Island Hopping

At Mya Cove, on Tortola, the winds picked up. We were in a protected harbor, so no worries. Chow time came, and Linda and Robie worked on dinner. I know everything tastes better on a boat, but I will attest to the fact that the boat food we ate during the entire trip was fit for any table, on the water or at home on a white-clothed dining room table. The menu for the week included pork chops, grilled filet mignon steaks, chicken tacos (you gotta give that a try), even a special boat lasagna.

After a good night's sleep, we were up at dawn. The weather had not gotten any better, so we decided to go ashore and rent a car.

Linda needed to get her ears checked at the local doc's office, so it gave us a chance to see some of the island that we had not seen before.


Larry and I stopped off at a boating supply store, and...as I like to do everywhere...we went by a dive shop. There, Larry met a couple friends. Even got a chance to dance with this guy.

What's a Caribbean dive shop without a parrot?

We decided to check out a restaurant where our hosts had been before. And, it was worth it. Outdoor seating, lasagna with a ton of meat (my style, for sure), a couple chickens walking around...

How cool is that?

And, our waitress had an award-winning Caribbean smile.

Bellies stuffed, it was time to tour Tortola. We made a circle, got lost, stopped and asked directions (yeah, even real men...like Larry and me...will do that...did I mention that Larry is a retired airline pilot???), picked up a lady who got us back to Road Town, where we were originally headed. The views were gorgeous.

 

                                                       Road Town

 

         Looking down from up yonder 

It was a good tour of the island. We had a blast. Stopped at the grocery store for more supplies. Yeah, we had eating on our minds. And, of course, we needed more ice.

"I like that one"

 

Juice. We always need juice.        

Back to Reggae, and time to prepare chow. If it seems like eating is a big part of our lives, well...yes. All of us enjoy quality food, and eating aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean is awesome. 







Just eat your heart out.

We did make it out of Mya Cove. But, prevailing winds did not allow us to visit Salt Island, where the remains of RMS Rhone lie. We headed back to the US. Well, sort of. We sailed over to St. John, one of the US Virgin Islands. Nice area, too. And, I'll have more on that, complete with a lot of pictures, next time.

Tripping through the Virgins

A year ago, for the first time in my life, I spent a week aboard a sailboat. Living, sleeping, eating, cruising. As a lifelong powerboater, I must admit that it was an interesting change of life, and a definite change of pace.

And, in May 2012, I got to do it again! My wife, Robie, and I were invited for a second straight year to spend a week, or so, with our friends, Linda and Larry, aboard their shared 34 or 38 foot Beneteau, Reggae. I say 34 or 38 because documents list it two different ways. I guess it depends on whether you're paying by the foot at a marina, or you're bragging about the boat.

We flew from Jacksonville (NC) to Charlotte to St. Thomas via USAirways. And, I will say up front, the connections were absolutely superb, the crews were friendly...not just officially courteous, but actually friendly. And, I can tell a difference. On every leg, going and coming, we left on time, and we arrived either on time, or a few minutes early. A real pleasure instead of a challenge. Congrats USAirways for running a topnotch operation.

In St. Thomas, we ran into the typical Caribbean airport chaos. In reality, it was organized chaos at its best. Cabbie bosses wanted to know where we were going, and quickly directed us to vans going our way. About a dozen of us boarded the van and headed straight to the Charlotte Amalie waterfront where ferries heading for Tortolla, on the British side, were waiting. We were politely and efficiently ushered to the check-in window where we purchased tickets and checked our luggage.

Not quite as prompt as USAirways, the ferry set sail about 15 minutes later than posted. But, no problem, mon. We're in the islands, and we're now officially on island time.

Our "escort" on the crossing

Within the hour, we're pulling into West End at Soper's Hole on Tortola. Had to check in with Customs and Immigration, assuring them we were the good guys, and weren't bringing anything into the country that we shouldn't. Friendly folks, they were. Made the international transition as easy as pie.

Ferry at Soper's Hole

Our friends, Linda and Larry, were waiting outside, and eagerly greeted us with hugs and handshakes. We loaded our bags into their dingy (a rubber boat with a motor) for a short ride to their moored sailing vessel about a hundred yards from the dock.

Our home for 8 nights

Gear stowed in the aft berth, it was time to get dinner started. Take note that we always looked after our bellies during the entire voyage. Our trip would take us southeastward, towards the eastern chain of the BVI's. Norman Island, Cooper Island, Salt Island. At least, that's the way the plans started out.

