Happy Holidays from a little island

Living in St. Marten has made me realize just how different each of the caribbean islands are. St. Marten is a larger island that is divided by two countries, France and the Netherlands. Because of these two cultures in addition to the high tourist volume and the local caribbean flavor, there is always a lot going on here. Here are some examples of why I live in the caribbean;

*The gate to our hotel and Marina is always closed as you go out, the gate in is always open. 

*The Grande Marche had christmas music play over the loud speaker, but only when their live reggae cover band wasnt playing. 

*You can also taste test booze in the grocery store. 

*At the checkout they have single beers in the cooler instead of Cokes

*The path I run on is in habited by goats and cows... lots of them. I often end up hearding them as they run away and dont think to run the other direction. 

*You can get almost everywhere you need to go (bar, marine

 store, internet cafe, pharmacy) but dinghy, which is a very good thing as the traffic is terrible. 

*You can eat proper french gourmet or out of a chicken truck (which is literally a truck)

The question arose of what we do for fun. Not that there is ever a lack of it just living with the people I live with, but let me think of some examples. 

-Happy hour is always on the menu. There is a bar here that has 2 for 1 drinks but you have to get 2 so drink up. The same bar has a pool that you can swim in and sit at the bar in. 

-The airport is very close to the water (everything is, its a

 small island) so when planes come in and out you can get quite close to the runway. As any good buisnesman would do, someone built a bar there. Its called the Sunset and faces west but the main attraction is facing east or windward. People stand at the gate to the runway, hold on and get lifted by the after burners on the big jets. Sand gets blasted and people fall

down, its down right hillarious. 

-Then there are always watersports to take part in. I rented a windsurfer the other day and Jenna and Brooks took their first kite lesson so we'll all be partaking in that soon. (its way easier to pack onto a boat). 

-When all else fails get into your car and drive around the island. I havent made it all the way around in one go yet but I've done it in a weekend. You should also drive to the top of the highest hill you can find. We found a pretty good one that overlooks Phillipsburg and Marigot and looks south. 

That's all for now. We do have to work sometime! 

Happy New Year!

A new island

We made it to St. Maarten from Newport in a week, to the minute. The delivery was great! Good weather, happy crew. Basically we rocked it, saw some breeze (up to 40Knts) and topped out with a boat speed of 12.2!
We've now been here for over a week and managed to get ourselves in to plenty of good spots. Day 1 was wash down and put the boat back together. It was still the work week so we worked thursday and friday, fighting hangovers the whole time.
It's traditional for a crew to arrive after a delivery, wash down and then head to a huge dinner. This equation sounded a bit like doomsday for all of us who were running on very little sleep and I saw visions of falling asleep in our moules frites. As a boat we opted for washdown and the bar. The Soggy Dollar Bar is at the dinghy dock so you have very little choice about where you start the night. As it was a wednesday town wasnt really rolling we grabbed some Lebanese dinner while we waited for the ground to stop moving. By the time we'd drank enough beers to stop swaying (but before we drank enough to start swaying again) the Knickerbocker crew had rolled up and the dance party was well underway. The Soggy Dollar Bar here in St. Maarten is soggy for a different reason than the SDB in Jost. In Jost you have to swim to the bar so your dollars get wet. In St. Maarten, apparently, there is an overhead shower inside the bar... so your dollars get wet! There's also a machine that makes soap fall like snow. So we had that going for us... which was nice.
We worked the next day and looked forward to our sit down dinner in Marigot. The french side of the island has some pretty sweet spots for food. They are tres bien, you might say. We found our spot along the road and began the feast with our favorite appetizer, mussels and french fries. The french have an amazing tradition of a post meal appertif of fruit infused rum. Though you get a shot and sip it, we managed to finish the bottle before the cows went home.
On saturday we finally made it to the beach. The beach here is a little different than the beaches Im used to in the bvis. There are people on these beaches. and bars. The water is warm and salty and we lounged for the afternoon sipping ti-punch cold.
On sunday we went ziplining!! There is a zip line course here that you take a truck up and zip down! Hannah has the pictures (my camera was lost in Gavin's pants) but theyre pretty wicked. Next time you get a chance to zip through a rain forest, do it.
Back to monday and the work week... tune in for the blog about what I'm fixing this week.

