Gromit's S.S. Scatterbrained Trip Report - Day 2

[Gromit]

December 9, 2009

I awoke to the sounds of people doing stuff. Apparently this was to be a trend for the rest of the trip. Normally I am the one up early but apparently I am a slacker compared to my fellow forumites.

ScubaGirl advised that we get our last "Land Shower" and "Land Poop" at the dock before heading out. Vicki and I took this advice to heart and did as we were told.

After a shower and some minor makeup (yes I said makeup—don’t you judge!) we headed to the Frenchtown Deli (site of our late lunch the previous day) for breakfast.

Again the Deli did not disappoint. I can’t even remember what I ate but I’m sure Vicki took pictures so just check her version of the TR.

After breakfast Vicki and I headed back to Pueblo for a couple more items that we had apparently forgotten the night before (Paper towels and garbage bags). Again, good to remember these things BEFORE leaving port.

We got back ALMOST safe and sound (Vicki… LEFT!!!) and readied to leave the dock.

CYOA staff came along and took a departing picture of the Krewe.

ScubaGirl and Hubby did an excellent job of getting us on our way. Captain Jay gave great advice about the boat and the sails and a few last minute tips for our fearless Captain. We were in excellent hands!



And before we knew it we were off! Sailing across the Caribbean Sea from Charlotte Amalie. First stop Waterlemon Cay, STJ.












The seas were relatively (and this is relative) calm with 2ft waves. But after a little while the boat really started to roll. We were all topside and watching the scenery.

It was at this point that Mr. Gromit and I started to turn a little green. We were feeling pretty rough. ScubaGirl suggested that we stop off in Christmas Cove for a bit of a break from the rolling waves and I for one was incredibly grateful.

I normally don’t get seasick (I'm the girl that wants to ride all the roller coasters back to back during the first hour in the park) but I was definitely not feeling so hot and a little voice in the back of my head began to question the wisdom of this vacation choice. But I refocused and pulled myself together and powered through.

ScubaGirl suggested that we get something into our stomachs for lunch. I dove for the Cheetos and discovered what was to be my “go to” food to curb seasickness. I’ll never be able to look at a Cheeto the same way again.


Let us pause for a commercial break:

At this moment I would like to thank the maker of Cheetos for making such a fine food. Cheetos turned out to be a lifesaver for me on this trip. Whenever I felt the least bit queasy I dove for the bag of Cheetos. Cheetos: Don’t leave dock without them!

Now... back to our previously scheduled program....

After lunch we headed toward STJ. We experienced some spotty showers throughout the journey and as we sailed along the north shore of STJ. I’m used to showers but generally I have shelter as an option and the cabin of the boat at this point was really NOT an option due to the queasiness issues I was having. Again, the little voice began to question the wisdom of our vacation choice.

So far I was feeling like a ping pong ball, covered in Cheeto dust and now wet to boot.

Yeah, I was definitely silently questioning my choices at this point.

But as the various North Shore beaches slipped past us, the skies began to clear and I was able to see the STJ beaches I love so much from a different perspective. STJ truly is a jewel of an island, especially from the perspective of a 45’ yacht.

Slowly the waters began to calm and a peace settled over me and I was glad to be so close to my happy place once again.

We sailed straight to Waterlemon Cay to find a mooring for the night.

I would also like to add that I was starting to accrue a myriad of bruises all over my legs. It was pretty ridiculous.

I was convinced that Vicki had snuck into my room the previous night to go all Citadel on me with a bar of soap in a pillow case so as to initiate me into the "Sisterhood of the Travelling Stupid Shorts" or somesuch by beating me about the legs and thighs with the aformentioned pillowcase-cloaked soap. It was just a sign of things to come.

Needless to say I wore my bruises as not just injuries but as fashion accessories for the duration of the trip.

Once we were hooked up safely to a mooring we all lounged around and snacked and took in our surroundings. We cracked open some Virginia Peanuts I had brought down and made drinks.

