Merry Christmas from The Islands Mon!

Storyville at the end of the rainbow!

We will celebrate Christmas this year in St. Thomas.  We sailed over from Puerto Rico on an overnight crossing without any problems.  It was Luna’s first sail and she is a great sailor, if we could just get her to stand her watch instead of sleeping all night!

We are currently in Charlotte Amalie which is a very busy harbor.  I counted 6 cruise ships here yesterday!  We spent the last several days anchored in Brewers Bay which is a beautiful bay near the airport. We shared it with just a few other boats, the beach is beautiful, the water is clear and fish are jumping everywhere.  We decided yesterday after sailing into Charlotte Amalie that we would much rather spend Christmas in Brewers Bay so we will head back there tomorrow morning.  We just wanted to get a little Internet and some laundry and shopping done before hightailing it out of this busy harbor. 

I’m looking forward to my first beach Christmas.  I will definitely miss my family, but at least I got a get in a recent visit and got to celebrate Sismas with my girls.

 We are also happy that we finally met up with Steve on Alternate Latitude.  I’m not sure that we will be with them for Christmas but we have plans to meet up with them in the British Virgin Islands for a full moon party and to ring in the New Year.  We are really looking forward to spending some time with Steve and Deb and exploring some of the BVIs.

Life is good on Storyville, it will be a simple Christmas this year but one that I hope will remind us both of the real reason for the season!

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14

Luna won't wake up to take her watch

Troy Was Busy

While I was back in Texas visiting family and friends Troy stayed in Puerto Rico on Storyville.  He kept busy with several boat projects.  Boat projects tend to make a mess of the boat and it's just as well that I was gone for most of these.  Troy did such a great job and he had Storyville nice and neat when Luna and I got home.

Not only did he complete these projects, he also did the routine maintenance, cleaned and painted several lockers and storage areas and fiber glassed some compartments into the space beneath the aft berth.  What a guy!

Compressor for the new Engel refrigeration

New cold plate - Yay, refrigeration that only draws 2.5 amps!

Luna helped with the Engel installation

New spot for Luna under the settee

I think she likes it!

New faucet in the galley

New faucets in both heads!

We also bought a new solar panel that we will install sometime in the next few weeks and we are getting another natures head composting toilet for our forward head that will need to be installed.  The work is never done.... just ask Troy!