 10 a.m. The gentleman did not look like his photo, he looked alot younger. On a hunch, JoAnne went over to greet him by his name and he said Yes. It was him. We went to the back to meet Bill. Bill had removed the significant amount of cash for security reasons. The owner was so nice and so grateful and thank goodness he had not canceled any cards, etc. Later he invited us over for Happy Hour with his mates aboard the boat that he is captaining back to Australia. We are so happy that this was a happy ending to the story. He said he was happy that there are still honest people in the world that would not steal almost a thousand USD in his wallet and not to just pitch the rest. He was so happy to get everything back that he had lost.
MORAL TO THE STORY: Please do at Capt. B did: Carry either your boat card, phone number or email address where you can be reached in case of lost wallet or backpack or a note inside stating "If found please return to....
This enabled us to find him alot faster.
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| THE OWNER OF THE WALLET AND OUR NEW MATE, CAPT. B |
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| HELPING JOHN AND DORA OF S/V WINDDRIFTER GET INTO THEIR SLIP A LAGOONIE'S |
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THIS VAN HAS BEEN SITTING HERE FOR A WHILE. IT NOW HAS A PAPAYA TREE GROWING
OUT OF IT! |
MARCH 8, 2012
TINTAMARRE ISLAND, ST. MARTIN
We sailed to Tintamarre Island today, but on the way we stopped and snorkeled at some neat rock formations along the way and then swam to the Tintamarre shore to explore the island.
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| BEACHCOMBING AT TINTAMARRE ISLAND |
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| LOBSTER SHELL |
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| COW FISH SKELETON |
MARCH 9 & 10, 2012
TODAY WE SAILED TO ST. BARTH'S. WE FLEW THE SPINNAKER THE ENTIRE WAY WITH ENGINE OFF. YEA!! We spent two nights here.
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| THE SHIPWRECK WE SAW BY ST. BARTH'S |
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| WOW! THAT PROP DOES NOT LOOK TOO GOOD. |
MARCH 11, 2012
ANCHORED STATIA ISLAND
We departed early this morning for Statia. We are looking forward to exploring this historical place. Statia is part of the Netherland Antilles (Dutch) and is considered a county or township of the Netherlands. They use both the currency of US dollars and Netherlands Antillean Guilders. The exchange rate at the moment is: $1 USD = 1.79 Antillean Guilders.
MARCH 12, 2012
We are headed ashore to check in and to see Statia.
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| THE OLD FORT AND THE AQUEDUCT THAT WAS BUILT FOR THE SETTLEMENT |
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| ONE OF THE BIGGEST HOUSES IN STATIA THAT IS PERCHED ON THE CLIFF |
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| WE PASSED THIS ON THE HIKE UP THE HILL |
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| PETE AND HIS LOVELY WIFE ARE BOTH ARTISTS |
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| WE HIKE A LITTLE FURTHER AND ABOUT A BLOCK WE RUN INTO PETE AND HE INVITES US TO HIS HOME. THIS IS THE HOME THAT WE SAW PERCHED ON THE CLIFF FROM THE HARBOUR. THEY ARE ORIGINALLY FROM NEW YORK |
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| WE HAD A GREAT VISIT AND TOUR OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL HOME AND THEN RED STRIPES TO GO |
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| ONE OF THEIR NEW BABIES |
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| WALKING FUNERAL PROCESSION |
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| THE HIKE BACK DOWN THE SLAVE PATH |
MARCH 13, 2012
WE SAILED TO NEVIS TODAY.
We arrived in Nevis. We passed up St. Kitts, since the weather was taking a turn for the worst and the winds and seas were kicking up again. We checked in and walked around town and then back to the boat for a swim and dink ride over to the see the Four Seasons Resort. and then around the peninsula. The resort closed down a few years ago when the economy tanked, but is now up and running again and full of guests.
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| FOUR SEASONS RESORT |
MARCH 14, 2012
WE SAILED TO MONTSERRAT TODAY.
