Columbus and I are one
We left Bequia for an easy run down to Mayreau. This was exciting since we have never been south of Canouan – which we did on a previous charter. Until you start your cruising first hand it’s hard to imagine the awesome experience of going to an island you have never been to. I have never felt anything like this on land. Maybe we have some wanderlust in us that makes us want to do this but after we spend time in an area no matter how cool it is we want to see the next one, and the next one, and the next one. Good thing the earth is big and covered by water so we won’t run out of places to go.
I have a secret
After arriving in Salt Whistle Bay which is a picture perfect half moon bay with a sand beach, palm trees and a beach bar….. We decided to walk to town for lunch and to check out the island. We asked a local and he said to follow the road to town because it’s the only one. After half a mile, we came to an area with some typical island houses and people milling about. It’s strange to see a group of people during the day with seemingly nothing to do. Not a lot of jobs here I imagine. So a guy comes out of a house with a spear gun. Loaded and strung. He wasn’t in his bathing suit. He walks up to us and my heart starts to pound. No words, just walks right for us. Now I almost panic and remember I carry bear spray…..wait it’s in the pack on my shoulders. Do I stop? Remove by pack….he’s right in front of me….no time for bear spray…….Smile, nod continue walking and we pass right by each other. Phew!! So we get to the restaurant in town. More of a gathering place with a bar. We were the only people in town. Eerie “Walking dead” like. We order from the restaurant and the food comes from next door. Great food by the way. And now the confession. I told Lennie that the island of Mayreau has only had one incident of robbery and threatening assault and it was this past April against a man and his daughter on the road from Salt Whistle Bay to town and the weapon was a SPEAR GUN. I have since promised to tell her everything I know.
Southern Style
We spent several days in the grenadines. Wow, a different vibe here altogether. These people enjoy the tourists but it doesn’t feel like a tourist destination. People seem to love their islands and don’t mind sharing. We dove and explored by dinghy and relaxed but soon it was time to contemplate getting to Grenada and going back to work.
Someday
It’s always amazing to us when we meet other cruisers and they get to stay when we have to go. Being retired is great for cruising but I don’t feel like we are missing out. We are less on a budget since we still have income. We have a balance of work and play. We cherish our times on the boat and also our hard work at home. Sometimes we have days when we are totally connected and solving problems in the real world. Sometimes it feels like we don’t get a break. Then night comes and the phones and emails stop and we sit on our back porch (cockpit) and it all becomes calm. We are here not there. Our kids are gown. College is done. They are living their own lives. I grew up reading sailing magazines like Cruising World and Sail. I dreamed of one day sailing away. Total disconnection may never happen for us so taking a week at a time is a treasure that we enjoy now while still relatively young. No more waiting. Sure we could earn more and work more but for what? We dive, we hike, we climb the mast and party like its 1999…….hold on….. Flight is boarding and 14 voicemails. Back to the office tomorrow early…problems to solve. It never ends…..Lennie when do we return?…..oh your booking it now. 3 weeks? Yeah we will survive until then.
This next video is a tour of the southern Caribbean and a Volcano near miss. Enjoy!
Tim Mailman
Randy and Lennie – awesome series of videos. Thanks for sharing your adventures, showing mistakes and doing segments on security and maintenance as well as the fun stuff. And there is obviously no shortage of fun stuff. We’re coming from Nova Scotia for the second year in a row to look at Leopards with another couple at the Miami Boat show. If you’re in town then we would love to invite you out to dinner and get a first hand perspective (if that isn’t too weird). We promise not to be too groupie-like! No worries if you’re not in the area then. Happy sailing.
Tim & Shelly
Halifax, Nova Scotia
happytogether
Hi Tim and Shelly, We for sure can meet you at the show. Email or text me when you get there as we are making plans on which day to be at the sailboat show. We love groupies! or people interested in catamarans….or both!!! Randy & Lennie
Karen Snowden
Soooo much better than anything on TV! Thanks for sharing! Love your new guard dog ; )
Smooth Sailing,
Karen
happytogether
Hi Karen, Thanks for being one of our biggest fans!
Randy
Steve L
Hey guys
Great videos! My wife and I are in the planning phase of pre-retirement-buy-a boat-travel-the-world point. We are actually thinking of buying something now and leaving it in charter for a couple of years to pay itself off and the leopard 48 is one of the boats I’m looking at with the Lagoon 450.
I like your way of work a bit, travel a bit, repeat.
Question for you though, I’m up in Canada and some of your videos say unable to show content. Do you lock it only to US ip addresses?
Keep the video’s coming, they are helping my wife.
Lennie, if you ever feel like telling the ladies out there watching what you enjoy most about the sailing life, that would be great.
happytogether
HI Steve, Thanks for watching and for your comments. We appreciate the feedback and it makes our day! I like the charter income route and there is some serious tax advantages at the same time. Could cut your cost a lot. Some of our videos include copyrighted music which gets blocked in canada and other countries. There is an easy work around. Google “how do I use a VPN to watch youtube” it will show you how to watch the videos anywhere even where blocked. We have several videos in production so lots more great stuff coming your way. Tell your wife to stay tuned! Lennie will think about that segment! Randy
Jim Tatum
Hey guys,
Love the videos. My business partner and I have purchased two Leopard 40s. We will be taking delivery in June of 2017, so watching your videos and insights on the boat is great.
We will be attending the Miami show in Feb. Would love to meet you two and get some insights on gear you could not due without. We will be at the show on the 16th and 17th. Maybe you two would have time for dinner we would love to buy it!!!
Jim
happytogether
Hi Jim, That is fantastic! We chartered a leopard 40 for my brother in BVI and the boat is great. We will be at the show. We already have dinner plans but we could meet for lunch at the Hard Rock which is right on the marina. Saturday is best for us. Or we are available anytime saturday really. Please send me an email at Randy@svhappytogether.com I will send you my options list for starters. Randy
Jim Tatum
One more question
I see you guys on the internet. How are you doing that? And what are the cost?
Jim
happytogether
HI Jim, That is done through a KVH satellite system which is expensive. Around 15K however we will discuss more in person as most places you don’t need it so for us it made sense but I need your cruising. Randy
Paul Geiser
OK, this is too long of a wait between updates, some of us have had to winterize our boats and can only watch so many reruns of Blue Bloods. Can you please send another update, I need to see some sailing and blue waters. PLEASE! Your videos and blogs are so well done. Happy Thanksgiving to both of you.
happytogether
Hi Paul, You are making us blush. Stop with blue bloods and watch reruns of Happy Together hahahahha We are launching a new video now with a new blog today. Keep watching. We appreciate the thumbs up! Happy Thanksgiving to you as well! Randy