Visit with Hayes and Randy… Spanish Virgin Islands…. Culebra..

We had a wonderful visit with my nephew Hayes and my brother-in-law Randy. I was proud of both of them but I will brag a little now about Hayes (11years old). They had a rough start with delayed airlines and missed ferries, but they took it in stride. I gave Hayes a quick lesson in dinghy driving. He picked it up like a pro from pulling the starter cord to steering and maneuvering it.

We started the exploring out by going to Flamingo beach on the north side of Culebra. Hayes ordered a banana smoothie where he got his first Spanish lesson for the trip. The lady making the drink said agua o leche (water or milk) Hayes looked up with this clueless expression. Then we ordered a pollo (chicken on a stick). I think this was Hayes favorite meal of the trip.

Hayes was interested in our navigation equipment perhaps because it looks like a big computer game. Glenn gave him a quick lesson in buoy’s and aides to navigation, which he absorbed faster than I did. He was amazing at remembering nautical terms. He was eager to stand behind the wheel and actually sail Crossroads. Once again, with a quick lesson he was making 6 knots with the sail tell-tails flying perfectly. We sailed from Culebra to Culebrita on a beam reach with 15 knots of wind. Once in Culebrita we gave Hayes his first lesson in snorkeling. While the reefs were not the best we had seen he did get to see some pretty fish.

Conch lesson 101- Hayes was very interested in learning how to clean conch. Glenn took him to what we renamed as Conch Island with tools in hand to remove, trim, skin, and beat. Hayes helped by using a hammer and chisel to knock a slit in the shell to get the critter out and with beating the conch meat to tenderize it. Then aboard Crossroads we finished the process by boiling, dicing, mixing with batter and frying into yummy conch fritters.

Thanks to Karen (my sister) to loaning us her husband and son for a wonderful week in the Spanish Virgin Islands.

Michele