We arrived in Montserrat with some wicked winds and seas, but finally made it. To our wonderful surprise, our friend, Capt. B was also here with his mates. We had a great Happy Hour aboard their boat tonight and they will be departing for Guadeloupe tomorrow. They are shooting to be in Australia by May.
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UPON OUR ARRIVAL TO MONTSERRAT, IT LOOKS LIKE THESE HOMES ARE COMPLETELY NORMAL
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You will see in the following photos, it is anything, but normal
MARCH 15, 2012
Today we will take a tour of the island of Montserrat with Sam Sword. Our tour included the Museum, lots of Montserrat history and historical sites, and then the destruction from the volcano with a tour of the Exclusion Zones that can only be entered through gates with policeman guarding them.
This was definitely a great stop, there is alot to see and do here. The people are very friendly.
YOU TUBE VIDEO LINK:
ASH THAT IS FROM THE SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO THAT COVERED THE FOUR SEASONS RESORT IN MONTSERRAT:
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| ULTRA ANCHORED OUT IN THE HARBOUR |
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| WINDMILL RUINS FOR GRINDING THE SUGAR CANE |
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| DON'T WORRY, I JUST POSED FOR THE PHOTO, DID NOT DRINK THE WATER FOR REAL. TOO MANY GOATS AND OTHER LIVESTOCK UP THAT WATERFALL. |
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| THE OLD CAPITOL TOWN OF PLYMOUTH IS TOTALLY BURIED BY PYROCLASTIC FLOW AND ASH |
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| THE GASES ARE ESCAPING FROM THE VENTS OF THE SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO |
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THE SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO IN THE BACKGROUND
VIEW FROM THE VOLCANIC OBSERVATORY |
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| PLYMOUTH IN THE BACKGROUND |
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| THE SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO IN THE BACKGROUND |
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| THAT BUILDING IN THE CENTER OF THE PHOTO IS THE "AIR STUDIO" WHERE SIR GEORGE MARTIN RECORDED SONGS FOR THE POLICE, NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND, MICHEAL JACKSON, ROLLING STONES, PHIL COLLINS AND PAUL MCCARTNEY TO NAME A FEW. |
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| WE ARE IN THE LAND OF THE IRISH |
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| ALL OF THESE ROCKS ARE FROM THE VOLCANO HURLING THEM IN TO THE AIR. AMAZING! |
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| THE ABANDONED MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE BACKGROUND |
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| THE LOBBY ENTRANCE TO THE FOUR SEASONS RESORT |
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| THE OUTDOOR BAR |
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| THE BARE AREA YOU SEE IN THE DISTANCE IS WHERE THE THRIVING CAPITAL OF MONTSERRAT, PLYMOUTH, WAS LOCATED BEFORE THE VOLCANO'S DESTRUCTION THAT COMMPLETELY BURIED IT. |
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| THESE ARE NOT CLOUDS, THIS IS THE GASES AND STEAM FROM THE VENTS OF THE VOLCANO |
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| BILL IN THE SWIMMING POOL FULL OF ASH AND MUD |
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| A CORRIDOR COMPLETELY FULL OF ASH |
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| THIS IS ALL VOLCANIC ASH |
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| THIS WAS THE DINING ROOM |
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| THIS WAS THE GIFT SHOP |
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| THE FRONT DESK |
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| THE SALES OFFICE |
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| RATE SHEET |
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| OFFICE SUPPLY CLOSET |
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| ROOM KEYS |
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| ONE OF THE SAFES |
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| THE OFFICE BATHROOM |
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| CHECK OUT HOW DEEP THE ASH IS! |
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| EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE IN THE BACKGROUD AND ALL AROUND ARE ALL ABANDONED BECAUSE IT IS IN THE EXCLUSION ZONE, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF BUILDINGS. |
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| THE WHITE ROW OF BUILDINGS THAT YOU SEE IN THE TOP CENTER OF THIS PHOTO TO THE RIGHT OF THE WINDMILL RUINS WAS THE MEDICAL SCHOOL |
