Trip Report April 24-May 5th. Land based trip: Ole Works Inn, Guavaberry, Ole Works Inn, Neptunes.
Flew USAir from Boston to Philadelphia to STT arriving in time for the 2:30 ferry to the West End (and the requisite visit to the Petite Pump Room).

Taxied to CGB and checked into room in the newer building of Ole Works Inn with balcony on 2nd floor. Had great burgers and drinks in the swings at the Elm and vacation was underway! Quito was entertaining that evening as always.

Breakfast at Big Banana on the beach and then taxi to Road Town. Our cab driver was an amateur political scientist and was extremely knowledgeable and interesting. We took the 10:30am ferry to Spanish Town. Mahogany Rentals met us with a car, even though we were several hours early.

We checked into “Oleander” at Guavaberry. Oleander is one of 3 cottages on the Office/Commissary/Spring Bay side of the road to the Baths. The other units are across the street. It was a short 5 minute walk from Oleander to the beach at Spring Bay which is even much prettier than imagined. Great place to sit, swim, stare and walk to the Crawl.

The Commissary is very well stocked with quality products reasonably priced and is available 24 hours. We got lots of snacks and beer. We had great lunches at Mad Dogs-(excellent low key with 5 sandwich selections and the required Pina Colada), Top of The Baths several times-(such a great view ), Flying Iguana’s with Puck which is a very unique and a shouldn’t be missed experience), Fischer’s Cove is great for breakfast and lunch and has a gorgeous dining room view of the harbor.

The Friday night BBQ at Leverick Bay with the Jumbies was a lot of fun, although as a first timer it sure seemed a little dangerous as they pranced around within the crowd with all those little toes underneath. We had excellent dinners at the Rock Café-(up in the rocks) and the Mine Shaft-(great sunsets).

Had a great time doing nothing but we did manage to drive up to Nail Bay for a peek and stop at Savannah Bay for a swim. It was partly sunny (aka cloudy) most of the four days but nobody was complaining. It only prolonged the inevitable sunburn. The Baths are like an 8th natural wonder of the world but only early morning and late afternoons without the crowds.

Many absolutely great moments, which often went on for hours. It was so great to tour the copper mine and the Baths without anyone else there. Sitting under a tiki hut on Savannah Bay, doing nothing and thinking less, just staring at the water change color. Sitting at lunch just the two of us at Fischer’s Cove felt like a lifetime of relaxation. Just looking at Spring Bay has the same mesmerizing effect. Dinner on our deck at Guavaberry overlooking the bay was way too happy a moment for words to describe.

On Tuesday we ferried to Road Town and rented an SUV from ITGO, a short walk from the ferry dock. We picked up our incoming 24 year old son Kerry at the West End ferry and checked back in to the older wing of Ole Works Inn for the night. Not quite as nice as the other side of the Inn but so convenient. Bananakeet was a great sunset dinner and we got to see Quito play again later that night.

Wednesday morning we swam and had drinks at Smugglers. We drove back up island to Josiah’s Bay but the surf was way too high to swim so we drove back to Road Town for a Pussar’s lunch and 3:30pm ferry to Anegada.

Dean met us at the ferry with a car and we checked into Neptune’s. Quick dip at Cow Wreck and then a fabulous dinner at Neptune’s of lobster, mahi-mahi and tuna.

We spent the next four days snorkeling at Flash of Beauty and Lobolly in the mornings and spending the rest of the afternoons at Cow Wreck with Belle and Alex talking, playing pool, and swimming. Cow Wreck is one of the finest places in the world to spend an afternoon. One of the ultimate sit and stare spots. The Celtics/Hawks 7th game managed to get our pulse rates up a little. Kerry and Alex played pool for hours and Beth got a nice puncture wound in her foot from a piece of coral in the surf continuing our streak of hobbled vacations.

We brought the girls single and double-dutch jump ropes for presents and we saw them already doing tricks as we were driving away Sunday.

We had dinners at Potters two nights and Neptune’s twice. Both excellent, cooked to perfection meals. Don’t forget your “by 4pm” reservation for dinner. Always too much food to eat, which would become the next day’s snack. Best lunch value is at Neptune’s.

Once again we had four great days of having fun doing nothing and the ever gracious hosts at Neptune’s made our stay so happy and memorable. A really nice laid back atmosphere while still providing excellent service, nice rooms, great food and bar, and genuine friendship. Next year we’ll rent a unit in the cottage behind to take advantage of the kitchen- by the 2nd week of vacation it would have been enjoyable to make some of our own meals.

On Monday we took the 8:30am ferry to Road Town and the 9:45am ferry to St Thomas. In Charlotte we left our bags at the taxi stand and walked over to the Green Room for lunch and watching the ever eclectic crowd. Quick taxi to the airport and our son flew back to graduate school at FSU and we home to Boston through Charlotte on USAir arriving about 1am. We shuttled to the Comfort Inn in Revere to sleep where we had Park-N-Fly’d.

Great trip. Meeting new friends like Mary-Ann, Bill H & Di, and Mark, and starting to recognize old friends like Bill and Peggy. It was great to share a BVI vacation with our son and he certainly seemed to fit right in happily. We are already making reservations for next April. Next year we’ll probably go back to Jost and stay at White Bay Villas for the 1st week and then back to Neptune’s for the 2nd week. Thank you everyone for all your valuable tips. May your time away from the BVI be brief! Beth & Clay.

Link to this trip: http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/563386376NdcDvt

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