Sorry we haven't been writing for a while, we headed across to barbuda and have been happily in the middle of no where, nearest neighbours have been goats (in antigua) and donkeys (in barbuda).  We have been loving Antigua and Barbuda, lovely scenery, beautiful ocean, nice people, safe anchorages.  It has been a lovely visit!  Went for our first grocery shop in a week and a half, amazing considering our fridge is the size of a shoe box.  UHT milk has helped, and the boxed juices.  I still have possibly the best orange in the world to eat and Phil has discovered that in a pinch ryveta or a tortilla will substitute for bread!  
So... Antigua, Indian creek, buggy, beautiful, empty... just goats and mosquitos. Heaven
Deep bay - beautiful, calm, our first walk on a beach together, funny that!  
Barbuda - beyond amazing, reefs were mostly dead but LOTS of fish including eagle rays, sting rays and baracuda!  The most exciting, the dophin that came to play in our bow wave!  Tied for first with the family of wild donkeys we walked past!!!!  We lauchned the beagle (our sea eagle kayak). It did great, except for in a cross wind, I also invented a new past time  - being kayaked over reefs with my mask on and face in the water, very fun!  
So here we are again in antigua, going to buy some bits and pieces, saw an AMAZING christmas concert by some young kids that were loving singing an dancing.  Hopefully checking out in the next day or two and then on to Dominica, where we will probably be spending christmas! Well, missed filling you guys in and will try to write a bit more coherently soon.

This is our 6th day in Antigua and our first time finding internet. It has been FABULOUS!  Amazing scenery, lovely water, nice safe harbours and beaches. We were hoping to head out to Barbuda today but there is NO wind which makes for lousy sailing, so here we are checking out a town, being overwhelmed by the masses of people and things and noise and finally found a lovely cool spot to stop and get internet, Hooray!  We (Phil) has managed to get the extra cockpit sunshades up which is heaven after nearly sweating to death yesterday, I have successfully parked the boat and have driven lots.  Lovely animals here and goats everywhere!  We've managed to do some small hikes and snorkels and it has been great.  Expecting Barbuda to be quiet and beautiful, apparently wild donkeys adn goats and horses, can't wait!  Hopefully will internet from there again

What to say about it... Things I like: french cheese, tiny vans that you pretend are buses to get around, cheap wine, calm nights, birds and fish everywhere, Things I don't like: rubble pits that I fall in, swell, not wanting to swim in the water.  It has been a really good week here, lots of resting, a few good finds (hooray Geminga internet once we got you working!). I've been surprised that the prices of things are really similar to Bermuda, makes me glad for all of the provisioning I did while I was there. I've had a chance to catch up with a few of you (and hugs to those I haven't) and we've both had a chance to rest and relax a bit.  Today's adventure, a load of laundry (or two) which are now strung from end to end in the boat because I couldn't manage to get a token for the drier!  Okay, off of the internet soon, going to try to get some more pictures up and HUGS to you all!!!!
Jen

Sitting in a cafe in the shade with mist coming from the roof to cool us down (although not sure how good it is for the computer!).  Most decadent internet we've had yet!  The weather is gorgeous, we have finally dealt with the trauma of the leaking bedroom (oh I didn't tell you, on passage it seems a fair amount of sea water found its way to my side of the bed, lots of wet clothes, thank heavens I was the ziplock queen!), handwashed cushions and finally made a bed and slept all night, what a great thing that is!  Have to send some thank-you's especially to Marianne whose care package saw us through many long nights and hot chocolate welcomed us to St. Martin, Aunt Louise's supplies and so many other treats!  Other big news, our resident seamonster (very large baracuda) was back last night so between him and the naked french canadian on the boat beside us I've decided not to swim at the anchorage!  Well, bill has come, we're off to get veg adn fruits and to a french bakery, can't wait!  Still trying to get onto the pphoto plan... 

we made it!  A tiring adventure but so good to be here, 2.5 days of rain and we are finally starting to dry things out. The mountains are beautiful, there was a seamonster under the boat today (okay maybe just the biggest baracuda I've ever seen) and life is pretty good.  Don't have much time on the internet now but hopefully will be organiz

well we are almost on the road so to speak. I have to put the last things away and put the kettle on, Phil has gone to get the last thing that we forgot from 981 then we are motoring to St. George's to check out of customs, hopefully see some dear friends and then onwards!  Thank-you everyone and look forward to telling you about a fabulous passage when we get there (don't expect much for the next 7-14 days!)
Jen and Phil

Hi everyone! It looks like we are heading out tomorrow, down to St. George's and then onto the Atlantic by Sunday morning, St. Martin here we come!!!  We won't be in touch quite as often and pictures are slow to be posted, but looks like the adventure is truly about to begin!  Thank-you everyone for the tasty treats (Marianne), the fun drinks (dockies crew), and all of the love, this wouldn't be possible without you guys!

Was frightful.... but now is beautiful.  We missed a weather window to sail south so now still working away trying to finish the last minute things and be ready and waiting for the next one.  Apparently we have enough food for a nuclear fallout and enough toilet paper too! still finding corners on the boat to hide things away.  It has been 10 days of windy stormy weather, it is so nice to be on the water with the sun shining and no wind.  what a break!  Unfortunately as it is coming out of the south we will be watching for our window which looks like it might be this coming saturday. Will try to let you all know!

First time writing on this from the "communication station" with internet on the boat! Very exciting except every time we swing away from the wireless signal we lose connection, working on that. It has been a week of windy wet weather, not ideal but we are making it through.  The goal of today is to have the boat "ship shape" we'll see if I can actually manage putting everything in its place for once in my life!  Tropical depression Sean is swirling around in the waters near bermuda so not heading anywhere yet, but departure day grows ever nearer, possibly as early as this coming Sunday!  Hugs to everyone reading and let me know if you want any more info. I promise to try very hard to get our "getting ready" pictures up soon.  But right now the scramble to move everything off the boat and onto 981 wins out!

Thats right folks we are on the boat!!! no more apartment!  Hopefully will have the internet up and running soon and then the "getting ready" pictures will be posted! its all happening!  Departure day is approaching. stay tuned!