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| THIS IS A 3 STORY BUILDING |
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| THIS WAS A 3-STORY BUILDING |
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| THE GOLF CLUBHOUSE. ALL OF THE SURROUNDING WAS ONCE THE GOLF COURSE. NOW IT IS ALL ASH AND ABANDONED HOMES |
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| THESE TREES WERE ALL BURNED AND BURIED BY THE PYROCLASTIC FLOW |
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| THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS CALLED BEVERLY HILLS |
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| HOTEL THAT WAS COMPLETELY BOOKED JUST BEFORE THE VOLCANO ERUPTION AND NOW IT IS CLOSED DOWN |
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| ALL OF THIS IS NEW LAND (DELTA) FROM THE PYROCLASTIC FLOW. THIS WAS THE HARBOUR AND THERE IS STILL THE TIP OF ONE OF THE STREET LIGHT PILINGS SHOWING IN THE BUSHES. THIS WAS FULL OF BOATS THAT WERE IN THE SEA. |
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| ALL OF THIS BEACH DID NOT EXIST BEFORE, ALL NEW DELTA THAT CAME TO BE AFTER THE VOLCANO ERUPTIONS |
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| ALL OF THE MUDDY LOOKING AREA IS THE PATH THAT THE PYROCLASTIC FLOW TOOK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE TO THE SEE |
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| OUR GREAT GUIDE, SAM SWORD |
MARCH 17, 2012
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! THE MOST CELEBRATED HOLIDAY IN MONTSERRAT!
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| HONEYMOON BEACH |
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| AN OLD ABANDONED HOME WITH A MILLION DOLLAR VIEW |
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| LOTS AND LOTS OF BATS |
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| JELLYFISH |
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| INSIDE THE BAT CAVE |
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| ALL OF THOSE BUMPS THAT YOU SEE ARE ALL BATS. LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF BATS! |
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| ULTRA ANCHORED ALL BY ITSELF WAITING FOR ALL OF THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY GOERS TO COME TO MONTSERRAT |
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| THE PURPLE MASS THAT YOU SEE ARE SERGEANT MAJOR EGGS |
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| THE ST. PARTICK'S DAY PARTY IS ABOUT TO BEGIN |
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| THIS SOUNDED GREAT AS AN INSTRUMENT , BELIEVE IT OR NOT. |
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| THE NICE LEPRECHAUN NAMED SEAN |
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| THE BEAUTIFUL CREOLE COSTUMES |
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| THESE ARE COPIES OF SLAVE HUTS THAT WERE BUILT FOR THE DAY'S EVENT AND SERVED WONDERFUL FOOD AND HOME BREWED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LOCAL CRAFTS |
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| THIS MAN HAS A GREAT TOY AND BILL WANTS TO PLAY WITH IT, TOO. |
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| OUR FRIEND AND TOUR GUIDE, SAM SWORD |
CHECK OUT THIS LINK FOR THE TRADITIONAL MASQUERADE DANCING:
Two You Tube links:
http://youtu.be/LXN3kAXmg88
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjNos2-IeB8&feature=channel&list=UL
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| GREAT IRISH PUB! |
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| FANTASTIC STEEL DRUMS AND WE DEFINITELY WANT THAT HAT! |
THE YOU TUBE LINK FOR STEEL PAN MUSIC:
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| SHE IS FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND WANTING HER PHOTO WITH US |
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| SO CUTE!! |
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| THESE CHILDREN ARE DRESSED IN THEIR CARNIVAL OR MASQUERADE COSTUMES. THE HISTORY GOES THAT THE SLAVES WITNESSED THE ESTATE MANAGERS WEARING BEAUTIFUL COSTUMES AND HAVING MASQUERADE BALLS, SO THEY COLLECTED PIECES OF FABRIC FROM THE BEAUTIFUL CLOTHING AND MADE COSTUMES OF THEIR OWN. THE RIBBONS REPRESENT THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWING AND COLOR FABRICS AND THE MIRRORS ARE TO WARD OF EVIL SPIRITS. THE COSTUME WITH THE PINK FACE REPRESENTS THE ESTATE MANAGER. WHEN SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED THE PRIVATE MASQUERADES CAME OUT OF HIDING AND ONTO THE STREETS. |
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| JOANNE TEMPORARILY JOINING THE BAND IN THE IRISH PUB |
MARCH 18, 2012
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO SCUBA DIVE WHILE OCEAN STAR AND WILD THING GO FOR A TOUR WITH SAM SWORD
TODAY IS JAN'S BIRTHDAY, SO WE ARE HAVING A SURPRISE PARTY FOR HER ON ULTRA TONIGHT WHEN THEY GET BACK.
