Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Cruising Friends and Fun


There is more to the cruising life than sailing and seeing new ports. It’s the friends you make and the activities you participate in that make in a unique experience.  It’s the relaxing times, the beach parties, and the get together with friends.



Joe from Sandy Annie


Gordan and Suzanne on Ocean Wings

We have been fortunate to meet a great group of people who have become good friends. We have often gotten together on each other’s boats for dinner or drinks.

 
Sandy from Sandy Annie
 
 
Gene and Wilma from Gewil
 
 
 
 
Vince and Alex bought Sandy
Annie renamed Slow Motion
 
 
 
 
 
 
Midnight Rambler
Peg and August

Peg and August on Midnight Rambler are a couple we try to see and visit every time we go to St John. We usally get together for drinks and dinner and if we are on Midnight Rambler August, who is the chief at Morgans Mango, makes the most incredible food.
Leslie cuts her cake
We toast Leslie's Birthday
Leslie gets a second toast
 
In June I tried to surprise Leslie with her birthday party, but ended up taking her with me to get the cake for a birthday on the beach. Champagne and cake was enjoyed by everyone.

The beach barbecue
The search for treasure
 
The beach has been a wonderful place to get together to talk, have drinks, and do dinners on the grills. One time Charles brought in his metal detectors and we searched the beach for treasure.

The Culinary school entry
Leslie liked his best

One of the events we saw was coal pot cooking. The participants cooked a dish in a clay pot with a coal fire. There were some very nice stews.




Leslie in her "princess chair"
Kayaking is fun and exercise

Relaxing and playing is part of the experience. Shaun, a researcher marine biologist for USVI, took us to a great ocean film festival. There were many videos on the sea of a quality I wish I could match.


Shaun and Leslie ready for our trip East
Carl Fights off a shark attack!!!
Jumbies are everywhere
 
 
 
 
 
 
The cave dwelling
The rock cliffs we climbed to
 
While anchored in Brewers Bay we always saw the cliffs of stone up the mountain behind the Bay, and desired to hike up to them. The locals said there is a trail up and upon investigation we found some red ribbons tied to trees along a dried creek bed of tumbled rocks. We put water and snacks in our packs and started up the creek bed. We went slowly looking for ribbons and possible side trails. About 30 min into the climb we came upon a cave which someone had turned into a dwelling. It has doors, windows with screens, beds with a mattress, a sink, and other furnishings. However, in the not too distant past the stream had collapsed the outer wall and corrugated steel roof. It is now a wreck. We took a break there inspecting the cave and then continued up. Another 30 mins. of climbing and Leslie decided we were off course and started to head back down the trail. Ray and I continued up and 10 mins later arrived at a large rock. We climbed to its top and enjoyed a great view of the bay and airport, but we were on the far right side of the cliff. It was getting late so we enjoyed the view and climbed back down meeting Leslie at the cave wreck.
Inside the cave dwelling
Carl at the top of the rock cliffs
 

Thursday, August 29, 2013

2013 Texas Chili Contest



The setup begins
They prep the sand for the castle
We were fortunate to again attend the Chili contest in St Thomas on Brewers Bay Beach. It took place Sunday, but people started setting up on Saturday.
Ocean Potion starts to setup
Sunday morning setup continues










The contest is ready to open
Leslie checks out Ocean Potion first

Sunday at noon, after a morning of heavy rains, the beach was ready and the event began!




Bettys sets up a great display!
It was a good time!

There were a lot of contestants and a good crowd of attendees, of which we were two. I was glad I wasn’t a judge because there was a lot of very good chili to be had. I guess the pictures tell the story.

Vince and Alex get into it
Nice setup














Dish chili
The beer servers were into it










Ohh no the tower collapsed!
The sand castle was great and it progressed throughout the contest.







It's done!
This was one of my favorite chili
The witches made good chili












Motorcycles make chili














hula hoop the cow
The tug of war was classic

They even had games at the contest.







They had great entertainment
Leslie got a tequila transfusion














Hooters has a big presence
What's chili without free beer










Heidi's Honeymoon grill at Water island








Wilma and Gene go island
Leslie with the island girl










where did the skull come from?









The board water jet was there
The CIA survallance was there










Shaun, Tracy, and Wilma had a great time