tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238939552024-03-14T00:17:57.970-04:00Rob and Natalie's Voyages on sv WilhelmNatalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-15613935136970166912011-06-11T19:21:00.002-04:002012-03-23T18:27:29.678-04:00THE END OF OUR JOURNEY: We arrive in Maine! June 7, 2011Nine and a half years after we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge, headed for Maine, we have arrived. We passed Cape Elizabeth at dawn on a clear still morning, turned into Casco Bay toward Portland and our destination, at least for now, South Portland. <br />
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Ben, Eva and Luke waved us past Bug Light.Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comSouth Portland, ME, USA43.648000977658121 -70.23628272363282643.616425477658119 -70.31266522363282 43.679576477658124 -70.159900223632832tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-12282793393873838752011-06-11T12:24:00.001-04:002012-03-23T18:59:34.187-04:00Bermuda to MaineWe worked our way north from Bermuda and decided to transit the Cape Cod canal, to avoid strong northerly winds to the east. The weather grew colder; dolphins met us along the way, and a few large ships crossed our path.<br />
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<img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YhBYObf3exY/TfORnlzgZPI/AAAAAAAAC4k/6cq7KV-cndI/s320/036+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /><div>
<span style="text-align: center;">A favorite Aunt and Uncle stood beside the Cape Cod Canal, and waved us on our way. </span><br /><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IS19-uFUEFI/TfOS7rxQwbI/AAAAAAAAC40/PBj_NPliEjQ/s1600/056+-+Copy+%25281024x728%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IS19-uFUEFI/TfOS7rxQwbI/AAAAAAAAC40/PBj_NPliEjQ/s320/056+-+Copy+%25281024x728%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comSandwich, MA, USA41.764141967477926 -70.515060799804741.745378967477926 -70.5408782998047 41.782904967477926 -70.4892432998047tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-26710636218496086922011-06-11T11:48:00.000-04:002011-06-11T11:48:23.332-04:00Bermuda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s7vK3WqO6mw/TfOM48EO3KI/AAAAAAAAC4g/jjwJ-hJXKd8/s1600/Bermuda+5.27+054+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s7vK3WqO6mw/TfOM48EO3KI/AAAAAAAAC4g/jjwJ-hJXKd8/s320/Bermuda+5.27+054+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v99DEjBoapw/TfOMeLFzFHI/AAAAAAAAC4U/6ufOTRHpNWU/s1600/011+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v99DEjBoapw/TfOMeLFzFHI/AAAAAAAAC4U/6ufOTRHpNWU/s200/011+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iL9DV23m81U/TfOMmuhDbqI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/aNertpJmjn0/s1600/Bermuda+5.27+015+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iL9DV23m81U/TfOMmuhDbqI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/aNertpJmjn0/s320/Bermuda+5.27+015+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bermuda Day parade in Hamilton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Charles <br />
and <br />
Carie met us in Bermuda.<br />
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Charles stayed to help sail the final leg of our journey.Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comBermuda32.212801276888747 -64.76440467187501331.050943276888749 -66.632080671875016 33.37465927688875 -62.89672867187501tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-68556565823464140802011-06-11T11:32:00.000-04:002011-06-11T11:32:40.735-04:00Passage to Bermuda<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Act III visible ahead of Wilhelm's gennaker</td></tr>
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We are not the only ones affected by erratic weather - an exhausted bird landed on the boat, so tired and dehydrated that it sipped water from Rob's hand.Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comAtlantic ocean25.482951398211636 -64.90722693750001320.528980898211636 -72.377929937500014 30.436921898211637 -57.436523937500013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-2645051345080015672011-05-08T13:40:00.003-04:002011-05-14T08:10:01.945-04:00St John, USVI. (18.36,-64.75) May 1 - May 9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c-l4-_SbmUs/TcbUl7oghRI/AAAAAAAAC0c/FotcoPyE87o/s1600/Nat+St+John+5.2011+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c-l4-_SbmUs/TcbUl7oghRI/AAAAAAAAC0c/FotcoPyE87o/s320/Nat+St+John+5.2011+066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Matt, Anna and Nina came to Maho Bay, St. John, and we spent almost a week with them. What a special time we had. To see the photo album. <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/nataliewestsellin/MattAnnaNina?authkey=Gv1sRgCLjfw9uut76Ydg&feat=directlink">CLICK HERE</a>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-14026113181891869152011-05-02T15:10:00.000-04:002011-05-02T15:10:55.379-04:00Antigua. A visit from Blair and beautiful boats! April. (17.00, -61.76)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-SzUH3be2c/Tb8Bap4BOiI/AAAAAAAACwo/l5ksWJ4RJdw/s1600/Natalie+4.16.11+009+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-SzUH3be2c/Tb8Bap4BOiI/AAAAAAAACwo/l5ksWJ4RJdw/s320/Natalie+4.16.11+009+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blair spent almost a week on Wilhelm while we were in Antigua and Barbuda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Highlights of his visit included visiting some untraveled spots in the north of Antigua and Barbuda; snorkeling in warm clear water;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>watching classic boats arrive for the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta; and spending several days in Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour – a semi-restored area that was a center of British Naval activity in the 1700’s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After Blair left, we stayed to watch the Antigua Classics Regatta.</span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/nataliewestsellin/AntiguaBarbudaApril2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCL_UqIWI3d3VeA&feat=email#slideshow/5602193664143201986">CLICK HERE</a> to see more photosNatalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-5942190030748053222011-04-26T12:47:00.002-04:002011-04-26T13:36:10.758-04:00Horse Racing on Nevis. March 27, 2011 (17.15, -61.63)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mfsU2JRXAuU/Tbb1KXHhqAI/AAAAAAAACsU/91AAnWC264M/s1600/013+%2528670x1024%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mfsU2JRXAuU/Tbb1KXHhqAI/AAAAAAAACsU/91AAnWC264M/s200/013+%2528670x1024%2529.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>Strolling around Nevis, we read a poster about horse racing that afternoon. One of the horses was named Obama, and the poster proclaimed "Obama say Limb by Limb we a go cut dem down." We wanted a chance to bet on Obama, so off we went. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hh0vAXdeqrM/Tbb2Bx1-AAI/AAAAAAAACsY/Br-dpi8H3XY/s1600/044+%2528889x1024%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hh0vAXdeqrM/Tbb2Bx1-AAI/AAAAAAAACsY/Br-dpi8H3XY/s200/044+%2528889x1024%2529.jpg" width="173" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cXfr2B8VCSU/Tbb2MjoSdJI/AAAAAAAACsk/7UWrWKIyMis/s1600/060+-+Copy+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cXfr2B8VCSU/Tbb2MjoSdJI/AAAAAAAACsk/7UWrWKIyMis/s320/060+-+Copy+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We learned that race horses in Nevis are primarily rescue horses from Puerto Rico. Local enthusiasts take horses that would otherwise be put down, and train them. Obama lived up to his reputation and came home a winner in his race, and the track was one of the most scenic anyone could find. Here are photos of the jockeys walking to their mounts, Obama headed for the starting line, horses racing home, and the grandstands.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOSzEYo00R8/Tbb2FP8OJSI/AAAAAAAACsc/qi7E4-CbZT0/s1600/052+%25281024x737%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOSzEYo00R8/Tbb2FP8OJSI/AAAAAAAACsc/qi7E4-CbZT0/s320/052+%25281024x737%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>Throughout the Caribbean we have seen our President viewed as an inspiration and symbol of hope to the people who live here - St. Kitts has an honorary stamp and Antigua has renamed its highest mountain. Many businesses have posted photos of Obama. </div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUMTr4lmlOA/Tbb2Jg_eRsI/AAAAAAAACsg/DV9zWh4fUe0/s1600/038+-+Copy+%25281024x674%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUMTr4lmlOA/Tbb2Jg_eRsI/AAAAAAAACsg/DV9zWh4fUe0/s320/038+-+Copy+%25281024x674%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-20574340972701606652011-03-24T07:39:00.002-04:002011-03-25T07:49:58.512-04:00St. Martin, Anguilla, Saba, St. Kitts. (Saint Christopher)In a nutshell, St Martin is the home of mega yachts, Anguilla is like Cape Cod, Saba is a big mountain belonging to Holland, and St Kitts - Nevis is an independent country struggling to find its identity....,<br />
