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Posted by Jenny
After nine days of sailing, basking in the strong Caribbean sun and drinking even stronger rum, I’ve got one complaint — it just went by too darn fast! Captain Geoff, First Mate Wes, Photographer Dad and I, willingly deemed “Provisioner” and Cook, enjoyed our time together even more than we could have imagined. Our expectations were high, and they were no doubt exceeded. As we fly back home, I’ll recount some of my favorite moments.
Upon our arrival several hours late to Tortola, Wes and I suited up with BCD’s (Bouyancy Compensator Device – a combination of sturdy life vest and sturdy air inlet and exhaust device that hooks onto your SCUBA tank) and regulators and hopped in the pool. We were supposed to have been there around noon to begin our SCUBA classes but delays in San Juan after earlier delays got us to our hotel around three thirty. Our instructor, who had been all cranked up to get going and had been waiting there since 8:30 am grudgingly took us into the pool to learn some diving basics, followed by a short dive in the ocean with Geoff and Dad, in strong winds and currents. We were exhausted but thankful that our instructor, Lynn, had agreed to begin our class that Friday, and that she worked on her day off on Saturday to complete all five of our confined water dives! The rest of the employees for the dive company were Seventh Day Adventists and could never work on Saturday. What a trooper! While we were in the pool practicing flooding our masks, clearing our regulators, and assembling our gear, Geoff and Dad got a day to relax. Geoff said it was really difficult to lay on the beach all day with his camera and a good book — tough life, huh? Dad stuck it out with us at the pool, listening in a bit, taking a few pictures, having lunch with us but mostly just taking it easy on a beautiful day.
On Sunday, we went on three dives to complete our PADI Open Water Certification! We were all certified soggy and tired after a long morning of diving, but were also happy to be certified divers. From the West End we went straight to Road Town to check in with Sunsail and hop on our boat. Luckily they let us check in early, so we were done with provisioning and settling in before we headed to dinner! I compiled a list of food for the week, and the only things we forgot were lemons and limes. But what we lacked in lemons and limes, we certainly made up for in oranges, mangoes and bananas!
Monday morning, while Geoff and Dad headed to a Chart Briefing session, Wes and I walked to a local “French” deli. We stocked up on some delicious ham, Provolone, Comté, bread and bread pudding. We may have worn dirty clothes and hardly showered (only from the little hose sprayer on the back of the boat until yesterday) all week, but we definitely ate in style!
From Road Town we headed over to Virgin Gorda and from there to Anegada. Anegada to the Dogs, to Cooper and Norman Islands. All incredible stops, and even more beautiful than I remembered from our last trip to the BVI’s.
After we turned the boat in, and before we headed to the airport on Beef Island early Sunday, we got to spend Saturday afternoon at a beautiful resort on the East end of Tortola. It has one of the most beautiful beaches in the BVI’s, and quite possibly the world. After lounging in the sun and reading, Dad and I got massages in a little hut right on the beach. It was pretty incredible being right on the beach at sunset for a massage! Our dinner at the hotel restaurant was the epitome of “island time”, where we waited at least thirty minutes for salads, and again for entrées. Doesn’t sound like that long, but we were all very hungry and Wes barely made it through dinner without falling asleep.
Although the islands are breathtakingly beautiful and the people pleasant, what I’ll keep with me from this trip are memories with Geoff, Wes and my Dad. I’d say it’s pretty rare that an eighteen, twenty-three, twenty-six, and fifty-five year old (and counting!) could spend a week together on a boat without even a single argumentative moment. We really enjoy each other’s company and it is really amazing to how we’ve all become friends. We swam, dove, snorkeled, cooked, ate, and drank together, and I think we all fell even more in love with the islands. Nothing fancy, really, and that’s how we seemed to like it. Our first cab driver in Tortola even said that if we’re looking for special places to eat, that we’d have a hard time finding it on many of the islands. As insightful as he was, he was underestimating how special and memorable the simple people, simple places and simple restaurants in the BVI’s really are. No doubt, we’ll be coming back!
I hope everyone enjoys the other entries by my Dad, Geoff, and Wes, and that the fantastic photos that they took help you catch even a glimpse of or great trip! Dad was really committed to the blog and I’m excited I could chip in! I also can’t wait to see all the pictures we all took.
Marlene Shirley - Enjoyed your blog, what an amazing trip. How blessed you all are to have been able to spend such memorable moments together. (The massage on the beach would have been my favorite.) Thanks for sharing, I’ve enjoyed following you around, even if it was via the internet! Love, Aunt Marlene