THE BAT CAVE IN MONTSERRAT
YOU TUBE VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crAPEDRqsfs&feature=channel&list=UL
BAT CAVE MONTSERRAT
BILL IN A GREAT PASS IN MONTSERRAT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8OwGpGgONs&context=C4669b50ADvjVQa1PpcFNxM-KcD4vwsR73LdROxjBl7uOFcNYDNIUBILL IN GREAT PASS IN MONTSERRAT=
SEA TURTLE VIDEO:
SEA TURTLE VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cQJrMof5qU&feature=channel&list=UL
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| MORE SEA CAVES |
JAN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY ABOARD ULTRA
MARCH 19, 2012
DEPARTED FOR DESHAIES, GUADELOUPE
We departed Montserrat for Guadeloupe this morning. All of the smoke and clouds that you see in the photos below is actually steam from the vents of the volcano. The volcano is becoming active again and therefore, some parts of the land exclusion zone will be off limits. The grayish-scarred areas that you see are all new land formed by the volcano. If you look closely, you can see where the windmill ruins used to be on the edge of the cliffs and now they are more inland. That is alot of volcanic material! Some people are still farming this land.
MARCH 20, 2012
Today we are taking Ocean Star and Wild Thing on a the hike of the Deshaies River. Bill has told them it is only 45 minutes. Yeah, right! This is one of our favorite hikes of all time. We really missed having Sabbaticus, Sol Mate, Jo-Jo and Blue Moment there with us, too.
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| SIX LITTLE MONKEYS SITTIN' ON A TREE |
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| ELEPHANT EARS ON STEROIDS! |
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| BILL PROTECTING US ALL FROM THE ROLLING BOULDER |
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| STEVE |
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| JAN |
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| GEORGE |
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| ALICE CHILLIN' OUT |
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| ROTISSERIE CHICKEN IS ONE OF BILL'S ULTIMATE FAVES! THEY ARE ALMOST READY! |
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| LE MENU |
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| TERMITE NEST |
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| YOU CAN USE YOUR IMAGINATION OF WHAT GEORGE THINKS THESE ARE! |
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| WOW! WE COULD MAKE ALOT OF SMOOTHIES WITH ALL OF THESE PAPAYAS! |
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| DINNER ABOARD ULTRA |
THE REST OF THE HIKE UP THE DESHAIES RIVER WAS TO THE WATERFALL, WHILE ALICE AND JAN WAITED FOR US AT THE ROAD TO ENJOY SOME MORE OF THE SITES.
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| THE GROTTO THAT LEADS TO THE WATERFALL GROTTO |
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ICE COLD WATER AND THE BOULDER WE MUST CLIMB OVER TO SEE THE WATERFALL.
LAST TIME WE CLIMBED ON BRANDON'S BACK AND THIS TIME IT IS BILL'S BACK. |
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| DESHAIES WATERFALL |
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| GEORGE THE MERMAN |
MARCH 21, 2012
Fisherman starting early in the morning with their nets. We decided to all snorkel today. The harbour is full of sea life and the water is so clear. Good thing that we spotted a lion fish and Bill speared him. YEA! We rescued all of those fish from the spell of the deadly lionfish that can obliterate a reef in no time by eating all of the fish and lionfish have no predators.
