Pre-trip plan - 2015 Virgin Islands Backpack Tour

Hello Everyone! It's been awhile, but returning to the islands for my 40th Bday - celebrating in a low-key, enjoy life kind of way. My wife and sister will be staying in St. Thomas. My Brother in Law and I will be backpacking through the islands. Below is my tentative plan, I'd love to hear from you guys and gals with hints/recommendations etc. Heading down 3/27 - 4/4.
- Flying into STT and ferrying over to VG and spending 2 nights at Leverick Bay. Plan on Friday BBQ, kayaking gorda sound, with stops at Sandbox, Saba Rock, BEYC, and Fat Virgin.
- Sunday ferry over to Anegada. Quality time at Big Bamboo, Cow Wreck. Dinner at Neptune's. Camp out under stars.
- Monday fly VI Airlink to Tortola. Spend afternoon at Myett's and then ferry over to JVD. Setup camp at Ivan's for 2 nights and enjoy white bay, great bay. Swim from Taboo to B-line to check out this new place.
- Wednesday afternoon head over to St. John for 3 nights camping in Cinammon Bay. Hope to try the Angel's Rest floating bar in addition to the usual cruz bay watering holes.
- Saturday back to STT, meet up with the prettier halves and enjoy east end before heading back to airport.

Let me know your thoughts and thanks for reading!
Mike

Sounds like heaven....

I did something similar for two weeks in 1999. It's normally a dry time of year. My water budget is 3 litres of water per day per person plus cooking and wash water. You need to keep all of your food secure as there are hungry critters about. Mongoose on STJ are relentless.

Your longest travel day is from Anegada to JVD. That's a pretty hardcore travel day and not a cheap cab fare. Not too much to do about that, unless you leave Anegada out of your itinerary or add more time. I stayed at Brewers Bay Campground on my trip.

Walking from JVD to Little Jost is doable. If you're going to swim the coastline to B-Line bring some bright colors/noodles that stand out as there is boat traffic. Better yet, make friends with folks walking back from bubbly pool and see if you can hitch a ride in a dinghy. Same thing coming back from B-Line, a dinghy ride is a better bet.

You'll love Cinnamon Bay. Kayaks are great for exploring the entire north shore, SUPs too. Angel's Rest, when its active is out of Coral Bay. A taxi to Coral Bay might work. Just make certain that you arrange a pickup time as there are no taxis in Coral Bay and the Bus only goes along Centerline Road back to Cruz Bay. If you check trailbandit.org you'll see a trail from Centerline Road down to Cinnamon Bay, or the John Head Road. The trail is not kept clear and the road is more of a bobsled run...Angel's Rest is not worth the effort unless you catch a ride with fellow travelers. Hitchhiking on STJ is completely legit, point your index finger in the direction you're headed.

We hit STT on March 27 via the Jet Blue BOS flight. I'll keep an eye out for backpackers!

Cheers, RickG

Rick and Bridget,
Thanks for the quick feedback! Rick we'll be on the direct Jet Blue flight leaving BOS around 10:15am on 3/27... small world! We also plan on having a rental car on Anegada and St. John. I have always wanted to visit Anegada and hope to finally get there this trip! If our path's cross, first round is on me! Just look for a US Army hat.
take care,
Mike

Mike, I'll look for you on the flight. I'll be the guy wearing socks with my Tevas.

On my 1999 trip I got an offer to sail from Anegada to Jost and chose to stick with my itinerary to hit Tortola on the way. I tell ya, if you get an offer to make that sail take it!

Cheers, RickG

As I scrolled down I was thinking what Rick put in this post. The TTOL folks are a great group of people (we agree to disagree some times....but I digress.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> ) I'll be willing to bet that, since you are staying at Leverick, if you talk to some of the folks at the bar and/or BBQ, there will be more than a few boats leaving there and headed to Anegada that would likely let you hitch a ride. Same hold true from Anegada to Cane Garden Bay and/or JVD. Heck, you may even be able to line something up on here prior to the trip. Just a thought. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> PS...most of us here avoid the short swim into the baths and you are talking about swimming from Taboo to B-Line? You da man!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

rick and stoney,
thanks for the recommendations! Definitely looking forward to this adventure and some much deserved reflection & relaxation.
take care,
Mike

We kick off the trip this Friday morning! Thanks everyone for all the feedback an tips. Full trip report soon come.
take care,
Mike

Meet ya in Boston.

Cheers, RickG

sounds like a plan!

Have a wonderful trip Mike....can not wait to read about your adventures

Good luck Mike...my main thought when reading your plan of sleeping outside......plenty of bug spray and sunscreen!

Have fun!

yep, packing plenty of bug spray, lol.

Have a great trip! I would also suggest trying to hitch a dingy ride from Foxys Taboo to B Line- I saw people snorkeling around out there and was worried because there were so many boats flying around.

Also- small world- my dad grew up in Dartmouth, half my family is still in that area (Dartmouth, Mattapoissett) and I spend a week every summer at our family beach house in Fairhaven!

Regarding the swim from Taboo to B-Line, that's a pretty long swim and could be difficult. As others said, you might ask for a dinghy ride, but if you don't have any luck with that, just ask at Taboo. Darren or whoever is behind the bar might be able to make a call for you. When I was there in October there was a guy ferrying people over to B-Line from Taboo for a few bucks. That way you can also bring your bags with you

Sounds like a great trip, enjoy!

Felix

thanks for the recommendations. On the flight to STT, and will report once back!
Take care,
Mike

You can almost walk to Little Jost in the shallow waters where it's to shallow for the boats.

Be sure to ask around and find out where Chris (Tradewinds here on TTOL) and his crew are hanging out - they're on the big Voyage cat at the end of the Leverick dock right now and spending the night!