Back in Action

Barbuda was about as remote as we thought it was going to be.  It was actually quite strange feeling so far away from other boats and other people, considering the past few months we have not only been in the constant company of a buddy boat but most islands here are pretty well traveled, even in low season.  Not since the Bahamas have we had an anchorage all to ourselves I don't think, and we felt as if we had made landfall on an uninhabited island (there are, in fact, about 1200 residents).  Don't get me wrong, it was lovely; we had the entire Gravenor bay all to ourselves, with no signs of life around us save the birds and the few fish that would pass under our boat in the crystal, clear water and every now and then we'd spot a local fisherman out past the breakwater.  We reveled in the solitude by taking naked showers and swimming in our birthday suits at least once a day, but for me it was almost disconcerting because it has been so long since we've felt that sort of alone-ness.  Part of it, no doubt, is the fact that I am 24 weeks pregnant with twins (always more "high risk" than a singleton pregnancy) and being so out of touch, away from services (the hospital in Barbuda has twelve beds), made me feel a tad bit uneasy which is odd because - despite being the certified "worry-wart" when it comes to all things boat - I am not this way in pregnancy and motherhood (go figure, right?).  Anyway, we had a lovely time and I'll write more about Barbuda later, but I am just checking in to let you all know we're safe and sound and have arrived in St. Barths after an uneventful (but rather uncomfortable) overnight passage.  Mental note:  giant ocean swell on the beam combined with light winds that continuously go aft does not a gentle passage make!