Driving around

Driving around, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Drove down the hill this morning after the curfew was lifted to take our friend back to his boat. We saw a lot of smaller trees down and lots of leaves and branches but nothing major. We really dodged a bullet with this one.

Power, internet and cable are still out but I've heard they're making good progress. We've been running the generator most of the day for the fridge and fans. But decided to give it a little break.

I have to say that I've been impressed with ATT through all this. I never lost cell or 3G service. Friends of ours on Sprint was without service most of the time. So kudos to ATT.

The pic above is Hassel Island and Elephant Bay. There are usually lots of boats moored there but most took off to hide in hurricane holes. Quite a few ended up on the shore unfortunately. But our friends boat was fine which was great news.

So now the cleanup and hoping the next system, Fiona, stays north like predicted. I guess we'll see tomorrow afternoon.

Here's a little video of driving down Solberg. Hopefully the link works. Since I'm doing this from the phone I'm not sure it will work.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgzyS3w95ko&sns=em

Damaged Boats

Damaged Boats, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well we are counting our blessings that we don't have any injuries or major property damage. Not everyone faired do well. I took a ride this morning with Sea Tow and there are a lot of boats washed up on shore and or sunk. When the wind shifted to the southwest last night after the eye passed a lot of people got caught hanging in exposed anchorages that they should not have been in. A large number of the boats in Elephant Bay along water island and Honeymoon Beach were lost. Sea Tow went out three times last night and pulled people of boats that had decided to rue it out. As far as we know no one was seriously injured.

Island debris removal

Island debris removal, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Cleanest yard in the area!

Goooood Morning

Goooood Morning, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well, we came through Earl pretty good. Power stayed off all night so we have the gen running to cool the fridge and pressurize the water. My battery fan ran great all night, definitely a great purchase. The seas have calmed down but the water is a strange aqua color. I guess from being churned up. Still have a little bit of wind but it's calmed down dramatically over the last hour. So overall, all is well :-)

9:00 Earl update

9:00 Earl update, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We're still here, haven't blown away. The power has been off since noon but we fired up the generator to charge phones, cool the fridge and cook some dinner. We ran it for about 3 1/2 hours and it did great.

The eye wall went by around 3pm and the wind and rain just stopped. Jay ran down the road and picked up a boatie friend of ours so he could come stay with us. He said he saw some trees down and loose limbs, some water runoff but not too bad overall.

Around 6pm the winds and rain started coming down harder than it had all day. And it was coming from west and south west which was the wrap around bands. It was pretty bad. But now at 9 pm it's not too bad. It's still raining and you can hear the wind blowing but nothing too fierce.

So it's time to say good night and hope for the best in the am. I have my trusty battery fan keeping me cool. Hopefully the 8 D cell batteries will run it all night.

The pic above was taken earlier today. It was too dark out to get any shots if the new bands coming thru tonight. One of these days I'm going to invest in a really nice digital SLR so I can show how beautiful the views are, even in a category 4 storm :-)

Here are a couple of iPhone Video shot from the Deck this morning. So far so good power has been on and off but back on right now. The eye is due to pass around 7:00 tonight about a hundred miles from here.

Edges of Earl

Edges of Earl, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We're feeling the outer edge of Earl this morning. Gusts of wind and hard rain. Power keeps going on and off. And now there is thunder and lightening. Luckily we do not have to go to work today. Most people were directed to come in to secure the building and equipment but my boss went in last night and took care of all if our stuff.

We'll keep you posted as the day progresses.

Earl preparation

Earl preparation, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Everyone preparing for Earl. All the boats are off the dock in Frenchtown. Shutters are going up, sounds of hammers securing plywood over windows and of course hurricane parties :-)

From the weather Chanel alert:
FOR THOSE LOCATED IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS...EMERGENCY SHELTERS WILL BE OPEN ON OR BEFORE 10 AM AST MONDAY MORNING...AND ALL SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED FOR THE DAY. HOWEVER...TEACHERS ARE EXPECTED TO REPORT TO THEIR SCHOOLS TO AID IN SECURING THE BUILDINGS. IN ADDITION...GOVERNMENT OFFICES ARE EXPECTED TO CLOSE ON OR BEFORE NOON AST MONDAY.

