Culebra and Vieques...

Together with Brett & Teresa (Seismic Wave) we cleared out of the BVI's 

and had a lovely broad reach to Culebra, a small island in the Spanish Virign Islands just south of Puerto Rico...

We caught up for dinner with Bob and Leo (a very pampered pooch)

- missing Judy who was back in USA for a visit...

We hired a golf cart and toured the island...

 Culebra and Vieques were used by the United States as Gunnery and Bombing practice sites, with over one billion tonnes of bombs dropped on Vieques.  This tank is on the beach at Culebra...

We sailed to Isla Culbrita and went for a hike up to the Oldest Lighthouse in the Caribbean...

 From the top, you could see Seismic Wave and Our Rose anchored in the bay in the distance...

When zooming in on the camera, we could also see people surfing off the point...

As we were heading back to Our Rose, we noticed one of the surfers trying to get our attention,
we headed over and found their boat had broken down...

Brett came and helped tow them to a calmer spot, we then had them all aboard Our Rose for drinks and nibbles until help turned up.  There were 3 children and 3 adults...

Next morning, Brett got out their Windsurfer.
Richard hadn't windsurfed for years...

In the afternoon we went for a walk to the "bubbly pools" - gorgeous...

Brett & Teresa had not dived for some time, so Richard gave them a "Scuba Review"...

We had a lovely sail from Culebra to Vieques...

We went for a snorkel and I immediately saw this bomb...

 When we arrived at Sun Bay, Vieques, there was a beautiful pod of dolphins come to greet us...
Richard dived straight in and had a lovely swim with them...

We went for a walk a beautiful spot with lots of wild horses...

Richard & Brett went "hunting and gathering" coconuts for our evening Cocktails

Check out the Machete in the dinghy & the "man tools" at Brett's foot required for opening of the Coconuts...

The end result was DELICIOUS...

At dark, we went ashore and "finally" had a beach fire with toasted marshmallows...

Anegada...

We had a lovely beam reach to the outer BVI island of Anegada - we wish the sail had taken longer, however we were there in no time.

Anegada is only 28 feet above sea level at its highest point and 11 miles long, fringed with mile after mile of white sandy beaches and surrounded by reefs...

Along with Donna and Jack, a Cruising Canadian Couple we met in Grenada

and new friends Cherry, Doug and Pinot, also Cruisers from Canada - we hired a car...

Pinot is gorgeous - Chilling out with Cherry and liming with Cherry & Doug on her own beach lounger

 This sign with Jandals on it - check out what the Hurricane Protection Plan is...

 Donna, Richard and Jack (left)

Below is the ceiling of an outdoor bar - signs with "burnt on" messages - just awesome...

Check out this majorly "tacky" walk to the beach...  complete with fake pink flamingoes (below)...

The snorkelling was interesting near the reef...

We had to go on the search for the illusive Pink Flamingoes - so the intrepid travellers (us) went across the arid salt plains in a hunt - bones greeted us... spooky...

on and on we went - where were they???

After getting back to the car and heading back, there they were in the distance 

(apologies for the poor photo)

This is a beautiful ceramic wall hanging... Sunset by the water...

 The population of Anegada is 250 people.

They make their living from tourism.

Their waters here are still full of lobster.  

They do not allow the taking of lobster by anyone other than locals...  

so a big business is fresh lobster in the restaurants.  

You need to book and have placed your order with the restaurant by 4pm.  (no exceptions)

The lobster are then freshly prepared on your arrival...

Friends and Journeys...

Christmas Eve we were invited along with Mark - Sealife,
to "Free Spirit" - Belinda and Jeans for drinks, dinner and pressies - what a great night...

Christmas Day begun on Our Rose with Champagne and Strawberries and more pressies...

For the first time, we sent out a Christmas Newsletter in Email form 

- very new to us techno dinosaurs, who have always sent post...

When Lynnette and Dean in NZ received our email, 

they sent us a message saying "wish we were there".  

We obviously said "you are so welcome, why don't you come"...

They booked!

We met them at Sint Maarten Airport on 28th December.

We were so excited - our first guests from New Zealand...

We got back to Our Rose just on midnight and toasted their arrival...

The next morning we went to Customs to add them to our "Crew List" and to clear out...

Before leaving we took them to watch the boats come through the bridge.

It just happend to be the boat owned by the "Victorias Secret" Owner...

We up-anchored and sailed to Saint Barthelemy (St Barths) for New Years.

What a spectacle of super yachts and people!

We begun New Years Eve in the style...

We so loved having everyone with us...

Belinda - our Aussie Friend from Free Spirit performed the Haka for us - AWESOME!!!

We ended up on the foredeck watching the fireworks...

New Years Day, we headed to an Island close to St Barths, ready to get up at 0100 to sail to the BVI's.

It was also another time for "goodbye" - we would not see Mark - Sealife until...

It was a overnight sail - a new experience for Lynnete and Dean...

As the time was going on, they were starting to relax

As we were nearing the BVI's the guys were enjoying "sea" talk...

As soon as we were nearing the anchorage, over the radio came...

"Our Rose, Our Rose, this is Seismic Wave"

Yayyyyy, Teresa and Brett 

As soon as we anchored, Brett came and took Richard to deal with the formalities

(shame they were closed), anyway, what else to do, but a rum or two

and homemade burgers...

so lovely to see Teresa and Brett...

We visited lots of anchorages with Lynnete and Dean, including

Bubbly Pools - Sea comes in to create the bubbles, then calmness follows...

Foxys Bar, purported to have the biggest beach party in the world at New Years and Trellis Bay, whose full-moon parties are well known...

I loved this...

Our Rose, in company... 

second photo is with "Free Spirit", who is bigger than us - a perception thing with photography

It was so special having Lynnete and Dean join us on Our Rose...

And another goodbye...

Really, it is only, "until we see you again"

We were sooooo lucky that Lynnete and Dean brought us requested items:

eg:  a hand-drill - cannot be found here

"pink pegs", the best!

Wrapmaster - the best gladwrap invention in the world,

Pineapple lumps - ohhhhhh home

A beautiful book on NZ (HOME)