Hunter Moon over Rodney Bay

Rodney Bay Marina, St Lucia

Well, we just can’t seem to get those dock lines loosened from WJ3’s cleats right now!  Here in the Rodney Bay Marina, under the Hunter moon, we’re having a real-life “Hotel California” moment.  That involves watching the weather daily, with fingers crossed; hoping weather systems, still rocketing off the African coast, don’t develop into something nasty.  Unfortunately, USA’s south eastern states, particularly Florida, have been really copping it.  Also, we’ve heard little on how Grenada & St Vincent and the Grenadines are doing with their recovery from Beryl.  There’s not been much traffic passing through the marina since we’ve been here.  Everything takes time and life in this part of the world seems to have reached a low-season standstill.

Here in the North, this is known as the Hunter Moon.
Bright enough for the last night hunt before winter sets in.

November is thankfully, the last month of Hurricane season.  However, we are counting days down to the end of October and monitoring...  That said, there can be the odd December ’cane spin up.  So, if all settles down, our plan (which changes daily!!) is to make the leap north to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe in mid-November.  Here, we’ll take a short break to catch our breath, seek out all those delicious French foods (and champagne), and once we’ve seen what’s predicted for Nov/Dec, begin the slow, slog north. 

Life in the marina has been a life of idyll – happy, peaceful, and simple.  We’ve kept ourselves busy doing stuff, as long as it’s mostly in air-conditioned comfort.  One of the joys of being dockside!  We have hardly ever made use of the aircon but it’s been a real blessing in this humid, tropical weather.  Lately, temperatures daily reach the low 30’s (in Celsius).  Meanwhile, the Cap’n has been researching and then fixing stuff – always a challenge.  His current task is to set up a new furling system for the spinnaker, designed to make life easier.  And of course, finally make use of that sail ordered in 2010!  As always, check his Hunter460 blog for our technical ups & downs.  The Galley Slave has soldiered on with refreshing the WJ3 blogs, doing some family history research and digging out the Walmart $70 special sewing machine to make up some quilt blocks.  With thanks to Mr Lozza who serviced it for her last year, it worked a treat!  Yeah!  Happy campers all round!!

Doing the weekly shop, without fail, attracts those on the hum.
This time though, GS wanted to enlist a new crew member!

Of course, October is anniversary month – married 45 yrs & sailing WJ3 17 years (2007 BVI purchase), so the Cap’n made a special effort in buying an expensive ring.  To celebrate his years of togetherness for the Other Woman, naturally!  GS will bide her time…  

WJ3's expensive custom new stainless ring
(for the furling spinnaker fitting)