All different, all with pros and cons for the potential visitor.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We didn't take any photos in St. Martin. We've already posted a lot of photos of white beaches, so will skip Anguilla. To visit Saba, we took a ferry from St Martin and climbed to the "highest point in the kingdom of the Netherlands." The extinct volcano rises abruptlyl 2855' from the sea, and the trail has 1064 steps, with a thick rope to grab toward the summit. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L4qh3QHbXSc/TYyA-8Wav-I/AAAAAAAACsM/M8QdqVDdf8w/s1600/Rob+climbing+MT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L4qh3QHbXSc/TYyA-8Wav-I/AAAAAAAACsM/M8QdqVDdf8w/s320/Rob+climbing+MT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-75403956588167486052011-03-10T17:30:00.000-05:002011-03-10T17:30:55.809-05:00Guadeloupe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EGA9MJ1Xd6A/TXlQs34Gr6I/AAAAAAAACrk/vux_3eAY0I4/s1600/012+-+Copy+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EGA9MJ1Xd6A/TXlQs34Gr6I/AAAAAAAACrk/vux_3eAY0I4/s200/012+-+Copy+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0V55dGQg0qY/TXlQlN66ddI/AAAAAAAACrg/UTNfxmJ_F2A/s1600/008+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0V55dGQg0qY/TXlQlN66ddI/AAAAAAAACrg/UTNfxmJ_F2A/s320/008+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another wonderful French island, with baquettes delivered to the boat every day, wonderful French cheese and wine BUT lots of wind, which made our anchorage in Les Saintes very uncomfortable. Another big fort – this one a French fort. The sea between Les Saintes and Dominica was the site of one of the major naval battles in history, between the French and English. It is all very important American history, and the assistance the Colonial forces received from the French<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but too lengthy to discuss here. After two windy days in the Saints, we sailed north to Deshaies – the place with the best dinghy dock of all, and waited for a weather window to head north.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-odISJHyr5hY/TXlQzSvtq8I/AAAAAAAACro/sFAlAH01hkw/s1600/066+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-odISJHyr5hY/TXlQzSvtq8I/AAAAAAAACro/sFAlAH01hkw/s320/066+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-51883949348422641652011-03-10T17:25:00.000-05:002011-03-10T17:25:38.316-05:00Carnivale in the Caribbean<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Pm8xozJfo6g/TXlPUUGe8GI/AAAAAAAACrU/xq1s41tOrMk/s1600/081+-+Copy+%25281024x767%2529+%2528800x599%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Pm8xozJfo6g/TXlPUUGe8GI/AAAAAAAACrU/xq1s41tOrMk/s320/081+-+Copy+%25281024x767%2529+%2528800x599%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YMoke8mW5CY/TXlPRl3H8KI/AAAAAAAACrQ/PCRhLIFtgg4/s1600/084+-+Copy+%2528769x1024%2529+%2528601x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YMoke8mW5CY/TXlPRl3H8KI/AAAAAAAACrQ/PCRhLIFtgg4/s200/084+-+Copy+%2528769x1024%2529+%2528601x800%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xyxllFtf8Lk/TXlPJpOcdoI/AAAAAAAACrM/XY2B-uMoAxI/s1600/077+-+Copy+%2528714x1024%2529+%2528558x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xyxllFtf8Lk/TXlPJpOcdoI/AAAAAAAACrM/XY2B-uMoAxI/s200/077+-+Copy+%2528714x1024%2529+%2528558x800%2529.jpg" width="139" /></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XuUhyNo7xts/TXlPYFi6MSI/AAAAAAAACrY/gF3G0AlF05I/s1600/088+-+Copy+%2528741x1024%2529+%2528579x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XuUhyNo7xts/TXlPYFi6MSI/AAAAAAAACrY/gF3G0AlF05I/s200/088+-+Copy+%2528741x1024%2529+%2528579x800%2529.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hsoz-Pcc9cg/TXlPdFVXoHI/AAAAAAAACrc/cy4Kvy5ZTQk/s1600/096+-+Copy+%25281024x768%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hsoz-Pcc9cg/TXlPdFVXoHI/AAAAAAAACrc/cy4Kvy5ZTQk/s320/096+-+Copy+%25281024x768%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domincia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Dominica, Martinique, and Saint Martin, we enjoyed parades full of enthusiasm and warming up to Carnival. These photos are all from Dominica.