I'm thinking we do have some catching up to do! Internet is down right now so I can't even check to see when we last blogged...but I guess...I will start with our overnight from St John's to St Kitt's/Nevis. Seems like so long ago, but again I didn't sleep. It was a rough passage...lots of wind and we were pinching...so we took a beating. After the storm of the Norfolk to St Maarten passage it seems that when we are having a rough passage I just can't sleep, no matter how hard I try, and no matter how much time Paul gives me to try. Which of course means that Paul gets no sleep either! We got to St Kitts around noon and checked in. 
Check in was very nice and friendly - quite a surprise...
but then when you look at what the island is trying to do...not such a surprise! They have begun construction on a huge marina and condo, homes, villas (starting at $350,000 U.S.D.) in the downtown area much like the one in St Thomas (that is more than 1/2 empty with shops going out of business). My "aside"...who is stupid enough to pay that??? Of course I always compare to Z.... As we walk down the new sidewalk...past the construction...we notice that even in the few new stores that have been built that two out of four (yes, I guess that is 1/2) have "going out of business" signs...the others have 70-80% off inventory! It was still VERY windy when we got there (25 knots) and we wanted to get the scuba tanks filled. We found out where the shop was and we were told to dingy over and they would fill them for us. With the wind and the waves...Little Bit (our dingy) had over a foot of water that had come over the bow before we repositioned the tanks...and I began pumping the water out!!! Thank goodness Paul had rescued the pump back in Red Hook when it had fallen out of Little Bit while we were bringing it up on deck!! We had to beach the dingy...and I pulled the tanks out. After walking across the sandy beach and the street to where the shop was I began talking with the Instructor...(not the owner). There was nothing in the dive shop of any quality to purchase...it was not a well cared for shop...with inventory or cleanliness. He was stating that St Kitts was looking to implement a Marine Park where one could only scuba dive with local dive shops...I asked if we could go diving and use some of their mooring balls now since this change had not been implemented yet...he said "yes"...but that most of the dive boats anchor right on the coral...they don't maintain the mooring balls!!! Not something I wanted us to do. I asked if he knew how Bonaire's Marine Park worked for the benefit of the island and for the benefit of the divers (more on that later...hopefully when we get there)...he just shook his head and said it was the politicians that were making the rules of protectionism! My note on this...there is a difference between the protection of the natural reefs, the protection of locals income and the politicial nonsense of protectionism. I won't dive St Kitt's or Nevis...no need...there are prettier islands with better diving that are allowing divers access and allowing their dive shops to prosper by their actions! If you want a list of places that we have found so far...email me...
So...
on to meeting up with our friends...
in Major Bay, St Kitts....
free range goats were everywhere on the hillsides!!! 
Then on to Charlestown Harbor Nevis, a one hour sail, the following day.
We walked through town to the local community "hot tub".
Paul thoroughly enjoyed the HOT water sitting on the steps over his chest. I only went to mid-thigh...
The picture of the neighboring non-covered hot tub might answer the question of why.
Check in was very nice and friendly - quite a surprise...but then when you look at what the island is trying to do...not such a surprise! They have begun construction on a huge marina and condo, homes, villas (starting at $350,000 U.S.D.) in the downtown area much like the one in St Thomas (that is more than 1/2 empty with shops going out of business). My "aside"...who is stupid enough to pay that??? Of course I always compare to Z.... As we walk down the new sidewalk...past the construction...we notice that even in the few new stores that have been built that two out of four (yes, I guess that is 1/2) have "going out of business" signs...the others have 70-80% off inventory! It was still VERY windy when we got there (25 knots) and we wanted to get the scuba tanks filled. We found out where the shop was and we were told to dingy over and they would fill them for us. With the wind and the waves...Little Bit (our dingy) had over a foot of water that had come over the bow before we repositioned the tanks...and I began pumping the water out!!! Thank goodness Paul had rescued the pump back in Red Hook when it had fallen out of Little Bit while we were bringing it up on deck!! We had to beach the dingy...and I pulled the tanks out. After walking across the sandy beach and the street to where the shop was I began talking with the Instructor...(not the owner). There was nothing in the dive shop of any quality to purchase...it was not a well cared for shop...with inventory or cleanliness. He was stating that St Kitts was looking to implement a Marine Park where one could only scuba dive with local dive shops...I asked if we could go diving and use some of their mooring balls now since this change had not been implemented yet...he said "yes"...but that most of the dive boats anchor right on the coral...they don't maintain the mooring balls!!! Not something I wanted us to do. I asked if he knew how Bonaire's Marine Park worked for the benefit of the island and for the benefit of the divers (more on that later...hopefully when we get there)...he just shook his head and said it was the politicians that were making the rules of protectionism! My note on this...there is a difference between the protection of the natural reefs, the protection of locals income and the politicial nonsense of protectionism. I won't dive St Kitt's or Nevis...no need...there are prettier islands with better diving that are allowing divers access and allowing their dive shops to prosper by their actions! If you want a list of places that we have found so far...email me...So...
on to meeting up with our friends...in Major Bay, St Kitts....free range goats were everywhere on the hillsides!!! Then on to Charlestown Harbor Nevis, a one hour sail, the following day.We walked through town to the local community "hot tub".Paul thoroughly enjoyed the HOT water sitting on the steps over his chest. I only went to mid-thigh... The picture of the neighboring non-covered hot tub might answer the question of why.
Free range goats on Nevis too!! We had Birthday Fahitas for Phil on board the Lady H and then because I could not find icing for one of the cake mixes we had on board...chocolate chip cookies (thanks for the extra chocolate chips to put in the mix Dennis). Paul had emailed Amel in Guadaloupe...and they said that although there are riots (or strikes as some like to call it to lessen the verbal impact)...blocking of streets...cars burning...and limited to no services on the island (food, fuel)...they would be willing to fix the bow-thruster if we got there early next week. So off we went...on our way to Monserratt...until we notice that the Jenny base had twisted when in the 35 knot winds one of the lines came apart that was supporting it. After three hours of beating our way to the east of Nevis for a day sail to Monsseratt...back to Charlestown...to correct the problem. Because of the lost time it meant an overnight...and again...no sleep...it was a pinching, windy, bumpy sail! Arrival Porte a Pietre, Guadaloupe!! Stay tuned for catching up #2!!! 
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Hey there...let us know what you think...Capt Paul