{"id":6481,"date":"2017-01-18T09:08:36","date_gmt":"2017-01-18T14:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=6481"},"modified":"2017-01-18T09:08:36","modified_gmt":"2017-01-18T14:08:36","slug":"1200-miles-to-tortola-check-home-to-brenda-check-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=6481","title":{"rendered":"1,200 miles to Tortola?\u00a0 Check!\u00a0 Home to Brenda?\u00a0 Check soon!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s Wednesday morning and the sun is out here in Tortola.\u00a0 However, that\u2019s no surprise as it\u2019s ALWAYS sunny except for the few minutes every couple of hours when it rains.\u00a0\u00a0 I had heard that it rains often, perhaps every day, more like a short shower so no surprise there.\u00a0 After several years in the Bahamas where winter rain is a very rare happening, try once in four months, this is a much appreciated change of pace as it keeps Pandora\u2019s decks clean of salt and grime.<\/p>\n

Another welcome change is that the wind always blows from the east, all the time, unlike the Bahamas where fronts come through about once a week bringing with it winds that clock 180 degrees.\u00a0 This means that we had to constantly watch the weather to be sure that we wouldn\u2019t find ourselves on a dangerous lee shore.\u00a0\u00a0 Here, clocking winds are not a problem.\u00a0 Having said that, it\u2019s much more windy here with breezes in the low to mid 20s.\u00a0 That has been a bit much but I am told that it\u2019s been unusually windy since we arrived and that it will likely settle down in the next few days.\u00a0 Actually, yesterday\u2019s winds were more \u201czepher like\u201d which Brenda would have liked.<\/p>\n

Speaking of Brenda, which I do in just about every post if you\u2019ve noticed, I\u2019ll be heading home tomorrow to see her with a stop along the way with her to see Rob, Kandice and little Tori.\u00a0 You know, the \u201ccutest\u201d granddaughter EVER! \u00a0 (see the last post if you doubt my word)<\/p>\n

Brenda and I will head back to Tortola together at the end of the month for a few months of sailing \u00a0together. \u00a0We hope to head down toward the southern islands after a short visit in the BVI to meet up with cruising friends and \u201cbuddy boat\u201d our way further south.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a very difficult time to be away as Brenda\u2019s mother died after a long illness the very day that I sailed out of Beaufort to head here.\u00a0\u00a0 The timing was particularly difficult as Brenda got word just one hour after I was out of cell range.\u00a0 It was very unfortunate that Brenda had to face such a difficult situation alone with me out of touch save some email for a week.\u00a0 Her mother died of COPD brought on from a lifetime of smoking.\u00a0 Let me tell you, COPD is a particularly nasty way to die as you slowly suffocate.\u00a0 Not pretty to watch and I am sure, complete torture to endure.<\/p>\n

Brenda managed the situation y herself but I have felt supremely guilty that I wasn\u2019t there to support her through such a difficult time.\u00a0\u00a0 It was the first really big event in her life for the last 45 years that I wasn\u2019t there for and it felt terrible to be out of touch.\u00a0 Fortunately, once we made landfall here I was able to find pretty consistent access to Wi-Fi so calling her on the phone was possible several times a day.\u00a0 Had I been in the Bahamas, where Wi-Fi isn\u2019t nearly as robust, it would have been even more difficult.\u00a0 However, as I only had access to Wi-Fi when I was ashore, she wasn\u2019t able to call me when she particularly needed to talk.<\/p>\n

Anyway, I can’t tell you how excited I am to see her again tomorrow for the first time in two weeks and what a long two weeks it was.<\/p>\n

My crew has been great and very mindful of my \u201canal retentive\u201d tendencies aboard Pandora. \u00a0They have been good company and have have kept things picked up nicely.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At 47\u2019, Pandora\u2019s not a little boat but with four on board for two weeks, she doesn\u2019t feel large at all.\u00a0 Once we arrived here in West End Tortola they went over the boat carefully to wipe down every surface so Pandora\u2019s in great shape now for Brenda\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n

This harbor, West End or Soper\u2019s Hole, is very pretty and well protected.\u00a0 There are plenty of moorings for rent and I\u2019ll be leaving Pandora here while I am back stateside.<\/p>\n

Yesterday Jim and I decided to hike up the nearby hill\/mountain to get a view of the harbor. \u00a0 We went up to the cell tower. \u00a0It’s at the top of the hill. \u00a0Let me tell you, it’s a lot farther away than it seems. \u00a0 \u00a0“Are we there yet?”\"\"The view of the harbor was amazing. \u00a0\"\"These buildings are where the local Pusser\u2019s bar and restaurant are.\u00a0 It\u2019s a very nicely put together waterfront facility with nice shops and a pretty good grocery.\"\"While Tortola is fairly arid, there are plenty of flowers.\u00a0\u00a0 I loved this butterfly.\u00a0\u00a0 My new camera is really amazing.\u00a0\"\"The view toward St John and the American Virgin Islands.\u00a0 What a sight from up there.\"\"Here\u2019s little Pandora, and Dave, tucked in the harbor. \u00a0 She’s the lower boat if you can’t tell.\u00a0\"\"I am a big fan of pelicans and snapped this shot of one as he decided I as just a bit too close for comfort.\"\"After we reached the top of the hill which felt more like a mountain, all 651\u2019 up, with an emphasis on “up”. \u00a0 Then we headed down the other side to Pirates Cove, I think that’s what it was called.\u00a0 Liquor licenses don\u2019t seem to apply here as an enterprising local had set up shop with a snack bar serving mixed drinks and beer was in full swing.\u00a0\"\"Not the fanciest place but a lovely spot to sit and enjoy the view.\u00a0 This was our view as we enjoyed a Carib beer. \u00a0 No kidding, shade and all.\u00a0\"\"After a four mile walk there I was happy to put my thumb out and hail a local to get a ride back to town.<\/p>\n

So, for our last day here I am not sure what we will do but I am a bit afraid of giving up my mooring and head out as there is a constant parade of boats heading in to pick up a mooring. \u00a0 I’ll surely come unglued if we come back tonight and can\u2019t find a \u201croom at the inn\u201d for Pandora.<\/p>\n

Anyway, that\u2019s about it for now as my crew is getting anxious for breakfast and granola bars will only get them so far.<\/p>\n

It will be weird to pack winter clothing to take home today but I sure don’t need a heavy winter coat here.<\/p>\n

Well, here I am only a little worse for wear after my 1,200 mile run south. \u00a0The good news is that tomorrow Brenda and I will be together again and then at the end of the month, back in Sunny Tortola for a few months of cruising together.<\/p>\n

And speaking of \u201ctogether\u201d I can\u2019t tell you how excited I am to be back with her again. \u00a0Yes, I know, I have already said that.<\/p>\n

Did I mention I\u2019ll be seeing her tomorrow? \u00a0So excited.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s Wednesday morning and the sun is out here in Tortola.\u00a0 However, that\u2019s no surprise as it\u2019s ALWAYS sunny except for the few minutes every couple of hours when it rains.\u00a0\u00a0 I had heard that it rains often, perhaps every day, more like a short shower so no surprise there.\u00a0 After several years in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_s2mail":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6481"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6491,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6481\/revisions\/6491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}