</span></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-72908922036198671852011-03-10T17:21:00.000-05:002011-03-10T17:21:04.398-05:00Dominica<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DCdrBdbC0fE/TXlOAq1zy-I/AAAAAAAACq8/SY4KLu1oYog/s1600/001+-+Copy+%25281024x718%2529+%2528800x561%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DCdrBdbC0fE/TXlOAq1zy-I/AAAAAAAACq8/SY4KLu1oYog/s320/001+-+Copy+%25281024x718%2529+%2528800x561%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the least developed of all the Caribbean Islands. In one photo, we are rowing up the river with a local guide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>This is the only island where there are still descendents of the Carib or Kalinago people who originally inhabited the Caribbean Islands, when Columbus “discovered” them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took a tour and bought some baskets that the Kalinago people make, using the same techniques that their ancestors used in 1492.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_BzbtaMhggM/TXlOaJX71xI/AAAAAAAACrE/0EgTrBzxH6E/s1600/121+%25281024x768%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_BzbtaMhggM/TXlOaJX71xI/AAAAAAAACrE/0EgTrBzxH6E/s200/121+%25281024x768%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xUibA4rV7wY/TXlONvRwvGI/AAAAAAAACrA/0HB3TMJp0ls/s1600/116+%2528800x628%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xUibA4rV7wY/TXlONvRwvGI/AAAAAAAACrA/0HB3TMJp0ls/s200/116+%2528800x628%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We also enjoyed flavored rum – we chose the “Obama Special.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p1hBLrumtRk/TXlOkmU_6bI/AAAAAAAACrI/tikH7wDBe-Y/s1600/151+%25281024x750%2529+%2528800x586%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p1hBLrumtRk/TXlOkmU_6bI/AAAAAAAACrI/tikH7wDBe-Y/s320/151+%25281024x750%2529+%2528800x586%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Like all these islands, there is a fort – a remnant of the dispute between the French and English that persisted for many years. We visited with our new friends Lance and Susie of “Queen Emma,” from Berkeley.</span></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-3457193268019072402011-01-31T15:40:00.000-05:002011-01-31T15:40:22.127-05:00Martinique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUccJPrFg6I/AAAAAAAACok/IRz7xGttuzk/s1600/Martinique+Yole+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUccJPrFg6I/AAAAAAAACok/IRz7xGttuzk/s400/Martinique+Yole+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Le Marin, Martinique, after a sail from Bequia past St Vincent and St Lucia. Local boats, les yoles rondes (pronounced similar to “yawl” in English.) had a regatta near the anchorage. These boats have no keel, and a crew of 10 or more men. Three of them use a steering oar about 15 feet long</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUccUUGas8I/AAAAAAAACos/7E7GfkhCnFM/s1600/martinique+Yole+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUccUUGas8I/AAAAAAAACos/7E7GfkhCnFM/s320/martinique+Yole+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The rest of the crew coordinate their moves using long wooden poles and remarkable balancing feats to keep the boat sailing through gusts, wind shifts and course changes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUccbkMnC5I/AAAAAAAACow/kN4iq1Qedas/s1600/Martinique+Yole+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUccbkMnC5I/AAAAAAAACow/kN4iq1Qedas/s320/Martinique+Yole+4.JPG" width="250" /></a></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-52864037508133559192011-01-26T09:11:00.001-05:002011-04-26T10:50:38.330-04:00Bequia, St. Vincent & Grenadines. Bing or Google Maps. 13.0186, -61.258<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAnutPzbUI/AAAAAAAACoI/3q8jr0TWeiI/s1600/Bequia+6+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAnutPzbUI/AAAAAAAACoI/3q8jr0TWeiI/s320/Bequia+6+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAn4dS0uBI/AAAAAAAACoM/EcLRkjBnZGA/s1600/bequia+7+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAn4dS0uBI/AAAAAAAACoM/EcLRkjBnZGA/s320/bequia+7+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a> Colors of the Caribbean everywhere; the houses, the boats and the landscape are brilliant. Vibrant energy.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAoB6u6gHI/AAAAAAAACoQ/gkx5Qf8Fm8Y/s1600/Bequia+4+%25281024x477%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAoB6u6gHI/AAAAAAAACoQ/gkx5Qf8Fm8Y/s400/Bequia+4+%25281024x477%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAoMAr0G-I/AAAAAAAACoU/K2PG5ENwy2I/s1600/Bequia+3+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAoMAr0G-I/AAAAAAAACoU/K2PG5ENwy2I/s320/Bequia+3+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Bequia still practices whale hunting. Each year, the people of Bequia are allowed to kill up to 4 humpback whales, using a 6-man open whale boat and a traditional harpoon, fastened to a long hemp rope. This photo shows the harpoon, and lance, and some of the rope. There are two whaleboats on the island.