Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Surpricing day

What a surprise.

After 4 days out sailing with people from different nationality's, on a one day trip
to the Pitons at St. Lucia, Zephyr had a resting day at dock.
The captain was also resting on the sofa in the middle of the day yesterday.
But all of a sudden I was woken up by a big HELLO CAPTAIN.
At the cockpit door was Rob Colpus and Donna standing with a Piton beer for me.
I thought I was stil dreaming, but no. IT WAS THEM.
They are on a cruise ship for two weeks, and had rented a car for a day trip on the island.
They decided to stop by Marigot bay for lunch, on the way back to the cruise ship.
While waiting for the lunch, they were sitting on the Chateau Mygo dock looking at the two
boats that was there. Rob pointed at one boat, and told Donna that this was the kind
of boat him Robin and Rhino ( the triple R's) was on together with me in November.
Next moment he looked at the next boat at said to Donna.
OH MY GOD, THAT'S ZEPHYR.
They went on board an saw me sleeping on the sofa.
Rob said. get a Piton beer quick and let us wake him up.
What a coincident....
We only had one hour together before they had to drive back to the cruise ship.
By the way. they didn't like the cruise ship over loaded with 3500 people.
Rob and Donna on board Zephyr for one hour.
Hope to see them again soon.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Crew from Norway

Crew from home town Norway
January 28th. I met my friends from Fredrikstad Norway at the airport in Fort De France Martinique.
They come to sail with me for two weeks. This was planed a year half a year ago. so both
them and myself had been looking forward to this long time.
They came at night in a little rain, but as they said, what a nice warm rain.
Back home it was minus 10 degrees C.
They could carry 2 x 20 kg each as lugage with air France, so they had asked me what to bring from Norway.
I made a list to them consisting 3 dish washing brushes ( which you can not buy here)
Anti biotic  , allergy pills and Norwegian mayonnaise.
So they did, but they also had bought me a lot of gifts, such as:
Bottle of Ankerdram Aquavit, Gammel Dansk snaps, Norwegian chocolate,
local mackerel in tomato sauce and news papers.
I was over welded about it. We party til late and had lot's of fun.

After a few Gammel Dansk and Aquavit they gave me a cigar and blinds.
My gray hair in a year I suppose.
Notice the ear ring.


Sunny and the others had this snow color when they came.
This changed during the two weeks.

Another first day in the sun body.
First day we sailed to St. Lucia.
Here is Finn on the wheel.

We arrived Marigot Bay and Chateau Mygo in the afternoon, were we parked on the bridge.
This was Sunday, and we had a pizza which they never had that good before.
Monday we went on a around the island tour with our own hired taxi.
We went to Suffrie hot springs, and LaDera restaurant and hotel for lunch.
Here are some pictures from the day.
On the way there was a man with his pet.
Don't remember what kind, but he had it since it was little.
You get it around your neck, and pay a little for the treat.
Here is Sunny and the snake.
And Per Olav.

This was the 'Wice' man he said.
He owned nothing, and therefore had no problems.
Well, we all have our philosophy.
We met him on the way to the hot springs.



The story is that you get 10 years younger by putting this sulfur mud on you.
We kind of felt it also, or maybe it was the Pitons beer.
The pool is VERY warm, so it takes some time to get into it.

Next stop was LaDera. A famous restaurant and hotel.
This is were Ophera Whitfrey stays when she is at St. Lucia.

At LaDera overlooking the Pitons.

The whole crew.

We were invited to Doreen's new house on the top of the hill for a swim.
Here is the Zephyr crew.
What a beautiful place, with the great look down to Marigot bay.
In the afternoon we went with captain Lemon to Castries for shopping.
Lemon has a speed boat taxi.


Me and Captain Lemon.


Next day we headed for Bequia. On the way we stopped at
the Pitons south of St. Lucia. This famous two mountains is a landmark of St. Lucia.
We had breakfast here since we started from Marigot Bay 05.00 in the morning.


One of the two Pitons.
The local beer from St. Lucia is also called Piton, and has the picture on the label.
 
 
Piton beer and Norwegian Anchor dram.

After, we crossed over to St. Vincent, we had a quick stop at Walilabou Bay.
This is were they filmed the 3 first films of Pirates in the Caribbean with Jonny Depp.
The anchorage restaurant which also was part of the movie.
This is were there was 3 skeleton's hanging with a sign.
Pirates be warned.

