MARTINIQUE TO THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS - JANUARY 3, 2013 - FEBRUARY 25, 2013 -

MARTINIQUE TO THE

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

 

JANUARY 3, 2013 - FEBRUARY 25, 2013

AHOY, EVERYONE,

WE HOPE THAT THIS EMAIL FINDS ALL OF YOU HAPPY AND HEALTHY!  WE ARE WRITING YOU FROM THE BEAUTIFUL DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. WE ARE SAILING THE SOUTH COAST THIS TIME.

We have had quite the adventure since we last updated our blog.  We have covered many, many more nautical miles than this time last year.  We will be headed West this year and will be in Rio Dulce, Guatemala for hurricane season 2013.  We will miss being in the Windward and Leeward islands of the Caribbean, but know that it is time for us to see new places and head West. There are so many beautiful places on this earth that we have yet to explore!  We hope that you enjoy this blog entry! :  )

Some of the highlights since our last blog are:

We  continued our travels through beautiful Martinique:

•  Countless dives, hikes and loaded up on French Wine.

From Martinique we sailed to one of our favorite places, beautiful Dominica. 

• There we explored  our favorite fort in the Caribbean, Fort Shirley at Cabrits. 
• We did countless hikes, snorkels and of course limed with our wonderful Dominican friends.  :) 

From Dominica we were then off to Guadeloupe, as we are trying to catch up with our friends, Steve and Alice, aboard Ocean Star that we will be buddy boating with all the way to Guatemala. They were already much further north  in St. Martin. 

In Guadeloupe, we visited all of our favorite places:

• Jacque Cousteau Park for excellent diving and beaches
• Les Saintes
• Deshaies to hike the river and have a French beer after at the famous Le Kaz restaurant and bar   



After Guadeloupe we were off to Montserrat, Nevis, St.Kitts, and St. Martin.

• In Montserrat, we spent the BEST St. Patrick's Day 2013 ever at their biggest holiday of the year!

Since we need to, continue our journey north, we just spent one night here and then sailed onto the islands of Nevis and St. Kitts. These two separate islands are the same country.

• On the way to Nevis, we caught a great fish and had delicious platters of sushi!  Woo hoo!  It has been a long time since we have had that!
• We hiked, snorkeled and explored Nevis.
• In St. Kitts,  it was on our list to explore Fort Brimstone.  We hopped a local bus for $1.50 and rode it from side of the island to the other.  FANTASTIC!  Nice people on the bus and all proud to give a tour and shout out places of interest as we were driving by.   We arrived at the Fort and we were the only ones there, except for the staff.  Great not to have crowds.  We spent several hours at the Fort and then headed back on the last local bus to get home before dark. We had left Ultra at a secure marina in downtown St. Kitts.  It was a great place to leave it, since we do not normally  do marinas!  The price was right, 60cents U.S. per foot. YEA!

The next day, we sailed onto St. Martin. 

• We anchored out in Simpson Bay, and met up with Ocean Star for lunch at one of our favorite places, Sarafina's.  It is a great French Cafe!   We walked around town with them.
• The next day, we then went through  the early bridge to anchor in the lagoon.  We had Ocean Star aboard for dinner to celebrate being back together again after over a month.
• We spent days provisioning, getting boat parts, and getting boat repairs done.
• Our friend, Scott, from Georgia came to visit us for 6 days.   Upon his arrival in St. Martin, we hit the road running and showed him all that St. Martin (French side) and Sint Maarten (Dutch Side) have to offer.
• We also got to reunite with "Wild Thing" and enjoy parties aboard their new boat, a 57 Lagoon Catamaran they appropriately named, "Wild Cat".  They went from a 50 monohull to a 57 multihull.

