Deep Bay and St. John's

Despite the fact we have done very little, we have had a busy couple of days.  We had a very good first night on the boat.  Maybe we consumed a little too much rum but enjoyed a solid eight hours of sleep gently rocking in Hermitage Bay, Five Islands Harbour.

We were up at the crack of 8 am ready for the day.  After a hearty breakfast and an hour or two reading the news via the free Wi-Fi floating across the bay from the Hermitage Bay Resort, we created a grocery list and headed back to Jolly Harbour for shopping.

Re-entering Jolly Harbour

A Few Shabby Homes On the Way In.

The grocery store was well provisioned except for fresh fruit.  We decided to stock up for the seven days until the girls arrive.  In addition to some chicken and sausage, we thought 4 dozen beer, 10 bottles of wine and a couple of rums would see us through.

We Drew The Line At Chicken Feet

We Needed A Little Help With Transport

Back to the boat, a walk on the beach, a late lunch, and an afternoon beer set the table nicely for a nap before sunset.   That was followed by grilled pork chops and a fresh chilled Sauvignon Blanc for dinner before finishing the day with hours of conversation solving the world’s problems.

The next day we woke to some wind with heavy gusts.  It was a great day to sail.  Captain Glen planned to sail us around the corner from Five Islands to Deep Bay.  The plan was to take a circuitous route to add to the excitement of the sail.  It wasn’t going to be a full (all sails) day.  Previously the Genoa (or jib) sail had separated from its connecting eye and was unusable.  It was furled around the bow rigging.  After clearing the bay (and avoiding a reef) we hoisted the main sail and the staysail.  We were just starting to fly through the waves when Captain Glen’s face took on a look of grave concern.  Not knowing exactly what was happening he peered over the cockpit only to see that the jib sailed had unfurled and was flapping in the wind.  It was whipping itself against the steel rigging like a sinner self-flaggellating back in medieval times.  With all the loose sail in the wind, the boat was confused at best.  It wasn’t a case of simply running to the bow to lasso it.  It was cracking like a whip in the wind and could have caused serious harm to anyone seeking to intercede.  We turned into the wind toward shore seeking shelter in the lee of the island.  Yan Diesel was running full out straining as we made for safety.  We finally escaped the wind, and with Jinder at the wheel, Glen was finally able to wrestle the sail to the deck in a manner that would have made a rodeo cowboy proud.

With the excitement over we managed to chug into Deep Bay for a well needed and deserved cocktail, and some lunch.

The afternoon activities proved to be much less exciting but most enjoyable just the same.  We hiked up to Fort Barrington.  It was a battery (cannons) and lookout during Admiral Nelson time in the 1700’s.  This area was controlled by Britain until late in the last century.  Drivers still use the British form of driving on the left.  The short scramble up the rocky trail afforded us a fabulous view of the city of St. John’s (the capital of capital of Antigua and Barbuda), the open Atlantic and Deep Bay.  After posing for a few pictures it was back down and a beach walk to a beach bar for ginger beer rums and a dip in the Deep Bay.

Our Target Destination Was In Sight

Through the Mangroves

Past the Bridge

I Think It Was This Way?

Stopped For A Pic (and Rest)

Made It

Cannon Ball Room

St. John's

Deep Bay Beach

Our Second Target - Beach Bar

Ginger Rums In Sight

Murphy the Dinghy ferried us back to the Blue Pearl and we settled in for another gourmet meal prepared by Jinder and a few more cocktails enjoying another Caribbean sunset.

An Unexpected Guest in the Bay

Off To Antigua

Well this is different!  I’m off on an adventure without Deborah (at least initially).  This first 2016 blog entry is being written from the galley of the Blue Pearl, at anchor in Hermitage Bay, Antigua.  This was not something we had planned, nor did it take a long time to hatch.

Our winter plan mostly comprised staying close to home and using our skis more extensively than recent years.  We have enjoyed ski days at Grouse, Baker, Red, and Big White and then we received an invitation we couldn’t refuse. 

