First of all...A BIG Thank You to everybody on TTOL for all of your advice for our 1st BVI catamaran charter...you guys are the best! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

After MUCH research we decided to go with "Alternate Latitude", 44ft cat out of STT. We opted for a captain only charter, but Captain Steve's lovely wife Deb came along as a bonus. Not only was she fun to have around...she did all the dishes! yay! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

So who went? me (Anita), my husband John, Karen ( my BFF of MANY years) and her husband Jim.

My "freakish" travel planning had us on an ambitious itinerary, but we loved all of our stops and wouldn't change a thing! On a side note this was not our 1st trip to the US/BVI, just the 1st one not land based.

Saturday April 26: arrived in STT 0n the 11:30 non stop flight from Billings, MT..........yeah right...we had actually left @ 7:30 the night before and we running on absolutely no sleep...well hell, that's what alcohol is for! Celebratory $9.00 rum punch at the airport...private taxi to the Food Center for a few things...beer, rum, beer, rum, diet coke X 9 12paks, a mango, more rum...oh and chips. We had a sleep aboard in Red Hook that night and we went out to hit all the hot spots...because we didn't have enough booze on the boat evidently. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Sunday April 27th: a brisk walk to Secret Harbour to clear the cobwebs and several trips to the gas station for ice because a couple of guys we know ( John and Jim) kept losing part of the bags as they walked back to the dock...don't ask me what the problem was. After an uneventful trip to Sopers for C & I, we headed to Norman Island for our 1st night. Pirates dining room was closed for a private party, so much for dinner there. We had to try out our "Drinking Man's Guides" and Junior at the bar, was more than willing to oblige. Off to Willy T for more fun and games. Dinner was actually decent...chicken roti and chicken strips. We had really wanted to do the shot-ski, but it was PACKED, so no go on that. Also no jumping naked...probably just as well. Back to the boat to solve all the world's problems hanging out on the "trampolines" ( the webbing on the front of the boat) that's what we called them....this coming from someone who had to learn that "port" is on the left who knew? Anyway, my brilliant idea of sleeping out there came to a halt as one by one everyone ditched me...then I got creeped out being out there alone.

Monday April 28: Not off to a good start. Someone....me actually...was in charge of my husband's somewhat expensive sunglasses and my somewhat really cheap sunglasses. Had them last at Willy T...hmmmmmm...probaly not so good. Captain Steve ran me over in the dinghy to check. Nope...no glasses had been turned in...SH#T. The boys then snorkled The Indians while we were lucky enough to be serenaded....quite loudly, I might add, by an accordian player in the boat next to us. Alright well, off to Salt Island for sea glass collecting...or as my husband puts it.... "someone else's garbage". He has no taste. A spin on the SUPs, and we were off to Cooper Island for lunch. I was on a mission to find the perfect mojito and Cooper Island Beach Club makes a mighty fine one....I'm pretty sure lunch was good as well...but I was focused on that mojito so I really couldn't say! At Captain Steve's ( and Deb's ) suggestion, we anchored in Savannah Bay... GORGEOUS! We had brought garlic marinated filets with us from home, so that and this funky rice mix we had brought also...was dinner. If you recall there were no vegatables bought on our STT shopping trip...sooooo that wa it! Beautiful sunset, peaceful night.

Tuesday April 29th: Arrangements were made with J.D.'s taxi to pick us up early to go to the Baths. Karen and I had been there the year before on a ferry from STJ and didn't get there till mid morning....we had no issues with crowds. We thought maybe it was over-kill to get going so early, but...holy crap...was Captain Steve right. Making our way in there was hardly a soul...when the HOARDS began to arrive in Devil's bay , we headed out. Oh yeah and there was a naked guy standing behind one of the boulders when we got to Devil's Bay....whoa!.....Lines at the ladders...lines at the rope...geeze.. we were SO glad we got there when we did. An early lunch at The Top of The Baths, a dip in the pool and back to the boat. We had a slip at Bitter End for the night, so off we went. Such a cool place...we hit the pool then the showers...then off to Saba Rock for the infamous ( or famous, depending how you see it) " tarpon feeding" . Well, while I think the "rock" is a really cool place....the feeding business wasn't for me. The guys watched intently...the girls were more interested in getting the spaces in our " Drinking Mans Guides" filled out. See, we had 2 of the older editions, and 1 new one...so we had work to do!
Dinner was at The Crawl Pub mostly because there was a pool table for the boys, and we're cheap when it comes to food. We'll have a $150.00 bar tab and not blink, but $18.00 for nachos?????? What?????