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| BABY SEA TURTLE JUST HANGING OUT |
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| HEMINGWAY'S RESTAURANT AND BAR FOR A COCKTAIL AFTER SNORKELING ALL DAY |
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| WE TOOK A WALK THROUGH THE FORT RUINS FIRST |
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| WOW~ THAT IS A SPORTY RIDE! |
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| VIEW OF OUR BOATS FROM HEMINGWAY'S |
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| CUTE KITTY |
MARCH 22, 2012
Today we are headed to the Botanical Gardens here in Deshaies.
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FRESH WAHOO
UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE BEGINNING OF OUR CRUISING LIFE, WE CAUGHT ALOT OF THESE AND ACCIDENTLY THREW THEM BACK INTO THE SEA BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THEY WERE A TYPE OF BARRACUDA |
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| THE BOTANICAL GARDENS IN DESHAIES |
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THIS TYPE OF BANANA IS KNOWN DOWN HERE AS A "FIG". THESE ARE OUR FAVORITE!
WE WERE TOLD THERE ARE OVER 250 KINDS OF BANANAS JUST IN THE CARIBBEAN AND OVER 2000 WORLDWIDE |
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| FEEDING FRENZY |
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| BILL AND HIS BIG BAMBOO |
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| HERE BIRDIE, BIRDIE |
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| JUST GORGEOUS |
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| THEY ARE READY FOR THE SYRUP |
FLAMINGO DANCE VIDEO:
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WE WATCHED THIS MOVIE BEING FILMED THE FIRST TIME WE EVER CAME HERE.
THE SHOW IS OUT NOW FOR ALL TO SEE |
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| THE DINK DOCK IN THE DESHAIES RIVER |
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GRILLED CASSAVA BREAD
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MARCH 24, 2012
We all departed for Pigeon Island to celebrate Bill's birthday tomorrow. Kent and Marilyn of M/Y CARDEA are also going to be there for the party. We all had a great sail over. We got here early, so we all decided to go diving right away off of Pigeon Island.
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| THE GLASS BOTTOM BOAT GOING BY |
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| STEVE |
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| ALICE |
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| JOANNE AND ALICE |
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| BILL |
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| JAN |
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| PLANTEUR PUNCHES FOR EVERYONE AFTER A GREAT DAY! WHAT A TREAT! |
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BEFORE DEPARTING FOR PIGEON ISLAND WE BOUGHT FRESH PRODUCE AND MAHI MAHI AT THE
DESHAIES FARMER'S MARKET FOR BILL'S BIRTHDAY PARTY |
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| ULTRA ANCHORED IN DESHAIES |
MARCH 25, 2012
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BILL!
TODAY BILL WANTS TO SPEND THE DAY DIVING IN THE JACQUE COUSTEAU MARINE PARK. WHAT A SPECTACULAR IDEA!
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| BILL'S BIRTHDAY LOOT |
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| THE BIRTHDAY BOY |
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| GEORGE SWIMMING UP ABOVE IS OUR CHASE BOAT |
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| BILL, I LOOOOOVE YOUUUUUUU THISSSSS MUUUUUCH! |
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| JACQUE COUSTEAU STATUE |
BILL'S BIRTHDAY PARTY!
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| YEA! MARILYN AND KENT OF M/Y CARDEA MADE IT ALL THOSE MILES TO BE HERE FOR THE BIRTHDAY PARTY! SO HAPPY! |
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| BILL'S TEXAS AGGIE CLOCK THAT GEORGE AND JAN MADE FOR HIM |
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| TO KEEP BILL BUSY ON THOSE LONG PASSAGES, HE CAN UNDO THIS MESS |
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| "I THINK WE NEED MORE WINE" |
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| A BOTTLE OF SABA SPICE LIQUEUR FROM CARDEA |
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| MARILYN BROUGHT FUN PARTY FAVORS |
MARCH 26, 2012
Today we did more scuba diving. We are soaking in all of this great underwater sea life. After the dives, the swell starting coming into the anchorage so we all moved the boats to Anse a La Barque.
