Trip report part 2

Thursday – we leave Anegada about 8:00 am headed to Monkey Point off Guana Island. 3 hour sail to Guana. I think we actually caught a ball in White Bay instead of Monkey Point – in hindsight what we think was Monkey Point was FULL of boats. Not great snorkeling, but we had lunch on board and then motor sailed to Cane Garden Bay – took about 1 hr. Went ashore at Cane Garden, did a little shopping, picked up a few more provisions and headed back to the boat. Andy and I laid on the trampolines with painkillers while the kids played cards. Next thing I hear are splashes off our boat and the kids are jumping in! We break out our floats and lazy buns we rented and all paddled around the boat, jumped in lots of times, and just relaxed. Total fun! Dinner was steaks, salad & pasta on the boat – with cookies for dessert. 

Friday – Left Cane Garden Bay at 7:30 and motor sailed to White Bay. Plan was to try to catch a ball in White Bay for the afternoon and then head to Great Harbor for the night. We’re heading into White Bay, spot a mooring ball in front of Ivan’s, and head toward it. Out of the corner of his eye, Andy sees a big Moorings cat coming up behind us heading for the same ball and Andy says to me “not today – that’s our ball!” Success – it’s ours! Since we left early, it’s now time for breakfast but I’m 2 eggs short for pancakes. Two of our crew jump into the dinghy and head toward Ivan’s to see if they can find a store. They come back a few minutes later having paid our mooring fee and have exactly 2 eggs in their hands. Ha! Apparently came from a kitchen nearby? Big breakfast of rum pancakes, coconut syrup, bacon & mimosas! By 10:30 am, all the balls in White Bay are taken. After a bit, we took the dinghy over to Soggy Dollar and had a few rounds of painkillers and lunch. Food is always good here. After lunch, our daughter and her boyfriend head out for a walk down the beach. On their way back, he kneels down on the beach and proposes to her! (we knew this was coming on the trip, but didn’t know when until that day). Luckily I was able to hide behind a few folks and snap a few pictures of the proposal. It was beautiful! After a brief little rain shower, we headed back to the boat for showers and then to Ivan’s for cocktails. Dinner on the boat was tacos and more rounds of cards for everyone. NOTE: As others said, White Bay is very rolly – even in a catamaran. We swung all over the place that night, as did everyone else. Our mooring ball knocked against the boat all night. We’ll choose Great Harbor next time. *see other post for weird, middle of the night incident

Saturday – Left White Bay and tried to find somewhere along the way to Road Harbor to stop for lunch and a snorkel. Thought about Waterlemon Cay on St. John but we were told that even if we didn’t go ashore, we’d have to check out of BVI’s and into USVI before we could grab a mooring ball there. And then reverse the process. Can anyone shed light on this? We eventually just headed back to TMM – let me tell you, it’s hot in the marina in the middle of the day. We actually went back out into the Harbor, grabbed a mooring ball, and hung out in the breeze until one of the end docks was available (more of a breeze there than toward the buildings). We walked to the small Riteway near the marina to get a few snacks – they had everything that the big Riteway didn’t have at the start of our trip! Hmmm…. That last night in the marina was hot & buggy. Next time, we’ll figure out a way to come in the final morning and not have to catch the 9:00 am ferry. (that’s why we had to be in the night before) Maybe we spend the night in a hotel or book a much later flight.

Sunday – we check out with the TMM office and are all packed up and ready for Andrew with TMM to taxi us to the ferry. At the ferry office, I’m buying tickets when a lady comes up and gives me 2 tickets – she had too many and said, “here, take these.” Good karma! 4 ferry tickets back to STT = $140. Everything else went smoothly from there and everyone got home safely!

A few other things:
Polar Bear Cooler – I packed the cooler on Friday at Noon full of frozen, vacuum packed meats. No room for ice. Put a little ice in it Sat night. By Sunday afternoon, we unpacked it all and put it in the freezer, it was thawed but still super cold. Which is exactly what I was hoping for.

Water consumption: We had two water tanks on the boat with a total of 158 gallons. Started charter on Sunday, filled with water at Leverick on Tues and never switched over to the 2nd tank the whole trip.

Fuel: We used about $68 in fuel for the entire week.

Cash: Brought $2000; spent $1100. paid cash for ferries, mooring balls, taxis, incidentals.

It was a great trip! Thanks to EVERYONE on this board for all their helpful info & advice. Now …. I need to start looking for another boat for November. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

Julie

But I missed you Julia............. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Congratulations on your daughter's engagement!! (and on your catching photos of the big event!)

Julia - yes, you have to check out of the BVI and IN to the USVI before you can pick up a mooring at Waterlemon. You would need to check back IN to the BVI at West End after that.

sometimes, if they are in a good mood, they will allow you to check out and in at the same time for a day trip

omg!! that was me..i cant believe that was you!! i gave you the tickets!!
my daughter and soninlaw had to get a water taxi instead of the ferry because their flight was changed to noon and they didnt think they would make it if they took the 9am ferry..
turns out they would have just made it tho..
also we saw you on "luffing out loud" ..i think it was sunday ..i yelled out to you ..we were on a 43 mono..
i cant believe that was you i gave the tickets to..that is amazing!!

Ok I did I miss the post about Weenesday and Anegada??
I could almost taste that pancake breakfast...

Congrats on the engagement. ....very exciting .

thanks for sharing your fun with all of us

I too was wondering how I lost anegada.

Anegada is in trip report part 1
Gail - I waved back as we passed in Road Harbour! Thanks again for the tickets - what a wonderful surprise!
Nick- next time. Hoping for November!
Bridget - it was our splurge breakfast!

Actually, it's in "Our trip - Restaurant Reviews!" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

If you get a chance, I am sure a lot of us would love that pancake recipe ~ there's a Recipe forum here too.

Debbie - you're right! Totally missed that.
I'll post the recipe in the recipe section, but it's simple. ;-)
Julie

Sounds like you guys had an awesome trip! And we just missed you- we were a day apart on about three stops!

Sounds like a fantastic trip, Julie. Next time, you want another couple of adults? I've taken and passed my ASA courses...

We visited Hog Heaven for the first time last summer. That place is incredible. Can't wait to return in June. Miss you guys.

Ken

Hi Ken! After our last 2 trips we can definitely see ourselves as "regulars" in the islands. Hope you are all well - miss you guys & hope the new neighbors are tolerable! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
Julie