One of the things we did for the trip was to ask everyone to bring down a local specialty from home to share. I brought a variety of Virginia Peanuts, Vicki brought Tennessee smoked bacon and apple butter and ScubaGirl brought lobster and an AWESOME smoked salmon. It was fun to share a piece of home with everyone else.

The adventures in mixology soon began with Vicki and I in the booze lab. Let’s just say from the start that it is absolutely dangerous for the two of us to be mixing drinks within ten feet of each other.

Normally folks balance each other out and SOMEONE retains some common sense, but when it comes to alcohol neither of us have the sense that God gave a squirrel and EVERYTHING seemed like a GREAT idea.

Gromit : “Should we add this?”
Vicki: “Yeah, yeah add that.”
Gromit: “And what about this?”
Vicki: “Sure add that too!”
Gromit: “And how ‘bout some of that?”
Vicki: “Hell yeah!”

And thus the Pink Painkiller was born.

I can’t tell you for sure what was in it other than to say it was some combination of three kinds of rum, Hawaiian fruit punch, pineapple juice and cream of coconut—topped of course with a little fresh nutmeg from STJ Spice.

I can’t even describe the actual taste only to say that:

A) It wasn’t THAT bad; and
B) You CAN have too much of a good thing – we should have stopped at the coconut but I’ll take the blame for that one. Suffice to say, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Mr. Gromit took one look at the concoction and decided to whip up a Dark & Stormy (Gosslings Blackstrap rum and Ginger Beer). Now in my mind, Dark and Stormy's taste like alcohol infused dirt, so give me my concoction ANY day.

At some point we suckered ScubaGirl into giving our new discovery a try and from that moment forward she refused to be suckered again. The faith and trust just disappeared from her eyes whenever we asked her to try one of our inventions throughout the rest of the trip.

Mr. Vicki went for a snorkel while the girls stayed up top and chatted the afternoon away sipping Pink Painkillers and noshing on peanuts.

The sun began to set and tummies started to growl so it was time to set up the grill and grill the burgers I had made at home.

As with all things in my life I tend to get adventurous and creative (just don’t ask me how I did whatever I did ‘cause I couldn’t tell you afterwards. What can I say? It’s a curse.) and the burgers were no different.

I had some chopped pancetta and various spices from STJ Spice and some balsamic vinegar and some olive oil that I blended with the lean ground beef. We also grilled a few hot dogs in case the burgers weren’t someone’s cup of tea. But it seemed like everything was a hit.

Of course dinner was interrupted by a surprise rainshower, but we managed to save the food and head inside without losing a single burger.

After dinner we fed the Tarpon off the back of the boat with the leftovers and we watched them eat with the flashlight. Man those suckers are HUGE!

There was no moon out that night but the breeze was cool. The stars are amazing at night around STJ. With so little light pollution you almost feel like you’re in a planetarium.

It’s moments like these that I’m glad I took Astronomy so I know what I’m looking at. Of course the December sky is a bit tricky and some of my favorite constellations are often fairly low on the horizon this time of year. But the stars glowed bright in their myriad of constellations. I even spotted a shooting star or two streaking across the night sky.

After a bit we decided to head in and watch “After the Sunset” on the flat screen TV in the main cabin. Vicki and her hubby read in their own cabin.

Despite six people on a relatively small boat I can honestly say that there were very few times that I felt like we were on top of each other. We all seemed to spread out and find our own space naturally.

I was also surprised at how we quickly became a well-oiled machine with everyone pulling their weight. I think this is especially great since there were four of us who had never actually done this before.

The funny thing is that from the day I met ScubaGirl I felt like I had known her for a million years, like sisters separated at birth or something.

She’s not nearly as nuts as I am but for what she lacks in insanity she makes up for in patience, which is a requirement for anyone who puts up with me for any length of time.

If you've done something morally wrong in your life and are seeking some redemption points to earn your way into the great hereafter, just spend a day with me. It's kind of like traffic school... you earn enough points to dig yourself out of the hole.

Vicki too is easy to be with – though she will try to her last breath to convince you otherwise. She’s funny and pleasant and hardworking and always helpful.

It was exactly a year ago that we had all first spent the day together on ScubaGirls boat. This was the day of the infamous Jell-O shots (with garnish)!