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAou1H8pZI/AAAAAAAACog/V4UPNfFMVVk/s1600/Bequia+2+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAou1H8pZI/AAAAAAAACog/V4UPNfFMVVk/s320/Bequia+2+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">We found a respite from the wind at anchor in Admiralty Bay, on the leeward side of Bequia, where we anchored off gorgeous Princess Margaret beach. Nice swimming and snorkeling off the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bequia island was an exciting daysail to windward, north from Union Island.</span>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-20966418707394892152011-01-26T08:52:00.001-05:002011-04-26T10:50:01.098-04:00Union Island & Tobago Cays. Bing or Google Maps 12.5951, -61.4151<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAmT57lHMI/AAAAAAAACoE/Xsro2IlPKPE/s1600/St+Vincent+2+%25281024x795%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAmT57lHMI/AAAAAAAACoE/Xsro2IlPKPE/s320/St+Vincent+2+%25281024x795%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>These islands are part of the country of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, which is a different country from Grenada. Friends joined us for their winter vacation<span style="font-family: Calibri;">. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAl-byEXTI/AAAAAAAACn8/oMfOvQn5SBM/s1600/St+Vin+1+-+Copy+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAl-byEXTI/AAAAAAAACn8/oMfOvQn5SBM/s640/St+Vin+1+-+Copy+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lots of wind, but beautiful snorkeling on the reef at Tobago Cays. Wilhelm anchored at Clifton, Union Island, with piles of discarded conch shells in the surf near the beach. </span></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-75091363962628464092011-01-01T16:35:00.020-05:002011-04-26T10:46:54.190-04:00St, Lucia, West Indies. Bing or Google Maps 13.831, -61.070<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">St Lucia is spectacular, as the Deux Pitons rise in the distance on a beautiful clear day.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9DCb-w4wI/AAAAAAAACnk/jz9DZf8zrpE/s1600/St+Lucia+2+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9DCb-w4wI/AAAAAAAACnk/jz9DZf8zrpE/s200/St+Lucia+2+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9Ck96vuKI/AAAAAAAACng/sQzhpcc4YGw/s1600/St+Lucia+1+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9Ck96vuKI/AAAAAAAACng/sQzhpcc4YGw/s320/St+Lucia+1+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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We celebrated the New Year (2011) at anchor in Rodney Bay, with fireworks exploding over the bow. The fruit seller sells directly to our boat; his own boat decorated in flags of many countries. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9DPWb9tEI/AAAAAAAACno/E_eCV2K1y_I/s1600/St+Lucia+3+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9DPWb9tEI/AAAAAAAACno/E_eCV2K1y_I/s400/St+Lucia+3+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>These workers are repairing landslide damge from Hurricane Tomas in the Soufriere Botanical Garden. <br />
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The Soufriere area was damaged by torrential rains, causing many landslides.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAjBXTWkaI/AAAAAAAACn0/xl6Ohq34gSg/s1600/DSC00368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAjBXTWkaI/AAAAAAAACn0/xl6Ohq34gSg/s320/DSC00368.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distinctive local boats in Soufriere.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAkrWdx74I/AAAAAAAACn4/qd2T_KNHoIw/s1600/St+Lucia+4+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TUAkrWdx74I/AAAAAAAACn4/qd2T_KNHoIw/s400/St+Lucia+4+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We particularly enjoyed <span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the Tet Paul Nature Trail, along the ridge between the Deux Pitons. The trail and accompanying organic garden and other exhibits have been developed by citizens of Chateau Belair.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;">The local marine management agency has installed mooring buoys near the Pitons, very reasonable price.