Dueling Ukes (7.23.12)

Harrison and Ari provided us with mood music for breakfast.

http://youtu.be/u4I5L26MVyM

Coolest Place You've Ever Been (7.23.12)

The next morning, with a perfect rainbow overhead, my brother Andy asked 11 year old Matt Michael if this was the coolest place he had ever been.  Matt thought for a moment and replied, ''Yeah, maybe this...or Nepal.''  Tough crowd.  

Flotilla (7.22.12)

There was still no sight of our lost friends, but, fortunately Christie and I had established a contingency plan.  If all else failed, and we were separated, we were to meet at Peter Island.  That was, until, we discovered that all of the mooring balls at Peter Island were taken.  Disheartened and discouraged, we turned south for The Bight as darkness rapidly approached.  When rounding the mouth of Great Harbor, we were thrilled to avoid a near collision as our wayward friends barreled northward looking for us as well!  We shouted a reunion and convinced them to follow us to safe harbor at Norman Island.  This would be our first exercise on this trip of picking up a mooring ball in inky blackness, but not our last as we would soon discover.  Once settled, GB gathered everyone aboard the Halcyon III for yet another demonstration of his incredible design talent.  In addition, Andy and Mandy shared some very special news with the kids...  our flotilla included 16 (and one on the way).  

Smelling Salt (7.22.12)

After leaving the Rhone, we set out in search of our missing guests. We were very close to Cooper Island, and we carefully checked every boat in the harbor for them to no avail.  We then headed south, but thought the kids could benefit from a short history lesson.  Salt Island, now abandoned, was once a major source of you guessed it.... salt to the British empire.  You know what happens when you leave your flowers in the vase too long and the water turns that slimy brown?  You know that puff of rotten air when you pour the water the sink that makes you wrinkle your face and turn in disgust?  Thrown in a container load of mosquitos, a treacherous anchorage, and a group of wild goats tending to homicidal hermit crabs and voila!   You've just toured Salt Island.

Separation Anxiety (7.22.12)

The Michaels were chartering out of Sunsail, and were provided a captain for the week.  Mervin was a truly delightful, nattily dressed sort of chap who's former career was piloting Navy F14 Tomcats.  We decided immediately he was perfect for the job.  Our expectations of military precision, however, proved somewhat short of reality when Mervin and the Michael family failed to appear at the pre-arranaged location and time for our first outing together.  We ended up at the Rhone with no sign of the second boat.   Might as well dive while we were waiting.

The Gang's All Here (7.22.12)

There was a moment of time when both the Sandersons AND our new guests from week 2 were present at The Moorings together.  It didn't last long enough, though, as the other moms (plus Mandy...who is mom to be) and I had to quickly leave to go to the local grocery to provision for our second week.  Without maternal influence, the dads left the kids partially unattended at the pool.  What else could they do but order fruity drinks for everyone?

Old Friends Depart, New Pals Arrive (7.22.12)

The Sanderson's frowns were clearly opposite to the smiles seen on the faces of The Campbell, Willhite, and Michael families when they arrived at the Moorings Sunday morning.  Saying goodbye is never easy.  Even Vincent came to tell Leigh Anne goodbye before they left. Can't we all just stay down here forever?