There was something about our first meeting that gave us a hint that a trip with the three of us and our hubbies would actually work. And I don’t think our instincts were wrong.

Is it possible that three total strangers could meet on the internet and forge a friendship? And for those three strangers to spend eight days on a boat together without wanting to throw someone overboard? Well, I can tell you the answer is yes. It’s entirely possible and was turning out to be a hell of a lot of fun!!

Lessons Learned on Day 2

-Adventures in mixology sometimes pays off, sometimes not.
-It’s good to share a slice of home
-Six strangers who met on the internet + 1 boat = great time
-Bruises aren’t just an injury they are a fashion accessory

Tomorrow: Soper’s Hole (East End of Tortola) and clearing customs into the BVI. AND Why it’s not a good idea to use a $350,0000 boat to look for a $20 hat in the middle of the ocean.
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*Another fine scatterbrained production

[Anthony]

This is great stuff - thanks!
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Anthony for Virgin Islands On Line

[designbyroe]

You are such a storyteller Gromit.
You weave so much fun into every line.
Thanks you
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Life is a journey not a destination

[StJohnRuth]

Most excellent. More, more!

[LMG]

Love! The line about you and traffic school cracked me up. I find you quite tolerable and not like punishment at all!
Thanks for taking the time-- I know it's a busy week.

Looking forward to more.

[sailorgirl]

Loving your report!

So many familar stories.

"Tomorrow: Soper’s Hole (East End of Tortola) and clearing customs into the BVI. AND Why it’s not a good idea to use a $350,0000 boat to look for a $20 hat in the middle of the ocean."

Also known as the "man over board drill"

Reminds me of my hubby insiting we circle back 5-6 times to retrive his hat in the shipping lanes with a dying breeze and no engine! And we are still married, go figure

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

This is awesome! Perfect reading while taking breaks from cooking/wrapping, etc...

Love it!!! (More, please)
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Marcia (Mrs. Pete)

Missing St. John. As always.

[Wakey]

What time will you be posting tomorrow's installment?

[msgcolleen]

Great report & pics so far!
Between you and Vicki, I bet y'all could put together a great little travel book with all your island adventures, beautiful pictures of beaches, sea life, bar hopping, food porn and recipes with your favorite rum concoctions!
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I've got 2 tickets to paradise! Pack your bags we'll leave tonight. . .

[California Girl]

I'm loving your report and re-living our trip with Sydney & Keith last April/May.

Keep it coming! Can't wait for the next installment!
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"A real friend is someone who takes a winter vacation on a sun-drenched beach and does not send a card.” ~ Anonymous

[captainjay]

I got Vicki's left over Apple Butter, good stuff reminds me of my grandmothers. Love the report and glad you all great time.

Jay

PS
Alright Vicki you have now missed you publishing deadline by several days it's time put up at least a draft or outline.
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http://livedelifeusvi.blogspot.com/

[ScubaGirl]

Great trip report! Makes me feel like I was right there with you.....Oh yeah, I was!

Gromit is not nearly as "challenging" to be around, and she thinks she is! I've delt with much worse!!

I agree that it's pretty amazing how 6 strangers can spend that many days, in that small a space, and have as much fun as we had. More people should consider internet dating.
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<a href="http://www.caribbeanmag.com/cd/vc/"><img src="http://www.caribbeanmag.com/cd/Sailing_/201012020000_10.gif" border="0"></a><br><a

[Bigcheeze]

Rock on Gromit I have my sea legs now
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[VickiH]

I was convinced that Vicki had snuck into my room the previous night to go all Citadel on me with a bar of soap in a pillow case so as to initiate me into the "Sisterhood of the Travelling Stupid Shorts"

I thought you were asleep when I did that....

I know I have missed my publication deadline, but you'll get my whole thing in one mass post...that's a good trade off, right? Getting there....getting there...Maybe later today....I am at work and need SOMETHING not worky to do....

[DnD]

Another reason Cheetos are the best.......crunchy or puffy?

Great report, love the way you tell the stories.
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