</span>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-88774436668609690662010-12-25T16:26:00.013-05:002011-04-26T10:45:21.993-04:00Carriacou, Grenada, West Indies. Bing or Google Maps 12.456, -61.486<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9A4lmQp1I/AAAAAAAACnY/r3W7RdFR3CE/s1600/carr+3+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9A4lmQp1I/AAAAAAAACnY/r3W7RdFR3CE/s320/carr+3+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wilhelm at anchor in Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou….There<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are lots of boats in the Caribbean. We spent Christmas in this anchorage. While there, we took an island tour in a bus named “On D Move” and bought fresh bread and fruit from the “Big Mama Market” on the shore by the anchorage. (Carriacou is one of the islands of Grenada.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9BCue2HmI/AAAAAAAACnc/I1U7SgYddic/s1600/carr+4+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9BCue2HmI/AAAAAAAACnc/I1U7SgYddic/s200/carr+4+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9Aj8Ns19I/AAAAAAAACnQ/pEqTr2ZDb20/s1600/Carr+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT9Aj8Ns19I/AAAAAAAACnQ/pEqTr2ZDb20/s200/Carr+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-20218370390435987382010-12-20T16:06:00.002-05:002011-04-26T10:44:55.155-04:00Grenada (Bing or Google Maps 12.044, -61.748)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT88arM0rNI/AAAAAAAACnA/SB2MshKhCmM/s1600/Grenada+Pt+1+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT88arM0rNI/AAAAAAAACnA/SB2MshKhCmM/s320/Grenada+Pt+1+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT8-JP3qj8I/AAAAAAAACnI/8j0rLk-5Y7s/s1600/Grenada+2+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT8-JP3qj8I/AAAAAAAACnI/8j0rLk-5Y7s/s200/Grenada+2+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">View of Port Louis marina in St. George’s, Grenada, where we spent some very pleasant days. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rob learns about cocoa beans, and Natalie feeds a local monkey. (It is still legal to hunt monkeys for food in Grenada, so there are very few of them on the island.) We bought courtesy flags from Jules, a local flagmaker, for some of our Caribbean destinations.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT8-UjBuy7I/AAAAAAAACnM/p88itZsNBi8/s1600/Gr+flags+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT8-UjBuy7I/AAAAAAAACnM/p88itZsNBi8/s200/Gr+flags+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT8984Ve-iI/AAAAAAAACnE/YxUr73Y6L6s/s1600/Grenada+3+%2528768x1024%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TT8984Ve-iI/AAAAAAAACnE/YxUr73Y6L6s/s200/Grenada+3+%2528768x1024%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-29784409307653388262010-12-01T13:16:00.001-05:002010-12-03T14:53:57.520-05:00BACK ONBOARD!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TPlHQvVpQcI/AAAAAAAACmA/mFG3QUz4DS8/s1600/11250011+%25281024x765%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TPlHQvVpQcI/AAAAAAAACmA/mFG3QUz4DS8/s320/11250011+%25281024x765%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Grenada, Caribbean. We are back onboard Wilhelm. We launched the boat after a week of very hard work cleaning, maintaining, replacing, and repairing various bits. Rob has done a great job maintaining the engine and batteries...and we are almost ready to set sail. Here are some photos of the launch, thanks to Emma on Daydreamer.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Wilhelm being moved from the stacker to the travel lift, then lowered in the water where we climb aboard and prepare to leave the dock and start another year of cruising!<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TPlHwxOJcII/AAAAAAAACmE/DwRilqiK75s/s1600/11250025+%25281024x765%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TPlHwxOJcII/AAAAAAAACmE/DwRilqiK75s/s200/11250025+%25281024x765%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TPlH3jBs7lI/AAAAAAAACmI/lhHKkkU4unk/s1600/11250047+%25281024x765%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TPlH3jBs7lI/AAAAAAAACmI/lhHKkkU4unk/s200/11250047+%25281024x765%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TPlIOZa6J2I/AAAAAAAACmM/k5FowqW5VSQ/s1600/11250062+%25281024x765%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TPlIOZa6J2I/AAAAAAAACmM/k5FowqW5VSQ/s200/11250062+%25281024x765%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TPlKkXuJh1I/AAAAAAAACmQ/FtPoCryY1TI/s1600/11250084+%25281024x765%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/TPlKkXuJh1I/AAAAAAAACmQ/FtPoCryY1TI/s320/11250084+%25281024x765%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-42294284162525609072010-05-11T09:30:00.004-04:002011-04-26T10:44:23.724-04:00Where Are We Now?Wilhelm is now in storage in Grenada, Caribbean, for the 2010 hurricane season. Rob and Natalie will visit family and friends in the USA from May through October, and return to Wilhelm late in the year. Between January 6, and May 1, 2010, we sailed from Cape Town, South Africa, across the South Atlantic to Brazil and up the coast of South America to the Caribbean. More than 5,500 nautical miles of sailing. <br />
