Jenny here at last

This post was started as an experiment on my iphone that ended up in Salinas harbor for just a second or two when I fell into the water, but that that was all it took to ruin that unit.  (Now I wish I had gotten the insurance.)  That was on our last full day in Puerto Rico when we were mostly putting the boat away for another year or so.  I will be finishing up this blog over the next week.

For now, here is a link to some photos, and I will add some more and put some in this blog.   

When Jenny arrived in Culebra, it started to feel like a real vacation. We got the engine fixed after a couple of days, and we got into island time.  I really appreciate that Jenny helped keep me on a vacation pace, with fairly short sails so we had time to swim or explore every day.  The first day out of Culebra was a Saturday and we were heading east with enough time to get to Jost Van Dyke when we realized that BVI Customs closes at noon, and we couldn't make it by then-- it's about 36 miles into the wind, so it takes at least 7 hours but more like 8.  Anyway, that made it easy to decide to stop in Magen's Bay on the north side of St. Thomas just after noon, after 4 hours or so.

Magen's Bay is not explained in the cruising guides very well, but it was very unique-- a bay with the far end being a sandy beach almost a mile long.  It's a public recreation area with lots of parking, and seems to be free.  On Saturday, the beach not too full with a mix of tourists and locals.  On Sunday, it was even more locals having barbecues under the shade of the palms at the edge of the beach.  Jenny swam the length of the beach both ways on both days we were there.

On Monday morning we sailed on to Jost and cleared in.  It was great to see most of the friends we met two years ago, the second time for Albert-- Foxy, Wendell, Erol, and Susan from JVD Preservation.  Some highlights:  Susan Chaplin paddled over from Tortola, and we had dinner with her and Erol on Magus, and played music at Erol's house.

Too soon, it was time to leave, and we went back to Magens Bay for a night, then on to Culebra.  We had a couple of good snorkeling events, had a good dinner at Mamacita's, then it was on to Salinas.  That was fun, too, checking in with old friends and meeting new ones.  Sophi and Travis know Barbara and Stew on La Luna, and they were anchored near us, so we visited with them a couple of times, including a guitar playing night.  We also went out to dinner with Mary and Fred.  Overall, it was another great adventure on Magus.