{"id":1222,"date":"2013-03-19T16:58:26","date_gmt":"2013-03-19T20:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tusentakk2.com\/wordpress\/?p=1222"},"modified":"2013-03-19T16:58:26","modified_gmt":"2013-03-19T20:58:26","slug":"usvi-chucks-mom-and-sis-visit-mar-12-19-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tusentakk2.com\/wordpress\/2013\/03\/usvi-chucks-mom-and-sis-visit-mar-12-19-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"USVI \u2013 Chuck’s Mom and Sis visit, Mar 12-19, 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mom (94) and sister Zona (mumble) were the latest guests to join us on Tusen Takk II.\u00a0 <\/em>We \u201creceived\u201d them on Mar 12 at Crown Bay Marina, where we reasoned it would be easiest to get Mom on board.\u00a0 Next day, we engaged a taxi for a \u201ctour\u201d of St. Thomas.\u00a0 Charlotte Amalie was packed to the overflowing with passengers from the scheduled seven (!) cruise ships in the vicinity.\u00a0 Turned out a fair percentage of them were also on tours, and that on such days a \u201ctour\u201d consists of a drive up to several vantage points above the city, including the incredibly crowded Mountain Top, home of the \u201cworld famous\u201d banana daiquiri.\u00a0\u00a0 In order to get to the balcony overlooking Magen Bay to the north, one must pass through a gargantuan store filled with schlock.\u00a0 But the view from the balcony, when one could finally elbow one\u2019s way to the rail, was indeed impressive.\u00a0 And Zack, our driver, originally from Palestine, was gracious and solicitous of Mom.<\/p>\n

The waves hitting our slip, and the diesel fumes blowing our way from the nearby Tropical Shipping dock persuaded us to leave Crown Bay on Mar 14, or \u201cpi\u201d day.\u00a0 We hoped to stop at Christmas Cove, but when there was no room at the inn proceeded to Francis Bay. \u00a0There, Barb and Zona did some swimming, but the water was murky and Zona decided she wasn’t a snorkeler, if that is a word. \u00a0Left-over rollers from the NW made the mooring field moderately uncomfortable, so we moved the next day to Leinster Bay, where, tucked deeply in to Waterlemon Bay, we spent two lovely days.\u00a0\u00a0 Zona and I went ashore and walked up to Annaberg, where we obtained the obligatory picture of guest-in-front-of-windmill.<\/p>\n

On Mar 17 we moved to Great Lameshur, where the quiet waters and beckoning dock finally convinced Mom that she could get ashore.\u00a0 Pleasant walk to VIERS and the Tektite museum.\u00a0 See the photos below of the re-entry of Mom to the dinghy at the conclusion of the short excursion.<\/p>\n

On Mar 18 we moved back to Charlotte Amalie, where we hosted temporarily-batching Hunter (Arctic Tern<\/em>) to dinner and cards.<\/p>\n

Speaking of cards, Mom suffers from macular degeneration, but with her boundless will and optimistic spirit continues to play Free Cell and Spider on the computer, and Progressive Rummy at the card table.\u00a0 When we weren\u2019t playing cards with Mom, Barb and Zona and I did a lot of reading.\u00a0 It was a very relaxing visit, and both Barb and I feel grateful for having had the time with Mom and Zona.<\/p>\n

Early morning on Mar 19, we all boarded the dinghy \u2013 Mom now more confident that she could manage the entry and exit \u2013 and traversed the short distance to the dinghy dock at Yacht Haven.\u00a0 No sooner had we gotten underway than we were hit by a downpour which lasted just long enough to thoroughly drench us all.\u00a0 Maybe we should have a) waited five minutes or b) covered the luggage with plastic before departing.<\/p>\n

PS:\u00a0 When we returned to the boat, we had breakfast and then schlepped ten tons of laundry in to shore.\u00a0 Barb finally got a picture of Jerry, the pleasant man who insists on folding sheets for customers.\u00a0 Gratis.<\/p>\n\n\t\t