We were then off to the British Virgin Islands: 

• We had a great sail over to the British Islands.  We did not start the engine until we got to the reef to the entrance to the Bitter End, Virgin Gorda.  OMG...the engine overheated right away, and we had to shut it down and sail in, and then sail in the anchorage, and then drop the sail and drop the anchor, and then raise the sail, and then try to set the anchor which was a little tricky, some how, some way with the sail.  Totally exhausted we worked on the engine a bit and Steve from Ocean Star  came over to help. Later George from Wild Cat and David from Highland Fling came over to help out, too.   
• We dove the fantastic Wreck of the Rhone for what seems like the millioneth time, and it is always great!  We dive it several times when we visit the BVIs.  You can Google this and learn more about this beautiful wreck. 
• Attended the Full Moon Party in Trellis Bay
• Bitter End hikes and Saba Rock for Painkillers and snorkeled in Oil Nut Bay and JoAnne spotted our first shark in 3 years, swimming right passed her,in just 3 ft. of water 20 seconds after jumping in the water.
• The saga always continues with boat projects and broken boat parts.  :  ) 

 

 

JANUARY 2, 2013

 

WE HAD MAGNIFICANT DIVING AT GRAND ANSE D'ARLET

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PORCUPINE FISH

 

 

SPOTTED GROUPER HIDING OUT IN A SPONGE

GREEN FLASH

JANUARY 3, 2013

After a day FULL of boat projects, it was time to go to shore and walk  around and treat ourselves to a French Lorraine Beer.

BEAUTIFUL TALLSHIP IN THE ANCHORAGE

 

 

JANUARY 4, 2013

Today we went diving with S/V Cape and S/V Silver Heels III.

 

 

 

 

 

LYNN

LYNN, DAVE AND BRYNN

LYNN

BILL FOUND A HEINEKEN BOTTLE COVERED IN CORAL

LYNN 

WE SAW LOTS OF EELS

ANOTHER LIONFISH

HUGE BARREL SPONGES

 

HMMMMM..WHY DID BILL TAKE THIS PHOTO.  DOES IT REMIND HIM OF SOMETHING.........

WE SHOPPED AT THIS CUTE FRENCH STORE FOR HAPPY HOUR ITEMS AND EGGS.  EVERYTHING IS FARM FRESH AND BEAUTIFUL.
EVEN THE LADY AT THE CHECKOUT IS BEAUTIFUL!

LIFE IS GOOD
BAGUETTE, FRENCH BEER, PATE, AND FRENCH CHEESE
 HAPPY HOUR
ON THE OCEAN FRONT

THE PLACE WHERE WE FILL OUR DIVE TANKS

JANUARY 5, 2013

MORE SCUBA DIVING AT ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SPOTS!

 

THE COLORS ARE AMAZING! EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR IN PERSON!

WAY TOO MANY LIONFISH

LOBSTERS HIDING OUT UNDER THE LEDGE

 

JANUARY 6, 2013

After a day of boat projects and Ken helping us with our stereo speaker system, we had Lynn and Ken from Silver Heels for Happy Hour and Dinner aboard Ultra.

RUM, RUM AND MORE RUM! :)

JANUARY 8, 2013



We  toured the harbour in the dink checking out the wrecks.
We then had a great sail to Fort de France, Martinique.

THIS YACHT HOLDS ALL OF THE TOYS FOR THE YACHT BELOW
NOTICE THE HELICOPTER,  BOATS,  ETC.  ON THE DECK.  ALSO, THE SIDES HAVE GIANT DOORS THAT OPEN UP THAT HOLD JET SKIS, WINDSURF EQUIP., KITESURF EQUIP., ETC.  ON THE STERN IS ANOTHER GARAGE THAT HOUSES EVEN MORE TOYS!

THIS IS THE MOTHER SHIP. IT IS NAMED "ACE".

CUTE ANCHORAGE ALONG THE WAY

 

 

JANUARY 9, 2013

 

We had a great sail to Fort De France yesterday and today we went to shore to explore and do some shopping.

CONCRETE SIDEWALK WITH PALM FROND DESIGN

THE AMAZING LIBRARY

THE TOWN

THE BOARDWALK

 

JANUARY 10, 2013

 

Today we sailed to St. Pierre.  After a great snorkel upon arrival,we scored some snorkels and masks under our boat in 30 ft.  of water. They will be great to keep and trade for fish, lobsters, etc. down the road.   We then hopped in the pool and enjoyed another beautiful Green Flash sunset.

Mount Pelee



BILL IN THE SWIMMING POOL,GLASS OF FRENCH WINE, AND HE IS THE POT OF GOLD AT END OF THE RAINBOW.  LIFE IS GOOD! :  )

ONE GREEN FLASH COMING UP! OR GOING DOWN!