Thanks to all friends and family for their love and support. Special thanks to those who have welcomed us into their lives when we drop anchor in diverse ports around the world.Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-73575649880797839482010-04-25T15:36:00.002-04:002010-05-11T15:58:53.326-04:00Laarwijk, Suriname<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-myXZcbjhI/AAAAAAAACig/m0gCLjSDLNc/s1600/Suriname3c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-myXZcbjhI/AAAAAAAACig/m0gCLjSDLNc/s320/Suriname3c.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>We took the small ferry across the river, and visited Laarwijk, on the other side. At one time this area was a large sugar plantation. When the plantation ceased operation (and we don’t know exactly when that was), the owners divided the land among the workers. The descendents of the workers live there today. The area is large, divided into orderly rectangles by sand paths and small canals. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mykbpBnmI/AAAAAAAACio/7dhmiNE1lho/s1600/Suriname3a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mykbpBnmI/AAAAAAAACio/7dhmiNE1lho/s200/Suriname3a.JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div>We walked about 2 km away from the river without reaching the end, and it apparently extends beyond that, as well as that distance or greater from side to side. There are no cars. All goods are brought by boat. The people walk, ride bicycles, or cruise along on motorbikes. There was virtually no litter. We are told that many areas of Suriname are former plantations that have been divided in this way.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mzDhVFfgI/AAAAAAAACi4/UWCtk3KHycI/s1600/Suriname3d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mzDhVFfgI/AAAAAAAACi4/UWCtk3KHycI/s320/Suriname3d.JPG" tt="true" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-my4kvmj-I/AAAAAAAACiw/Qh3WzidOwJU/s1600/Suriname3b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-my4kvmj-I/AAAAAAAACiw/Qh3WzidOwJU/s320/Suriname3b.JPG" tt="true" /></a>The fish is a Piranha caught in the river where we were anchored. No swimming in Suriname!</div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-34907012514804346312010-04-25T15:28:00.001-04:002010-06-13T20:41:33.262-04:00Domburg Bottle Project, Suriname<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mwZt73qGI/AAAAAAAACiA/UzI0D0Zl-W4/s1600/Suriname2a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mwZt73qGI/AAAAAAAACiA/UzI0D0Zl-W4/s320/Suriname2a.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>This morning we had coffee with Sofia and Ed, a Dutch couple who have lived in Suriname for more than three years. They have built a floating island, using great creativity and energy, callling attention to the masses of plastic that are discarded in our oceans. <br />
“The Domburg Bottle Project,” begun in November 2006, used approximately 150,000 discarded plastic bottles, sewn into five large pockets of old fishnet. <br />
The final island is approximately 10 by 7 meters, and 1.5 meters thick. On that, they deposited large amounts of topsoil, and have planted trees, flowers, grass and vegetables. Frequent rain keeps the island green, augmented when necessary by water from the river. They have built an open cabin on the island, where they can host friends or relax. They have electricity supplied by a solar panel and stored in a battery, collect rain for water, and enjoy all the comforts of land life, while their boat is tied to the island as their kitchen, and sleeping quarters. (And the whole thing rocks gently when a ship goes by in the river.) <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Photos of the island under construction and showing some of the bottles and fishnet through the greenery.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mwkw6T7wI/AAAAAAAACiI/gl7ujaTajEw/s1600/Suriname2d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mwkw6T7wI/AAAAAAAACiI/gl7ujaTajEw/s320/Suriname2d.JPG" tt="true" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mwu9G6dvI/AAAAAAAACiQ/7MvU96owOzo/s1600/Suriname2c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mwu9G6dvI/AAAAAAAACiQ/7MvU96owOzo/s200/Suriname2c.JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mw31o4rgI/AAAAAAAACiY/1D6b5EdDBIY/s1600/Suriname2b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mw31o4rgI/AAAAAAAACiY/1D6b5EdDBIY/s320/Suriname2b.JPG" tt="true" width="320" /></a>The island today, floating in the Suriname River. Wilhelm is anchored in the right background.