Location: Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
Many things on this boat don’t make sense until you are here. Many only get to experience this once, but I am a permanent resident of this boat. My name is V. I have been here for many a semester, but this one has been particularly fun. Don’t get confused. I’m not an evil spirit or anything. I watch over the boat and keep her crew safe, but of course, I still have my fun.
Being a day over halfway, I have had many laughs playing some little tricks on the crew. My all-time favorite thing to do is move the helm. Just a little bit so that the crew knows I’m there with them. I also enjoy giving them a little bit of fright from time to time, especially during the late night and early morning watches. I didn’t do it last night, though. It was too rainy.
This morning was the crew’s last morning in the Pitons, and I was awake before any of the usual early risers, which was shocking. It was a leisurely start to the morning with Banana Pancakes (by Jack Johnson) playing after a gentle good morning from the skipper. I quite like that song and thought it was very fitting, considering breakfast was vegan chocolate chip banana bread. I wish I could’ve gotten a slice.
With full bellies, the crew and I said goodbye to the Pitons and motored back up to Rodney Bay, where we’ll spend the night. It was a very quiet journey, with most of the crew below deck taking some well-deserved “me time” or working hard on the charts for our passage to Dominica tomorrow. It was lovely on deck with the skipper, captain, and occasional crew member.
After dropping anchor, it was time for another delicious meal of chicken nuggets and salad. It seemed to be a fan favorite. I love to see the crew in high spirits. Their spirits rose even higher when they found out that the Manta ray they encountered earlier this week was new to the database and that they get to name it.
Side Note: See what I did there with spirits. It’s funny because I am a spirit.
I like when the crew is in class because it gives me time to roam the deck and plan out my next little prank. So while they were in oceanography with Heather, I was scheming for tonight’s anchor watch. It will be good, especially since it’s Halloween. They also had leadership with Nick, which gave me even more time to plot.
Just when the crew thought they could sit back and relax, they were hit with an impromptu fire drill. I got a good laugh from watching all of them head up on deck, and three poor crew-mates swim from the other side of the boat to get to the ladder. But they got to play with the hose, which is always fun.
I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, with it being Halloween and our little passage up to Dominica, but mostly I’m excited about more late-night anchor-watch shenanigans.
Until next time,
V
Hello family and friends and others. 🙂 Hope all is well.
Photo 1: Rare staff photo under the Pitons
Photo 2-4; Saying goodbye to our lovely Piton home
Photo 5-6: Fire drill with some gen pump fire hose action