Hello all:
Because of all the years I spent sailing in the BVI, I enjoy a pretty large network of people there, giving me occasional heads up on what is coming down the pipe..
And so 2 days ago, I was let in on some pretty upsetting news on something coming up as of December 1st., 2015.
Allegedly, the BVI NPS (National Park Service) is getting ready to install meters (yes, as in “PARKING METERS”) on the day-use mooring balls, at the Baths, the Indians and all other NPS sites.
They will be equipped with waterproof credit card readers so the users can pay the fee. If the user lets allotted time elapse, a nasty horn will sound until the additional mooring fee is paid again.
Believe it or not, there is worse: apparently, Moor Seacure is contemplating the same devices for ALL moorings balls in regular anchorages. This would remove the need for collection by the usual guy in his dinghy knocking on your hull…
I simply cannot believe this is happening. They have decided to milk us to the core…
Sorry for the bad news….
Posted By: Mardi_Gras
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 10:58 AM
Nice one Michael! I was expecting you to write that after the horn sounds five times you will automatically disconnected from the ball.
Beerman caught most of us last year with his free beer offer, we have our guard up today.
Cheers,
Tony
Posted By: jboothe
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 11:02 AM
That should work well. Electronic credit card readers bobbing up in down in salt water 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. I'm not thinking that's doable even if they want to.
Posted By: WayneC
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 11:53 AM
Don't you guys be giving them any dumb ideas. Things are just fine the way they are now.
Posted By: bigbone
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 11:55 AM
It's a 1st April joke, isn't it?
Posted By: jboothe
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 12:04 PM
bigbone said:
It's a 1st April joke, isn't it?
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: LianeLeTendre
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 12:22 PM
Well you got me!
I was busy looking up the National Parks Trust phone number (and muttering "You've got to be kidding me.") when I saw the second post. LOL! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
I am so easy to con. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Manpot
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 12:23 PM
Excellent Michael..got me til I checked the date!!!
Posted By: Winterstale
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 12:55 PM
That was a good one....had me until the "able to use credit cards" in the meters and then I remembered the date.
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 01:44 PM
The ST. Maarten newspaper generally has a good
April Fool's Day story.
Posted By: dayhiker
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 02:07 PM
Carol_Hill said:The ST. Maarten newspaper generally has a good
April Fool's Day story.
That's a good article. I liked this part: Phase 3 Project Extension to Runway 10 "Alpha-Foxtrot-Oscar-Oscar-Lima."
Posted By: onlymedication
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 03:13 PM
I'm with Wayne! Careful not to give them any "good" ideas!
Tony has a great one as well. The automatic disconnect is almost as good an idea as my idea of roving firing squads watching for people who stay on the parks moorings for one second more than the 90 minute limit. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: ecm56
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 06:15 PM
And all this would work over the BVI's ever reliable cellular data and telephone infrastructure . . . Right!
Posted By: Twanger
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 07:08 PM
This is all to support the drag strip they are building through the area once known as "The Baths."
Posted By: 2forBVI
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 07:13 PM
We were there when they demolished the area that they used to call "the Baths" with dynamite. They did it at night and it was very pretty. Now the area is called "the Pebbles."
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/01/2015 07:33 PM
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: DannyV
Re: BVI unsettling news - 04/03/2015 02:34 AM
LMAO.....that one had me packing my bags, and I live here! Good one!