BVIS Once again

January 29...Checked in at Sopers Hole and then of course went to Pussers for two Painkillers and one Rum Twizzle as well as some calamari and conch friters. Departed for Cane Garden for the big party tonight with Bob Bitchin.

Spent a wonderful day on the beach at Caine Garden. Did some paddle boarding. 

Big party turned out to be a bit of a bust. No one really knew what was going on. Peter quite disappointed. Basically, a dinner with Bob being there and talking to various people. We all had a good time at dinner though. 

Sailed over to Norman, the Bight, cocktails at the nice bar/restaurant. Spent the night.

This morning, February 1, motor sailed to Cooper, then on to Spanishtown, Virgin Gorda. Tomorrow, The Baths. 

A lovely day at The Baths and at Devils Bay watching all the cruise ship people. Lots of charter boats but the bay is lovely. Late afternoon a motor to Leverick, one of my fav spots. We took a cab up to Hog Heaven for ribs, plantain and salad. Again a most beautiful view overlooking Mosquito, Necker, Prickly Pear, Eustacia, now owned by Larry Page, Saba Rock, Bitter End and Biras Creek, which is now closed and 80 employees have been laid off. A photo of a bicylclist who apparently bikes past Hog Heaven every week. If you could see the hills.....amazing to do it. Apparently he is in training...what else would possess him!

Sitting on the beach presently and will be off to anchor at Prickly Pear tonight. Visited Saba Rock. A new patio overlooking the water facing southeast was absolutely gorgeous. I felt as if I was in Polynesia. Nice and relaxing with wicker comfy chairs. Then down to the beach for a lay down on hammocks.

Away we sailed this morning with the intention of going to White Bay on Guana but ended up at Marina Cay. Took the ferry across to Trellis and also visited the very modern airport. The next morning sailed to White Bay on Guana, a lunch stop, walked the beach and headed over to Foxys Taboo for a visit to the Bubbly Pool. The surf was great. 

Overnighted, then tried to pick up a mooring at White Bay on Jost Van Dyke, unsuccessful, and lost our boat hook but Peter managed to dinghy after it. Swells were pretty great and we managed to anchor. Emily and I went to the beach and visited The Soggy Dollar for a couple of painkillers. Just before happy hour went back to Great Harbour to check out, visit Foxys and then back to the boat for diner. The bartender wanted Emily to come back at night so he could dance with her. He also gave her an extra drink while she was laying in the hammock. Oh, to be young! The worst sleeping night that we have had so far...really rocky and rolly and the dinghy kept hitting the side of the boat and it sounded like an explosion each time it did.

Left early to check in to Cruz Bay, USVI and encountered a very difficult customs officer. We always thought we had to be together for checking in but she took Peter alone and asked him questions that had to be on the form but there was no mention of them. Emily and I went to a separate officer and no questions asked except the one about food and garbage. Peter ended up paying $6 for parking the dinghy at the customs dock.  In 30 years of going to Cruz he had never heard of that one. Lunch at our fav, The Beach Bar, although Peter was sitting at another bar having a drink. I kept wondering what was keeping him and found him at the wrong bar. So much for remembering our fav bar! Returned to our mooring at Caneel, a quick dip and off to Charlotte Amalie.

view from Hog Heaven

USVIs

January 17...We arrived in Francis Bay on St. John and here we sit. We ran in to Second hand Rose on checking in to the US and had a mooring in Francis next to them. They left today and we plan on leaving for Charlotte Amalie  tomorrow to replenish. The wind generator is working top notch. Last night we listened to The Coulson Brothers and realized the outside speakers were not working. One was fixed today, the other is shot. Oh well, better things to spend money on! Basically, routine has been the same, coffee, do odd jobs, lunch, then to the beach. Nice isn't it?
Last night was so quiet. There was no air or water movement. Quiet as a mill pond. Felt as if I was sleeping on land!
Moving on today to Charlotte Amalie to replenish and perhaps see the last tourist stop.....Hassel Island. Our plans are also to go back to the BVIs next week.
Motored to Christmas Cove and we were able to pick up a free mooring. yes! Then dinghied over to Benner Bay.  It was calm. We wanted to see if we could find someone for the Honda. Closed today as it is Martin Luther King day. Will try again tomorrow. Gorgeous sunset tonight.
January 19...Dinghied to Benner Bay with the Honda this time and found Bruce who will hopefully  fix the pull cord. Stopped by my fav grocery store, Food Center, to buy a few items seeing as we may stay here a bit longer  to wait for the Honda repair. An unusually comfortable dinghy ride there and back.  Another nice sunset, too bad boats were in the way!
Lots of activity, water skiing and a man and his dog on a paddle board. Interesting picture with the sun shining on the trees and rocks.....almost looks like fall.

January 25...Well here we are back at Greenhouse in Charlotte Amalie. Have completed a few shopping stops at Ace Hardware and now having happy hour with a Landshark Island Lager.

We spent lots of time at Christmas Cove, almost our alloted ten days. Lots of action there. We determined that is where all the charter Cats hang out waiting for their next $12,000 to $32,000 seven day trip for two, maybe six people depending on the size of boat. Of course, this includes three meals a day, probably cocktails as well.

