At this point in our adventure we have arrived in the US and British Virgin Islands but still do not have a propeller on the boat to help us maneuver….
12-11-85
Over the last few days we have been here at the marina and gone into Charlotte Amalie to shop for Christmas presents. 
Boy what a zoo! It looks like all of Miami got off the cruise ship to shop. We found presents for most of the family on the list and drew out another $1000 from the bank. Eating through the adventure fund faster than we thought. We found some big grocery stores near the marina. It is so nice to find the products I am comfortable with. Ann came by while David was at his conference and watched Steve at Frenchman’s Reef hotel. Nice place. She said they did another scuba dive trip and it went well so her confidence is back after floundering the Rhone. They leave this Sunday for home. Called Mom, she says all is well back home. Pattie is watching our house and cat and things are fine and Vernon’s dad has a full time care giver and is doing better. She said that Katy is pregnant (due August) So Steve will have a cousin! And, thank goodness, I started my period! Now, if we only had the prop!! Mom said that Carl is sending a Gori Prop – The company replaced it free after Carl (Vernon’s boat friend) talked with them. But it isn’t being sent till next week. We are going to leave the marina in the next few days and go out sailing for a while. Hopefully we will be able to sail the boat out of the slip and to sea with just the two of us- will wait for Steve to take a nap…
12-13-85
We had dinner last night at the Chart house with Ann and David. They are getting on their plane home today. We, on the other hand, sailed from the marina (very efficiently) to Saba Rock. One other boat was there for a few hours and then we had the place to ourselves. Snorkeled with Steve in his floaties and life ring. Vernon ran his compressor to fill the dive tanks.
12-17-85
We rocked and rolled at Saba Rock anchorage the other night. The wind continued strong the next morning so we waited till noon when Steve was down for a nap and headed up to St. John. Close hauled all the way. I got nauseated of course- what a lousy stomach I have. We anchored at Dittlif Bay. 
Very pretty. We put out a stern anchor so as not to swing into shallows and stayed two days there. Snorkeled and saw leopard and brown rays. Turtles too! Yesterday we left the anchorage after getting off both anchors! We are becoming very adept at maneuvering this boat without the motor/prop! We sailed to Francis Bay. What a nice sail with smooth sea and a 15 knot wind. And I took Dramamine so did not get sick at all. What a difference when I feel good. I know, why do I do this if I get seasick so easily. Because when I don’t, I love it!
Around our boat are some large Remora fish. They look like upside down shark with ugly suckers on their heads. I did not go in swimming. We did take a taxi to Cruz Bay Mongoose Junction and had lunch today. I found a set of swings at the park and Steve had a blast! 
I have not seen play equipment since we left home. Things are going better but I long for a day alone— I find Vernon and Steve are easily getting on my nerves.
12-21-85
The last few days have been hectic. On the 18th we sailed from Frances Bay to St. Thomas. We weren’t able to get a slip. We attempted to sail into a slip on C dock but couldn’t maneuver it. Almost smashed into another boat. So we anchored out in bay off Charlotte Amalie. Went into town on the 19th to pick up Christmas photos and finish up shopping. Still couldn’t get into slip so we are down to spare jug water. Called Mom- no prop. Carl is still awaiting it to arrive from Switzerland. Then she will sent to us. How long will this drag on? We did get a Christmas package from family. Steve got 6 presents and Vernon and I got one. Guess who is loved and missed? Yesterday we were going to mail our cards and package home but some officials showed up at the boat at 8:30am to tell us we were anchored to far out and needed to move inside the bay or leave by 10am… Quick dinghy trip for ice and off we sailed to St. John –Hawksnest Bay. It is really pretty with blue water and white sand beach. We went to town and mailed everything. Santa was visiting the kids in the park, so we took Steve to see him. I wish I had my camera. He was a big black Santa and Steve went into shock saying “oh, oh, oh”. The Santa thought he was saying “Ho, Ho, Ho” and got even closer and said it back to Steve. Finally Steve gained enough composure to cry! After a while he just stared amazed at Santa and all the kids around him. They gave the kids stockings of candy with little toys. Steve spent the next 30 minutes playing with the other kids. It was nice to see him interact.
Today (which is the first day of winter) has been stormy then sunny and very long! We had quite the sail to Roadtown. We left Hawksnest under zero wind to hit the Sound with 20-25 knots. Much ado as we put a reef in during a squall. Then made good time up the Sound to Roadtown, Tortola (British Virgin Islands-BVI). Got the end slip at the dock in Village Cay- Nice Marina. Plenty of room, clean showers and a laundry. I had the nicest hot shower I have had in weeks! And we meet an English couple with a little 17 month old girl on their boat Elena. Her name is Amy and she just might be Steve’s match.
Sailing Encore 
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