 

 

 

 

BILL CLEANING A FISH THAT JUMPED IN OUR SUGAR SCOOP

JANUARY 11, 2013
St. Pierre
Today we went for a hike and to the local market.  We then went for dive on one of the old shipwrecks caused by the Mount Pelee eruption.

THIS IS THE SEED POD THAT THE SEEDS BELOW  COME FROM.  THESE ARE WHAT WE ALL CALL "SEA BEANS", BUT THEY COME FROM A VINE IN THE RAINFOREST AND THEN WASH OUT THROUGH THE RIVERS TO SEA IN THE HEAVY RAINS AND THEN FLOAT TO THE BEACHES FOR US ALL TO FIND.

THE RUINS OF THE OLD THEATER

ULTRA ANCHORED IN ST. PIERRE

 

JANUARY 12, 2013

 

St. Pierre, Martinique to Portsmouth, Dominica

 

As we  sailed by in the early morning, we captured photos of  Mt. Pelee without the tremendous cloud cover that is normally in every photo!

 

ARRIVING IN PORTSMOUTH, DOMINICA

EVERYONE STARTS SHOWING UP TO WELCOME US BACK TO BEAUTIFUL DOMINICA!

 

 

JANUARY 13, 2013

 

MARTIN "PROVIDENCE" AND HIS LOVELY WIFE, FLO, DELIVER A HUGE BASKET OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS FROM THEIR YARD TO US THIS MORNING. HAPPY HOUR WITH ALL OF THEM ABOARD ULTRA AND THEN WE WERE OFF TO THE PAYS BBQ.

 

WE TOOK THE DINGHY ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BEND, WAY, WAY AROUND THE BEND. 

SEA CAVES, WE LOVE THEM!

KISSING HER MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE FOR GOOD LUCK THAT SOMEONE FINDS IT!

PAYS BBQ

SHANE FROM S/V MOONSHINE DOING HIS FIREDANCE ON THE BEACH!

 

 

 

JANUARY 14, 2013

 

TODAY WE HIKED OUR FAVORITE FORT IN THE CARIBBEAN, FORT SHIRLEY.

 

THESE ARE THE STUDENT DORMITORIES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE WE HAVE BEEN COMING HERE.
THEY NOW HAVE A ROOF, TOILETS, SHOWERS, AND BEDS INSTALLED, BUT WILL NOT BE OPEN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
OF COURSE BILL HAD JOANNE POSE ON THE TOILET, NOT USING IT
OF COURSE!   : ) 

THIS A ROOM FULL OF CANNON BALLS AND GRAPE SHOT USED IN THE 1700s.

MAGNIFICANT RUINS OF THE FORT

HALF WAY UP THE MOUNTAIN

THE VIEW FROM THE  TOP OF THE SWAMP

THIS IS THE PATH THAT WE WENT ON THE FIRST TIME, WHEN WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GO FURTHER DUE OT THE PATH BEING BLOCKED BY A 10 FT. BOA CONSTRICTOR.

THIS IS THE SEED POD FROM THE SAND BOX TREE.  WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS ALSO A TYPE OF MAHOGANY TREE.  BEAUTIFUL SEEDS INSIDE THAT LOOK LIKE DOLPHINS.

 

 

 

 

 

 



JANUARY 15, 2013

TODAY WE HIKED FORT SHIRLEY AGAIN AND THEN A SNORKEL.  AFTER THAT, A SPECTACULAR DINNER AT MARTIN AND FLO'S HOME.

BILL AND NIKKI CLOWNING AROUND.  :  )

FLO'S BEAUTIFUL ORCHIDS

JANUARY 16, 2013

Today we took a great hike and then had a great dinner of stingray. Yes, stingray! In the French islands it is extremely popular and on every menu, they have stingray in the fresh and frozen seafood grocery.  We bought some frozen and decided to cook some up tonight.  It was excellent!

HIKING, HIKING AND MORE HIKING!
OUR FRIEND GAVE US A LIFT TO SEE A BEAUTIFUL LOT FOR SALE.

THESE BABIES  ARE SOOOO CUTE!  JUST A WEEK OLD!

CHECK OUT THE DESIGN OF THE FISH TRAPS.  THEY ARE WOVEN BY HAND AND LOOK JUST LIKE BEAUTIFUL STRAW BASKETS.

