Approaching the Pitons just south of Soufriere Bay.  We had a short easy sail from Marigot Bay.

There is no anchoring between the Pitons due to it being a marine park, so we were able to get the last mooring ball for the evening.  This was the view off the bow.

This was the view off the stern as the sun was setting.

We had a fantastic sunset.

The next morning we motored over to Soufriere Bay for Customs & Immigration paperwork.  It’s a beautiful place except for the boat boys who harass you when you approach the port.  Yesterday, we had two meet us 3 miles out and insist on motoring along side us ruining our peaceful sail.  Teresa eventually chased them off.

We decided it would be best to leave someone (Giles) on the boat as we went to town to prevent any possible crime.

The three of us took the dingy in to shore to do the Customs & Immigration work.

Approaching the town of Soufriere.  Not as picturesque as the anchorage between the Pitons.

We also need someone to stay with the dingy so it didn’t get stolen and Teresa drew the short straw. We left her in the heat to wait for Lisa and my return, so she popped up her umbrella for some shade.

Ah, with Customs & Immigration complete we head back to Sea Rose.  Teresa survived the heat and boat boys harassing her at the dock.

Giles anxiously awaiting our return with the Pitons in the background.

We decided to head back to our idyllic anchorage between the Pitons.  Giles and Lisa are happy about that decision.

Anchored back between the Pitons off the beach of the swanky Jalouise Plantation Resort.

Our cruise director, Lisa, had 3 tours planned for us this day. Once ashore at the Jalouise Plantation Resort they had complementary pink tuk-tuk to take us up the hill to the concierge.

Tour stop #1 was the drive-in volcano.  The mud baths were optional and we opted out.

Tour stop 32 was Tet Paul.  A leisurely walk through a botanical garden with amazing views.  There’s Giles bringing up the rear.

The sign says it all.

Wow! amazing views of the Pitons and the bay below where Sea Rose is anchored.

Close up of Sea Rose (most right boat)

Team photo from the very top looking across at one of the two Pitons.

Tour #3 for the day was a chocolate tour at the Hotel Chocolate.  Our cruise director Lisa sampling fresh cocoa beans.

When we arrived at Hotel Chocolate the chocolate tours were finished for the day, so we decided to stay for lunch anyway.

Great views of the Pitons from our lunch table.

A fantastic lunch was had…

Marigot Bay from above.  We spent 2 nights in this wonderful place.

Safely docked in beautiful Marigot Bay.

Teresa and the Capella Resort in the background.

An evening out with the ladies.  On our way to the Rum Cave at the Capella Resort.

“I thought you guys said you were ready to leave for the rum tour”.  Giles waiting patiently with our taxi driver

Finally, at the rum distillery sampling the local products.

Teresa mingling with the locals.

Barrels full of aging rum.It’s just stored in the shade to age.

Hanging out at the rum distillery.

The distillation process.

Worker filling up the kegs with rum for aging.  Interestingly, this distillery buys all of their wooden kegs “used” from Jack Daniels in Tennessee.

Taking the water taxi to Doolittle’s for lunch in Marigot Bay.  Scenes from the Rex Harrison Dr. Doolittle movie were shot on this beach.

Doolittles restaurant and Bar

Our own Dr. Teresa Doolittle talking to a goat.

Teresa speaks to the birds too.

Bob and Dr. Teresa Doolittle.

Rodney Bay marina, a welcome site after a 7 day trip.

Rodney Bay marina boardwalk

Lisa haggling with a local vendor on the boardwalk

1 for 1.  First unsupervised docking of Sea Rose

Day trip to Pigeon Island for drinks and a hike up to Fort Rodney

Giles and Lisa after a cool drink before our hike.

I’m not walking up no steep hill in the heat to see an old fort.

Giles hiking up to see Fort Rodney with Rodney Bay in the background.

We headed it for the top.  I can see why the British built this fort up here.  The views are fantastic.

Giles and Bob overlooking Rodney Bay.