Laurel gets a new job

Yup. it happened.
I am officially working for the man but dont worry, it's working for the man as only I could do. I work on his yacht. In October I started working for a 73' sloop called Encore. She's a beautiful custom design by Sparkman and Stephens built as a racing machine 20 years ago. She doesnt race any more but has won Antigua race week 5 or so times!
Im working as the mate aboard. I guess Im the First Mate but there's only one, me, so I don't thing it's important to specify. I work with a Captain, Brooks, a Chef, Mike (Hammer) and a Stewardess, only we havent hired a stew so I dont know who she is yet. The captain and chef are fabulous people, which is a good thing because we all live together and work together and see each other pretty much all day everyday.
My job is pretty awesome. It is different everyday and keeps my ADD and SOS (shiny object syndrome) well satisfied. Some days I wash the boat. Some days I take things apart like mufflers and winches. Some days I put things together like generators and winches. Some days I help Brooks invent ways to do things like cool our bevys down (we made a deck locker into an insulated and cooled drink locker). Basically I'm in charge of making sure things dont break, fix them when they do, its a boat after all, and keeping the boat looking sharp.
The other part of my job that is awesome is where it takes place. Currently the boat is in the Newport Shipyard for a refit. Newport is a great town but it is getting coooold! Today it was 24 degrees when we got to the boat! Good thing the actual winter takes place in the Caribbean. You didn't think I got a job in the US did you? So I get to go home to the warm blue water and spend 5 months there exploring some new islands further down the chain. In May we make the delivery north and summer in Long Island Sound. All in all some very nice places to live and work and play. And if I work or play too hard it's ok because I have health insurance now too!
So that's me working for the man, or at least his boat and having a terrific time! Come visit when you get a chance!

Keeping up with Kate

After reading Kate's blog I am re-inspired to try this blog thing out again. Though mine certainly wont be as clever as Kate's it will be full of adventures (random/ adventures.. whatever you call it).
Again Im going to go off my photos. My journal writing happens as often as my blogging!

Often, during adventures we end up climbing things and jumping off of them. This is the day Marco, Dom, Scotty, Jerome, Drew and I dinghied around Virgin Gorda. We stopped at Pajerous Point and climbed up the cliffs at the very North eastern tip of VG. Though we were very careful to keep out shoes dry on the swim in we ended up with some soggy sneakers after jumping off the cliff. O well. No good day ends with dry shoes..


Also among the photos from this year: The Voyage for Cleaner Energy. While in Martha's Vineyard I learned about the sailing vessel 2041
In an effort to build awareness that the treaty that the world signed in agreement to leave Antarctica undeveloped and unclaimed is up for debate in the year 2041. The boat follows a lecture series by Robert Swan. If you get a chance go see his lecture, it's very good. Check the website to see their schedule.





And then there's always big things to discover. While at a regatta party in Portsmouth Chris topped off my bevy with some goslings.



While visiting Michelle in NY we stopped by Super Duper Weenie for lunch. The line was long but the weenies were super. Any time youre traveling up 95 stop at the Black Rock Turnpike and grab a weenier. Worth it for sure.

How many marathons can one person fit into one month you ask? I went for 3. Of course I only ran one of them. Alex and Seth kick off the whole shebang with running the marathon in Berlin. I didnt get to see that one so I'm not counting it in my total. I ran the Newport Marathon in RI with ~600 people. The race was a great course all around Newport and Middletown. 26.2 miles later I had some sore legs and a time of 4:22. It was awesome! Jenna ran with me for ~1 1 miles and we thrilled the camera man at mile 16.
The week after I flew to DC to see Julia run the Marine Corps marathon. It was basically the same as mine... with 24,000 more people. Jules and her friends all finished and did really well!
The week after that was the NYC Marathon that Jordan ran. What a month! Congrats to everyone! Now go sit on a couch and eat something! (and tune back into the blog!)

Camera contents

In leaving the Caribbean in June I lost my camera cord. I recently received a new one and was able to upload all my photos from the summer. Let's see if I can do a summary blog....There is a slight time gap between my birthday and july due to my camera being replaced while I was in California for Ben and Dee's wedding but let's see what else we have...

