Peter & Diane Visit St. Martin and Anguilla, Feb 10-15, 2006

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Part II: Cruising Anguilla Another terrific meal at the Mini Club in Marigot Is this picture perfect or what We left a note for Linda and Steve to find Windlass is no place for a hand. This photo should have been taken with bandages off! Finishing off our French pastries for lunch Diane and Karen practice dinghy recovery Karen dives in and swims to a quick rescue Diane at the Helm Peter and Diane Valentines Day We’re back in Marigot for second time before heading for Anguilla; we will eventually visit here three different times over a two week period. And back in Marigot means back to the Mini Club, our favorite restaurant in Marigot. It is situated on the second floor, right on the water, providing a picturesque view of the harbor and Full Circle at anchor. The photo captures the mood perfectly. It has a strange name for a French restaurant, but the food is excellent, and our waiter, Fritz, recognizes us as regulars. We have created a bit of treasure hunt for my sister Linda and her husband Steve. They will be spending a night in Marigot on their way to visiting us in Guadeloupe. We have hidden a note for them to find at the Mini Club while they are in Marigot. This is a game we have played repeatedly with our children when we have vacationed in the same locations but at different times. It is always fun to realize that someone you know has sat at the same table in the same restaurant in a foreign country some weeks earlier. Tomorrow we clear customs and head for Anguilla, a new country and a new island. One is never totally safe on a sailboat. On Saturday, Feb 11, I accidentally pushed the windlass control with my hand on the anchor chain. I proceeded to wind my hand between the chain and the motor. When I did it, I starred in disbelief, thinking for sure that I had broken my fingers. At least I had the wherewithal to quickly reverse the motor and release my hand. Blood was everywhere. Of course, we were in the middle of anchoring, so I had to wrap my hand in a towel and continue securing the boat. A lesson one needs to learn repeatedly, at least I do: never ever let your guard down. Danger is lurking behind every wave. That, of course, is part of the adventure and thrill of living on a sailboat. Karen had her own little adventure a couple of days later. She and Diane were taking the dinghy into Road Bay in Anguilla to buy some ice, and they accidentally dropped the tether to the dinghy in the water before they got into the boat. Of course, the wind quickly put distance between Two Pi and Full Circle. Karen, being the woman of action she is, dove fully clothed, with her glasses on, into the water to rescue the dinghy. The photo shows her swimming back with Two Pi in tow, another day of adventure, and humor, in paradise. Not bad for a 62 year old woman, demonstrating that one never forgets their lifeguard training. While Peter and Diane were here, we managed to swim and snorkel at a different beach every day. Prickly Pear was as beautiful as ever, but the best discovery was Little Bay on Anguilla. This was the smallest, most private, and most pristine beach we have ever scene. Since it can only be reached by boat, it sees little use. It was the essence of what one dreams of in the Caribbean. Great snorkeling, combined with superb swimming, made this the highlight of our week with Peter and Diane. We also had our best dinner of the week at the Barrel Stay in Road Bay. Conde Nast, and other travel magazines, rate the beaches of Anguilla as the best in the world. Anguilla is an island to come back to. On our last day with Peter and Diane, we had a wonderful sail tacking and gibing our way back to St. Martin from Anguilla. The wind was 15 to 20 knots, the sky clear. It was Valentines Day, and that evening we had an appropriately romantic dinner in Marigot, at the water’s edge, under the glow of a full moon, the perfect ending to a perfect week. We saw Peter and Diane off at 7:30 AM, Wednesday morning, Feb 15, Diane’s birthday. Their vacation was just beginning. From St. Martin, they were flying to Tampa, Florida to spend a week with their friends Tim and Lou. It was wonderful to have guests, but Karen and I are looking forward to some time alone. We will be heading for St. Barts next; then working our way south to Guadeloupe. Our exact route will depend upon the wind. We would like to visit Statia and St. Kitts, new islands for us. Previous | Next