It's been a few days since posting.  Still getting over my little Taylor's passing.
Have been reading some interesting articles on travel photography in SHUTTERBUG magazine and looking at photos of places I'd like to cruise in the Caribbean in ISLANDS magazine.  My friend Capt. Bob has emailed me from St. Martens after his overnighter from Virgin Gorda in the BVIs where he picked up a t-shirt for me from the BITTER END YACHT CLUB.... one of the places on my bucket list. Thanks Bob! I'm jealous but glad for him that he's doing his cruise on his beautiful 42' Catalina, Irish Whisper.  Would have jumped aboard but I needed to be home with Taylor.  Maybe next time?

I took my Dad on a cruise ship several years ago and we visited St. Martens for a day.  I could have stayed a year.  Nice people, beautiful water, interesting history.  There are two sides; Dutch side and French side.  Your tour bus actually stops at a little roadside guard shack structure which is Customs.
The ship docked on the Dutch side.. which by the way also had a gambling casino... and we took a bus to the French side for snorkeling.

St. Maartens for decades was considered a great hurricane hole....... until one day a huge hurricane hit and wiped everything out with the exception of a few some homes built with the ballast balls from old ships that came there to carry SALT back to Europe.  As you walk through town you will see the remains of old salt farms; 40ft. squares surrounded by ballast balls that were left by the ships as they made room in the holds for salt.  After awhile, there were so many ballast balls that the locals began building with them and they are still there today.

If you ever have the chance to go, and you should, make sure you visit the Market where you will find some of the most inexpensive and interesting souvenirs I found on the whole cruise; from t-shirts to sarongs to totes to leather art faces for your wall.  I bought some of everything.  And while you're there, you'll see where they filmed the scene from SPEED II Cruise Control; the one where the cruise ship crashed the beach.  You won't see a large hotel, or docks, or damage.  That must have been computerized in.  But there is a nice beach bar with good food!  One of those "been there, done that" touristy things to do.

 I still have vivid memories of my boat ride across Marigot Bay to snorkel Pinel Island.  There was a large green hulled sailboat just offshore hauling up their anchor.  The sight of her made my heart skip a beat.  I was envious then too; wondering who was aboard, where they had been and where they were off to next. 

Pinel Island is named after Dr. Pinel and had been a lepers colony back in the day.  Dr. Pinel took care of the many exiled inhabitants of that island and it was later named after him.  It's now a beautiful spot with a lovely beach for tourists..... dotted with yellow umbrellas and lounge chairs.... where the waiters bring you drinks and lunch while you sunbathe and relax with a view of the main island.   The only way to get there is by launch boat or dinghy.  If you check out my TRAVEL page you'll find a photograph.  I'm sure you'll recognize it!

I spent the afternoon there snorkeling with a guide and a few other adventurous people.  It was February and the Atlantic Ocean was very chlly.  I was very glad I had brought my extra "skin".  The guide used a lot of chum to get the tropical fish to come around.  I can't say we saw very much, only a few small sergeant majors, and I began to think it very foolish to be hanging there in the open water with chum floating all around us.  Think SHARK ATTACK!

Hopefully I'll get back there someday and travel onto St. Barths, another on my bucket list, and places beyond.  When I do, I'll be sure to tell you all about it.  But for now, the sun is shining in Tarpon Springs, Florida, there's a light wind blowing and there is the slightest chill in the air.  Great sailing weather!  I'm headed outside to enjoy the day!
See you next time!
Capt. Layne