Eric, Kelly, and the kids visit



They finally arrive!

Eric, Kelly, Tali, and Cloe arrived 5 hours late in a driving rain storm under gray skies. Fortunately a friend of ours, Wilma, has a car and took us to the airport. While we waited for the kids to arrive, we went and had a lunch at the Emerald resort. Finally the kids arrived and she transported us all to Brewers Bay and our dinghy. The flight was late because almost half way here they experienced a malfunction and so had to turn back and get another plane. It was a poor beginning to a great visit.

Tali feeds the bird

colorful birds

The day after their arrival we went to the Coral World Aquarium and had a great time, and  included petting Sting Rays. We also saw many fish we would later see in the wild. We also had dinner at the Island View Guest House, which as its name implies, has a great view of the harbors of St. Thomas.

The turtles were a big hit

Fish feeding and the Sting Ray

The Sting Ray wants the food

Cloe Likes the fish

Cloe at the beach with her Slurpee

Yahhh the beach!

 The grand kids got a lot of beach time at a number of different beaches and swam off the back of the boat every day. The trampoline is still a big hit, with both girls doing flying jumping leaps in the air.  Tali can swim so well that after the first day she could swim with everyone off the back of the boat without her life vest.

Eric and Cloe at the beach

Eric in Miss Opportunity

Kelly descends

 We had a number of dives including a wreck of a barge that you can swim through in 90’ of water. There we saw several large Sting Rays and a turtle. Other dives included  reefs and ledges where we saw Sting Rays, big Conch, Moray eels, Lobsters, and an array of fishes and corals.

Eric and Kelly search the bottom

We anchored next to a pirate ship

The kids loved jumping on the trampoline

We sailed to a number of bays including Brewers, Caneel, Maho, the kids favorite beach, Lindbergh, and Honeymoon.   Some were a beat as the winds always seem to come from the east and the final day we got a great run back with the Gennaker. The swimming was warm and Tali did very well snorkeling. Cloe has not mastered that yet and still is using her swim goggles.

Tali Jumps high

Honeymoon beach ropes

 At Honeymoon Beach the kids swung on ropes from trees and got smoothies from the beach bar.

we fly the Gennaker

Captain Tali Bonnet Steers the boat

When the kids weren't in the water they were coloring and drawing.

Kids in the cockpit

water jet board comes by to entertain the kids

Eric prepares breakfast

The visit ended too soon and before we knew it we were anchored in Lindbergh Bay so we could dinghy everyone to shore for showers before we walked to the airport and said our farewells. Once the kids were in the airport we motored around to Brewers Bay and waved to them as they took off for home.