Happy New Year!

Santa Dale

Santa Dale made and gave this necklace to me for Christmas.

It was decided that these meatballs must be the largest meatballs on Hassel Island.  

(Since there aren't many people on Hassel Island)

Armories at Hassel Island

After our visitors left, we spent 2 weeks hunkered down in St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda & Marina Cay as the "Disneyland of sailing" had turned into a rodeo of windiness.  We headed for Charlotte Amalie in the hopes of finding convenient dinghy docks.  On the way, Ray & Dan both noticed a strange vibration.  After investigating, Dan found a crack in a weld dire to attaching our mainsheet to our rigid bimini.  Once again, we felt lucky to be in a place where we could get repairs done.  In this case, aluminum welding.  But, because it was the holidays, we were in town (where the cruise ships come in) for longer than we planned.

The city of Charlotte Amalie.... not only does it have giant cruise ships docked (and anchored), sailboat of all kinds, ferries that leave large wakes and jetskis, but it also has a floatplane that lands & takes off in this bay.

The floatplane comes through a cut between the town and Hassel Island, then turns to land in the bay (which the pilot can't possibly see if it's clear ahead of time).  (And Ken, the landings are incredible!)

Check out what we were tied up next to when we were having the welding done.  This dock submerges to go under the vessels, divers set the struts holding them and then the dock rises up.  

Dale got to ride her favorite horse Pepper before we left St. Thomas.

We also got to spend time with fun friends at Hassel Island, whom we knew from the homeschool group here.  Circe, Tim, Zach, Ollie & Asher, we will miss you!  Missed out on seeing Julia too.  

Very nice to catch Leslie, David & Richie with a little time off.

Richie helped us ring in the new year by watching fireworks with us on a sleepover.

The original Sunny Ray

We feel so fortunate to have such wonderful friends & family in our lives.  Thank you all for being part of it.  Happy 2014!!  Wishing you health & smooth sailing!