My Last Few Days

Wow! It’s been a busy and eventful two weeks. My hosts returned to the island with many wonderful stories and adventures to share. I let them get settled back in as I wrapped the magazine, got it off to print (finally!) and made the necessary updates to the website. That evening, I walked upstairs and was presented with a very special surprise; an Inukshuk. Joy explained to me that the Inuit create these structures as a means of communication and that she felt I needed one to remind me that I am on the right path. She and Hans know how important this trip is for me and I honestly couldn’t have thought of a better, more thoughtful gift.

We worked throughout the week getting the resort in order for the upcoming season and I set about gathering my things and trying to fit everything back into its original suitcase. It took several days actually as I only had the patience for it for short intervals and the heat had me ready to do nothing but sit and try not to move…but I got it done. I also managed to get a small bag packed for my upcoming Sailing Trip aboard the S.V. Mandalay with Sail Windjammer. If you’ve been following along since the beginning, you know that it was the Windjammer family that first introduced me to the Grenadines so it seemed an appropriate way to close this chapter.

On Sunday, I arrived at St. George’s Harbor to return my rental car and embark on the six-day sailing adventure. I was supposed to hop on the Ship’s tender at 5 o’clock, meaning that I had to get the keys back to the rental car’s owner before that so I scheduled it so that the car could be picked up at port and I could jump right on the ship from there. Of course, it IS an island so in appropriate island fashion…at least one person was late. My tender was on the verge of leaving me; the rest of the passengers already loaded on with their luggage, patiently waiting in sweltering heat for me to hand off a small set of keys. After a while, I ended up leaving the keys with Mandoo, an islander and taxi driver I’ve known for many years. He was able to get the keys to the rental rep when he arrived just mintues after I left the dock…at least I assume he did….just kidding, I know he did!

I met the other 7 passengers…yes, just seven, it was like we Chartered the beautiful 236-foot vessel for our own private vacation…while waiting for my mom’s flight from Miami to arrive. Of course, it’s been three months since I’ve seen her so I was excited to meet her on the deck for a big hug! That night, we set sail to visit the usual Islands; Canouan, Bequia, the Tobago Cays, Mayreau, Union Island, Carriacou and Sandy Island. Canouan, the first port of call, had a beautiful little beach which we had all to ourselves to sun and swim…it was a perfect, relaxing day. We sailed again over night and awoke in Bequia, one of my very favorite Islands. I checked on The Plantation, an abandoned resort, and was happy to see people buzzing about fixing things. I hope that this means that the next time I am here, I will finally have a chance to see it restored! My mom and I commissioned a taxi to take up to moonhole, a truly incredible set of houses carved into the cliffs. We were not allowed to enter the residence however we were allowed on the property and were both in awe at how beautiful the grounds were. The Tobago Cays meant swimming with the Sea Turtles, but sadly, there were very few and Mayraeu offers the ‘Culture Walk’ which is little more than an island-style pub crawl up a VERY steep hill. I passed on the excursion and went to be early instead. Ha! We spent another day on the sand before heading to Union Island and Carriacou for a bit of in-town sight seeing. The last afternoon was spent in the water on one of the best reefs in the area at Sandy Island.
All-in-all, it was another wonderful week aboard the Mandalay and I hope to sail with her again as soon as possible. Yesterday, we said our goodbyes to the Captain, Crew and fellow Jammers, got off the ship, hopped in the rental car and made our way back to Almost Paradise where Joy and Hans were waiting to welcome us back. Today we headed to Bathway Beach to hang out with Aggie and enjoy one last serving of breadfruit balls…I will definitely miss those but will not miss the few extra pounds they put on my frame! I must say goodbye to Joy and Hans tomorrow as my mom and I make our way south to stay near Mourne Rouge Beach and catch an early morning flight back to Miami on Tuesday.

With the days winding down, I have spent a great deal of time soaking up all I could. I tried to be thankful for every breath of fresh sea air, every fleeting kiss from the breeze on my skin, the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing onto the shore, and each and every second of time I have left here. It’s a bitter sweet feeling; the readiness to return home and start a new life combined with the sadness of leaving a place that now not only means something to me in an adventurous sense but also means so much more than I could ever put into words on a spiritual and emotional level. This island will forever be the place where I found my true, authentic self; the place where I finally faced the fears and challenges that have avoided for too long and found my footing and inner peace. As I laid on the sand today, I noticed that for the first time in as long as I could remember, my mind was silent. There was no inner chatter about things passed or worries about the future, there was no heartache or mourning of loves lost, or fear of letting my thoughts wonder, there were no bad memories forcibly presenting themselves into my conscious thoughts to cruelly harass me. There was only the awareness of my surroundings, an appreciation for the beauty of all that surrounds me and a calm inner silence that enabled me to RELAX.
The Wanderer has wandered in a new and wonderful direction.