THIS IS WHERE THE GREAT BBQS ARE HELD ONCE A WEEK

ULTRA STINGRAY DINNER BEFORE

ULTRA STINGRAY DINNER PREPARED ASIAN STYLE
YUMMY!

JANUARY 17, 2013

TODAY WE SAILED FROM PORTSMOUTH TO LES SAINTES, GUADELOUPE.

FORT SHIRLEY AT CABRITS

JANUARY 18, 2013
LES SAINTES, TERRE DE HAUT
AFTER OUR CHECK IN, WE TOOK A WALK THROUGH TOWN AND THEN WENT FOR A SNORKEL AND A TRIP OVER TO  THE BEAUTIFUL BEACH.  IT IS A TYPICAL FRENCH BEACH, LE TOPLESS OR LE NATURAL.

WHILE WALKING THROUGH TOWN, WE HAD A GREAT SURPRISE, WE RAN INTO DOUG AND WENDY

DINNER ABOARD ULTRA WITH S/V MOONSHINE

JANUARY 19, 2013

TODAY WE HIKED AND SNORKELED SOME MORE. 



CHECKING INTO GUADELOUPE VIA COMPUTER WITH CUSTOMS, IMMIGRATION AND PORT AUTHORITY ALL IN ONE. SO EASY!  GREAT SYSTEM!

RAINBOW AND FRENCH WINE IN THE NETS!  LIFE IS GOOD!

JANUARY 20, 2013

WE SAILED FROM LES SAINTES TO JACQUE COUSTEAU MARINE PARK. EXCELLENT SCUBA DIVING! AFTER THE DIVE WE HEADED TO THE BEACH TO WALK AROUND THE SHOPS AND THEN STOPPED FOR SOME PASSION FRUIT ICE CREAM!  YUMMY!

THESE FISH LOVE, LOVE, LOVE STALE BAQUETTES!

BILL ENJOYING AN ICE COLD FRENCH BEER AND A BAQUETTE WITH

SALMON PATE AFTER A GREAT DIVE. 

WARMING UP AFTER THE DIVE

BILL PRACTICING ONE OF HIS BAR TRICKS ON JOANNE

HAND CRANKED HOMEMADE PASSION FRUIT ICE CREAM! WOO HOO!

JANUARY 21, 2013

TODAY WE DID MORE SCUBA DIVING!

LOTS AND LOTS OF TROPICAL FISH! THE GIANT AQUARIUM!

GIANT ELK HORN CORAL

SIMPLY HUGE BARREL SPONGES.  TALLER THAN  JOANNE AT 5' 8"!

THE BARREL SPONGES ARE SO HUGE THAT BILL CAN FIT INSIDE ONE OF THEM

JANUARY 22, 2013

TODAY WE SAILED TO DESHAISE, GUADELOUPE
WE SNORKELED AND THEN PULLED EACH OTHER ON THE DIVE PLANE BILL MADE FOR US.

GOING

GOING

GONE

 

THE DIVE PLANE

SO FUN! WE GOT A FRONT ROW SPOT IN THE ANCHORAGE BY THE DINK DOCK.  WE WERE GREETED EVERYONE WITH A WAVE FROM THE MAN THAT LIVES IN THE HOUSE ACROSS FROM US!  BON JOUR!

JOANNE BEING PULLED ON THE DIVE PLANE JUST BEFORE DIVING DOWN

JOANNE IS DOWN

WONDERFUL SEA CAVE

LA KAZ

THE BBC SHOW THAT WE LOVE "DEATH IN PARADISE"
SEASON TWO IS BEING FILMED NOW

HMMM...IS THIS BILL'S NEXT ROTISSERIE CHICKEN HE WILL BE EATING TOMORROW.  :  )

GREEN FLASH

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL GREEN FLASH

JANUARY 22, 2013

We walked around Deshaies and then headed out for a great snorkel, ride on the dive plane, but first Bill got  his Rotisserie Chicken.  This is his favorite place to get it in the entire Caribbean so far!  We then headed to town later that evening for the Creole Festival complete with traditional dancing, Ti Punch, and Saltfish Cakes. 

OCTOPUS

OFF TO THE PARTY

CUTE KITTY WE SAW ALONG THE WAY

WONDERFUL DANCING

ACCRA "SALTFISH CAKES"

TI PUNCH, ANYONE!