Yesterday we motored over to Cinnamon Bay to join L,L and Bug and Maggie and spent a lovely day and evening there. This morning woke up to the north swells and couldn't hardly find the beach. Too bad as I was going for a leisurely swim this morning. My last swim was at Christmas Cove where I did a swan dive into the water to save one of our fav cushions and ended up swimming practically into the channel!. But I did manage to save it!

Going back to C.A. this morning. the water crashing over the reef was really something.

January 27...Yesterday was an exciting time in the harbour. One boat dragged and picked up another vessel's anchor chain causing them both to drag. Sea-tow was hailed on VHS. They replied right away but did not show up until 45 minutes later by which time the vessels had sorted out their problem. The entire episode took about three hours. I can imagine how stressed the vessels' occupants were.....I certainly was! Wondered what I would do in that situation. There were dinghies all over the place and the boats kept getting closer to shore.

Oh yes, if you are wondering about the key picture.  Someone had this around their wrist and had the keys to the companion way hanging precariously over the water doing whatever, e.g. starting and tying up the dinghy. Another good laugh about that one and lucky we didn't have to use bolt cutters again which of course are in the boat. We also ended up going to Home Depot and Cost U Less. I had Peter taking the Safari up and then walking uphill to the named stores. Took cab back with all our purchases. A short stop to Pueblo as well to refresh the wine supply!

Today was laundry day and a few more purchases at Pueblo and a clean up.

Tomorrow Emily arrives and hopefully the winds die a bit....although it does not look too promising. Oh well, can't change the forecast.

A gorgeous catamaran near the cruise ship dock, called Silvercloud. Check it out on the Net. Also an amazing two masted cat called Heron anchored beside us.

Off to Crown Bay for fuel and water, anchor always a bit of a challenge, and back to the anchorage.  Airport run, then anchor up and away we went. Decided to brave the swells, winds and move out of the Charlotte Amalie anchorage as it was pretty swelly. Really no reason to be there unless stocking up. A good motor past Christmas Cove, there was a mooring but winds and swells fairly light so decided to push on to Francis. So incredibly calm .... water is like glass!

Virgin Gorda, BVIs

After spending five idealic nights in Salt Pond, this morning we decided to leave the USVIs. A job opportunity is waiting for someone who is a marine electrician. Only one in Charlotte Amalie area and he was going on holidays for two weeks. We couldn't use our US phone, the BVIs Sim card was out of date, so decided to head to Virgin Gorda  to see if we could contact someone there. Motor sailing presently and the boat traffic is something else.

January 12...Spent the night in the outer harbour at VG. A bit rolly but I managed to sleep fine. Too bad for anyone in the V berth, mooring ball hit the bow continually but I slept through it. Today going in to a dock, looks like we found someone to look at our problem.

As leaving, spotted barracuda swimming underneath the boat!

Palo fixed the problem, hopefully, a fairly simple affair lasting two hours but we won't really known until we get out in an anchorage. Leaving here in a few hours after a major indoor clean, the outside was done last night. We are a bit disillusioned with our first stop at the Virgins. Expensive among other things. If anyone wants to know they can email. But it does feel good to have a proper shower and even watched a movie last night! Stayed up til after 12!

Left VGYH and had a quiet sail past Trellis and Marina Cay. Noticed mooring balls at Iguana Island, at White Bay. Checked too late about them and didn't stop but will another time. There are a number of them available. Went into Brewers but the northern swells made the bay a bit lumpy and uncomfortable especially after having such a quiet night in the marina.  Motored over to Little Harbour, dinghied in to Abes to pay for moorimg, $30, then visited Stanley's and Harrises. Night was comfortable and the 20 plus moorings were almost all taken.

Okay back to comment  re disillusionment. Diesel was $4.75 a US gallon compared to $2.95 at Crown Bay, food expensive, Barefoot was $11 compared to 5.99 at Pueblos, no deals at RTW, the wholesaler, either or at Bucks. And at the yard a couple of years ago they had rats aboard boats doing damage and this year we had friends who had termites aboard. A serious infestation where they actually had those huge nests. They had to get rid of 50 lbs worth. They were lucky they didn't have to take the boat out into the water, spray, cover and let it sit out there. They had a different type of termite they could deal with themselves! But oh.........they are brave!

On a positive note, the wind generator is doing it's job! And White Bay looked lovely. I want to go back there!

Checked out of Great Harbour and on our way to Caneel Bay to check back in to the US. Probably spend some days in Francis  Bay.

St. John

Left noonish from our anchorage in Charlotte Amalie and arrived in Salt Pond with no problem. Always a plus! No boats in Little Lameshur, three in great Lameshur and one here. Secured a primo pin near the beach.  

December 8...This morning at the beach. Afternoon at same beach, pretty crowded.

L, L and Bug arrived unexpectedly and had caught a mahi mahi en route from Charlotte Amalie.

Sunset tonight.

Last night we were the only boat here, tonight all six moorings are filled.