Amanda in Paradise

Aboard S/V Roseway in STX

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Not a bad place to be broke

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You can't take a bad picture down here.

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Sunrise over the Corwith Cramer and our view of "the boardwalk."

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Santa came! And decorated.

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Christmas Eve in Paradise. I didn't imagine it would include DiBruno's, but paradise is full of surprises! Thanks, mom.

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The 30 sunrises and sunsets I’ve seen down here so far, each one more beautiful than the last, bring lots of exotic and wonderful things with them, from eagle rays and turtles surfacing at dusk, to the sweet breeze off the island in the morning from the night-blooming jasmine. This morning’s sunrise brought another rare beauty. The SSV Corwith Cramer is down for a stop in our very own Gallows Bay! Saw her on the horizon from the small boat after I drove my crewmate in for a run, sails lit up by the sun that hadn’t yet risen for us. What a beauty.

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Everywhere we go, people wanna know, who we are, so we tell them. We are Roseway. Mighty, mighty Roseway!

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A real big girl brunch!

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Buck Island National Monument

Roseway is so beloved on this island that the local snorkeling outfit will take us out for free half-day trips. Our contact told us to ring them first thing this morning to make sure some paying passengers had booked the half-day, so we could tag along. They hadn’t :-( She thought for a moment, and offered us the whole day tour for a pittance… The two other FNGs and I jumped on it :-) A sail out to the park, snorkeling at the reef, a bbq on the beach, unlimited rum punch, and a really fun crew. So glad to have these guys down here. What a beautiful day. Off to grab a spot on the lawn by the fort for the Christmas boat parade! WYWH

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Captain Michael knows how to throw a Saturday

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My view of St Croix from Gallows Bay tonight. Gave a call to the Hugo's Christmas party. Wish I could be there to buy drinks. See you all in the Summer :-)

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My little turtle friend looked a little like these guys.

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Little turtle, little turtle!

Finally made it around the Cay this morning! Lots of Sargeant Majors, Angelfish, Grunts, and BIG Parrotfish. Then a few large Eagle Rays swam by, so I stopped to watch them and spotted him... A juvenile green SEA TURTLE!! Ten feet away. He let me watch him for, like, 5 minutes while he ate and even looked up at me once! I've never seen one before in real life. Makes me miss my Roomie :-(

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Day off! (and a bonus accidental shot as I reached for my phone back)

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Handsome guy

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Cheeseburger in Paradise