Trip report on Sophisticated Lady: (sorry if it's lengthy)
Thursday 11/26: 6:50 am flight from St. Louis-Chicago-SanJaun-Beef island. All uneventful except flight from san jaun cancelled and pushed back 1 hour. No worries- airport bar had rum <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />. Did not have any checked bags- only carry ons- we were first through customs and airport door opens- there stands Rick and the lovely Lia holding 2 Presidente's and 2 cokes (Grace 9 and Caroline 5 were so excited!). took luggage to boat. Lia had cheese and crackers waiting (she is wonderful!) Then went to Jeremy's for late night snack- Had the BEST fish sandwich! Jeremy had stopped serving because it was late, but whipped us up sandwiches that were out of this world! Anchored in Trellis for the night.
Friday (11/27)
Lia had picked up some provisions and somehow knew exactly what to get for 9 and 5 year old girls! They LOVED her! Breakfast and then sailed north toward Leverick. Stopped at the Dog's for a snorkel. Saw huge red starfish and a couple barracudas. 9 year old talking and screaming through her snorkel was priceless. Sailed on to Leverick. Snorkeled around the bay, then took taxi to the Bath's. the kids loved the Bath's! We were rarely on the trail/path because they wanted to explore every boulder, every crevice and cavern. Found the geocache at the Bath's then played on the beach. Had hamburger's, beer and ting's at poor man's stand. Taxi ride back per Tiger who was great, stopping along the way for pictures of Savannah Bay. Beach BBQ and Jumbies that night. Had a wonderful time with Nick and Monica- my new patron suppin buddy <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />. Loved my conversations with Monica- she is a gem!!9 year old got a tattoo at the bar and we hooked up with Dirk and Sandy of Catatonic. Wonderful, sweet people who took us back to catatonic for late night ice cream. 9 year old LOVED Sandy! What a beautiful boat they have! Oh - and the kids LOVED the Jumbies! Great night with great people- can't wait till next time!
Saturday 11/28: Spent the morning with the kids on the beach and at the pool. Kids made friends with Dorianna and Xavier- the keybordist's girls. They love making friends! And those girls were sweet as pie! sailed to Bitter end and anchored. 9 year old and I snorkeled/swam to beach where we played and did cannon balls off the dock. The boys and 5 year old came in the dingy and we went to geocache on prickly pear and Biras Creek. Mosquitos ate us up at Biras. Rick and Lia made popcorn after dinner and watched Overboard with the kids. Sugar daddy and I were to go to Saba Rock but daddy was a wee bit tipsy so we enjoyed our evening lying on the bow watching the stars and listening to the kids enjoy the movie.
Sunday- wonderful sail to Anegada. We hung our feet over the edge of the boat and laughed when we got sea spray off the bow! Explored the beach, walked to Neptunes and had a drink with people from Chicago. Back to Potters where we made dinner arrangements and took cab to Loblolly. gorgeous beach! Loved seeing the pink flamingos along the way. Walked the beach to flash of beauty and snorkeled. Found lots of great shells and uninhabited conch shells. 9 year was starving so her and sugar daddy shared ribs. Momma chose to drink her lunch <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> Back to Potter's where we watched Vishaal bring in the lobster for dinner, which was fabulous. Kids put on a show dancing and Rick and I played a couple games of pool. I beat him him soundly the first game, but the second I felt sorry for him, choked on the eight ball which set him up nicely. So we left 1/1! Nice evening! Nice wine. Nice service at potter's.
Monday- sailed to Jost and white bay. Spent the day playing in the sand and chatting with TTOLers at Soggy Dollar. Great people from Louisiana! Found the geocache between SD and Ivan's. Girls made friends with kids from texas. Great day! Sailed around to Little Harbour and had drinks at (? next to Sidneys) and then had dinner at Sidneys. Bought some t shirts. Drinks back on the boat. Moon almost full!
Tuesday- Sailed to Norman. Stopped at the Indians for a great snorkel. Caught a mooring ball at the Bight. Went ashore, found the geocache and hooked up with Paul and Jody my friends/crew from Sea Chateau! They had the week off and were spending it with friends on Windsong. 5 year old lost her tooth while we were at Pirates, so Paul gave her$1 and ordered her french fries! gues who was also there!?!? Ace- former bartender at Pirates who has gotten married and 6 months ago moved to NY to manage a night club. Hadn't seen him in 3 years! Love that guy! What a treat to be at Pirates the same night! Went back to the boat. Rick and Lia made spagetti and we watched Captain Ron. Momma was suppose to hook up with Paul and Jody at the Willy T but it was pretty quiet over there. Ended up hanging with them on Stevens boat Windsong. Laughed, told stories, talked politics, sailing, sharks, etc. Erin fed me some of the best cookies I have ever eaten! Paul took me "home" in the dingy. Fantastic night with old friends!
Wednesday- sailed around to the caves. Snorkeled for awhile. Love,love,love hearing my 9 year old scream, giggle, point, talk to herself through her snorkel! 9 year old and I started into the big cave to get the geocache- way too dark and I chickened out. There was no one else to send in first as the "bait". Sugardaddy was snorkeling off the boat with 5 year old. Maybe next time! A few small jellyfish but we just swam away from them. Sailed onto Trellis for the full moon party. Jeremy was busy making preparations. He made the girls a wonderful large cheese pizza. We walked the beach, found the trellis geocache and then got ready for full moon party. It was great! Good crowd, Jumbies, tight rope walker, fire juggler, etc. Kids made friends while climbing/playing on the tree house. Rick and Lia met up with their friend Joe and a young man William from the Haiti trip. It was a fabulous night and the moon and Jeremy did not disappoint!
Thursday- worst day of the trip- departure day!
Spent the day hanging on the boat/packing and hanging on the beach/Jeremy's. 4pm flight back to STL- uneventful except for 2.5 hour delay in Miami. Landed to 29 degree weather-boo-hiss....
Highlights- Leverick-Nick/Monica, Dirk/Sandy; geocaching; listening to 9 year old talk through her snorkel; Paul, Jody, Steven, Erin and Ace; and most importantly the wonderful Miss Lia who played with girls, drawing, telling stories, making popcorn, watching movies! They loved her! Rick is so lucky to have found her! She makes the best french toast and pancakes! Not only is she good with kids and can cook; she is good to look at and smells wonderful... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />. Captain Ron- I mean Rick ( <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />) was his usual charming self. Seeing to it that I always had a cold beer in my hand <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />!
Lowlights- flight time/ cancellation of flight and delays. It is so difficult to get there from St. Louis- but oh, so worth it...I will post pictures later. Consider myself so blessed to be able to vacation with great people in paradise and experience it with my little girls!! Cheers, Tammy