My birthday in May was excellent. I celebrated it 4 or 5 times in different locations each time. The first unofficial celebration was with mom and dad on their trip to the bvis. My new rainbow sandals were much needed and are now broken in just right. I was in Boston for my actual birthday and had a wonderful dinner with Jillian and Jen at Temple Bar in Cambridge. From Boston I was headed to NY for a flight back to the bvis. As my official NYC ambassador, Janie had a great plan for a little birthday-ness. When in NYC drink Champagne at The Plaza! Before I left the city I caught up with the Sled Ladies for dinner in what else but a restaurant that looked like a ship! All in all it looks like 24 is going to be a pretty good year!

(insert Ben and Dee's wedding photos/visit to Nell in Portland OR)
Next pictures are of the Blessing of the Fleet in 5 Islands, ME. In true Maine style, the local pastor blesses all of the fishing boats and their men for a safe and prosperous season. Once all the official business is done the fun and games start. First up a parade around the harbor in pea soup fog! After that they let the local kids compete in a trap running contest strung between two docks... only in maine...
I spent the summer up and down between Maine and Martha's Vineyard working on Noctiluca and finding other jobs when I could.

Dad and I hiked Mnt. Washington. I've never done it and Dad hasn't been back since they paved the top so I asked if he would go with me. He was right, of course, that the top was a bit disapointing when you realize everyone else just drove, but it was a great hike!

We had a bit of a UNH reunion when Chris called and asked if I wanted to sail the Downeaster. Alie, Laura, Chris, Dan and I sailed with Shawn and took 2nd for the weekend. With Diana running the RC it was just like sailing on Mendum's!

Back to the islands I go but this time the ferry went a bit further, to Nantucket! I caught up with Adam Knee and Saw Robert Swan speak about global climate change. I helped take his Voyage for Cleaner energy to NYC for their next engagement.




Next up: Ed's wedding. Alex, Seth and I drove out to Jamaica Vermont to celebrate Ed and Lisa's Luau of Love. With a bon fire, a hot tub and a whole lot of Girl Talk we had a great party and some really good egg sandwiches!
We found our way to the Alpine slides on our way home as well as to a snowboard gear museum.

The summer finishes up with some more boating, lots of running (in marathon training) and Xavier Rudd in concert. All in all everything looks good!

A brief episode in the BVIS...
After Mom and Dad left I had to seriously start thinking about my summer plans. I finally have a delivery north leaving on Saturday that takes me to Bermuda and Newport that should be great. As I set up my summer I have to start thinking about leaving, which is never fun. Mostly I choose to not think about it and do everything I can (except work, of course). The weekend was pretty slow. We had a wonderful barbeque with everyone on Saturday. The crew of Too Elusive brought some amazing steaks and pork to grill and we feasted very close together on Drew's couch as it started to POUR just as dinner was ready. With some fanstastic reggae tunes we enjoyed the rain almost as much as the very dry island did. Sunday was traditional sunday breakfast. Yours truely makes egg sandwhiches for everyone who comes by after opening the marina. (Sundays are very slow). The boys were going exploring for Marco's last adventure so I tagged along as we drove up to Pajeras Point (past Oil Nut Bay). There were many rocks to climb and cliffs to jump. We anchored just offshore after a sketchy attempt to tie up to the shore. Timing was important to get onto the cliff as the swells have been rolling for afew days. Once ontop we make it a jungle gym, with the added challenge that the rocks are all shale or loose granite and tend to break off when you use them as a hand or foot hold.
We worked up an appetite and came back for food. Someone had a craving for chinese (very tough to get around here) and we continued our adventure to Main land Virgin Gorda. The Flying Iguana is a resturant located at the airport on VG. The airport on VG is about the size of our house in epping. The runway is dirt and the flying iguana hosts a great look out for celebrities as well as scary plane landings (most who fly in to VG swear it will be their last time). The cook was out (or never came in) and we ordered and waited for our 2 hour chinese takeout. We climbed back into Drew's jeep which is an adventure in itself. Perfectly road safe, newly painted and sort of has seat belts (which are required by law for the 2 in the front). The 2 in the back can stand up and do handstands for all the law cares. The jeep does lack a certain Je ne said quoi.. O wait, I do know... A windshield and windows... but it has brakes and seats now!
As I said, It was Marco's last adventure and I drove him to the airport at 430 the next morning. (in a boat, 15 miles or so). After I came back there was really no way I was working for a whole day, especially when there's nothing to do... so I hoped a ferry with Dom (my surfing buddy... by buddy I mean he surfs and I paddle out, get washed and come back in). The north side of Tortola was breaking and we hit Josiahs again until it started getting too big and closing out. Since taxis are outrageous and renting is cheap we hoped in our brand new car and drove to Apple bay to catch the better waves. Those were too big for me so I drove back to town to go to the grocery store.
Let's talk about grocery stores. Yall that live up in the big cities have many to choose from filled with options. Not so much here. A trip to Tortola allows us to choose from at least 3 stores, each with limited product selection. Even this is a vacation for us island bums who live in 2 week cycles, as the delivery barge comes up.
I had promised to make Dom and Jo (our host for the night) dinner and found some amazing produce to make a quick chicken curry.
Dom finally got out of the water as the sun went down and we made our way back to the other end of the island to cook. Jo is an amazing host and we all ate and attempted to watch Benny and Joon.... but ultimately passed out after a perfect day in the sun.
Since I definately couldnt go back in the morning Dom and I headed back to Apple this morning and caught a few more waves before the afternoon ferry left.
All in all, A wonderful weekend/ work week... in the BVIS!
Miss you all!
L

