Stories from St. Barthelemy

It was a glorious, though breezy day, tied to a yellow mooring in the Marine Park in Anse de Colombier, St. Bart's. The anchorage emptied out this morning, leaving just a few boats. We enjoyed the last of the pastries bought in St. Martins and decided we needed to hike the hills surrounding us.

We loaded the dinghy, headed to shore and started to climb up the rocks and found a trail. It wove through carved out rock and was a well maintained trail with steps carved in the rocks. It overlooked beautiful windward water crashing on the rocks below. Ahead we could see charming red and green roofed cottages. Butterflies and some interesting cactus (including the Turk's Head - famous in Turks and Caicos) were along the path. Several people were walking in the opposite direction - heading to the beach in Anse de Colombier. At the end of the path was the little town of Flamandes. We strolled through a bit of it - to a small store where Michael bought a "ting" for one euro. (Ting is a popular drink around here - kind of a grapefruit flavored soda). We then turned around and walked back happy to find the boat and dinghy still in place.

The bay where we're anchored has many resident large turtles (still to be identified). Large and small they pop to the top to take some breathes before they dive back down. Michael was determined to get a good photo of one (for you Nina and Kathryn). But they tormented him all afternoon. If he saw one close to the boat, he didn't have the camera handy. When he saw them far away - he was ready - but they were too far. When he went to get a photo - they dove. It was like they knew they could drive him insane. You could almost hear the turtle laughs!! Finally, after many attempts, one came close enough and he was ready. (Photos to follow on web page when we get internet access.)

You can tell people who have been cruising long and those that are chartering for a few weeks. One way is the dinghy ride. You usually have to talk louder because of the outboard engine and the wind. Cruisers know how the voice carries. Charter boaters don't. It's always fun to listen in on the conversations in the dinghies as boaters go by. Michael was working on the deck re-tying some diesel jugs and a boat filled with "charter boaters" goes by and we can easily overhear them talking. "He must be getting ready to be Santa" they say and all chuckle. It seems Michael's beard is getting bushier and whiter as we continue the cruise. He proceeded to go below and put his whisker clippers on charge and later trimmed up the Santa beard. First he had to figure out how to do it on the boat where we don't have any mirrors that have sinks under them. He sat on a small stool in the aft cabin in front of a large mirror with a dishpan in his lap to catch the trimmings! It was quite a site (picture to follow).

Tomorrow we'll check in Gustavia. Looks like we'll be here for the rest of the week waiting for a weather window to head south. Not a bad place to be stuck.at least in this lovely little bay.