British Virgin Islands

No! No! I don't want to go to the hurricane hole!! It almost rhymes... We are watching, and Bazza says unless something really changes we won't have to do maybe more then go to Great Harbour on Peter Island, which will suit me just fine.
I feel like I am catching up on some sleep and regaining some energy after a couple weeks of not even moving the boat. I can understand how some boats get "chained" to the dock...We have never been a dock boat, but even though we had planned on going to Salt Island a week or so ago, it is so easy to not worry about the anchor, or other boats, or the noise from the generator, and the air conditioning is always on (Yeah!) and as Bazza says, it has been nice for him as with not running the generator and engines, there is not the little things breaking every day that generally do when you are out.
He was commenting the other day that there are 63 different pumps on this boat which absolutely blew me away!!! Even if one broke once a week you would be playing with pumps forever!

I have had the notion, one more time, like I do every off season, that we really should buy a "run around" boat... Power, at least 20 feet and then I can just go out and dive and do my exploring easier. Been keeping my eye on the papers a bit as they usually come up for sale about this time of year, but nothing yet. I do this every off season.

Some of you may remember that we have a friend who runs a Dolphin Expedition trip in the Bahama's off of Bimini. He sent a couple pictures of dolphins yesterday and mentions that every year they get to have longer interactions with the dolphins. I know some of my guests would really enjoy this trip! From his note below:
"This season we have had record interactions and for much longer periods of time than ever...

Just this past week we were with about 45 dolphins for quite a while, as the swim went on most of the dolphins moved on leaving six. The six that stayed just laid around and played with our guests for hours. Playing their sea weed game with each guest individually and each other. Minutes were spent not moving --dolphins or guests--just floating next to each other enjoying each other...In was beautiful to watch...

Over the weekend the weather was so perfect, that we took a crew day out to swim with our dolphin family and blow off some steam. Terri, Jerry and myself..

It was an amazing afternoon. We came across a pod of Spotted dolphins moving along, fishing. So we just kept them at a distance to watch--it's great to just to be able to be in the area watching them in their natural environment doing what they do....the water was flat calm and so perfectly clear that we were able not to miss anything from the boat..

After a while several pods came together and started hanging around the boat --so we entered the water. Thirty or so dolphins immediately encircled us. This was to be one of the most amazing dolphin experiences either of us had ever enjoyed. There were a mixture of Bottlenose and Spotted dolphins feeding and sexing each other--and they were letting us float right in the middle of it all. Dolphins would shoot right up next to each of us--out of the water--over us-- and back in to continue what they were doing.

I have experienced this many times in the past--usually the dolphins are a little off to one side and we float on the surface at a distance to give them their space. This time the dolphins made sure that we were part of all that was going on. They would race right up to us circle around and then continue their pod activities. At most times there would be several dolphins that would just be floating next to us giving much more that the eye to eye contact that is so special...

Several times I went to the bottom--escorted by out dolphin friends--I would blow some water rings and they would follow them up and play with them--then come back and float up to the surface with me. Both Terri and Jerry would swim down and have their own special moments with the dolphins.

The dolphins continued their play until we had to leave because the sun was setting on the horizon and it made seeing underwater difficult."





Our daughter in law sent us some new pictures of Smiley Face....


I received the nicest reply to my blog posting yesterday from someone I have never met in person, but am getting to know through Facebook etc. It almost made me teary! Thank you Heather!
Well, I couldn't get the page to load on the blog so I could leave a comment so I decided to come here. Please don't change. I can't imagine reading a generic Promenade blog. I come for all of the reasons you listed. I love the fish pics, food pics, crew pics, and island pics, bvi news, and coconut telegraph stuff but I also love to read the blog because of you. You are very real. You talk about kids, your grandbaby, your parents, and your interests such as diving and baking. I learn something new everyday-for instance, I did not know what a flamingo tongue was before you showed me. I am going to be a client because of who you are and the vibe you create on the blog. I know we'll fit in..I know our time with you all will be perfect. Not because of vanilla charter news but because of the company you and Bazza created. The hospitality. So, please...don't change a thing!! (I'll be holding my breath!!)

Richard and Lisa are off to Turkey (as in the country not the dinner) for one week today...Looking forward to seeing them in a couple weeks and i wonder if Lisa still knows how to blog or if she is giving it up forever??? Supposed to have gone into town a couple hours ago for mail etc, but not moving too fast, I will post this and see if I get any closer.