Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited

Falmouth, Carlisle, Jolly Harbor, Deep Bay, Great Bird Island (Loon Channel)

3-15 Our night journey went pretty good. Cale took the first shift when we left about 5:30. I slept from about 8 to 12 and then relieved Cale. Shortly after I took over Cade came up. He does this nervous chatter thing when we are out at night. I tried to keep up with him, but it was the middle of the night so mostly he just talked and kept me company. During my shift we attempted to put up sails. We had descent speeds for a while, but we couldn’t maintain it and stay on our heading so we had to drop sail and motor. At one point, just after we dropped sails I noticed lights just in front of us. It was pretty quick that we realized it was a boat coming straight towards us. We quickly went to standby and got out of the way. It surprised me since they didn’t have AIS and we don’t have our new radar mounted. Kira came up and joined the party around 2:30 or 3 and Cade went back to bed for the 2nd time around 3. He had also been up with Cale for several hours. Kira heard some noises on the starboard side of the boat. She thought it was fish jumping. After a few minutes, I realized it was something to but we weren’t sure what it was. We shined the flashlight and could see something in the water. At first it looked like a big fish or shark but we got a good look at it right next to the boat and it was a dolphin. It swam off shortly after, but was really cool to see it at night and it was really close.
Kira went to bed at 4. At 4:30, Cale came up and took over. Cole took a 2 hour shift from 5-6 by himself. We got to Antigua around 9:30 am so 16 hours total. We tried a couple times to get a good spot. One we were too close to other boats. We tried another and were in a channel. There are two channels and the markers are very confusing. We decided to just get a mooring ball. Cade was my helper and everything just kept going wrong. The first one we got the attachment was wrapped around the mooring line and under water so we dropped it and did a different one. We couldn’t lift the ball on the next one because it had no flex, then I dropped the hook (which I’ve never done before). We finally got a ball but it was a bit of a circus. We haven’t had it go that bad ever. Hopefully never again. I blame it on fatigue and bad luck.
Cale went to pick up a refrigeration guy to fix one of fridges that stopped working a couple days ago. After he fixed it Cale took him back and went to customs and got checked in. He said it was a long process. A lot of forms and then filling out the forms online. Not very efficient. The kids and I cleaned, cleaned, cleaned. We mostly focused on rooms. Cole’s knee is still hurting him quite a bit. He kept it iced. Cale, Kira and Kelsey played hide and seek. At one point Kelsey and Kira hid in the dinghy. Cade came back and said ‘the dinghies untied’ in a panic. When he saw Kira and Kelsey in there he laughed and laughed. He finds joy in everything.
Everyone except for Cole went to shore. We walked through Nelson’s Dockyard, which I hope to go back to and read more about. I had just been telling Cale about seeing Cubby and how it made me just a little home sick and we rounded the corner and there was a dog that could have been Cubby’s brother. Slightly smaller but very similar. We asked to pet him. It was weird. Sure enough it was a red merle Aussiedoodle. Cale went up to get his haircut. The kids and I ate at B Bar under the Antigua Yacht Club. The kids loved the service and food. The food came out quick and was presented super fancy. They were so excited when they brought out bread for an appetizer.
Cale’s hair took forever. It was a long walk to get there and back. The guy was super friendly and took his time so it took a lot longer then he thought. Once he got back we headed back to the boat.

3-16
Today was a get ready for guests day. We started cleaning the galley and cockpit. I had to defrost a fridge because it was iced over. Good news is the other one now seems to be working after getting it worked on yesterday. I had Cade clean out one of the bilges. I also started laundry for the first time with our new washer. It’s pretty manual but seems to work pretty good. You fill part way with water then add the clothes. Then, you add a little soap and more water. You turn on the agitator. Once its done, you drain the water and wring out all the clothes and then refill with water and put the clothes back in. The last step is to drain the rinsing water and wring out the clothes again and then hang to dry. As long as it lasts for a while I think it was a good choice. The hardest part us getting things to dry.
Cale and I decided to tackle the toilets. He replaced all the lines but one and we were still getting stink so it had to go. It was the hose that goes from the bottom of the holding tank into the ocean. We were each in a different bathroom with a shared wall. As Cale took off the hose I was going to block anything that dripped out. We thought the holding tank was empty. As soon, as he got the hoses off it just started gushing poo water. All over the walls, all over us, our clothes, hair and face. I screamed and then just started laughing. It was just to disgusting to do anything else. We couldn’t really even get cleaned up right away because we had to game plan a solution. Once we got the those secured we started the clean up process. It was so disgusting and oh the awful smell! We tried to unclog the hose from below and above but the blockage wouldn’t budge so we finished cleaning up and are hoping to find a place to pump out tomorrow.
Cale, Kelsey and Cade went to pick up the Westers in our rental van. They got to the boat about 4:30. We got ready and drove the rental van to Shirley heights for the Thursday night BBQ. We got to hear the steel pan and reggae bands. It was very organized and the food was so good. The kids hiked down the path to town for a bit. There was also a mongoose in the trees behind were we sat and ate. The views were far reaching to all parts of the island. A lady chastised the kids who had gone on the other side of the rocks when we had our backs to them. She said in a very thick British accent, “be careful.” We came home and watched the BSU game. So sad that they lost!!!!