The ladies prepared a nice lunch before our departure from Rodney Bay to Marigot Bay.

Leaving Rodney Bay with Pigeon Island in the background.

The crew are hard at work en route to Marigot Bay.

The open water crossing from the island of Guadeloupe to the small islands of Les Saintes was very rough, but we managed it.  Once past Les Saintes we had to cross the open water again to the island of Dominca.  That was not happening.  Way too rough, so we turned around and went back for the shelter of Les Saintes.

We attempted the crossing again the next day, but still too rough, so we spent a few days in Les Saintes waiting for better weather.  Les Saintes turned out to be a very nice place to hang out.

The dingy dock in Les Saintes.

The town was very quaint with nice pedestrian friendly streets.

The town church where we prayed for some much needed better weather.

Internet service is hit and miss in the Carribbean.  So when Teresa found this internet cafe, she let everyone know she was still alive.

Only the French would have foie gras and champagne available in remote islands like Les Saintes, so Teresa induldged.

With Captain Dave’s departure early this morning we are now on our own. It is just Teresa and me.  Let’s hope we can remember most of what Capt. Glenn and Capt. Dave have taught us over the past several months.

Sea Rose is on a mooring ball at Virgin Gorda.  We need to “clear out” at customs to leave the BVI for our trip to St Lucia.  It’s a little unsettling to leave Sea Rose unattended.  In the past, Cap. Dave would usually babysit her while we went ashore.  We hope she is here when we get back.

Ashore in Virgin Gorda heading for the customs office.

We cleared customs yesterday and headed out for St Lucia around 2:30 PM.  We anticipated a rather peaceful night sail, but what we got was the complete opposite.  Teresa got seasick and that left me at the helm all night getting tossed around with no sleep.

I made the decision to head for shore and calmer waters, in this case the nearest island, we finally have Saba island in site in the early morning.

Saba island did not have much to offer as far as calm anchorages was concerned, so we motored on to the next island, Statia.  It looked promising, but Teresa was beginning to feel better so she wanted to press on to the next island, St Kitts. She was down, but not out.

Aaaah, St Kitts and a place to get some much needed rest.  We arrived at sunset and dropped the anchor in a rolly bay.  Not ideal, but it was much better than what we had been experiencing.

I think we sold the boat about 10 times in the last 24 hours.  The trip so far has not been what we signed up for.

The next day, we left St Kitts early.  We decided to hug the coast line the rest of the trip in hopes of a more comfortable ride.  We have done very little sailing, motoring most of the way because the winds were straight on the bow.

We encountered a lot of squalls, most were harmless, except one big one.  Winds jumped to 35 knots and the rain was sideways (yep, we sold the boat again).  The auto pilot could not hold its course on one engine, so I had to start the second one to keep us on course.

After every storm there is a rainbow.  The french island of Guadeloupe.

We finally returned to Sea Rose February 6, 2016.  Captain Dave had sailed her up from Martinique to Nanny Cay, BVI’s.  We joined her in Nanny Cay.

Captain Dave was busy over the holidays making much needed improvements like these hand rails for the bimini top.

…but more importantly getting Teresa’s TV up and working.

Captain Dave and I sailed  Sea Rose around Tortola island to Cane Garden Bay.  Teresa chose not to make the sail, but instead visit with her friend Terri and wait for us to arrive.  Terri and Paul were our neighbors when we lived in Seoul, Korea.  They now live in the BVI’s.  Their house is the one in the middle overlooking Cane Garden Bay.

Where are they?  Is that them?  I can’t tell which one is them.

Teresa finally spots Sea Rose on the horizon making her way for the Cane Garden Bay anchorage.

Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, BVI’s

Enjoying the view and a drink at our friends Paul and Terri’s home.

After a short visit with Terri and Paul it’s now time to set sail again.  Captain Dave readying the mainsail to be hoisted while Teresa stays out of the sun.

Captain Dave enjoying one of his last sails through the BVI’s before leaving us.

Captain Dave’s going away dinner at Saba Rock.