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| WE NEED TO LOOK UP WHAT THIS IS. LOOKS LIKE AZILLION STARFISH, BUT THEY ARE ALL CONNECTED??? |
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| MOLTED LOBSTER. THE COMPLETE SHELL IS STILL INTACT |
MARCH 27, 2012
SAILED TO LES SAINTES AND ANCHORED TERRE DE HAUT
We departed early for the marina to get fuel in Basseterre and then onto Les Saintes. This is one of our favorite places that we have been to in Caribbean. So cute and so friendly.
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| FUN FAMILY OF ABOUT 20 DOLPHINS CAME TO RIDE IN OUR BOW WAKE |
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| WILD THING CRUISING BY |
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| JOANNE DOING LAUNDRY UNDER WAY TO TERRE DE HAUT |
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WOW! TERRE DE HAUT IS BEING INVADED BY CRUISE SHIPS TODAY.
THERE ARE 2 HERE.
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| HORSESHOES WE FOUND ON THE DESHAIES HIKE. ANYONE UP FOR A GAME OF HORSESHOES? |
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DINNER ABOARD ULTRA
MARCH 28, 2012
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| EXCUSE ME, HAS ANYONE SEEN MY TOY? |
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| SAILING OUT OF HARBOUR EARLY IN THE MORNING |
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| WE TOOK HAPPY HOUR TO THE DOCK IN TERRE DE HAUT |
MARCH 29, 2012
We all went snorkeling and scuba diving today.
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| ALICE |
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| A BARREL SPONGE SO BIG THAT BILL CAN FIT HIS SHOULDERS AND HIS TAKE INSIDE OF IT |
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| GIANT CRAB INSIDE |
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| CAPT. GEORGE IS ALWAYS ABOVE US AS OUR CHASE BOAT |
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| YES, THIS IS A BICYCLE 30 FOOT UNDER THE SEA |
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| BILL DOING A FLIP |
MARCH 30, 2012
TODAY WE HIKED TERRE DE HAUT. WE HIKED TO FORT CAROLINE AND FORT KATHERINE AND THEN BEACH PICNIC LUNCH AND THEN ONTO MORE HIKING!
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| ULTRA ANCHORED AT PAN DE SUCRE, LES SAINTES |
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| DREAD LOCK RASTA HAIR |
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| THIS BEACHHOUSE ON THE WAY TO THE FORT IS NAMED "MARIANNE" |
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| THE GOATS ARE JUST AS TAME AS DOGS AND THEY LOVE BAGUETTES! |
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| HUGE FUNNEL CLOUD FORMING |
MARCH 31, 2012
TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THREE YEARS OF CRUISING! IT HAS BEEN A BLAST!
We snorkeled today and then hiked Ile de Cabrit in Les Saintes.
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| THE REMAINS OF THE FORT |
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| THIS IS A TURPENTINE TREE, BUT ITS' OTHER NAME IS THE "TOURIST TREE" BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS RED AND PEELING LIKE IT HAS A SUNBURN. |
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| HAPPY HOUR ON THE BOW OF ULTRA AND THEN DINNER INSIDE TO CELEBRATE 3 YEARS! |
APRIL 1, 2012
Today Ocean Star and Wild Thing departed for Marie Galante. We have already been there, so we stayed in Terre De Haut and worked on boat projects and enjoyed the sites. Great Happy Hour aboard S/V HERON with Tomaz and Lili from Slovenia.
APRIL 2, 2012
APRIL 3, 2012
Our friends Gary and Celeste from S/V Sol' Surfin' are here and invited us to Happy Hour aboard their boat tonight. We have not seen them since we were in the Dominican Republic last year, so it was wonderful to catch up.
APRIL 4, 2012
We sailed to Pointe a Pitre today to see if we can get a technician to work on our freezer. This was a lot better sail then what we had when we did this last with Sabbaticus and Sol Mate. The water was so calm and we saw several whales breaching on the way over. The camera was unfortunately not fast enough and the whales can hold their breathe way too long. It was a great National Geographic Experience. We will meet up with Ocean Star and Wild Thing here and then rent cars to explore the island.