3-17
We woke to a very calm mooring at Falmouth Bay. The adults went to shore to get groceries. Our first stop, Genny Supermarket, was supposed to be the best store on the island but it didn’t have much at all. We went to another store that looked much newer called The Covent Garden. They had a great selection. Prices are high but not terrible. Hard to know for sure since it’s EC. We went back to the boat and unloaded groceries and all went to shore. We walked to Nelson’s dockyard. While we were in the bakery it started pouring. We passed more time by going back to the museum. It was really interesting and so sad. Hearing about all the stuff that happened to the slaves is so sad. There is an organization called Eight. They started for 8 names of slaves that were written down who died in an explosion. Their mission is to uncover names of slaves and also to help people reconnect with ancestors.
Back to the boat and then a 45 minute head sail to Carlisle Bay. We had rain on and off all day, the first time in a long time we’ve seen any rain. It’s kind of refreshing but I’m ready to see the sun already. The boys went to look for a surf spot. The girls played on the paddle boards. When they got back we moved closer to the resort beach and then had dinner. We dinghied to shore. They had these fun round mats in the water the kids played on and we walked the length of the beach. The waves going out from shore and into shore were equal in size and crashing into each other. It was a very interesting thing to watch. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it.

3-18 We woke up at Carlisle Bay to more wind then we’ve had for several weeks. After breakfast, we pulled anchor. We had spun and thought we might be over the boat’s anchor in front of us. Josh dove in and we were clear of it. The ride from Carlisle to Jolly was quick. We pulled into Cade’s reef, hoping to do some snorkeling, but it was too rough. We even thought about stopping at a few beaches to surf but didn’t. I called about 6 places looking for a rental car. We finally got one with the company we used in Falmouth with the man called Big. They even delivered it to us. We got to the marina and got fuel and attempted to pump out the septic tank with the blockage but it wouldn’t suck out. Docking was really tough because it was so windy.
We decided against getting a marina slip because of the wind and lucked out and got a mooring ball just out from the marina. The bad part is we are feet from the boat behind us. Hopefully, they are good moorings. Josh had gone to shore and got the rental car while we were trying to pump out and get fuel. We loaded up and were off to the Antigua Hash. We weren’t really sure what to expect, but I was excited to finally be doing a hash. We got there and everyone was very friendly. I didn’t realize the rules and the clues to get everyone on the right path. This one was on the Blackmans Plantation. We saw their well, walked their property, saw their old house and the sugar mill. Everyone introduced themselves and we were the biggest group so we were chosen to carry the flag. Cade took the job very serious. The kids and us got separated pretty early on and we were behind some pretty slow folks who needed some help so we didn’t see the kids again until the end. They couldn’t believe how long we took. We talked with some interesting people along the way. A couple on a boat from Switzerland. Their crossing took 27 days and was very slow and not much wind. A local lady who was born in Trinidad. A women who sailed across the Atlantic in a homemade boat. She had a stroke 2 years ago but was still going strong. Two ladies who are sail instructors.
We got back and the festivities began. Everyone got a drink. They told us not to drink it. They sang a song and whatever was left we had to dump on our head. Kelsey took my water and happily dumped the remainder on her head. Then they sprinkled us with magic toilet water so we weren’t hash virgins anymore. They then did something similar with the hares, who designed the trail and people who only sometimes came. It was fun to see, but the kids were exhausted and ready to leave so once our car wasn’t boxed in we left. We stopped by the Epicurean in Jolly Harbor. It was expensive but had a great selection.

