Saturday = Flip Day.

Saturday morning is all goodbyes, not my favorite. You grow close to your guests when you live with them and swim with them for a week, and it’s sad when they depart. Tough cookies, sailor. Dry your eyes and hit the town for another day of provisioning. 

One of our more challenging items here in the BVI, aside from cows blocking our path, is WIFI and internet access. Heather spends a lot of time in the digicell office getting things straightened out before each trip. We keep 2 devices running, one for crew and one for guests. Always a backup for either.  Simon and I share Dad jokes while we wait. 

We can usually find most of what we need for provisioning in Road Town, but it often means hitting several stores. Simon, Heather and I are in charge of adult beverages again this week. We find our liquor and wines in one place, but jump to another for beer.

This is one of my favorite things in life: a roadside stand built of driftwood or other salvaged material, a handwritten sign, a weathered old soul, all under the shade of a big tree. The weathered soul opens a cooler full of ice and plastic water bottles that have been repurposed to hold his or her concoctions: juices from fruits and vegetables that I’ve never heard of, root infusions, a peanut based drink, fizzy brown drinks, many bright colors. You exchange a few bucks for the strangest looking ones, pass them around to your travel mates for a sip. Some are sweet or hot or tangy or even thick like pudding. A little breeze picks up, and time stands still. Bliss. 

A version of the above happened today, but it was coupled with a food truck serving local dishes like curried goat stew, mixed provisions (starchy things), jerk chicken and rice with black eyed peas. The cook used a very large cleaver, which made for an interesting companion to her infectious smile. Her jerk sauce is homemade, of course.

Cows and yachts are funny. The cows moved in to mow the marina lawn this morning. More fresh juices - today brought watermelon, cucumber and celery spinach, all with a ginger kick!

Provisions stashed. Naps taken. A trip to Trellis Bay for conch fritters and rum punch. Island girls singing karaoke. Guests tomorrow. The little marina sleeps. 

Hopper

I’ve started making gifs of fun little video bits. Here are a few of our very own viking / pirate, Romesie. - HP