Batten down the hatches

Batten down the hatches, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Getting ready for Earl. It's a little early (not supposed to be anything until late Mon or early Tues) but have to take the help when offered.

Pretty at the moment

Pretty at the moment, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Despite the possible bad weather coming, it's a pretty day out today. Just hope it stays that way.

Earls gotta Die

Earls gotta Die, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well, tropical storm Earl, soon to be hurricane Earl is getting everyone's attention. The current track is north of us if it starts to turn, otherwise it could get pretty bad. People are getting their houses and boats ready just in case.

According to Crown Weather Services:

It is looking more and more likely that Earl will impact the islands of the northeast Caribbean. Those of you in the northern Leeward Islands from about Antigua and points north be prepared for hurricane watches and warnings to be issued sometime today or tonight. Earl is expected to impact the northeast Caribbean from Sunday night into much of Monday. It is not out of the question that Earl does not gain very much latitude before reaching the northeast Caribbean Islands and it is looking more and more likely that the northeast Caribbean Islands will experience a direct hit by Earl. So, all interests in the northeast Caribbean should prepare for hurricane conditions from Sunday night into Monday.

Friday Beach Pic

Friday Beach Pic, originally uploaded by captainjay.

TGIF! Been a long week, working over a lot to help finish up projects that should have been done before classes started at UVI this past Monday. Whew, I'm tired. So hopefully I'll get to do some boating this weekend to lighten my spirits ;-)

This pic is Magens Bay in the early morning after finishing the trail, before the masses of people show up. We'll prob do the trail again in the morning. It's such a great workout and then you get this view at the end, what a great reward :-)

Jazz in the Park

If  you're going to be around St. Thomas this Friday, this sounds like a fun event.

ENJOY AN EVENING OF JAZZ IN ROOSEVELT PARK, FRIDAY, AUGUST 27TH, 2010
Free Admission

Texas Chili Cookoff

Texas Chili Cookoff, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Spent the afternoon at the Texas Chili Cookoff on Brewers Bay beach. Man, it was hot and very little breeze on the beach. So of course eating hot chili is the perfect thing to do lol. But we had a good time and had some really good chili. I couldn't hear who one so I'll have to read the paper in the morning to find out.

Wow!

Wow!, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Hanging with some friends at the pool. Gotta love the view!

Morning Coffee

Morning Coffee, originally uploaded by captainjay.

All this week I've taken my coffee and Jenny breakfast out on the deck and just sat and listened to all the island noises and watch the sun come up. We used to do this all the time but lately we just plop down on the couch in front of the tv, not really paying attention to anything (outside or tv). So being out here really brings things back into perspective of why we moved here in the first place.

Have a great weekend :-)

Flat calm

Flat calm, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Wow! Had to stop and take this pic. It is flat calm out and super clear. You can see Culebra like it's only a mile away but it's more like 20! Would be a great day for a boat ride :-(

Friday Beach Pic

Friday Beach Pic, originally uploaded by captainjay.

TGIF! Looks like the Saharan dust has cleared up so we have our nice clear horizon back this morning.

This pic is Magens Bay taken last Sat after we did the Magens Bay trail. Looks like we're going to go again tomorrow morning. We said we were going to go every Sat morning so we'll see if we can continue. Afterwards I've been invited to go sailing with some friends so it should be a fun day.

I little bit of sad news for Time on the Water. It went over to Puerto Rico for a supply run for the guys working on CYOA boats and had some engine problems. Sea Tow had to take it the rest if the way over. So it will be spending the next week there while getting repaired and then Jay will bring it back next weekend. Can you say B.O.A.T.!

Sunday is the Annual Texas Chili Cook off held at Brewers Bay beach. So I'll be heading over to do some tasting. Good thing it's on a beach so that you can jump in the water to cool off after all that HOT chili! Lol

Have a great weekend everyone!

Nice View

A friend of mine shared this pic with me of the view from the Mahogany Run condos looking west. So I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy. :-)

Saharan Air Layer

Saharan Air Layer, originally uploaded by captainjay.

This is what's causing all the haze. Can you see the huge "blob" over the Virgin Islands? Crazy. But I like that it keeps the storms away. Oh wait, I think I already said that previously. :-)

Crazy Hazy

Crazy Hazy, originally uploaded by captainjay.