Sailing aboard Reggae

First thing Sunday, we cut loose from the mooring ball, and wound our way out the harbor. We headed for The Indians, a small outcropping of rocks off Norman Island. It took maybe an hour to get there. Maybe two, maybe three. Remember, we're now on island time, and the best I can tell you is that it's daylight and we've had breakfast. The Indians are so-named, the tale goes, because some wayward sailors of yesteryear said the rocks resembled Indian tee-pees. You've got to remember that sailing ships carried as much rum as they did fresh water. I don't think I need to paint you a picture, do I?

The four of us took to the warm, clear Caribbean waters, donned in our best snorkeling gear. We checked out the shallows around the outcropping, making note of the various tropical fish we saw. After a couple hours kicking around, we headed  back to Reggae. It was time to hook up to a mooring ball in an area known as The Byte. Calm waters, making it comfortable for cooking and sleeping.

We made our plans for the next day, plans that called for Larry and me to dive on a site he had heard was a good spot. Located in about 60 feet of water, on the southeast side of Norman Island, Santa Monica Rock only had one dive ball. The seas were running 4-5 feet, and the easterly winds were kicking in at about 20 knots. It would be a little more challenging locating the spot as we did not have an on-board GPS. However, I had brought along my trusty handheld Garmin, something I keep as a backup aboard my boat back in the States. I punched in the "numbers", and we headed towards the rock.

Larry plots our course

Unfortunately, as I had not gotten wet since the summer before, and I had obviously put on a few extra winter-pounds, I quickly learned that I needed more lead weight to get my plump backside to the bottom. As the seas were not comfortable on the surface, I chose to work really hard to stay on the bottom. Doing so, I didn't have the opportunity to see as much as I would have liked. And, I burned up twice as much air as usual. Twice as much as Larry.

Lesson learned. If you haven't been in the water in a while, do a shallow water dive FIRST. You can quickly determine how much weight you'll need. It'll also give you a chance to get the lay of the land, time to get comfortable in calm, quiet waters.

A kayak tour at The Caves

Back to Norman Island. On the west end, protected from the winds, the seas were calm. And, there was a great snorkel site known as the Caves. So, after a little food, back to the water we went. Well worth the effort, I'll tell you. Fish of all colors were everywhere. A nice dive, for sure.

We moored, again, in The Byte, planning to dive at a site at the harbor's entrance the following day. Food and a good night's sleep, that's all we needed. And, as usual, Linda prepared a great meal.

After breakfast, we headed for the dive buoy. An interesting dive, with a little more sediment than at Santa Monica Rock, a lot of fish life. And...a full fledged 3 to 3-1/2 pound spiny lobster hiding in a hole. I've picked up a lot of lobsters diving in the Caribbean and the Florida Keys. Most are small, in the pound and a quarter class. I've picked up a few larger ones, including a 7-pounder in Guantanamo Bay. And, this guy, under other conditions, would have made a great addition to our dinner table.  

Larry waiting to board Reggae

Ok, time to plan the next day. We decided to move to Cooper Island, a few miles away, to spend the night. The following morning, we intended to go to the site of the RMS Rhone, a British mail ship that sank in the 1860's. The ship is best known as the background in the 1970's film The Deep, starring Jacqueline Bissett. It is now a protected national site, and a popular destination for divers. A local diver calls it his underwater studio, and has been shooting underwater photos there for decades.

But, our plans didn't work out. Needing ice to keep our food cold, we learned, as the sun was heading down, that no ice was available at Norman Island. We quickly headed across the passage to Mya Cove, at Tortola. It's where Reggae is home moored, and our hosts know there's ice there.

But, the dive on HMS Rhone would have to wait. The weather turned a bit ugly, and we decided to hang out in the cove for a couple days. But, those days were not wasted. More on that with the next installment. 



   

The Loss of a Friend and co-worker

His name is Charles. Charles Foelsch. A family man. A man with a wife, two young girls and a young boy. A hard worker, he was, pulling his shift with Onslow County's Mosquito Control division. And, at shift's end, like so many other people these days trying to make ends meet, he worked a second job, at a marina in Jacksonville (NC). Tideline Marine, it's called. A place where I've enjoyed working (part time) during my retirement years.

Charles always had a smile, always more than willing to help anyone who needed his help. Including me.

Charles didn't like government waste. It irritated him, frustrated him to see taxpayers' dollars sqaundered. And, he made his feelings known. Not a good thing for a government employee to do.

Charles and his wife, Tiffany, were headed out Sunday night, after working at Tideline, to check on an old car. You see, along with two jobs, Charles would fix up worn-out cars and trucks and re-sell them, making a few bucks along the way. Bucks to help support his family. A hard working man, my friend Charles.

