To Culebra and St. Thomas

We left Patillas into the sunrise to give us a great view of the country side and a light house on the east shore. 

I could live here

Lighthouse on eastern shore

 We left right behind a large blue catamaran, (circumnavigators) and they stayed in site till we got to Culebra where they continued on the St. Martin and we tucked in to anchor next to S/V Oden. 

We dinghied to  town for soon to be famous tacos which were very good despite the ground meat looking like what I imagined ground iguana  looks like.  The next day we walked along side the airport then over a steep hill

the airport at Culebra, Encore is just to the right of the pic

& down to a gorgeous beach

I said it was gorgeous

which had a dozen or so vendors selling, you guessed it, God only knows what kinda of meat pies, which again were delicious.  I think I saw where the God only knows meat comes from.

Supper

We pulled anchor and moved on over to St. Thomas 

Sail Rock, just sticking up out of the ocean between Culebra & St Thomas.  Probably has sirens at night!

and joined Carl & Carrie Butler where we anchored in a small mooring field.  A  Cessna 208 on floats had at least two flights per day which really messed up any work I was trying to do cause I had to stop & watch.

208 caravan doing splash & dash

another of the 208

We took Safaris (1 ton trucks that were converted to open air buses that carry about a dozen) shopping and just looking at the island which mostly caters to cruise ship tourists. 

safaris

 We met Jamie and Keith on S/V Kookaburra.  Dave & Rene Herrington, S/V Alegria came over along with Rick & Pam S/V Forever.  We went out to dinner or happy hour on our boats every night for a week, more excitement than I'm used to.  One of the cruise ship terminals was just across the inlet from us and we had to time our crossings when the ships were moving, it took my mighty 4hp a half hour to get across.

Oasis of the Seas

We also got to watch a yacht carrier off load motor yachts & load up with racing monohull sailboats.  Keith and Jamie, both charter captains took us to a lighted water fall and colored fountain display that one of the super rich put on for an hour several nights a week, even though he is not usually in town.  We were in dinghies so I did not have a camera but take my word for it, breathtaking.  They and the Butlers made sure our stay there was awesome and we really, really appreciate them.  (Keith is also a Civil Engineer & Jamie an HVAC Journeywoman and they charter & guide just to make people happy, which they did.

self explanatory