Jan. 13: Back to St. Lucia
After spending a week back in Buffalo, during which the weather was unseasonably mild, I packed my bags for my return to St. Lucia. The Jet Blue flight went off on time and without a hitch, the people sitting in my row on the BUF-JFK flight were also going to St. Lucia; it was their first visit and they were staying at an AI in the south of the island. St. Lucia is one island I would not recommend an all-inclusive because staying in a regular hotel and going to the local bars and restaurants is a great way to meet the people and experience the culture; this is one island where tourist and locals really mingle. I gave them some ideas on what to do; fish Friday in Dennery and climb Gros Piton. Four of us on the charter were arriving within a half hour of each other so I waited in the airport restaurant until we were all there. Dan had arranged for a taxi to the marina so everyone got to know each other on the way. Four of us, Arvil, Sarah, Keith and me are repeat guests from previous trips I have done. Upon arrival at the marina we stowed our gear and then I went up to the Ocean Club to meet up with Trendy. He was there with Chris and Vicky, so we had a few at the bar in preparation for a night out. While I was sitting there someone asked, “you’re Sammy aren’t you?, I thought it was someone I had met before but then they mentioned TTOL and it turns out it was a Canadian couple that have been following my trip reports while they are sailing in the windwards. Trendy and I walked Vicky home then went out to the Rodney Bay strip; being Sunday it was quite but there were a few people around. We stopped first at The Hairy Clam where John Doe was working as DJ, then went to Rehab for karaoke night. Trendy turned out to be quite the showman, taking the mike and getting the crowd going between singers.
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Trendy getting the crowd going

It was a long day of travel so around midnight we grabbed a taxi back to the marina. When I arrived back at the boat Arvil and Charles were just finishing up some rum so I joined them for one and caught some sleep in the cockpit until the cool air chased me inside.

Drink all day at home, your friends worry about you; do it on vacation and they say "what a good time you're having". Save your friends needless worry, travel more!