Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
we were happy with life. When one of us played the fool, the other one's role was to play
the adult. I do not know why this was, but psychologically it happened without exception.
We had also evolved a saying which my father first started using in the natural sense. It was
a Zulu saying, “Hamba gahle.” Pronounced “Gaashly,” in English it means, “Go in peace”
or “Go carefully.” Gavin and I soon cottoned on to this and would mimic my father, bless
his heart, saying in his old-fashioned sensible way of talking, “Gahle!” “Carefully!” we
would say, almost as a warning. Then it evolved into “gaatst!” and other such variations,
“Gaapels,” or “Gaandaleges,” or even “Gwindelmeyers.” Finally, it became “Gaanders”
and is still used by us today to mean “Careful now!” If I were to take more than my fair
share of wine from our store, Gavin would say, “Gaanders!” Who would know what on
earth we were saying?
Navigation that first day out was pointless as St. Barts was barely twenty miles away and
very visible. Out of habit though, I had spread out the chart of the area and familiarized
myself with the little harbor entrance, assuring myself of any dangers from reefs or rocks
at the entrance. It is never a good idea to tempt Murphy's Law, but that day it really was all
plain sailing!
By midday we were motoring into the narrow, flowery entrance of this pretty, little harbor.
Sails were doused and lashed down, and soon we were tied up at the only vacant visitors
dock. A fat, grey tabby cat sat washing herself in the sun, seemingly oblivious of our ar-
rival.
Looking about for any familiar faces, we spotted a few charter boats lying to their desig-
nated moorings and noticed a friend's boat with no one aboard. We would visit with them
later in the afternoon, but for now we would explore the island and walk about the little
town.
It was a very colorful island with flowers everywhere. Bougainvillea in all its glorious
shades of red adorned the steep streets and sides of the pretty, white houses. This was quite
a ritzy destination, and the wealth was everywhere in classy evidence. Fashionable people
roamed about with their vogue, little dogs, speaking French, English, and Dutch. The stores
were fun, interesting, and very costly, and we were glad of our decision to provision at St.
Maarten.
Later in the afternoon we went across to our friends, Piet and Rita, on their lovely forty-
foot boat and enjoyed sun downers with them. They were from South Africa as well, and
Piet had been part of our carpentry crew that converted the large wooden minesweeper in-
to a floating restaurant in Sampson's lagoon. He had been an excellent worker and was
renowned for his quality workmanship. He was Dutch and had a very thick accent because
of which had been born the saying that Gavin and I were to use incessantly. He had de-