On a back road, he met an approaching car. Unfortunately, a deer was struck by the second car, and the carcass was thrown into Charles' windshield. Charles died from injuries in that accident. His wife, Tiffany, was injured, but not critically. Charles would have wanted it that way. Charles was a selfless man, putting others needs and wants ahead of his own.

Last year, when I was looking for a trailer to rent so I could pick up a load of supplies in Charlotte, Charles came to the rescue. He loaned me his trailer, and refused any payment. He said that's the way it is between friends.

In November, when I was preparing to erect almost 100-yards of vinyl fencing, Charles said he would help. Not only did he show up for work, he brought his brother-in-law and their tools. Reminded me of the old days when neighbors and friends gathered for a barn-raising.

In December, he met me at my boat on a Sunday afternoon to install an oil tank below decks, in an area where I couldn't squeeze my 6-2, 200 pound body. Charles was a small man, but only in his size. He did it because that's what he did for friends.

Not many people like Charles around these days. Or, maybe there are, and we fail to notice them. Charles may be gone, but he has left me with a memory of a great man, a humble man, a man with a smile for everyone.

And, you bet. As soon as I get to Tideline Marine, I'll add my token to a collection jar that Bill and Deb have set up. It will never replace Charles, but, hopefully, it will help his family in what has got to be not only a nightmare with the irreplaceable loss of a husband, a father, a friend, but with the real-earthly needs they face right now.

Look around you. There are a lot more Charles out there. Tell them how much they mean to you. How better you are for having known them. Tell them before it's too late. The world can change in a split-second. With absolutely no notice. And, as it was in Charles case, there was absolutely not one thing he could have done to alter the outcome. 

It's time to vote

Had an interesting caller on Live and Local, a talk radio show I host weekdays from 7 to 9am. It's on WRHT, Thunder Country 96.3, and covers a chunk of eastern North Carolina. He isn't going to vote in the primary, says it's a waste of time and money.

We were cussing and discussing NC's primary, and about the only serious race for consideration, Amendment 1. Some call it the Marriage Amendment. Other names are less nice. In general, liberals are urging voters to vote AGAINST this amendment. Conservatives are hoping it will pass. The amendment, proposed by heaven-only-knows who, wants the state's Constitution to be amended to include wording something like, the state will recognize marriage as being ONLY between a man and a woman. In other words, if you're gay or lesbian, the state will not see you as being married. Of course, a 1996 law does the same thing.

I'm not sure what the fuss is all about. Religious beliefs generally recognize marriage as only between a man and a woman. The LAW, right now, does the same thing. Of course, laws can be changed by those guys we ELECT to the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives. If you have a beef with the law, see your ELECTED lawmakers. LEAVE THE CONSTITUTION ALONE! It was written by much smarter guys than we have running the state and this great nation. And, you cannot, and we should not, regulate moraility. Remember that old thing, separation of church and state?

The Marriage Amendment isn't the ONLY item on this year's ballot.
Though he's not in my current district, there's a marine, a former marine, who's running as a republican for the US House of Representatives from the Seventh District. That's in the Wilmington NC area. His name is Ilario Pantano. If he's successful Tuesday in his bid for the republican nomination, he'll go up against Mike McIntyre, an entrenched democrat. Mike's been there a long time, and...some say...he's done a good job. More conservative, I'll admit, than the regular democrat, but it might be time for him to sit back and take his retirement bucks. It is, without a doubt, time for some fresh blood in Washington, someone like Ilario. Ilario has been in close touch with the folks in North Carolina, folks who may have elected O-Damn-Bama four years ago, folks who have, by all estimates, realized the errors of their ways. It's time for a strong conservative in Congress, not only in NC's Seventh District, but in the Third District where I currently live. Ilario...I'm proud to call him a friend...is the man in the 7th.

In the 3rd, Republican Walter Jones is seeking election to another term. He was elected in 1994, signing the republicans' Contract With America, promising to serve no more than 12 years. That, you'll note, was 18 years ago. Though he's a republican, as noted, he's been rated as one of the most liberal voting republicans in the House, even more liberal than a lot of democrats.

There are no serious democratic contenders in this race, but there is one republican working to win the party's nomination. He's a veteran cop, Frank Palombo. 34 years as a cop, some 14 years as the chief of the New Bern Police Department, along with six years in the US Air Force, making him more than qualified to serve in Congress. He's conservative and practical, and he has a great personality. As with Ilario Pantano in the 7th, Frank Palombo would do us proud in the 3rd District.

Polls open at 6:30 am, and will remain open until 7:30 pm. In spite of what my friend, our radio caller, said this morning about not voting in the primary, I encourage you to take the time and do what I still consider an obligation. Though it's an expensive process, unless someone can come up with a better solution to "narrow the field of contenders", the primary race is our only option.