Over a few drinks with Pam (home from the boat for a visit while Glen did some boat repairs) she suggested that Jinder and I go down together to visit Glen on the Blue Pearl (http://www.thebluepearl.ca/p/about-us.html) .  The suggestion was made on Sunday night and by Tuesday, tickets were bought and here we are a week later.

Deborah will join us in about a week's time.  She and Pam will fly down together and replace Jinder who must return to his real life as a working man.

But before I get ahead of myself there were a few lessons learnt along the way.

Lesson One

I bought the airline ticket on Tuesday and on Thursday morning I woke up in a panic because I had forgotten where I put my passport at the end of last year.  Relieved I found it in one of my many secure storage sports in the house but when I opened it panic set in again.  It was two months out of date.  It expired in January.  At that point I had one and part of one business day before I was scheduled to fly.  On to the Internet and then off to the Surrey passport office hoping to get an expedited issuance. 

By the time I got to the front of the line it was 2 pm.  First off, I failed to bring a paper copy of my airline ticket to prove my urgency (apparently a must).  Thankfully the clerk accepted my phone’s email notice (but she was clear in stating she didn’t have to).  She said the most critical part of the urgent process were my references.  I used my cousin Randy.  Mistake.  Although the forms don’t state it, you cannot use a relative for a reference.  My second was friend Mike.  What I also didn’t know was that your reference must be available by a phone for the 24 hours of the urgent application process.  Mike was in Costa Rica.  I could feel my blood pressure rise.  I phone Jinder but he was on the golf course and the cell reception was bad.  I phoned Jim and he was just home from the course and willing to wait by the phone.  I phoned Glen (Chilliwack Glen) and he was driving to the ski mountain but would be in cell range (maybe).  The clerk told me to go home and hope security made contact with them and return the next day).  I left but not with confidence it was going to happen. 

At 2 pm Friday I had a new passport.  First lesson learned.  You can get a passport in 24 hours but the price is an extra $100 and way too much stress.

Lesson Two

As usual, I bought a one-way ticket.  One-way tickets provide the flexibility for both the return date and route.  It is always what we have done in our retirement travels.  I bought the ticket from the Air Canada website and checked in on line Sunday morning.  The boarding passes didn’t print but we had been having printing problems the last few weeks so I decided to proceed to the airport and print them out at an AC kiosk.

When I got the airport it still refused to print.  I went to the counter where I was informed by a polite AC service rep that Air Canada was refusing to let me board the plane and their system had a block on printing my boarding passes.  It seems that despite selling me a one-way ticket to Antigua, it is illegal to enter Antigua without a return ticket.  The only solution was to buy a return ticket at the counter (for the highest possible price) and they would let me board.  So I shelled out the $1000 for a one-way return ticket and on the plane I went.  They assured me that I would be able to cancel within the first 24 hours after purchase but the clock was ticking from the exact time of purchase.  The attendant told me that I would have no problem cancelling at the airport in Antigua, once I had cleared immigration with my return in hand. 

It looked very cold in Montreal on a stop over!

It all sounded convoluted but workable until I landed and discovered there is no Air Canada reservation/customer service office in Antigua.  Air Canada does not have a presence of any kind in the country.  Without a phone I resorted to Gmail phoning home to Deborah begging for help.  Fortunately she was able to get through to Air Canada and the return ticket was cancelled without penalty fees before the 24 ticking clock expired.

With those things behind me it was a relief to see Jinder walk out of immigration from his separate flight and then to see Glen in Jolly Harbour waiting for the two of us to exit the taxi.  On to Murphy the dingy and soon we were sipping beers on the deck of the Blue Pearl watching our first Caribbean sunset in what is surely going to be a great get away.