THIS GUY IS BALANCING ABOTTLE OF RUM ON HIS HEAD WHILE HE DANCES AROUND TO THE BEATING OF THE DRUMS

DANCING WITH A BOTTLE OF RUM ON HIS  HEAD

YOU COULD FEEL THE RYTHYM OF THE DRUMS IN YOUR BODY!
FANTASTIC!

JANUARY 23, 2013
WE HIKED ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN THE DESHAIES RIVER. SO FUN, WE HAD IT ALL TO OURSELVES.  WE LOVE THIS HIKE!

BILL MONKEY AROUND!

THESE TREES ARE HUGE!

THE RAIN STARTS COMING DOWN SO HARD! 

TERMITE NEST

BILL WANTS JOANNE TO TASTE ONE, AGAIN!

OUR FRIEND THAT WE MET ALONG THE WAY

BEAUTIFUL TALL SHIP IN THE ANCHORAGE

ICE COLD DRAFT BEER

IT IS HUGE, SO WE SHARED IT!

"SHOW ME THE EUROS!"

JANUARY 24, 2013

WE SAILED FROM DESHAIES TO MONTSERRAT.  WE CAUGHT A LARGE BARRACUDA AND SAVED IT FOR THE FISHERMEN WE SAW AS WE MADE THE TURN TO THE ANCHORAGE. THEY WERE SO HAPPY WHEN WE CALLED THEM OVER TO GIVE THEM THE FISH. THEY HAD NOT CAUGHT ANYTHING.

M/Y "AKULA, WE ARE TAKING A PHOTO OF THEM TAKING A PHOTO OF US

WE CAUGHT AN ENORMOUS BARRACUDA ALONG THE WAY TO MONTSERRAT
WE USE THE 80+ PROOF RIVERS RUM FROM GRENADA TO POUR IN HIS GILLS TO KILL HIM INSTANTLY

JANUARY 25, 2013
WE CAUGHT A GREAT FISH FOR SUSHI ON THE WAY TO NEVIS.

BLEEDING THE FISH

THE LURE THAT CAUGHT THE FISH

M/Y "A"

TENDER TO M/Y "A"

SUSHI-RAMA ABOARD ULTRA IN NEVIS

JANUARY 26, 2013
WE SAILED TO ST. KITTS TODAY
FORT BRIMSTONE IN ST. KITTS.

THE KILN

BILL FOUND A HORSESHOE ALONG THE WAY

WONDERFUL OLD CEMETARY

RAINBOW THAT BEHIND US AFTER OUR HIKE OF THE FORT

OLD SMOKE STACK FROM THE PLANTATION DAYS

ISLAND OF NEVIS

MOTOR YACHT "A" OWNED BY A RUSSIAN GUY.
HE AND HIS WIFE BOTH HAVE NAMES THAT BEGIN WITH "A"

OUR FUN HARBORMASTERS AT THE ST. KITTS MARINA

 

JANUARY 27, 2013
  WE DEPARTED ST. KITTS FOR ST. MARTIN.  ALONG THE WAY, WE CAUGHT A GREAT SPANISH MACKERAL.



A BEAUTIFUL SPANISH MACKERAL WE CAUGHT ALONG THE WAY

FANTASTIC SHIP THAT SAILED BY US! WE WERE WAITING TO HEAR THE CANNONS AND THE PIRATES YELLING :)

JANUARY 28, 2013

WE MAKE THE BRIDGE OPENING IN ST. MARTIN . WE MEET UP WITH OCEAN STAR AND GO TO TOWN TO SARAFINA TO HAVE SOME GREAT FRENCH SNACKS!

WE ARE BACK IN FRANCE!

JANUARY 30, 2013

LOTS AND LOTS OF BOAT CHORES TO BE DONE IN ST. MARTIN.  EVERY DAY WE ARE RUNNING AROUND DOING ERRANDS AND FIXING THIS AND THAT.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WALLY BOATS

WALLY

BILL UNDER THE RAINBOW AS WE RACE THE RAIN TO THE YACHT CLUB

FEBRUARY 3, 2013

OUR FRIEND SCOTT FROM GEORGIA ARRIVES TO SPEND A FEW DAYS WITH US. WE WELCOMED HIM TO ST. MARTIN WITH A GREAT MARGARITAS AND A TEX MEX DINNER ABOARD ULTRA WITH OCEAN STAR.