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| THE CRANES AT THE PORT REMIND OF US GIRAFFES. Hmmm..Maybe we just had one extra glass of wine too many |
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| EVEN THE MEGASAILBOAT RECYCLES HIS ZIPLOC BAGS BY WASHING THEM AND DRYING THEM ON THE LIFELINES LIKE WE DO |
APRIL 5, 2012
We are working on our taxes. Today while doing so, we saw a boat dragging and hung up on another boat. Steve and Bill were working the freezer and jumped in the dink to help the guy out.
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BILL AND STEVE RESCUED HIM
APRIL 6, 2012
THE REFRIGERATOR GUY CAME TO TODAY TO WORK ON THE FREEZER. WE ARE KEEPING OUR FINGERS AND TOES CROSSED THAT IT NOW WORKS.
APRIL 7, 2012
We took the rentals cars and drove around the island.
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APRIL 8, 2012
HAPPY EASTER, BUNNY!!
We had rented cars for a few days, so we could see more of the inland parts of the island. We had a FIAT EASTER EGG car with a stick shift. Bill loves driving it on the curves through these mountains! We began the day with great hikes along the way through the Guadeloupe rainforest national park. Also, on our list today was do the zip lining adventure at Le Tapeur. It was fantastic because it was also and obstacle course as you see from the photos below.
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OUR EASTER EGG FIAT RENTAL CAR
STICK SHIFT SO BILL IS REALLY HAVING FUN DRIVING IT ON THE CURVES THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS |
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| YEA! WE HAVE ARRIVED AT LE TAPEUR ZIP LINES. WE ARE SUITED UP AND READY TO GO. |
YOU TUBE VIDEOS THAT WE UPLOADED. ENJOY! JUST CLICK ON THE LINKS TO SEE THE VIDEOS.
JOANNE ZIP LINE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSbXXqtL8_A&feature=channel&list=UL
BILL ZIP LINE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGZE-Tkd6_w&feature=BFa&list=ULLXN3kAXmg88
JOANNE ZIP LINE PART 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx346W-4ikA&feature=BFa&list=ULdGZE-Tkd6_w
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| JOANNE |
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| ALICE |
APRIL 9, 2012
Today we have a reservation with Nicola and Sebastian of CANOPEE out of Plage de Malendure - BOUILLANTE to do rappelling down waterfalls and canyoning. This is definitely going to be a great day!
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OCEAN STAR AND WILD THING FOR TAKING ALL OF THESE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS! OUR CAMERA BATTERY WAS TOTALLY DEAD!
Some You Tube videos of the adventures: Just double click on these links to open up the video. This is our first time to attach YOU TUBE VIDEOS to our blog, so we hope that it works.
BILL JUMPING INTO THE WATERFALL POOL:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
JOANNE RAPPELLING:
=ZEfCbfgJoQ4&feature=autoplay&list=UL3hYRK1FzUNk&playnext=1
BILL RAPPELLING DOWN WATERFALL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKPoZpzrBOA&feature=bf_next&list=UL1acB75JEQaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hYRK1FzUNk&feature=bf_prev&list=ULZEfCbfgJoQ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEfCbfgJoQ4&feature=autoplay&list=UL3hYRK1FzUNk&playnext=1
JOANNE RAPPELLING DOWN THE WATERFALL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1acB75JEQaM&feature=bf_next&list=ULZEfCbfgJoQ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1acB75JEQaM&feature=channel&list=UL
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| JOANNE AND JAN DRINKING WATER FROM THE WALL OF THE WATERFALL |
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| SEBASTIAN OUR GUIDE IF THE FIRST ONE TO RAPPELL DOWN THE 100 FT. WATERFALL |
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| NICOLA OUR OTHER GUIDE IS THE BREAK AND SAFETY MAN |
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| OUR WETSUITS CAME WITH VINYL DIAPERS ATTACHED FOR SCOOTING ON THE ROCKS. WHAT A SEXY LOOK! |
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| SLIDING DOWN THE WATERSLIDES |
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| CELEBRATING OUR RAPPELLING ADVENTURES WITH PLANTEUR PUNCHES, FRENCH CHEESE AND BAGUETTES. LIFE IS GOOD! |
APRIL 11, 2012
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| WE ARE IN ANOTHER CLOUD FOREST AGAIN |
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| TALLEST WATERFALL IN THE ENTIRE CARIBBEAN |
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| THE TALLEST WATERFALL IN THE CARIBBEAN |
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| COFFEE PLANT |
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| THIS IS THE CALLED THE CANDLE TREE, LOOKS LIKE CANDLES STICKING UP |
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| STRAIGHT DOWN THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN! |
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| TREE FERN LIMB UNDERFURLING |
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| THE WILDLIFE OBSERVATORY |
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| WOW! HE IS HUGE!!! |
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| THESE ARE THE KINDS OF ROOT MAZES THAT ARE COMMON ON OUR HIKES IN THE FOREST |
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| THE IS THE MAP OF GUADELOUPE, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A BUTTERFLY |
APRIL 12, 2012
Today we decided to have a beach day. We loaded up the cooler and we were off to the beach. Since it is a holiday weekend, the rental car company is giving us the car for extra days.
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| CLUB MED PUBLIC BEACH |
APRIL 13-15, 2012 - MORE BOAT PROJECTS
APRIL 15, 2012
Fixed this and that aboard today and then a great dinner aboard Ocean Star.
APRIL 16, 2012
Today Ocean Star and Wild Thing departed to Antigua and we to Les Saintes. We had a great sail over. We will catch up with them a little more south. We went to Antigua for Race Week last year and it was alot of fun, and this time we want to spend more time in Dominica this year. We caught a Mahi Mahi on the way into Terre De Haut, but something ate him before we could get him reeled in. Have not had that happen in a long time. He took our brand new lure and half of the leader with him. Bummer!
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| MAHI MAHI ON THE THE LINE, BUT AFTER THIS PHOTO IT WAS NO LONGER THERE. LOST THE LURE AND HALF OF THE LEADER. SOMETHING ATE HIM BEFORE WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY~ |
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| HEY, DENA, KEVIN AND CONNOR, WE FOUND YOUR FAVORITE KETCHUP POTATO CHIPS! YUMMY! THANK YOU FOR THE TIP ON BUYING SOME OF THOSE! |
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| WE MET HIM AND HIS FAMILY WHEN WE HAULED OUT BOAT IN RYBOVICH SHIPYARD IN WEST PALM BEACH. HONEY FITZ WAS THERE AND WE TOOK A GREAT TOUR OF IT. |
PHOTO TAKEN AT RYBOVICH SHIPYARD WHEN WE TOURED THE BOAT WHILE WERE HAULED OUT, TOO.
APRIL 17-20, 2012
We have been doing maintenance on the boat and some snorkeling.
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| COLLECTING SEA GLASS AT PAN DE SUCRE BEACH |
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| LOOKS LIKE A BAT FISH. THE FINS FAN ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE TAIL! AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND HE IS LIVING UNDERNEATH OUR BOAT! |
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| A PARADE OF VERY LARGE SQUID |
WE WATCHED THE FIRST EPISODE OF "DEATH IN PARADISE" THAT WAS FILMED HERE AT TERRE DE HAUT, LAST NIGHT. IT IS ON BBC ONE. WE HOPE THAT YOU GET A CHANCE TO SEE AN EPISODE.
HERE IS COPY OF A VIDEO WE MADE OF THE GREEN FLASH. NOT THE RIGHT CAMERA AND NOT A VERY BRIGHT GREEN FLASH, WE HAVE SEEN MUCH BETTER ONES. HOWEVER, IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND IT WAS FILMED AT ANCHOR IN DESHAIES. WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY IT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znZRX7SNJa4&feature=channel&list=UL
We hope that you enjoyed this blog entry. We look forward to talking to all of you soon either by , Facebook, Skype or email and seeing how all of you are doing. Please email us. We love to hear from all of you!
Cheers and love to all of you,
Bill & JoAnne : )
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