Let me start by saying that this was one of the best trips we have taken due largely in part to all of the AWESOME people we met and great friends we saw again! I really can't say enough how wonderful everyone was and can't wait to meet up in de ilons again. Most people vacation to far away destinations with a few family members/spouse/partner and are, for the most part, on their own. The more trips to the BVI we take, the more I feel like I am going home. It's like being on vacation with all of your friends and family...well, the ones you like!

Anyway, not to get too esoteric, but I just wanted to point out a few highlights and hopefully not send anyone into a slumber....

I like the bulleted trip reports as they are a little easier on the eyes, so here goes....

The big surprise...

Rex and I were not planning on taking this short (6 day landbased) trip initially but succombed to some serious peer pressure from all the talk of good times to be had at the TTOL festivities! (we never miss a good party, as you can tell by some of the photos/video others have posted! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />)

We visited Mal in Cal. in February and even then, didn't have a plan to go, so when we decided to just go for it, we thought it would be a lot of fun to surprise him and just sneak up on him in CGB. We kept it a secret, kind of, and it worked out perfectly!

We arrived on Wed. May 31st and headed straight to CGB to Rhymers to check in and jump in the beautiful water. A short while later, we ran into Sherry on the beach, who was in on the secret, and she informed us that Mal, Candace and Robin were at Myett's for happy hour...he's so predictable!

So we snuck around the back of the bar through the bushes and started our approach as Mal's back was turned toward us. He actually turned around, saw Rex first, and then turned back towards Candace and Robin (who were also in on it) to say "boy, that guy sure looks like Rex", when he did the "double take"! It was hilarious! I swear he almost fell over.


Well hugs and kisses all around and overall, the best way to start the trip! I got to give Candace and Mal a wooden sign that I had painted (on an old Sunfish rudder) for them to hang in their Sparky's Sky Lounge (3rd floor of CRC). Mal had always said he'd wished they had a sign from the original watering hole they frequented in STT before the trip over to Tortola back in the day. The place is long gone now, so I created my own version for them...it was great to see his face for both surprises!


The first night

We finished up at Myett's and headed over to Bananakeet where Eric, Carol and Gerald were having drinks and dinner and finally met them in person, which was great! I wished we could have chatted longer but we were to be at Palm's Delight for dinner soon.

Palm's Delight was wonderful as always, then Rex decided he needed to have Pan Mushrooms from Coco Plums as well...talk about fitting it all in to one night! So entertaining his whim, Mal and I went along for a drink and I popped in to see David Thrasher at his studio...he had some beautiful new paintings! Of course the night was not over...on to Bomba's for the nightcap! or two...it was actually very laid back and relaxing...Bombas is a lot of fun on a mellow night. Now we felt like we had been in the islands for days and it was still only the first day!


Day 2 Thurs. june 1st

Very relaxing day, just hung out and headed to Spaghetti Junction for Happy Hour...John was a great host, the food was delicious and the restaurant is really nice. Thank you John for the treat! We met ttoler's CindyH and GeneH who are down for two months? on their boat with their cat Smokey! It was a really nice time...I think Quito's that night...it's all a little fuzzy now <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/pirate.gif" alt="" />


Day 3 Friday June 2nd

Rex and I head off to Smugglers for a bit and find our spot on the beach. there were two women serving drinks and BBQ chicken by the big wooden spool, so we ordered up two lunches and stood at the spool while we dined. The woman announced to the rest of the folks milling around that there was only one chicken order left and the female of the couple standing near us exclaimed that they would take it!

As we stood at the spool under a tree eating the yummy chicken a drinking Red Stripes as a shower passed over head, we began to chat with the other couple. They were on their honeymoon on St John and had decided to take a three day hiatus to Tortola. They were staying at Sebastian's and daytripping to White Bay on Sunday!...so in typical BVI style we snatched them up (they didn't have a car) and took them to a Banankeet for a drink and then back to their room...and of course, invited them to all the TTOL festivities! (this was Desiree and Phillip for those of you that met them)

They were a lot of fun and we converted them to the BVI from St John for future trips!


Friday night, Quito's of course...

Day 4, Saturday June 3rd..the big bash

OK, what can I say that hasn't already been said, this was a super fun time! Thanks so much again to Malcolm, Candace, Robin, Eric and Carol for being such great hosts to us all!
The food was amazing, I don't know where to start except the crabcakes straight from Maryland brought by Karen and Stan (who I don't think I got to meet, but I did meet Ann) were UNBELIEVABLE! Walker and Nancy's conch fritters are by far the best in the islands! Robin's Pumkin Soup was outstanding! There was much more but those are the ones that come to mind first....


It was great talking to finally meet so many of the folks that I have seen on the board over the years! There were also so many Gary's I still don't know if I got them all straight. I think I called Gary of "Gary and Gerry", Gene a few times! sorry Gary!


Saturday night...Quito's again! Thanks to Jack for being a great dance partner! the dancing circle with garyT, Beth and the kids was a blast! Watching Walker and Nancy glide across the dance floor...very cute couple!

after that it gets a little fuzzy, and I take no responsibility for my actions! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />


Day 5 Sunday June 4th


The big sail to JVD...GaryT, Beth and kid crew were kind enough to offer up a ride on their beautiful Beneteau 473...our very first charter in 2003 was on a 473, so I was happy to be onboard one again, and their boat is awesome!...this was a fun sail and great to get off land...we have always been on a boat with the exception of a few nights at the beginning and end of charters. Verve and his buddy, sans dinghy, were the only ones in our mini "regatta" but it was fun kicking his butt anyway...sorry Verve... but I did get some great pics of you on your boat as we were passing! (see my webshots)

We got to White Bay and were graciously treated to a wonderful lunch and Champagne toast by Gary and Beth, beautiful toast by Gary about "the joy of life" (hence the "La Joie De Vivre" boat name).

Then on to a game of dive-off-the-boat-and-attempt-to-catch-the-coconut-in-mid-air-without-clocking-yourself-in-the-head-with-it game and some snorkling.

After that we pulled ashore to join the TTOL gang at the Soggy Dollar for some more libations and fun...and of course who shows up but Desiree and Philip from their day trip! So great to see them again!


Caught the ferry back and made plans to go to dinner with Laura and Mark who we took to Coco Plums for dinner...Carol, no they couldn't get away from us TTOLers that easy for a night alone! But hey, Rex and I were down for three weeks when we got married and I don't think we spent one dinner alone the whole trip and we had a blast!


Then on to ...Quitos! But it was Karaoke night so we made the best of it and belted out a couple of tunes...I swear those weren't cats dying to anyone within earshot! We pretty much had the place to ourselves, but we had fun anyway!

Day 6...Monday June 5th


Ok , our last day...pretty mellow...said goodbye to Eric, Carol and Gerald at the Big Apple, swam in Little Apple Bay, headed to Brewers Bay for a swim and then Myetts for happy hour but all in all a relaxing last day but sad to be leaving mode.

We had dinner with Mal and Candace at their place and spent the last night hanging with good friends and drinking wine...it was a great end to a great trip!


although it was short, it felt like we were in the islands for weeks...

my only regret was that, with all the goings on, there were people I met only briefly and would have loved to talk to more...oh well, there's always future trips to look forward to to do that!

thanks all for the great memories,

Laura and Rex

ooh....and I have pictures! see my webshots...