Sunday, March 19, 2006

Roosevelt Roads, PR
18.14.009N
65.37.581W


Did you know that weights for dive belts come in colors now? I’ve had mine since 1982, so I hadn’t paid much attention to them since them.

With only a slight glitch in getting the rental car, we headed off to pick up Michelle from the airport.

We stopped by Puerto del Mar and bumped into Gate off Nicolino. He and Darby had probably arrived there shortly after DocNoMore and MTNest left. He anticipated that they would be heading to the Virgin Islands this week and would more than likely spend the better part of a month in the area before moving on. We expressed our hope that we would see them again down island..

We stopped by the local Home Depot to pick up another pair of dive gloves for Dale as one of his was cast to the deep when the buckets we rinse them in took a leap off the back end last week.

Michelle arrived pretty much on time and without too much drama; except for the fact that she had gone to the wrong airport in Orlando to catch her plane. Obviously, she found the right one with time to spare.

We had a quick lunch at Fudruckers, one of Dale’s favorite hamburger joints, then sought out a dive shop to replace the dive belts and weights that had gone for a swim without their owners at the same time as his glove took a dive. It was the only time, including the day that it happened, that I mentioned, casually and in jest, that it was an expensive lesson . I never mentioned or even alluded to the fact that I had suggested securing the buckets for sea but had been advised in that manner husbands save for their wives in front of guests, that it wasn’t necessary. Not that I would remind him of any of this but since there were some bright pink weights that matched perfectly the snorkel and fins I have, I took advantage of the captive audience I had in Michelle and told her the story. With emphasis added--at just the right places--to poke some fun at him. We all had a pretty good laugh, including the shop manager.

Michelle is spending her spring break with us says that she just wants to float in water where she can see her toes for a couple of days. I think we have that covered.
Roosevelt Roads, PR
18.14.009N
65.37.581W


We hoisted our anchor and slipped out of Charlotte Amalie at 6:30 am. We passed Calaloo bobbing silently at her anchor without a dinghy which would indicate that Rick & Connie (whom we had met in the Exumas) were elsewhere. As silently as we could, we left St. Thomas behind. The cruise liners were just arriving, so we left by the west side of Hassel Island and out through Haulover Cut.

For the longest time, the anonometer indicated double zeros but once out into the ocean, it started registering a slight breeze; we kept motoring in the calm seas. We adjusted course to skirt a tug and barge near Sail Rock. We motored past a white research vessel, more than likely on its way to the coral preserve off St. John.

Between 8 and 8:45 we listened to the SSB for DocNoMore and MTNest, periodically hailing them. We motored past the sail boat race on Culebra that Dale had originally wanted to participate in but visiting with Gerry & Nicky until Friday and picking Michelle, our daughter, up in San Juan on Sunday, was more important. We looked for Dotty II, the boat Chuck McLaughlin would have been racing on but didn’t see her.

We did pass St. Christopher on her way to St. Thomas from Roosey to pick up guests and spoke to Tom & Jordan briefly regarding their plans for heading south. For old times sake, we hailed Rainbow Rider on the radio, just in case they might be within range. No response.

The wind never did pick up to more than 6 or 7 kts. We motored the entire way back to Roosey Roads and arrived by 1:00 pm. Once we were tied up at our slip again, Dale set about scrubbing the salt off the Palace and I started getting caught up on the laundry. Tomorrow we pick up Michelle.