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| 22 - San Juan, Puerto Rico, 23 - Fijardo, Puerto Rico 24 - Culebra, Puerto Rico, 25 - St Thomas, USVI, 26 - St John, USVI, 27 - British Virgin Islands, 28 - St Martin |
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| St Martin -- A - Marigot Bay, B - Lagoon |
Once again a last minute email to Barb on Tusen Takk II brought a quick response with valuable information. We had planned to go from Virgin Gorda to Anguilla. She told us that they had never stopped there because of the expense. I had read in a Caribbean Island guide that it was very expensive and she confirmed that. To register at the customs office you have to get an agent. According to the internet it is $360 for a one week cruising permit. That is very steep. We were only planning to stay a night or two. it quickly became apparent that Anguilla wasn't worth the expense or the trouble when there are so many other beautiful islands that are easier to enter. So, a new path was created and we were off to St. Martin. St Martin is half Dutch and half French. The northern French half being slightly larger. Brian was already salivating over the thought of all of the chandleries and bakeries before we got underway. This is the best island for marine parts in the Caribbean.
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| The French bridge into the lagoon |
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| One of two bridges on the Dutch side |
The trip to St Martin was a rough one. We left Virgin Gorda at 3:05 AM. I thought that I had conquered my sea sickness, but the confused seas showed me who was boss once again. At 3:45 PM we pulled into Marigot Bay and set our anchor. The dingy was off loaded and we made a quick trip to shore. Our first attempt to register with customs wasn’t successful — they had closed for the day. After talking to a couple of guys on the dingy dock, we were instructed to go to Marina Royale and visit the Capitainerie where you can register on line for only $7.25. They said the first place would have added an anchorage fee and a few other incidentals. And, if you register on the Dutch side it is $80+. That is a big range for a small island that is only 7 miles in length and width.
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| The Capitainerie in Marina Royal. |
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| The entrance to Island Water World. Budget Marine is almost adjacent and just as large. |
To combat a downturn in the economy caused by the collapse of the sugar market, St Martin became a duty free island way back in 1939. It has been very successful in luring visitors ever since. Boaters find easy access to all parts of town with dingy docks at most of the waterfront restaurants and shops. And, there are no restrictions as you travel from the French to the Dutch side. Our first stop was to complete our entry documentation. We arrived just in time for their three hour lunch break. "Vive la France!" That gave us time to have our lunch and
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| Family and friends walk to the cemetery surrounding the hearse carrying flowers. |
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| A cemetery for abandoned boats. |
We are becoming concerned about finding a marina to haul us out for hurricane season. Trinidad or Grenada — which is better? We put our cell phones on vacation mode a couple of weeks ago when we left the US Virgins. Now our satellite phone isn’t working! We sent emails to three marinas and are hoping to hear back from them soon. Our next stop is St Barth and I have read that there is an office to help us communicate with international destinations. Emails are great, but I’ll feel better if we can talk directly with the marinas and get the scoop. Well, that was our main objective for today, Thursday. We didn’t get anything settled, but we are a couple of steps closer. A trip to Budget Marine was more successful. We walked out of there with a bag full of goodies.
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| This iguana swam over, climbed the line and then sat sunning on the back deck of 'her' boat. |
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| It seems that every island we visit has at least one old fort. |
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| Confession time.... We ate breakfast or lunch at Sarafina's every day we were in St Martin. |
Plans to visit other parts of the island will have to wait for our trip North in the Spring. We left the boat in Marigot Bay for all three days and explored as far as Simpson Bay in the dingy. The lagoon has access from both the French and Dutch harbors. Even our bus trip to Philipsburg had to be postponed. I never thought that a year and a half trip would have us rushing to see everything! Well, I’ll tell you the truth —- we are never bored. Some days we accomplish more than others, but there always seems to be something interesting to see or do. This is one great adventure!
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| Can you blame us? |
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