The Saharan Dust has taken over the Virgin Islands. It is so hazy out I can barely see past my deck railings. It's not very pretty but it keeps the storms away so that works for me.

Off to Puerto Rico

Off to Puerto Rico, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Dropping Jay off at CYOA early this morning. The staff are taking the last group of boats over to Puerto Rico for the season. Then they get to clean, bottom paint and do repairs. Hope they have a safe trip and good weather :-)

Buck Island

Buck Island, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We ran away from the rain on St. John and found some sun at Dog Island. Then headed over to Buck Island just off St. Thomas. We had a nice afternoon of snorkeling and hanging out with friends. A nice way to spend a Sunday :-)

STJ lunch

STJ lunch, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Headed out on the boat after Jay did some work on our mooring, with a little help from a friend :-). It was pretty calm out so we headed to St. John to get some lunch. It was sunny the whole way until we made it to STJ. Hopefully the rain holds off until we make it back :-)

Magens Bay Trail

Magens Bay Trail, originally uploaded by captainjay.

I walked the trail at Magens Bay this morning with my coworkers. What a great workout! It's a trail thru the nature preserve. Part is just a trail cut thru the trees, part is a wooden walk way, the rest is up hill, over rocks and natural steps. It comes out on Magens bay road way up at the top. Then you turn around and go back down. Afterwards we went for a swim to cool off. Ahhhhhh

We're going to try and do this on a regular basis. I hope we do :-)

Friday Beach Picture

I shot this one a month or two ago at Saba Island just south west of St Thomas. There is a hull from an old wrecked sailboat there, a rocky beach and a bird sanctuary.

Jay

North Shore Views

Just thought I would share these beautiful north shore views :-)

Rain is gone, Sun is here!

Rain is gone, Sun is here!, originally uploaded by captainjay.

A couple huge rain storms passed through and now it's beautiful out. We were going to go out on the boat for a little while but decided to chill at the house. We've been doing a lot of running around lately so sometimes you just have to chilax.

Later today CYOA is having an end of season party. It's always a good time and great food. Hopefully the sun stays out so we can hit the pool :-)

Out and about

Out and about, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Jay got off work early so we headed out on the boat. First we picked up a mooring at Little St. James but it was a little "rollie" so now we're in Christmas Cove at Great St. James. Much better....ahhhhh

Friday Beach Picture

This one is for all the Trunk Bay lovers. I borrowed this one form T's facebook shots from their trip here in February.

The Baths

Here are some pics taken on the boat trip to the Baths, Virgin Gorda BVI. I used my Canon D10 with no photo shop. It's really just that beautiful! :-)

I have to share a funny story. I shared these pics on my facebook page and a friend of mine, who lives here, responded and it cracked me up. So I have to post her comments:

....I went there. Noone told me it was a bunch of rocks!! I thought it was hot water natural spring baths....pissed me off. The guide just stared at me like a dumb blonde. Pissed me off more. ;-)

...And it's absolutely true. Been living here for years. Dated a boatee as you know. Work in a public area. Heard people talk about being at the Baths, going to the Baths, bringing visitors to the Baths. Not once did I hear "rocks" come out of anyone's mouth. It took wanting to take a day trip on Limnos 5 for me to find out it is just a bunch of rocks. Even the word "Baths" has absolutely nothing to do with hot spring water!!! LOL

I love it! Because secretly I thought the same thing the first time I went there! LOL But it really is beautiful no matter what its called :-)

The Pie Whole

The Pie Whole, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Just can't say enough good stuff about The Pie Whole. This is tonights special. Chicken, bacon ranch, with fresh tomato and avocado. I won't even mention the Konings Hoeven Bock from Belgium.

Deb had a mixed green salad, blueberry, pineapple, star fruit, cashews, goat cheese and a Strawberry Champagne dressing.

Jay

Virgin Gorda here we come

Virgin Gorda here we come, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We're heading to the BVI today, but this time to Virgin Gorda the Baths. We're chartering a boat from Waters Edge Sports and going with a group of coworkers from UVI with Jay as our trusty captain.

It's been awhile since we've been to the baths, probably around 2 years, when we went with Limnos. The weather is looking great and the seas are flat so it should be a great ride :-)