Wednesday April 30th: Karen is the Birthday Girl! we had a beautiful morning hike...Biras Creek Resort...? Orchid Trail, ? Guys's Trail.....then off to Anegada. Mango rum punches were the on the breakfast menu along with Captain Steve's famous Rum Cake..my God...breakfast of champions!
Once settled in the harbour, Barry from "Whispering/Whistling Pines" showed up to sing us a song and invite us to dinner at his restaurant. The reason I can't remember the real name of the place, is I was suffering from "AIA"...alcohol induced amnesia. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> We rented a jeep from Dean, met his lovely wife Henny ( bought some of her very cool pottery) and headed to Loblolly Beach. Best conch fritters EVER at Flash Of Beauty....free drink at Big Bamboo....kinda yucky...enjoyed the beauty of the beach then off to find the flamingos....nope...none to be seen. Not to be deterred, we headed to Cow Wreck beach. Now THAT is a beautiful beach.. and another pool table for the guys...and more drinks! Belle, the owner/bartender is a gem and all those conch shells! Does it get any better than that? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> Soon it's time to get cleaned up for dinner, but the jeep doesn't start. Damn good thing we're close to a bar to kill time till Dean can bring a new battery After all that we went right to the restaurant I can't remember the correct name of....can I tell you, the lobster was EXCELLENT! Barry did not lie! The service was great...the sides were great... I'm pretty sure the drinks were great.... but evidently our dinghy is on the fritz, so we bum rides from friendly sailors to get back to the boat <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Thursday May 1: we were able to flag down Barry for a ride in for breakfast...still have a broken dinghy. We are still talking about the breakfast we had at Pam's Kitchen <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> Coconut rum french toast....breakfast sandwich...the best hashbrowns, probably in the whole world! Since we still had the jeep for another few hours, we wanted to go back to Loblolly for snorkeling, but lo and behold... the jeep won't start again. Dean gave up I think, and just brought us a different car. Since we were only going as far as Leverick that day, we were in no hurry. After a nice sail to Leverick, we got settled in our slip, dropped some Starbucks coffee off to Nick and got a table for Michael Beans. What a GREAT show! We had a blast....he's hilarious! Dinner, of course drinks...and used our 25% off TTOL discount <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> We failed miserably at the conch blowing contest, but it was all good. There was supposed to be music upstairs? but evidently it was over for the season.

Friday May 2nd: Had a great walk in the morning...pretty villas...steep hills...gorgeous views. Then on to Jost. A snorking stop at The Dogs....and just so you are aware...every time I say WE stopped to snorkle...it means John and Jim. WE...meaning Karen and I, do not. However, across from Scrub Island...again " AIA " has reared its ugly head and I don't know the name of it...we actually put our face it the water...and HOLY COW...what a cool thing <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> We had decide to stop at Little Jost for the night, but I had always wanted to see Sandy Spit...up close and personal....but the seas were really rough so we were happy to snap pictures and sail on. Once we got settled, we took the dinghy out ( YAY , it's working ) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> to The B- Line. What a great little place! A few drinks.... embarrassing myself playing the bean bag game ( not because I was intoxicated, but because I can't throw anything farther than 7 inches) .... and it was time for dinner. We had really good BBQ ribs, mashed potatoes and steamed vegatables at Foxy's Taboo.


Saturday May 3rd : We had talked about hitting The Bubbly Pool


but the rain that went on all night, continued into the morning. Not a light Caribbean rain, but a "gully washer" . That, however, didn't stop John...he headed out on the SUP, and hiked over to the Bubbly Pool...I was calculating in my mind if his life insurance was paid up. As the rain finally stopped, he appeared in the distance and once back on the boat, we headed to White Bay. We have stayed at The Sandcastle several times, but it was SO cool to see it from this perspective. So, a life altering thing happens at this point...I DO NOT SWIM IN DEEP WATER.... but determined to overcome my irrational fear of such water...I am going to swim to the shore ....yep...those who know me would more so believe that I sacrifice small children in my back yard than believe I would swim from the boat to the shore <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> but I did!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> of course I had a life jacket on, but still! WE ( meaning Karen and I ) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Jost...we were in hog heaven. It was a tough job, but we used all of our "Drinking Man Guides" spots. We are so good when presented with a challenge! Dinner at Corsairs, and then a swim back to the boat....At night...it was even my idea...sacrificing small children? Really?

Sunday May 4th: A sad day indeed.....sitting out on the "trampolines"...watching the sunrise...knowing this was our last day. Man, what an amazing week....Could we have slowed things down a little? Spent more time on fewer islands? Sure we could have.....but then we wouldn't have had all the experiences we had...met the amazing people we met......got all the spots signed in our books! As we pulled out of Whie Bay, "It's That Time of Day" by Kenny Chesney was playing on the IPOD...Got a little teary, I think. Cruising back to STJ, where we were getting dropped off for another 6 nights in MY most favorite place on earth...I got to thinking about all the things I learned:

That a "tack" is not just what holds a poster to a wall

That "anchor down" means cocktail hour, unless of course, you've been at it all day already

What " Bi#ch wings" are ( cracks me up!)

That I DID NOT need my blow dryer and curling iron because I never used them once

That I can't wait for another sailing adventure

I apologize this has turned out to be so long, but once I started re-living it, I had so much fun <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />