Wednesday 1/25/12, we hauled up anchor in Barbuda @ 6 am
& picked up a mooring in Anse du Colombier, St Barts @ 3:20 pm.
Averaged 7 kts. for the 65. 5 mile trip.
The autopilot didn't like the lumpy following seas
but we sure made good time.
Dragged a lure all the way.
Hey, they can't all be Mahi Mahi
Next morning we were off again - for St. Martin,
only a skip & a hop away.
The island is half Dutch (Sint Maarten)
& half French (Saint Martin)
Arrived in Simpson Bay @ 10:20
in time for the 11:30 opening of the Dutch bridge.
Pulling into Simpson Bay
Went through the bridge without event,
entered Simpson Bay Lagoon
& anchored West of the Witches Tit.
No idea how it got that name!
The Witches Tit
Delighted to see our old buddy boat
trimaran Ultra
anchored nearby.
Joanne was visiting family back home
but it was great to see Bill again.
Margaret & Bill, aboard Ultra
Bill became our tour guide
showing us where to dump our trash
& where to get wifi,
at the popular watering hole, Barnacles.
We walked down the touristy but cute strip
past the Dutch bridge.
Touristy strip
The queen on road by Dutch bridge
Channel from Simpson Bay to Dutch bridge
as seen from a car
We lunched at Mickey D's.
Qtr. pounder with cheese
& chocolate shake -
my fave!
Rumor has it that the matching Buccaneer's banner
was lifted by some mischevious cruisers.
Brandon, say it ain't so!
Go Bucs!
We strolled down Simpson Bay Beach.
Simpson Bay Beach
Ever heard of Laura Dekker?
She's the brave 13 year old Dutch girl
who just completed a solo circumnavigation -
ending in Sint Maarten.
Welcome back Laura!
And here's her 38 ft ketch, Guppy,
in Simpson Bay Marina.
Laura's Guppy
Bill toured us around in his dinghy
showing us some celebrity yachts.
Those are reflections in a super polished hull
Eddy Murphy's run about
Jimmy Buffett's skiff
Dutch bridge from the lagoon side
Next day, we bussed it to Phillipsburg with Bill.
Phillipsburg Marketplace
Phillipsburg's where the cruise ships dock/ moor -
by the dozens!
Jack, the next photo's for you.
Remember the (seasick) ride in the ship's tender
a few years ago?
That was right here - Phillipsburg!
Ship tenders in Phillipsburg
Lots of touristy stuff here.
Beach & Boardwalk in Phillipsburg
Looking out from within
Lots of stuff for sale
RomantaSea had the hots to visit (clothing optional) Orient Beach.
Shared a rental car & drove NE to check it out.
Simpson Bay from hilltop road
Chillin' at Orient Beach
Censored version
Camp director Bill organized a bus
to take a bunch of us cruisers
to Tuesday Harmony night at Grand Case.
That's a weekly street festival:
booths with all kinds of brick brack for sale,
drinks, BBQ, loud music & dancing girls!
Sounds like fun?
Off we go!
Gets cool after sunset!
Loud Music
Actually, he was pretty good
As I promised, Dancing Girls!
Just like Carnival
Yes, St. Martin's a blast.
But no trip here would be complete without the jet blast.
You take a bus to the W. end of the runway,
checkout the village of Maho,
Maho slot machines
then head to the beach off the end of the runway
to get sandblasted!
How old are we???
Danger!!!!!!
Way to go, Momma!
St. Croix next.
Like them dancin' girls! What a lovely, cheerful, colorful bunch of memories! (Say .. how can I get out of the Guppy Class of boat for my next purchase and reach up to the Limo level of participation??!!) Happy Days ~ Bill 'n Les
ReplyDeleteBoy, did we remember that dock at Phillipsburg, Martinique. Jack didn't think we would ever see stable land again! I was afraid he wouldn't get back on the tender at the end of the day!!! That was some trip...Remembered Orient Beach, too!! Somethings are hard to forget! Ahhh..the memories!!!!!!
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