3-19
We got up for church at 9, which meant leaving the boat a little after 8. It’s always a good thing we leave early. We dinghied over and started driving but google led us to a private golf course gate and after waiting for 5 minutes they told us we couldn’t pass. The building was a nice church-looking building. We were quite early. Every person that came in said hello and smiled. Most came over and shook our hand. The newly called district president called a new branch presidency. Many of them, including a boy going out on his mission shared testimonies. They were all very touching. The wife shared of their struggles with wayward children and how glad they all found their way. The 2nd counselor shared that God provided what he needed (which was a wife because whenever he told someone he dated he was a member they disappeared and wanted nothing to do with him. His wife had just been baptized the week before and he knew he would accepted the call to serve in the presidency. They had 2 baptisms happening today. It was very neat to see all the progress of that little branch and how it’s blessed so many lives.
Also, as a disciple of Christ sympathy comes with help. I love that we don’t just have sympathy…. we love and serve.
After church, we stopped by and old Angelican church and cemetery. We went in, as respectfully as we could, and listened to part of the sermon. The coffins, which are all above ground on the outside, seemed very old. Most didn’t have names or dates.
We got back to the boat and after lunch left the mooring for Deep Bay. It started to pour as we came in so we just circled around for 30 minutes waiting for a weather window. We finally ended up doing it with light rain, but it stopped shortly after. It’s a beautiful spot. The water is murky from the rain and rough seas. There is a crash you can snorkel on. We are hoping it will clear up so we can do it tomorrow.
A party cat came by and they loved CadeWe went to shore. We were all standing around and I wanted to hike to the fort. We all started heading up. There was a family on the beach and one of the ladies, Stacy, said “Hi. Do you remember me? I met you at church.” She was very nice. She decided to hike up with us. It was very much meant to be. It was nice to get to know her. She joined the church in December, but said she knew for some time it was the right thing to do. Her mother, son, and sister also joined. She works on a 6 star resort were lots of famous people go. She is in charge of the youth activities at church and has a personality and smile that light up everything. The hike up was short but steep. One part even had a rope to help you get up. It wouldn’t have been hard except most of us, including myself, was in flip flops. The fort itself was really cool. We aren’t sure of the history, but probably British. There were small rooms and a big flat spot with a flag pole on top. The views were amazing. You could see St. John’s, the main city, the salt ponds, the ocean and many islands all around. We could even see St. Kits and Monserratte in the distance.
We had dinner and a nice family discussion about our experience at church.’
3-19
We got up for church at 9, which meant leaving the boat a little after 8. It’s always a good thing we leave early. We dinghied over and started driving but google led us to a private golf course gate and after waiting for 5 minutes they told us we couldn’t pass. The building was a nice church-looking building. We were quite early. Every person that came in said hello and smiled. Most came over and shook our hand. The newly called district president called a new branch presidency. Many of them, including a boy going out on his mission shared testimonies. They were all very touching. The wife shared of their struggles with wayward children and how glad they all found their way. The 2nd counselor shared that God provided what he needed (which was a wife because whenever he told someone he dated he was a member they disappeared and wanted nothing to do with him. His wife had just been baptized the week before and he knew he would accepted the call to serve in the presidency. They had 2 baptisms happening today. It was very neat to see all the progress of that little branch and how it’s blessed so many lives.
Also, as a disciple of Christ sympathy comes with help. I love that we don’t just have sympathy…. we love and serve.
After church, we stopped by and old Angelican church and cemetery. We went in, as respectfully as we could, and listened to part of the sermon. The coffins, which are all above ground on the outside, seemed very old. Most didn’t have names or dates.
We got back to the boat and after lunch left the mooring for Deep Bay. It started to pour as we came in so we just circled around for 30 minutes waiting for a weather window. We finally ended up doing it with light rain, but it stopped shortly after. It’s a beautiful spot. The water is murky from the rain and rough seas. There is a crash you can snorkel on. We are hoping it will clear up so we can do it tomorrow.
A party cat came by and they loved Cade’s dancing so much they backed he boat up and danced some more. It was pretty funny. We went to shore. We were all standing around and I wanted to hike to the fort. We all started heading up. There was a family on the beach and one of the ladies, Stacy, said “Hi. Do you remember me? I met you at church.” She was very nice. She decided to hike up with us. It was very much meant to be. It was nice to get to know her. She joined the church in December, but said she knew for some time it was the right thing to do. Her mother, son, and sister also joined. She works on a 6 star resort were lots of famous people go. She is in charge of the youth activities at church and has a personality and smile that light up everything. The hike up was short but steep. One part even had a rope to help you get up. It wouldn’t have been hard except most of us, including myself, was in flip flops. The fort itself was really cool. We aren’t sure of the history, but probably British. There were small rooms and a big flat spot with a flag pole on top. The views were amazing. You could see St. John’s, the main city, the salt ponds, the ocean and many islands all around. We could even see St. Kits and Monserratte in the distance.
We had dinner and a nice family discussion about our experience at church.

3-20 The kids went to Deep Bay beach with josh and Anne. They had a blast playing in the waves, collecting shells, and skim boarding. Cale and I tackled the toilet, yet again. It was full of water from when we tried to get it pumped out. We got it to drain out but there was still a couple inches in the bottom. We tried and tried to get it to flush out but it won’t. We put more vinegar in there and are hoping it works its way out soon. We left Deep Bay mid-day. We were sad we didn’t see the wreck because it was too mirky and bad visibility. It was about a 2.5 hour boat ride to Great Bird Island. It’s between the north of the island and a Reef. There is good protection from swells but still quite windy. About 18-20 knots. The kids love playing a game they made in which they try and stay balanced on the fenders on the trampoline. It was lots of fun until they broke some of the trampoline line. I’m hoping to replace all the line soon. We got anchored and dinghied to shore. There is a staircase you can go up, but it was closed. We walked around. This island was the only island that the racer snake survived. They went extinct in the whole Caribbean when mongooses were introduced to keep the rats out of the sugar. It was brought back from extinction here. We didn’t see one. We tried snorkeling but it was very shallow. A second spot wasn’t as shallow but still wasn’t great. We came back for pizzas.