 |
| Aya and Anna far left; Lance-a-little, far right
(The soda tax passed!)
|
When we first started cruising, we were only expecting to cruise until the economy improved. We were shocked to discover that many people commute to the cruising life. They don't leave their house, their friends and all their possessions to move aboard a boat and head "OUT THERE". They alternate between living aboard and living at home. Here they are called snow birds. Despite our notorious left wing opinions, Susie and I are quite conservative about our life, preferring gradual transitions and a kind of friendly nod to change rather than a passionate embrace. And we don't do snow.
 |
| DJ and Aya
|
 |
| Installing the new Link 10 |
Never the less, our semi-nomadic life makes for a lot of changes. Coming down to St Lucia involves leaving the Grandchildren and the fear that they won't remember us when we return in 8 months. That is anything from half to a fifth of a lifetime for some of them. It means leaving the periphery of the tumultuous lives of our children's growing young families for the quiet, orderly life aboard Queen Emma. It means dramaticly slowing the pace.
 |
| Simon and Lance reinstall folding prop.
|
 |
| View of Rodney Bay Marina from Queen Emma in the boatyard. |
click for the next column > |
 |
| Moving queen Emma from the crawler to the travel lift.
|
St. Lucia has changed to in our absence. The beloved Brigantine Unicorn (star of the Pirates movies) sunk off the coast of St. Vincent and is being replaced by two rather ungainly newcomers. One is a massive steel fishing boat fitted with absurdly small masts and sails and looking top heavy. The other looks vaguely Asian (maybe Indonesian?) and is fitted with equally atrophied rigging. No sign of Lion which was at least built of wood here in the West Indies but just didn't look sea worthy. For some reason two lacquered Italian Gondolas showed up in the lagoon. The economy has not recovered yet as evidenced by a rash of thefts and one ATM scammer. The Mega yacht dock is presently empty but a ginormous dive center is being built. Hope springs eternal. "Rule the Tide", a water taxi, invested in a bigger, newer outboard but "Sparkle", the laundry man, had his outboard stolen. All have great hope for the monied hoards of the ARC. The first boats from across the Atlantic should start arriving next week.
 |
| Last minute bottom paint touch up. |
 |
| Ranbow over Pigeon Island
(finally out in the bay) |
Even the weather had changed. When we first arrived, it was still wet season weather with little breeze, hot humid days and regular showers. Last week, it abruptly changed. We still have the rains but the trade winds have set in and we have cooler air from fronts coming off the East Coast of the US to temper the humid air from the south. Both the water and the air seems hotter this year
Queen Emma changed for the better. Our faithful Welsh shipwright saw to it that she got polished, waxed and bottom painted so we were able to get her into the water in two days. She looks beautiful. We got out of the marina (after putting on sails and running rigging) in another three days. We have successfully completed our test sail to Martinique and back and the bilges are full of French wine. Things seem to work even (miracle of miracles) the little Honda generator which we hadn't started in two years.
Some things haven't changed. We have watched many sunsets. The fish are still dancin' and the birds are still hunting. Everyone still recognizes our hats and we merit a courtly "morning, morning. How are you?" The farmers market still appears on Saturday rain or shine and Ian is back at his desk at Island Water World after his harrowing return to England for multiple operations.
I guess we can still handle some change.
|
