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Hiking in St. John, USVI

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” – Theodore Roosevelt

(June 12 to 17, 2018) Visiting St. John Island, was not on our original plan.

We believed that shipping from Florida to St. Croix, would take about two weeks. Seeing an “In-Transit Status” for days, we went to the US Post Office in St. Croix to inquire about the delivery status. We were told it would take up to 8 weeks and there is no way to track the packages when they are in transit at sea.

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Meeting a Korean Friend in Saint Croix

(June 2018) When we were in Saint Croix three years ago, we met a Korean woman, Mia and her husband, Tommy. They built a beautiful waterfront house in St. Croix after retiring from Kentucky in the USA. They love SCUBA diving and an island life style. “Call us when you visit St. Croix again!” That was three years ago. At that time, I didn’t think it was going to happen.

We came to Saint Croix this time because we have some items to be delivered by the US Postal Service. Saint Croix is one of the United States Virgin Islands so it is easy to ship from the States.

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Full Moon Sailing to St. Croix, Ted Talks

“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” — Pascal

(May 30 to 31, 2018) Night sailing from St. Martin to St. Croix, about 100 miles for 20 hours. Wind speed and direction led us effortlessly downwind sailing following in one direct line. As the full moon brightened the open ocean, only a few stars were visible. Gazing at the stars, I imagined the distance between the stars and I. What kind of lives there could be beyond the universe?

When we sail at night, my watch is from 2 am till 8 am.

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Sailing in a Hurry in the Caribbean

Night sailing from Trinidad to Grenada
We were worried during our passage near the oil rig platforms after leaving Trinidad. We made sure we sailed at least 10 miles east of the oil platforms which is farther from Venezuela. We wanted to be invisible to any potential pirates so we sailed without lights and also turned our AIS off. However, we noticed there are many oil rig supply ships in this area. This made us somewhat relieved, and as soon as we felt we were in a safe zone, we turned our lights and AIS back on.

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Unique Experiences in Trinidad

  • Driving a rental car with 300,000 kilometers on it (about 190,000 Miles).
  • Seeing an outdoor cremation during a Hindu Funeral near the “Temple in the Sea”.
  • Seeing what looks like a huge parking lot but in reality is the “Asphalt Lake” or “Pitch Lake”.
  • Watching the colorful Scarlet Ibis and Flamingos in the “Caroni Swamp”.
  • Viewing the humming birds at “ASA Wrights Nature Center”.
  • Wandering everywhere in the capital city, “Port of Spain”.
  • Eating fried Shark with baked bread called “Bake and Shark” at Richard’s at Maracas Bay Beach.

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Boat Repairs in Chaguaramas, Trinidad

The craziness in the tropical heat is about to end. John’s boat working fever finally has calmed down. Bad Bunny looks really shiny and sharp from the rub rail down. Unfortunately according to John, this just means we have to do more work on the deck to make it all match! (?)

We have been staying at Peake’s Yachting Services (boatyard) for almost three months. We like the ample space and friendly employees in Peake’s Marine. Bunny got a new paint job (Hull, Mast, Bottom, and Dinghy), also miscellaneous repairs and upgrades (Gelcoat Repair, Welding, New Bow Protector,

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Boat Repair and Life in a Boatyard in Trinidad

We are living in a boatyard in Chaguaramas for now, to get “Bad Bunny” repaired and enhanced. This place is a main boat repair center in the Caribbean. All is easily accessible by walk or bike-ride here. We hired contractors for painting, pulling out the mast by a rigger and a crane, welding, repairing sails and new windows in the dodger, making a new stainless bow protector, and more. We haven’t seen the final results yet but we feel optimistic.

Life in a boatyard is somewhat dusty and sweaty. To improve it, we rented an A/C to stay cool and bug free when we stay inside of the boat.

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Watch – Pulling the Mast out of S/V Bad Bunny

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Sailing from Suriname to Trinidad

(February 13 – 16, 2018) From Suriname (South America) to Chaguaramas in Trinidad, we sailed a total of 565 miles in 77 hours. On the second day, even including the slowdown for the autopilot repair, we still made our fastest daily trip, 184 miles.

Motoring out of the Suriname River, we scheduled our departure time with the tides. Not wanting an incoming current slowing us, we left the Waterland Marina at 6:50am, about two hours after Paramaribo high tide. It might have been better if we left one or 1.5 hours after the Paramaribo high tide, but we waited for daybreak.

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Relaxing in Waterland Marina in the Jungle and Driving in Suriname

Suriname is not well-known as a travel destination yet. It is an easy going country. A massive river flows through it, and thick green forest are all over Suriname. It offers jungle tours and a unique mixed cultural experience. Most of the sailboats and travelers are from the Netherlands.

Driving on the left side of the road was new thing for us. We managed quite well even while avoiding lots of pot holes and slowly driving over the Drumpels (Speed Bumps). With a non-Suriname Driver’s License, we can drive for two weeks. John applied for a ‘Suriname Driving Permit’

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