FEBRUARY 4, 2013
SCOTT RENTED A CAR, SO WE AND OCEAN STAR TOURED THE  ENTIRE ISLAND.

JIMMY BUFFET'S BOAT "CONTINENTAL DRIFTER"

MEGAYACHT ROW



BETTER SHOT OF WALLY

ST. BARTH'S IN THE DISTANCE

BEAUTIFUL FLATS!

THIS HOME IS FOR SALE.  IT GOT DESTROYED IN THE HURRICANE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, BUT WHAT A VIEW!

OF COURSE WE HAD TO GO TO ORIENT BEACH, TOO!

 

 

 

THE WONDERFUL SCULPTURE OF THE SALTPICKERS, JUST BEHIND BILL IS THE SALT POND

WE WENT TO THE CAROUSEL ICE CREAM PARLOR

FULL BAR IN AN ICE CREAM PARLOR!

WE HEADED TO MAHO BEACH TO GET BLASTED BY THE JETS! again...

GREAT BEACH BAR!

A BIG JET IS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF!  GET READY, GET SET, GO!

THE WAKE FROM THE JET BLAST! AMAZING!

GRAND CASE STREET PARTY

FRIENDS WE SAT WE INVITED TO SIT WITH US. 

GRAND CASE STREET PARTY
DINNER AT  TALK OF THE TOWN
OUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT THERE

SCOTT FILLETED A FISH FOR SAILOR THAT JUMPED IN THE
DINK ON THE WAY HOME

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

WE HEADED TO PHILIPSBURG AND THEN ONTO MAHO BEACH AGAIN, AND THEN CHERI'S SHOW FOR SOME GREAT ENTERTAINMENT.

JOANNE, OUR FRIEND FROM DOMINICA THAT WORKS AT THE FUEL DOCK AT IGY MARINA

GREAT WORDS TO LIVE BY!

THE SHOW BEGINS AT CHERI'S

SCOTT WON THE DANCING CONTEST!  GO SCOTT!

SKY BEACH BAR

MAHO VILLAGE

 



FEBRUARY 6, 2013

TODAY WE WORKED ON BOAT PROJECTS, TOURED AROUND THE ISLAND AND THEN ONTO HAVE THAI AND ICE CREAM WITH IZZY AND JEFF FROM IZZY R

THIS IS AN OLD STYLE MUSIC BOX

TEX MEX DINNER AT JIMBO'S

FEBRUARY 8, 2013


LAST MINUTE PROVISIONING AND GETTING RID OF ALL OF THE CURRENCIES THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE ANYMORE.

ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CURRENCIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING WITH THE PAST FEW MONTHS

STEVE AND ALICE LOADING UP THE DINK AFTER THE SHOPPING TRIP

 

 

 

 

IT IS OUR TURN TO GO THROUGH THE BRIDGE AND PREPARE FOR OUR SAIL TO BITTER END, VIRGIN GORDA TONIGHT

THE LINEUP OF BOATS BEHIND US TO ALSO GO THROUGH THE BRIDGE

THE YACHT CLUB
THE ARE CHEERING US ON AS WE GO THROUGH THE BRIDGE

GEORGE AND JAN'S NEW BOAT "WILD CAT"
57 FOOT LAGOON

WE HEADED TO PHILIPSBURG  WITH JEFF AND IZZY

 

DINNER ABOARD WILD CAT

FEBRUARY 10, 2013

WE CROSSED LAST NIGHT FROM ST. MARTIN TO THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. THIS IS THE FAMOUS NECKER ISLAND OWNED BY SIR RICHARD BRANSON.

THIS IS NECKER ISLAND OWNED BY SIR RICHARD BRANSON.  THEY ARE REBUILDING AFTER THE HUGE FIRE THAT CONSUMED THE STRUCTURES

RAINBOW

 

 

 

 

ULTRA AND OCEAN STAR ARRIVE IN THE BVIs AND A SMALL RAIN SHOWER PRODUCES A BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW. 
MADE US FEEL BETTER, SINCE OUR ENGINE OVERHEATED AS WE CAME THROUGH THE REEF.  YIKES!

 

 

FEBRUARY 12, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

 

THE BEAUTIFUL BVIs.  WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO ROAD TOWN TO GET OUR ENGINE FIXED.

