flip flopper down

Last weekend was Memorial Day weekend - and one I won't forget.

After being without our pool for a short period - the repairs were complete and it was finally time to fill it up! Three truck loads of water and 12,000 gallons later - we had a pool. What was really amazing was the temperature of the water from WAPA - it was like a bath.




The weekend included a lot of pool time and we had a very busy and social three days planned.



Our neighbours and the parents of one of Max's classmates had invited us out on their 70-foot motor boat for a day trip and lunch. It would be their first trip out on their new boat and we were the first guests. We met them in the morning - climbed aboard and set off around St. John and the islands off St. Thomas. It was a beautiful Caribbean day. The sea was a sparkling emerald green and there was a nice breeze to keep the edge off the burning sun. An absolutely perfect way to spend a day.

We anchored off St. John looking over a very exclusive area of the island called Peter's Bay. I'm attaching some pictures of the homes in this area as they were beyond belief. Not your typical holiday homes. (Click on them and make them larger.)




Our hosts served a fabulous lunch - warm quiche, salads, cold chicken and fruit - as we sat around a big table on the deck looking out to the beaches of St. John. After lunch - we did a little swimming off the boat and Julian decided to try his luck with some fishing with their first mate.
Where the day takes a turn for the worse is when I stood at the top of stairs leading down to the stern platform - and a large (and quite heavy) platform door came crashing down on my foot.

Unbelievably - I managed to refrain from colourful language but became instantly concerned I had lost my toe. Without too many details - the incident resulted in a good mess on the deck. In fact, if I remember correctly - hosing the deck down happened as quickly as the emergence of a first aid kit. Needless to say, our day was cut a little short and we swiftly returned to St. Thomas with a call and scheduled appointment at the emergency clinic.

What continued in this comedy of errors was our difficulty getting ashore. There was no available slip for the boat at the marina. So we'd go in by tender. When the electric winch attempted to lower the tender from the upper deck to the water - the motor appeared to burn out. The half-lowered zodiac swung from the port side crashing into the side of the boat with Mark and the first mate trying to keep it from slamming into the boat. These were true Kodak moments, I'll tell you. Fortunately - Mark actually figured out what was wrong with the winch and the boat was safely lowered to the water. At this point, I am pretty certain our hosts were ready for a stiff drink except for the minor detail that Carmen is pregnant and due to have her baby in about two weeks. So while the stuck tender problem was being managed by the men- two less than able women - one with belly that is ready pop and another with a toe that is trying to stay together were trying to manage three small children from falling out of the boat.

After we said our good-byes and got into the tender - we slowly motored off about 100 feet before the engine cut out. I know they say things happen in threes - but seriously? At this point - all I could do was laugh. But then I couldn't really do this because my bladder was too full from not being able to get up after the accident.

The boat drifted for a while and then started up again. And then cut out. And started up again. Finally, we were at the dingy dock.

After stitches, x-rays and some minor surgery. I am now sporting a fancy new "sandal" to help the bone and laceration heal.



As a "footnote", I am reflecting on all my years racing and sailing on boats and the many injuries I've witnessed. Cracking heads with booms. Fingers caught between lines and winches. Falling off boats and into cockpits. I often marveled at shoe-less sailors wondering how they were not constantly breaking toes and cutting bits open. The moral of this story? I'd better stay away from power boats.