27. Rum Luck

I reported the robbery to the police and Marigot bay marina. Seems like lots of boats had been hit over the last couple of weeks. The boat anchored behind me had his outboard stolen the night before. I also warned people on the St. Lucia cruisers' net.

Marigot marina

On Monday, Sally and me met up with Tom and Sabrina and our friend Archie and went to the St. Lucia rum factory. It was a fun tour, followed by lots of tasting. I also managed to buy some cheap new clothes in Castries on the way back.

Honey Ryder left for Grenada, so another sad goodbye, but I’m sure I will catch up with them soon. Tom helped me with my outboard, and Sabrina helped me fix my GPS chart plotter. I don’t know where I’d be without them.

On Wednesday, for our next adventure, me, Sally and Paul went for a day sail to the Pitons and back.

The Pitons

26. Robbed! Pirates board Sonic Boom

Absolutely devastated to see Trinity sail away. I really hate goodbyes. I knew it would be a bad one. I’m determined to get to Grenada before they leave there for Trinidad. If possible I would love to sail with them to Trinidad. They're awesome. They came aboard Sonic Boom and met my sister and her boyfriend. The meal was fairly useless, but no one noticed after the painkillers I made. It was a fun night, although I knew it was their last in St. Lucia, and I wouldn't see them again.

Robert and I had an amazing night out at the last Jump up, and got very drunk. We’d stayed past the witching hour even though we’d been warned not to. Suddenly it was 2.30am, and we we’re getting into all kinds of trouble. Three times I think Robert saved us, mainly me, from twerkers, more twerkers and some fishermen. I was laughing so hard I could barely speak, so wasn’t much help.

I sailed with my sister and Paul to Marigot Bay and met up with Honey Ryder, which cheered me up. My sister and Paul are staying at a really nice budget hotel called the Ginger Lily on Reduit beach.

http://www.gingerlilyhotel.com

For their first overnight on Sonic Boom I cooked a coconut curry, and we went and had drinks on Honey Ryder, then to the Rainforest Hideaway for live jazz. We had lots of fun, but when we got back to Sonic Boom we’d been robbed. Cameras, phones, all my boxer shorts, my milk, a pineapple, all stolen. We’re all sad today. I will go to the police station and make a report. For me losing my camera is the worst thing. It wasn’t such a great one, but it was given to me by Soni Park, and so meant the world to me. It took really nice photos, and it might mean the end for my blog until I can get a new one. 

I'll head south to St. Vincent first. I'll stop in Walilabou bay – where they filmed lots of Pirates of the Caribbean, then on to Union Island and Grenada.

25. Jump Up

What a wonderful sight to see Trinity sailing into Rodney Bay! So exciting, they anchored alongside and we hugged and kissed. It’s been a while. BVI in December was the last time I saw Robert and Kerstin, although we’ve been in touch by email. We had drinks and dinner on Trinity, so fun to catch up and hang out. They’re here for a few days, deciding where to haul out for the hurricane season.

Trinity, Rodney Bay

Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay are my favorite places in St. Lucia so far. I like Rodney Bay – the jump ups on Fridays, the pool and showers in the marina, but it’s generally a long dinghy ride to get anywhere, and laundry is really expensive here.

I love Marigot Bay – the free showers and short dinghy rides to everywhere, but it’s a bit more expensive – the cafes and restaurants and mini mart.

Marigot Bay

There doesn’t seem to be much chance of work in St. Lucia. I’ve been looking for teaching positions, but looks like Grenada and Trinidad will be better for those. I might offer bottom cleaning on the cruiser’s net. Sonic Boom needs to be hauled out and hull painted sometime soon.

So I’m also looking into blog adverts, sourced locally or with Adsense, and thinking about maybe making some Sonic Boom merchandise. I’ve added a Paypal button, rather than sell anything, I would offer a prize for donations – a treasure chest, sent directly from somewhere in the Caribbean to an address, or buried on an island, of your choice. I will get some Sonic Boom t-shirts, and start making little models of Sonic Boom.