Hi All,
After a wonderful and too short visit from Mom and Dad I've decided to try to keep a blog. (Yes, there was some parental peer pressure involved). I'm not the Dickens Kate is so Ill just try to lay down the facts and be witty.
The weather has turned summer which in the BVIs means hot and sticky, buggy and caalllmm. The night they flew in was a full moon. I don't know if anyone else is aware of the full moon but down here we celebrate it like a monthly holiday. In Trellis Bay (where the airport is) there is a Full Moon Fireball and Jumbie party. Trellis is a beach bar with and local art work shop. In the water they fill carved iron balls with wood and light them on fire while colorful dancers on stilts dance to Soca, representing spirits of the dead. Most islanders choose to be buried barefoot as if their shoes are left on they are cursed to walk the earth for eternity. The on-site staff at Bitter End celebrate it with a hobie race a few miles upwind to Oil Nut Bay and a bonfire. With breeze blowing 8-10knts Team Gaudet made it up to oil nut as the 3rd boat! The bon fire was started with about 5 gallons of gasoline and the cooler opened. Sir Richard and his guests joined us with the Necker staff so we were well attended.
Mom and Dad had some great weather but little breeze while they were here. We did, however, have enough to sail to the world famous Baths (Dad, how do you put photos on this thing?). My friend Craig had his father in town and they joined us for our adventure. After a picturesque lunch at the Top of the Baths we had lots of time to explore the caves and massive boulders. Though there were some doubts from the participants as to the credibility of their tour guides everyone made it to the top to partake in the breathtaking vista. They don't just put these words in the guide books, it actually is breathtaking.. either the view or the hike to it. Tuesday I had to work (occasionally it happens) and Mom and Dad participated in a Discover Scuba dive with our onsite dive shop. Apparently Dad and Jen have the same ears as he had some trouble clearing to go to depth. I think the underwater world was appreciated, though, as they were avid snorkelers every other day.
Wednesday was the weekly trip to Anegada, the sunken island. The 14 mile trip out was flat and beautiful and the beach on the northside was as amazing as ever. Mom and Dad snorkeled before lunch with Rob and Mel and found some turtles and cudas to play with. Lunch included the famous conch fritters and shrimp from the Big Bamboo. On the trip back the boat stopped as 2 gray whales flipped their tales to say hello. After some amazing play with the whales we had to continue back to Bitter End.
Thursday morning was spent in the water of Eustatia reef snorkeling with an abundance of colorful fish. The noon ferry took us to Tortola where we were spending the afternoon and night for the early morning flight. Josiah's bay is a local surf beach a walk from The Tamarind Club, where we were staying. We spent the afternoon body surfing and attempting to stand on a board (Laurel will get it someday) and getting eaten by no seeums (see the caribbean isnt perfect). Tamarind was wonderful and relaxing for an early night before a 630 ride to beefisland for the airport. Very sad to see them go, I walked them through the departure tax (they get cha on the way out, mwhaha) and to security.
Thanks to mom and dad for making the trip. Ill try to keep this up. Looking for a ride out currenlty and should be up that way soon. Anyone know of anyone who wants to hire a watersports bum for a month or two this summer? Im good at stuff.
Miss you all.
L

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