</div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-6335836752978082722010-04-24T15:17:00.003-04:002010-05-11T15:45:20.805-04:00New England College Town? No, It is Suriname<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mteuaHq4I/AAAAAAAAChg/OOKhp3mY3oU/s1600/DSC04292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mteuaHq4I/AAAAAAAAChg/OOKhp3mY3oU/s400/DSC04292.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Suriname is the place that the Dutch received from the British in exchange for New Amsterdam (New York City), in 1667. This photo shows small part of the capitol city, but most of the country is undeveloped and very different.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mudgnbh5I/AAAAAAAAChw/vHb__aXQzXc/s1600/Suriname1b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mudgnbh5I/AAAAAAAAChw/vHb__aXQzXc/s200/Suriname1b.JPG" tt="true" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-muPrCc7CI/AAAAAAAACho/earQMlluAcA/s1600/Suriname1a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-muPrCc7CI/AAAAAAAACho/earQMlluAcA/s320/Suriname1a.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><br />
All visiting yachts must anchor about 25 miles up the Suriname River, a large muddy river where small ferries take people back and forth. The sign announces national elections on May 25. <br />
Song bird competitions are a favorite sport, and men carry their favorite birds with them. (Better than pit bulls or cock fights, observes Natalie)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mvGVBZwyI/AAAAAAAACh4/o6uipdU717c/s1600/Suriname1c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mvGVBZwyI/AAAAAAAACh4/o6uipdU717c/s200/Suriname1c.JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-76281128801608932482010-04-23T15:45:00.000-04:002010-05-11T15:47:53.414-04:00Suriname and tolerance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-m0CN4F4vI/AAAAAAAACjA/9AIbjboXmZY/s1600/Suriname1d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-m0CN4F4vI/AAAAAAAACjA/9AIbjboXmZY/s320/Suriname1d.JPG" tt="true" /></a>Suriname's population is a melange of races and religions. It seems to take pride in its ethnic and religious tolerance, indicated here by a mosque and a Jewish temple, located side by side in the capitol city. </div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-49099435833364013262010-04-10T14:08:00.000-04:002010-05-11T15:17:02.104-04:00Iles du Salut, French Guyana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mculbf1WI/AAAAAAAAChE/gZR_vjwERXs/s1600/Iles+Salut1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mculbf1WI/AAAAAAAAChE/gZR_vjwERXs/s320/Iles+Salut1.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mc69ue4YI/AAAAAAAAChM/tHQPvmnAufQ/s1600/Salut3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mc69ue4YI/AAAAAAAAChM/tHQPvmnAufQ/s200/Salut3.JPG" tt="true" width="150" /></a></div>We rested for a few nights at the Iles du Salut. These islands were used as a French penal colony for more than 100 years. (Described in the book and movie Papillon.) A depressing place to visit, when one considers its history. The water was muddy and not safe for swimming, but we did enjoy a having a peaceful anchorage to ourselves. While we were there, Rob performed an almost miraculous repair on our dinghy motor, despite rusted and corroded bolts and other parts that have seen a lot of wear over the last eight years.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mdJ4lJC_I/AAAAAAAAChU/zepdwJk-4Tw/s1600/Salut2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-mdJ4lJC_I/AAAAAAAAChU/zepdwJk-4Tw/s320/Salut2.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23893955.post-35142497070912823402010-04-09T13:58:00.001-04:002011-04-26T10:43:22.460-04:00Crossing the Equator, northbound!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-ma9JmUt8I/AAAAAAAACg8/SeYZeSyf1o4/s1600/Across+equator.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUibz1tqpHw/S-ma9JmUt8I/AAAAAAAACg8/SeYZeSyf1o4/s200/Across+equator.JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div>We crossed the equator heading north, just after midnight on April 9, 2010. Here is a photo of our GPS. We crossed the equator going south almost exactly eight years ago. (April 8, 2002.) It is hard to believe that Wilhelm has been in the Southern Hemisphere for eight years.Natalie Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11929616315064168499noreply@blogger.com