"I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere." Says Iris.

May 20th - OK, so this has taken me longer to start than I expected.  Hopefully I can put together some interesting things for you folks.  Our travels the 20^th (starting off from Evergreen, Colorado at Kristin’s, with new snow) were relatively painless.  Iris was an awesome airport and airplane dog, particularly as it was a first time for her. 

We arrived Cyril E. King airport on St. Thomas, meeting Greg and Carol at baggage.  Carol, Iris and I walked up the road to Emerald Beach Hotel – taxis here are not dog friendly so far, and although we met many people who loved Iris, natives are often wary of dogs.  Guys took off to the ferry.  We walked the beach and played near the water.  Iris padded in herself but only up to about 3 inches.  Taking control, Carol finally picked her up and dropped her in about two feet of water.  She promptly swam to me on shore – and wouldn’t get near Carol for the next two hours.

May 22^nd we taxied to Red Hook, Iris in her crate in the back seat.  Winding road, great taxi driver telling about sights, way too expensive due to dog….supposedly…dropped at Hook Line and Sinker to await guys coming in with the boat.  Awesome cheeseburgers and Samuel Smith Chocolate Porter.  Iris loved the chickens in the restaurant.  “No Iris, you can’t have that baby chick. Why did the chickens cross the road?  Because there was a dog in their favorite bar.” Guys joined us for round two and we bedded down at the American Marina for the night. 

While I’m sure there are some lovely spots, St. Thomas is the most commercial of the USVI and we were happy to leave it behind.  It was too rough to get to the south side of St. John, so we headed to Salmon Bay for our first overnight.  Greg excelled at catching the mooring balls along our route—with Steve’s expertise at the helm.  Watermelon Bay was next, including a hike to Annaberg Sugar Plantation ruins.   It was a hot hike and we could only imagine the heat in the buildings that the slaves endured there a century plus ago.  Who knew my Danish ancestors settled here? 

Next morning was Sopers Hole Immigration check in.   Steve did the boat, then we loaded Iris into the dinghy and went to do her appointment.   A very nice vet looked through the paperwork and OK’d her into the BVI.   All the work, effort, agonizing not to mention money paid off.  Then, another customs guy came back out and called Steve back into his office.   Apparently the $10 license needed an additional $5 declaration of the dog….

That night we settled into The Bight, where we were bitten tons by no-see-ums.  Definitely not pleasant and we hope to find better anchorages and not repeat the ordeal.  Next on to Cooper Island.  Steve and Greg got to dive on the Wreck of the Rhone.  Now Greg’s most favorite dive ever.  There are tons of youtube videos on line, here is one if interested.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pchb2wO1MSI

Saba Rock salad bar and cheeseburger—mine was carryout as this is not a dog friendly island.  Free water from tying up to the mooring ball was brackish and the dock guy was obnoxious.  Too bad as we have enjoyed being there in the past, but there are too many great alternatives to go again.

Greg, Carol and Steve have loved the snorkeling along the way, including Marina Cay.  Iris spends her time on the boat with me, watching them leave.  She is the first to see them coming back and is excited to have them back safe on the boat.  Sooner or later she will slide into the water, from the wet deck, and Steve will have to retrieve her.  Like all good parents, we will say, “Did you learn your lesson about running around?  Might take more than once.  She has been “the bomb” as I am calling her, a real trooper.  We were loading her manually into the dinghy then on one trip, she and Greg went together into the drink.  Since then, she has taken matters into her own hands, err paws, and jumps on and off herself, much more gracefully than I usually manage.  Today at Key Cay she launched herself into two feet of water and helped drag me to the beach.  The surge was pretty strong and picking us up, Steve had to come around twice since lifting Iris back in left me stranded after dropping off from clinging to the side.  As always, I have bumps and bruises all over that I have no idea exactly how I got them. 

Missing our friends who left yesterday.   They definitely helped us (read, me and Iris) transition.  It is a different feeling being here for two months, rather than our normal 10 days.  There is more rain this trip than usual and also more time to explore.  And anchor in a bay for more than one night…

Two days in the TMM marina while solar panels are being installed.  Steve has spent time decimating the mosquito colony he found in the bilge.  Upside was a visit to Sharkey’s  for a cheeseburger, wedge and mushroom truffle oil pizza – Janet was starving.  Then Crandels for Jamaican Patties and turkey Johnny cake breakfast.  Yum!

We’ve been told that many native island people don’t like dogs.  So far, we’ve found just the opposite.  The guys at TMM came by to smooze Iris on their breaks.  The only two we’ve run into were older people.  Others wanted to know what breed she was and how she was doing with the sailing.