At the Pirate retreat bar at Walilabou Bay.

When we arrived St. Lucia and Marigot Bay, I had ordered crew T-shirts with
Zephyr logo on it.
This is in front of the oil lamp I got.

We arrived Bequia and Port Elisabeth in the afternoon,
and had a ankerdram to bless the anchor.

Finn taking the picture.

We took at taxi around Bequia, and one of the stops was at the turtle farm.
Mr. Bill is saving the eggs from a spice of turtle which is treated to die out.
He keep the small turtles til they are old enough to be put back in the water at the same beach
he picked eggs.

Mr. Bill who started the project 9 years ago.
Explaining what he is doing for the turtles.


They had several pools for different sizes turtles.

Next stop was at the Bequia Beach Hotel.
A very nice resort at the other side of the island.
Sunny and Per Olav enjoying the lunch.

Beautiful Bequia Beach Hotel.
Good food but very small portions.
Nina and Finn at the top of Bequia

This was our taxi around Bequia island.

Admiralty Bay Port Elisabeth Bequia below.
About 200 boats anchored.


At Frangi Pani restaurant they have a steel pan band playing every Thursday.
We had ordered table for the BBQ dinner.
The band is only kids, but they are really into it.



We got a mooring VERY close to the bar. About 10 meters.



Picture without zooming in from the boat.

Tried to download a video, but after one hour downloading,
and not completed, I gave up.
To bad, because one young boy drummer was really fun to watch.

At Bequia you can stay on board for months if you like.
You can buy everything from the vendors that come by boats to see you.

Here we are getting diesel and water.
They also take your garbage.
 
 

Miranda laundry service pick up your laundry,
and comes back with it nice folded.

Friday morning we sailed down to Tobago Cays.
One of the high lights on the trip.

One the white sandy beach by the turtles.
Everybody ready for snorkeling.
Sunny didn't see any sharks, but many turtles and fishes.

On the top of the little island.
Sjeik Finn is protecting his head for the sun.



One the island there is a lot of iguanas.
About 70 cm long. ( two feet)
Overlooking the outside reef.

At night we had BBQ lobster on the beach. This is always
a very good treat.


Creative lamps, made of a water bottle with sand inside and a candle.

At Tobago Cays you also have a lot of vendors coming over to you, offering
bread, fish, T-shirts, jewelery, beer, wine, cigarettes etc. etc.

This is Walter. He deliver worm bread in the morning,
and sell T-shirts. We bought 15 T-shirts, so he was smiling with his golden teeth's.

After two night at Tobago Cays, we sailed down south to Union Island.
On the way we anchored at Palm Island, which is famous for the most white sand beach
in the Caribbean, a beautiful blue water.


Palm Island beach.
There is a 5 star resort on the island.
One apartment ( condo) cost from 5000 USD and up per week.
We just had one pinecolada each, which was 62 USD for 5.
But it tasted good, because we drunk it before we got the check.

After lunch on board, we lifted anchor and motored over to Clifton harbour
at Union Island.
This is were rasta man Janti has built his own island, called Happy Island.
It is always nice to take my guests there. Everybody gets really exited about
all the work he has put into it.
This time the island was crowded of people.
The kite surfers were making a great show in the harbour.
Petikely one guy was amazing. He was jumping  over the people sitting on the edge.
Finn has a video about it, but haven't got it.

On the way to Happy Island in the dingy


Happy Island.
 
 
Rastaman Janti who built his own island.

We were hoping to have dinner at Happy Island, but he was over booked.
So instead we had a lot of rum punch, and danced all night.
We had the island by our self after a while.
Later Janti came up with five fish dinners.


Happy campers at Happy Island.
 
 
And more happy campers.
Nina was totally sweat in the end.

This was the most south island to visit.
After one night at Clifton, we went around the south tip to the west side of the island
and stopped at Chatham bay.

Can't find any pictures from there.

We went straight from Chatham bay Union to St. Vincent, and stopped
one night over at Walilabou bay.


Coffins from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

We had to check out of the country St. Vincent and the Grenedines
at Walilabou bay.
Of course there was pirates which was the custom and immigration.


Giving immigration the passports.

One night we had Captain dinner on board.

And of course Champagne.

Nice dressed up for the captains dinner.

The two weeks with my Norwegian crew went way to fast. It was a sad day when I followed
them to the ferry from St. Lucia to Martinique.
Hope to see them soon again.