The island of St Martin is half French and half Dutch. There is no border crossing or customs check- in so going to and from each side is as simple as crossing state lines in the U.S. The customs check in was very simple on the French side and less money so we entered there. Our anchorage was in front of the largest French town on the island. There were many places that offered easy access from our dinghy into town. Many restaurants and even a laundry service had their own dock for dinghies. This made good sense as there were well over 500 boats anchored around the island. We had a great time exploring the city and the island. There are many active people in St Martin and each morning that we ventured into the city to run or workout we were joined by many locals. And there were many places one could exercise throughout the island. There are jogging trails, exercise stations, great sidewalks, tennis courts, playing fields and countless other sources of active entertainment. Perfect for the Samadhi crew! We took advantage of it all, and after a satisfying morning workout, just around about every corner on the French side was a French bakery! That’s right, just like your senses are imagining right now. Fresh, and I mean FRESH, croissants, pastries, fruits, tarts, juices, smoothies and coffees. All of it amazing, and all if it very reasonably priced.  St Martin also has any and everything one would need for repairing and servicing a boat. We did take advantage of the availability of some hard to find parts from the chandleries.

We had the chance to meet up with some old friends. We went on some hikes together, we trained together, and we participated in morning yoga together. We also were able to make some new friends. We arranged a sports afternoon with the cruisers. We had 13 kids show up for various field games. We played soccer, tennis, touch football, a little dodgeball and ran some races on the track. It was a great afternoon and we met some new families that we had not yet encountered. One of the families that we met was a French/Australian family that we also went on a long hike across the island. When we asked the cruising community who wanted to climb the highest peak and then go over the other side only to walk around half the island to get back home for a total of about 10 miles, we knew there was not going to be lots of enthusiasm for our plan.  And sure enough when we sent out the invite to the large group of cruising families we were met with the sounds of crickets. Until one family replied. Charlie is 9 and Amelia is 6 (I think maybe 7) and these kids can hike! Our hike started right up the side of the mountain and then got steeper. Then the trail nearly vanished in the tangled branches and loose rocks. Then what trail there was to follow was covered in sticker bushes. To top it all off as we finally entered an area where the trail came out into a neighborhood we got stung my wasps! Charlie and Amelia were chatting and laughing and having a blast the ENTIRE TIME! There was absolutely zero sign that this hike was not going as planned on the faces, in their voices or the attitudes. Their mother Sophie was just as wonderful and positive. She pointed out the native fruit and nut trees as we hiked. In all of our travels we have only, one other time met a family that can so easily hang with us and tough out the unforeseen difficulties of a challenging hike. However, Sophie, Charlie and Amelia would be right there with us and team H.

We also go to know another amazing family! They are a Dutch family who have many years of cruising experience. We met Fleur at a liferaft demonstration seminar. Her age is similar to Victoria and Alexander and the three of them hit it off immediately. We had many beach days after everyone finished school. Fleur participated in the sports day. She ran with us one morning. There was a crazy sleep over where Fleur held court and told first crazy stories and then scary stories. There was lots of minecraft. Fleur is an amazing girl! She is equally comfortable chatty up adults as well as letting loose and being a kid. Unfortunately, Fleur’s family are on their way back to Europe so we had to say goodbye. However, Victoria and Alexander now have great motivation to sail to Europe so that we can visit Fleur and her family again.