And what a trip! Even LIAT worked alright.

We could use the words “fabulous”, “stupendous”, “magnificent”, “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, or “splendiferous” (I think I used that one during the trip), but it still would not describe the experience.

Words fail to express. But let me try….

To summarize: the weather was awesome except for our day on Mustique (the “Mistaque”, we call it), the company was better than we could have hoped for, the food was delectable, the service efficient and personable and I sit here drooling wanting to be back there on sailing yacht Caroline forever, stuck in a time warp like Groundhog Day.

In more detail…Where to begin? Hmmm…let me get out the journal. We wrote much less this time than last year, when we were on land at Petit Byahaut. Mesmerized by the sea……

I adore the sea and I need to be close and near to her always. I respect her profound beauty and unlimited power. But I digress…..

LIAT left St. Croix on time, we stopped briefly at St. Martin, stayed on board the plane, and got to Antigua, where we had to go through security again to get into the airport. One of the “nice ladies” (read: a real Bitch) there made me unpack something from our snorkeling bag. It was my surprise anniversary gift to Michael. (Thank you, “nice lady”, there went my surprise!)

We had a snack and moved quickly to the second floor to escape the bitter cold of the air conditioning downstairs. It’s a ridiculous airport! Our flight to St. Vincent boarded on time but there was a problem with cabin pressurization, which took only a short time to fix (thank goodness) and we arrived at ET Joshua airport to meet Desmond, the taxi driver who would take us to the dock where we’d meet our Captain.

5 minutes (and $14US later) Captain Grant appeared with his dinghy to take us to Caroline and the rest of the gang. First Mate Tara (also a licensed Captain) was there to help us aboard, and fellow passengers Nick, Jim and Michelle eagerly awaited our arrival, since dinner would now be served.

Introductions were made, drinks were poured for us (I only had a club soda ~ virtuous) and Scarlett arrived from below. These folks had been there for a while and had a head start on us as far as alcohol consumption goes, so she had to see a mate about a seahorse or something. We did not get to see our quarters before we were sat down and served dinner. Good thing I didn’t have to check on any seahorses!

Dinner was grilled Mahi with pineapple and green pepper sauce, basmati rice and ratatouille. Dessert was fruit and baked pineapple/coconut with vanilla ice cream topped with Bailey’s. Delicious! After that, Grant took us to our cabin in the forward starboard pontoon and explained the workings of the hatches and marine toilet, as well as how to open and close the closets and such.

Everyone was ready for bed, but we were still running on adrenaline, so we stayed up top looking at the stars until it started to drizzle, then we went to bed and slept well for a while. Even though Young Harbour was hoppin’ on a Saturday night with lots of loud music, we were comatose until rain coming in the hatch over our bed caused me to jump up and close it as well as our other three hatches.

See our Vacation Photo Album for pictures.