From the Valenza Trip Journal

Day 15

Our first morning in Nevis, and we got to sleep in! (7:30 Broadreach time.) The day began with a quick jump in the water to practice rescue scenarios with Jordan and Tiffany. Afterwards, Tiffany rewarded our good work with a breakfast of fresh crepes with jam, powdered sugar, Nutella and peanut butter. By the time we were done eating, it was time for our good friend and fellow traveler, Scuba Steve the photographer, to leave. All of us felt a little sad as we watched big Joe take him away in a dinghy.

We didn't have much time to think about it, though, as it was time for our real work to begin: cleaning the boat and dinghy. Natalie, little Joe, Miriam and Ellie attacked the bottom of the dinghy with spoons to scrape the algae off, while Logan, Ben and Trevor started on the bottom of the Valenza. The task proved to be too great, as Ben eventually had to help the crew working on the dinghy and Sarah had to join them in the water. The job was not without its high points, though: in between scrubbing the bottom of the boat and the dinghy, Trevor and Sarah free dove for sand dollars on the bottom of the harbor. Even as we scrubbed, we noticed groups of squid and schools of fish swimming around and under us.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew was busy cleaning the rooms, salon and cockpit. Maggie even got on her hands and knees with a sponge and scrubbed under the floorboards (ewww). By the time we were done, the tanks were pumped for another round of rescue scenarios (we actually got to go diving this time -- ten feet max) including how to search for a missing diver and how to bring an unconscious diver to the boat. By the time we were done, we were tired, the boat was clean, the sun was high, and it was time to head into Charlestown, Nevis for what felt like our first time in town for a long time.

What a change from quiet, clean, Saba! The first thing Emma, Sarah and Maggie did was go for ice cream, while Peter, Scott, Ben, Logan and Trevor went for Chinese food. Eventually, the entire group met at the marina and decided that we liked Nevis enough to eat dinner there as well. Jordan took us back to the Chinese restaurant for a take out dinner and more air conditioning (thank goodness!) As soon as we got our food, we left for the dinghies and an exciting twilight ride back across the harbor to our waiting catamaran. We all had plans of polishing off dinner and then having another rescue lecture before turning in for the night; especially Miriam and Natalie, who ordered six spring rolls apiece. Unfortunately, after our late lunch, dinner was a little difficult to handle, and we wound up talking around our Chinese food for a long time before finally getting to Tiffany's short but important lecture.

After a long and exciting day, we are glad for the night's rest, but a little upset at the rain that is currently falling on the writer's head. No matter, rain here in the Caribbean seldom lasts long, and tomorrow promises to be another exciting day.

Miriam