 



FEBRUARY 14, 2013

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

ENGINE FIXED AND NOW BACK TO TRELLIS BAY FOR VALENTINE'S DAY CELEBRATION AT THE LAST RESORT

VALENTINE'S DAY TRIVIA AND TREATS

DINNER AND A SHOW AT THE LAST RESORT

THE FIRST TIME WE EVER WENT HERE IN 1998, TONY SNELL'S SHOW WAS COMPLETE WITH A SINGING DONKEY AND SINGING DOGS.  :  )  NO MORE TONY SNELL, NO MORE SINGING DOGS OR DONKEY.

FEBRUARY 15,  2013

FEBRUARY 16, 2013


WE SAILED BACK TO THE BITTER END WITH OCEAN STAR, SINCE WE HAD MISSED IT DUE TO THE ENGINE PROBLEM AND HAD TO HEAD TO ROAD TOWN.

BITTER END YACHT CLUB

SIR RICHARD BRANSON'S CATAMARAN FOR HIS ISLAND GUESTS

WENT FOR A GREAT SNORKEL, BUT THE CAMERA DROWNED THAT DAY.  WATER INSIDE THE WATERPROOF CAMERA.  MISSED THE PHOTO OF THE FIRST SHARK WE HAVE SEEN IN 3 YEARS.

PAINKILLERS AT SABA ROCK

FEBRUARY 17, 2013

TODAY WE SAILED TO DIVE THE INDIANS. THIS IS A GREAT DIVE SITE! WE THEN SAILED TO WHITE BAY TO HAVE DINNER ABOARD WILD CAT.

BILL COOKING UP SOME GREAT CONCH FRITTERS!

YES, THIS IS A STRANGE GAME, CALLED BUTT DARTS. 
PLAYED WITH A QUARTER,
A BUTT AND A SOLO CUP

BILL WITH HIS STRATEGICALLY PLACED QUARTER

ALICE AND HER QUARTER

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

We sailed to THE BATHS today.

GREAT SUNSET

HAPPY  HOUR AND FUN CARD GAMES ABOARD WILD CAT!

FEBRUARY 19,  2013

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

THIS MORNING WE LEFT EARLY TO HEAD TO ROAD TOWN AGAIN.  THE GENERATOR IS MISBEHAVING AGAIN, SO WE ARE HEADED TO MEET THE MECHANIC.

THE INDIANS AT 6:30  A.M. IN THE MORNING

ROAD TOWN

FEBRUARY 23, 2013

WE SAILED TO HAULOVER BEACH.  THIS IS WHERE BILL FOUND A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE 2 YEARS AGO.

 

WILD CAT AND ULTRA ANCHORED OUT AT HAULOVER BAY

THIS IS THE BEACH WHERE BILL FOUND HIS MESSAGE IN THE BOTTLE OVER 2 YEARS AGO!

FEBRUARY 24, 2013

TODAY WE SAILED TO DIVE THE WRECK OF THE RHONE.  AFTER THAT WE SAILED TO TRELLIS BAY FOR THE FULL MOON PARTY.

SALT ISLAND

THIS IS A GIFT FOR WILD CAT FROM ULTRA.  WE FOUND THE FLOAT
ON THE BEACH
AND DECORATED IT!  IN RETURN, WE GOT A COPY OF WHAT THE GIRLS USED IN THE FULL MOON PARTY PERFORMANCE.   : )

WRECK OF THE RHONE MARKER

FEBRUARY 25, 2013

TODAY IS THE FULL MOON PARTY.  WE HAD A GREAT SURPRISE THIS MORNING.  MARCUS OF S/V OTUSKA SAILED PASSED US ON THE WAY TO PANAMA AGAIN.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING UP WITH THEM IN PANAMA!  :  )

 

MORE TO FOLLOW ON THE FULL MOON PARTY, MORE ADVENTURES IN THE BVIs, THE USVIs, PUERTO RICO, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND BEYOND!

We are having trouble with the wifi, so we will have to continue this Blog in another blog entry. We can no longer make corrections to it for some reason, so we apologize for typos and that it is definitely not very pretty or organized.  We hope that you enjoy it!

Cheers,
JoAnne and Bill :  )
S/V ULTRA