Drive from Airport - Sugarcane au Natural

Brightly Painted Houses 

Jolly Harbour

Blue Pearl

Murphy the Dingy at Your Service

Beach Walk Hermitage Bay

Blue Pearl at Anchor

Margarita Time

First Caribbean Sunset

Final Leg - Oregon Coast and Home

We have arrived home after sixty-five days on the road. It is great to travel but it is also great to be home.  I'll miss the sixty-two sunny days and will soon tire of the drenching rain that is happening outside of our home as I write this final trip entry. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip up the coast. It is one Deborah and I have made many times but in the summer.  It is quite usual to have our ocean views spoiled by sea fog but this time we got lucky. The fog lifted as we arrived from inland and the sun shone for the rest of our coastal trip. It was the first time for Kathy and she was thrilled. 

We left the Napa Valley in the early morning (for us) and travelled inland to join I505 North before joining I405 further along. We decided against the Northern California 101 route because it is slightly inland and you don't see the ocean for much of the way. 

We had a smooth sunny freeway drive and arrived in Roseburg, Oregon to stay the night. We chose this spot because it was near our jumping off exit to the coast the next morning. 

Or drive west was through tiny villages, vineyards and dairy farms. The colour of new green was everywhere. 

We arrived at the coast after nearly a two hour drive and stopped to take in the beauty of the sea. Oregon is a land of long, desolate, sandy beaches with huge crashing waves. We took our time and stopped for pictures, lunch and anything else that caught our interest. We ended the day at Cannon Beach.  Cannon Beach is a small village of artisan shops, small restaurants and of course Haystack Rock, a curious rock formation sticking out of the sea. 

Our final day was characterised as one where folks were ready to be home. The drive was uneventful and we managed to time missing the Seattle Rush Hour with ease. We arrived at the border to face long Border Security lineups but this also proved to be nothing to worry about. Once again our NEXUS cards meant we sailed to the front of the line. 

We have already settled into the rhythms and routines of home life. Our sun tans will fade but our memories will last our lifetimes. 

Napa And Sonoma Wine Valleys

After a leisurely drive over the Golden Gate, through Sausalito, lunch in Tiburon, we arrived in Napa for a two day stay. We managed to stretch a two hour drive into six.

After breakfast in the hotel we set out on a bicycle exploration of Napa town and the nearby vineyards. You don't have to go far to be in the country. The Napa Valley is only 5 miles wide and 30 miles long but is home to about 500 wineries. 

Jim and Deb joined us in the late morning and the six of us set out to lunch in the picturesque village of  Yountville, at the Pacific Blues Cafe. 

After a prolonged lunch in the sunshine on the deck we set out for our first winery tasting. We chose  a small winery hoping to be the first to discover the next "best find". The Silenus Winery is one of those cooperative places that produces their own wines but also processes grapes from wineries just starting out. The 2010 DANAIS Cabernet Sauvignon was the consensus number one pick. Tasting in the Valley can be expensive. The Silenus only charged $15 per person but we were told the larger ones  charged closer to $35. We did buy so the price of the tasting came off the purchase price. 

That night we dined at the Ristorante Allegria in downtown Napa. The food was great but few wines were tried. The afternoon tastings, followed by the multiple bottles in the room predinner; most were left sipping waters with their meals. 

Day two saw the six of us head out to the Sonoma Valley, a twenty-five minute drive away. We started with a visit to the Cornerstone Sonoma, for the valley tourist information. This place is worth a visit. Apart from getting good information, it has multiple art gardens with displays in both live plantings and man's use of various materials to produce works of art. 

After all the information was gathered (probably too much), we headed to lunch in the quaint town of Sonoma. It is worth a visit even if you just wander the square taking a step back in time. 

Our only full tasting was at the B.R.Cohn. This winery is owned by the manager of the Doobie Brothers and is host to many music festivals. Chicago, Ringo Starr and Gregg Allman all appear there this year. 

We ended the evening dining back in Napa and reminiscing about the wedding and our time together. These valleys will become Jim & Deb's new backyard with a daughter and son-in-law living in San Francisco.