TWO WEEKS TO GO !!!

Last chance to take off those final 3 or 4 pounds!! In just two weeks from tomorrow Barbara, Rick and I (Pat) depart for our adventure.

As most of you know I just returned from a one week research trip to the Virgin Islands. I learned a lot that will make our trip more fun and efficient. We won’t waste time with a steep learning curve. But most of all I learned that you don’t go away for a week on a boat trip and not call home for five days. I am sorry and apologize to each of you who were concerned for my well being. As Barbara said to me I was just “being Pat”. However in this case that is not good enough and I will not let this happen again. Promise.

On the topic of our trip, I obtained a big stack of promotional material from both the USVI’s and the BVI’s. I will share this along with our cruise manual at our final meeting on the weekend before our departure.

Some information I do want to share before the meeting is as follows:

I found polyester “athletic” shirts to be most comfortable because they stay dry and keep you cool. I know the girls are shooting for style, but perhaps you could incorporate some open knit polyester type clothes in your wardrobe. Do not even think of bringing a sweater or light jacket for those cool nights. There won’t be any. It is very humid in the morning around 80 to 85 degrees until the sun heats the air about 5 degrees and “burns off” some of the humidity. The sun goes down before 6:00 PM. While it is cooler after sunset the humidity comes back up making you less comfortable than you might otherwise be with the temperature drop.

While the biting bugs were ever present my use of “OFF” in 30% Deet form kept me safe. I did see one 20 ish girl that had hundreds of bites swollen to about the size of a quarter all over her body. Everybody will get a few bites, just remember to use Deet. Most beach bars and restaurants have a bottle of “OFF” behind the counter for customer use. I will bring two cans plus wipes.

I want to reiterate from earlier meetings a request to keep our meal plans as simple and easy as possible. I can guarantee to you we will have most dinners on shore. Most breakfasts will be ad hock. First one up in the morning turns on the coffee and then you are on your own. Maybe one or two big pancakes and eggs type of breakfasts. Lunch will be a free flowing affair.
If you swim as much as I do then wear your dry (salty) suit all day you will probably get the swimsuit rash I did. Taking off my suit when I get out of the water and applying an antibiotic salve fixed me right up. My rash is gone. I can prove it if necessary.

On a similar note, I sprayed my toes after each shower with Tinactin. I get itchy feet when I visit warm places.

There is a new and very useful type of sunscreen I highly recommend. I will show some at the last meeting.

I was on one of the boats we will be cruising. The other one was in charter last week. The 2 ½ + years since Lysa, Todd, Barbara and I had seen them have taken their toll on the boats and they have lost their new shine. I believe we will still have all the same great fun and functionality we have planned on.

Some notes about our itinerary. There are two basic ways to create a BVI itinerary. They are clockwise (our plan) and counterclockwise. The prevailing winds will determine for us which of the two directions we chose. In the Virgin Islands the trade winds almost always blow from the East. The wind can be South East or North East. If you look at the charts you will see that a North East wind (the most common) would not effect our anchorages on Jost. This would allow for a clockwise start. We cannot know until the day we depart which direction we will go. We do know with some certainty the anchorages of our choice.

In our Caribbean Adventure Book I will provide each couple at the last meeting I will list our proposed destinations and itinerary. Please remember we will always keep our eye on the weather and make adjustments as needed.

After hearing from Scott about using his Verizon phone in the VI’s I called the Verizon service center. I asked to sign up for “I dial” service (international dialing). I just got my cell phone bill from the first days of my trip the VI’s. The .69 per minute rate plus $3.99 per month for “I Dialing” in the USVI’s was charged as promised. I left my charger behind on my boat trip so I did not get to use my cell phone in the BVI’s. I did see others using their phones. The locals don’t get off their phones to rent you a motel room! So I am reasonably certain the $1.29 per minute plus long distance chargers will apply in the BVI’s. Not a hot deal but at least you will be able to make and receive calls in most of the places we will be. This is a tremendous improvement from just six months ago. Recommendation: If you wish to bring your cell phone call your supplier, ask to enable international dialing, ask if your phone will work in the USVI’s and the BVI’s. If they say it will work ask how much the minute rates are? Then use your phone sparingly. If you have Verizon you will get the .69 per minute in the USVI’s and 1.29 in the BVI’s and home rate in Puerto Rico. Cingular (AT&T) works in a similar fashion I am told.


Just some random thoughts as Barbara and I make our final preparations for the trip. See you soon.