Nice spinnaker run

Since we left Montego Bay we haven't had internet for a few days.  Nice spinnaker run down to Negril in 10 kts,  Picture was taken from the dink since there wasn't much wind.  That A-1 hasn't seen air for at least 4 years!!




Photo credit:  Simba.

Pre-dinner game of pool

Kurt and Simba have a running game.  They won't tell me whose winning.

Oh yeah! I remember this guy.

Three years ago, a guy came around with old rum bottles filled with the most awesome fresh squeezed juice.  We took a chance and bought something like 6 bottles of OJ and it was totally fresh and delicious.
He came on the dock tonight and we bought one bottle each of OJ and soursop.  Wished he had more OJ.

Veteran crew coming in tomorrow.  Yeah!  Happy to have Kurt back!

Pic of Montego Bay

Kind of hard to see but we are directly behind the red buoy at the right of the pic.  We are looking for new crew.  Bergey is coming down at the end of month but we sure could use another hand or two.

Discovery Bay, Jamaica

Three on the paddle board so we know it holds at least 450 pounds (if not more)  

HUGE hibiscus....not a hybrid

Roasting coffee beans on an open fire

Simba with his natural herbs, including Wonder of the World to make tea.  Tasted like my dandelion "soup" I made when driving cross country and had no money back in the 70's..

This coffee farm was run by Rastas and everything is done by hand.

Pounding the husks off the beans.
We are now in Discovery Bay, Jamaica.  We (the crew) decided to stay here two nights as it is pristine, the water clear, okay free internet and good for the paddle board.

Crew of the "Chicken" arrived in Port Antonio, Jamaica

We're waiting for immigration and customs to come on board to check us into Jamaica.  We made it from Curacao to Jamaica in a little under 3 days.
Police, immigration, customs, pest control finally came on board.  They searched everywhere and everything.  But unlike Mexico, they didn't confiscate any food items but did check expiration dates on the canned goods and the origin of all the frozen foods.   The food inspector was a little curious about the frozen "ground chicken" meat since we were on "free range chicken" but chuckled it off as funny.  She was also interested in why we have so much pasta and sauce on board.  "It's because of Simba" and she automatically understood.  We fed her lunch and she was a happy camper with the hot sauce and catchup.


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Last day in Curacao

And also some crew members last day in the workout room...

The others chose not to participate. 
Big lack of communication today.  We left early to check out of immigration now that we had a car to hold all 5 of us.  No problems there.  Simba and Sharon wanted to go to the dolphin research and training center to see if they had space to swim with the dolphins.   Bruce was in hurry to get back to boat and return the rental car.  Turns out Bruce wanted to leave at 3pm but didn't tell the rest of us.  I had pasta to cook off, banana bread to make and hard boiled eggs for our fast food items for the trip, plus a fish dinner.
Needless to say, we'll leave in the morning when the sun is high enough to see the reefs and sandbars at the narrow entrance to Spanish Waters.  Whew!

Not much going on....

Spent all day trying to check out of the marina, exit customs and immigration so we can be on our 4-5 day journey to Jamaica.  Marina office was supposed to be open at 1:00, waited until 1:30 and bagged that.  (Island time folks)  Customs took about 45 minutes so that's done.  Immigration wouldn't process our departure papers because Simba didn't go with us because we cant fit 5 people in the motorized rental roller skate.  So we traded the rental skate to fit 5 people so we can check out of immigration tomorrow am.  Hoping we have time to visit the aquarium tomorrow but even a simple thing that you think will that only an hour or so ends up taking up all day.  So nothing much exciting happened so here's a real touristy picture of an iguana that lives here at the marina.  We see him/her everyday.  And if you ever went to Arizona, there's nothing special about it.  It's just a stupid iguana, but they do have iguana soup here on the menus.

Look at the size of these avocados!

They are huge!  Two of them made about 4 pounds of guacamole.


We spent most of day chasing propane and finally found someone who could fill our cooking tanks but we had to go almost to the other end of the island to get it.  Fast food stores are everywhere and when people give you directions, it's "make a right at the super big KFC at the round about, then go 3 meters and make a left at the Subway store".    


We did stop at a KFC today asking for the crispy spicy blend and it's terrible.  Nothing like the KFC in Trinidad! 

I'm still amazed at the prices here.  A $25 bottle of wine goes for about $6.  A litre of juice is about $1.

I could live here

Notice our photo below to what's on our rental buggy license plate.  Not quite the same angle but we were there!

Prices in the supermarket are great!  Why did I ever bother with the duty free hassles in Trinidad when they are even better here!

OMG!  They even have real lemons, and grapefruit, and superb cheeses and all the stuff plus Dutch stuff like saurer kraut and shrimp and tomato sauce.  I'm in heaven  Love this place.

Inaugural launch of the paddle board

Simba stood up on it the first time out.  Bergey was impressed.

Picture of Willemstad harbor entrance with all the outside restaurants.

The Customs office is at the left of the picture, three story on the corner for those of you entering this area.  Two boat lengths in front of the ketch.  They close at 3:30, not 5pm.  Great fish market located right outside.  

Leaving Willemstad with the floating bridge

AA

A little out of order but you get the pictures.  Willemstad has this floating pontoon bridge for foot traffic and a bit of maintenance vehicles.  You have to call the bridge 10-15 minutes before you arrive and they will swing a portion of the bridge open so boats can get in and out.  Very cute waterfront shops and restaurants.  Spectacular place to shop for Halloween costumes with carnival in mind.
Middle pic:  Bergey giving Simba a swimming lesson.  (He did really well).