PUTTING OUT MORE CHAIN ..........................

When the wind picked up even more we sought shelter in Simpson Lagoon, by entering on the French side through a draw-bridge .................. The silty bottom is poor holding at best, and lots of anchor chain is out .............. Now all we have to do is keep our ample swing room by ensuring that no other yacht anchors close by .............. Lots of yachts are entering the lagoon but no-one is leaving ............ The beautiful sunset is the herald of more bad weather to come ...................... Winds keep pumping at 25-30 knots in strong gusts that jerk us around in all directions ................ It still beats being outside in Marigot bay where the swell is now rolling in ................. Going ashore however, brings its own pleasures, despite the strong winds ..............



Looking up at FORT LOUIS in Margot Bay and when we walked through town we saw another first for us ................ A mobile service station .......... The truck drops the tank full of gasoline off somewhere and somebody then connects the big hose to a standard bowser pump ............Then you just drive up and fill your car, boat or toy. These tanks are then changed out when they are empty just like your gas bottle .............



The French West Indies are certainly different ................. Ask for a 'Smoothy' and they fill it till it runs over the top, ask for a beer and it will cost less than a bottle of water ................ Check out the signboard .......... And as for lobster,......... Well, how many would you like ....... The price is the same at $US 20.00 per kilo (That's $10.00/lb) ................



Our friend Arnd from the yacht "ZANSHIN" had rented a car and invited us to tour the island with him to see the spectacular views on the French side overlooking stormy bays and sheltered lagoons ..........



Now at some time during a hurricane, this yacht was swept over the reef and driven up into the hillside ............ This is where is still sits ............ But not abandoned by any means ........... The owner has simply readjusted his lifestyle ............There is now a driveway alongside the yacht where he parks his car, stairs to get up to the cockpit and the dog guards the territory from the foredeck ............... Sailor turned landlubber .............





Watching planes come in and take off from St. Maarten has its own pleasures .................For a Boeing 747 taking off you can see real beach erosion ................. So when you see this sign, it is not meant to imply that they throw passengers off the flight ....................... Then again if the plane doesn't quite make it .... Well, you can always start another restaurant ................... Let's hope they serve more than just peanuts ...............



Nothing is as cute as seeing some juvenile waif walking down the street with a delicious French baguette almost as large as she is and when it comes to accommodation ................Well, if all else fails you can simply string your hammock on a street corner and make the most of it ............... After all this is the FRENCH WEST INDIES ............... and as they say "C'EST LA VIE "