I have another version of a trip report that I've started but haven't finished. I'm at 6 pages and am only 2/3 the way through the trip. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> I'll spare you all and give you the short version!
Our group of 3 couples was on Incommunicado, a Lagoon 38’ catamaran from BareCat Charters. Highly recommend both the boat and the company.
Itinerary: Tamarind Club July 3 and 4th – Hung out Josiah’s Bay and explored Tortola. Picked up boat on July 5 – Trellis Bay, Leverick Bay, Saba Rock, Anegada, Little Harbor (JVD), White Bay, The Bight, Cooper Island, back to Tamarind Club before flying home on the 16th.
Rental Cars: Tortola – Trudi King at bestofbvi.com set us up with DeDe’s Rentals. They met us at the airport late at night with the car and let us drop it two days later in Sea Cow’s Bay where BareCat is located. After the charter, they met us at the charter base with a car and we dropped it at the airport when we left.
Virgin Gorda – Clennel from Mahogany’s Rental Cars met us at Leverick Bay. We rented a mini-safari. What a hoot!
Anegada – Dean Wheatly from DW Rentals met us at Neptunes Treasure. Again, a mini-safari.
Snorkeling: Our primary activity (besides being silly and laughing, lots). Lee Bay, The Dogs – Great Dog and George Dog, Spring Bay and Little Trunk Bay, Eustacia Sound, Loblolly Bay, White Bay, The Indians, Privateers Bay – both the far side and the Caves, Cistern Point. Turtles at Lee Bay, Spring Bay and Privateers Bay. Stingrays at the Dogs and Eustacia Sound. Lots of fish varieties and healthy coral. No bad snorkeling; each place better than the last.
TTOL sightings: Gatorman and family at Josiah Beach; Manpot, Dmgators & hubby, MarcoIsland & family, Landcrab & family, amurphy at Myetts on July 4; Jackson and crew at Tamarind Club; Big Jim, Gordagirl and JD, LindaKay at Big Bamboo on July 10. Passed Endless Reach w/ TTOL flag as we were heading out the channel at Anegada…presume it was BucksCoPat. Moored next to Jeannius in White Bay on July 12…kept eye on dinghy’s to see which came from Jeannius to say hi to Allison, but never hooked up. Kept an eye out for TeacherDunn’s towheaded kids at Leverick Bay BBQ on July 6. Saw boy in orange rash guard and girl with corn row braids during the Jumbie show, but music was too loud to speak to the dad. Great to put faces to names.
Food: Primarily ate on boat – Provisioned with Bobby’s and picked up additional soft drinks and bread at various places. (Have to admit I brought some frozen rib eye steaks and cod after choking on the $18.95/lb price at Bobby’s.) Sampled conch fritters most places we went and favorite was Top of the Baths. Ate at Leverick Bay BBQ ($25) and Ivans BBQ ($25); felt both were good value and great fun. Had a birthday dinner at Whistling Pines on Anegada – Lobster got mixed reviews, but atmosphere was great and Sammy’s singing an experience. Dinner and dessert at Tamarind Club was outstanding.
Costs: Rental car for 6 (including all taxes and insurances) ranged from $70/day on Virgin Gorda to $106/day on Tortola. We think taxi’s would have cost about the same or more, and this gave us more flexibility – and the excitement of driving in the BVI! Catamaran was $3000 for 10 days – low season. Bobby’s order was $574, with another $97 spent along the way for groceries. Ice & Garbage ran us $51 for 10 days; Fuel was $100; Water was $23. Mooring balls were $25/night, everywhere we went.
Impressions from group: This was a return trip and was every bit as good as the first one. The charter was 10 days rather than 7 and we felt we really had a chance to calm down and relax. Favorite beaches – Josiah, Loblolly, and Spring Bay – the color of the water is so calming and rejuvenating. I wish I could bottle the feeling. Anegada – surprisingly, not a big hit. They loved the beaches, but felt the rest was a bit depressing. One of our group has done a bit of animal rescue and seeing the emaciated cattle and their lack of fresh water really colored her view of the island.
All in all it was a spectacular trip. Lot’s of laughter and fun together. I was sad to come home. It’s been 5 days since I returned and I’ve only seen the sun once – so I’m still pretty bummed. Between us, we had 1,585 pictures. I’m trying to find a way to get it down to a reasonable number to post.
