As soon as we sail onto Cane Garden Bay

We can’t figure out the darn wind.  It is supposed to be calm in the early morning and stronger later in the day.  And sometimes it is.  But sometimes it’s not.  When you are trying to schedule your movements around the naps of a 2 year old it gets challenging. 

We left St. John for Sopers Hole in the BVI.   It was only 5 miles but we bounced and bumped our way as usual, AGAINST THE WIND.  We chartered from Sopers in ’95 so it was cool to be there again.  We checked in and Glen tried to invoke a smile from the immigrations and customs people with limited success.  C and I people from all countries seem to have had similar training in being “challenging.”  Anyway, $12.63 later and we were admitted for our short tour.  We bought several bottles of Pussers Rum for Glen and an ice cream sandwich for Jack and then went to the Jolly Roger’s for burgers for dinner.  A perfect day.

Next day we tried again to outsmart the wind and sailed east to Virgin Gorda and the Baths.  Bounced and bumped and eventually motor-sailed-tacked to the Baths. After circling the day-mooring balls for a few minutes we scooped one and set off for the beach and the Baths.  Can’t describe the Baths.  Google them to get a sense.  We played on the beach, traversed the caves and then played on the beach some more.  We had planned to stay at the nearby marina to get more info about the place.  We might leave the Blue Pearl there this summer for the hurricane season and it seems like a good place.

Wow!  Caves!

The Baths

Swimming with Momma and Daddy

After a quick reconoiter, we sailed the 2 miles to Trellis Bay for the evening.  We had a beer at “Da Loose Mongoose” to get the wifi password and headed back to the boat – only to find we couldn’t crack the wifi.  How did they spell the password?  Anyway, no wifi.  Dang!

Cane Garden Bay

People and Places and Callwoods Rum

Still running after 400 years

Art shot

We stayed at Cane Garden Bay for a couple of days – enjoying the beach and the Callwoods Rum.  Check out the lyrics to Jimmy Buffett’s “Manana.”  Jackson is loving his swimming and Glen is loving his rum.

We took off for Sandy Cay, Jost van Dyke.  It is about an acre island – the picture perfect island typical of the Caribbean.  Played in the sand, frolicked in the water, harvested coconuts and then headed to Jost van Dyke to be ready to clear Customs Monday morning.  

Closs family

 

Swimming off the boat!

Glen went ashore to case out Customs, found them open and was able to clear us out.  He checked out Foxies – the crazy island bar – but it is more suited to people without busy little two-year-olds.  We spent the night at Little Jost – met a couple from North Vancouver who are impressed with the BVIs but no so much their charter boat.  Headed  back to the USVI, clearing in at St. John and then to Water Island off Charlotte Amalie. 

The Closses leave us on Tuesday morning.  We will dinghy them to shore at Lindberg Bay and walk  them to the airport.  After 48 hours of sleep we will be missing them desperately!

Navigating