Hi all!
I finally prepared our trip report to share. It is a "shortened" version since our trip was almost 3 weeks. Many days we didn't do much to write about, ie: relax, unwind, snorkel, eat, drink, visit and meet new people. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />
This was one of our best trips. We stayed at the Pink House on JVD and absolutely loved it!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />
We are working on our trip for December 2005.
Enjoy <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Tricia and Tommy
2004 Pictures
http://community.webshots.com/user/tbrownncShortened Version
Wednesday December 1, 2004
The alarm was set for 4:30 am. I awoke at 2:00 am due to the excitement from this trip to the BVI! Got on the computer and went to TTOL calendar, 0 DAYS, 2 HRS. Wow, it’s really here.
Car service arrived at 6:30am. It’s rainy in Raleigh, but around 60 degrees. Arrived at RDU airport around 7:30 am. Checked in and immediately headed for the Crown Room.
Wheels went up at 8:50 am, headed to Atlanta then St. Thomas.
Arrived in St. Thomas at 4:10pm and taking Smith’s Ferry to Tortola. Had a bit of a hiccup, the Smith’s Ferry driver wasn’t waiting for us at the airport. Made a phone call to Marjorie at Smith’s Ferry, there had been a problem with the driver, but she was taking care of it. And she did! She contacted the dispatch at the airport, they came and got us and took us to the Ferry. Had the wonderful opportunity to meet Marjorie at the Ferry. Smith’s Ferry (Marjorie) took care of everything. I recommend them! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />
Hopped on the Ferry, sat up on top and got a couple of cold beers from the outside bar. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" /> The Ferry took off, and then returned back to the Ferry Dock. There was a couple on their way from the airport and their luggage had been delayed. So we were going back to pick them up. (That's why Smith's Ferry is so good!)
The Ferry ride over to Tortola is a much-needed ride to “calm down”, “relax”, and slide into the ‘limin’ time for the next 3 weeks.
Arrived in Tortola around 5:30pm, went through customs, and caught a cab to Rhymer’s for our stay for the next 3 nights.
Checked into Rhymer’s, dropped our bags, and headed for the Big Banana for dinner and drinks.
Crashed after our dinner.
Thursday, December 2, 2004
We got up around 8 am, grabbed a shower and went downstairs and ate breakfast at Rhymer’s.
Took a walk up Cane Garden Bay, got some photos of the infamous tire swing.
Returned to Rhymer’s, picked up some beers and water and headed for Rhymer’s Patio for the rest of the day. Enjoyed the breeze, sun, and view of Jost Van Dyke. We’ll be there in a few days for the rest of our vacation. Today is a day of just relaxing.
Headed for Spaghetti Junction to meet up with other TTOL’ers for dinner and meet April. The first TTOL’ers to arrive were our friends from last year: Stan and Karen (skman). Lots of hugs.
April at Spaghetti Junction was so gracious to accommodate all of us with a couple of bottles of wine for dinner and after dinner drinks.
Met up with the following TTOL’ers:
Stan and Karen (skman), Misti and Gary(tortola lola), Gary and Gerry(owe), and Cheryl at the Purple Pineapple. John & Mari (topalof) arrived after dinner. What a great group! How else could we meet such great people but through TTOL? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />
Friday, December 3, 2004
We “limed” all day. We did nothing but sit in the sun and enjoy a few cold liquid libations. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drinking.gif" alt="" /> Our friends will be arriving in Tortola around 5 pm and we plan on meeting them at the ferry dock.
Decided to go to West End early and check out the Ample Hamper Too. They have quite a good selection. We prepared a list of provisions that we would need on Jost. They told us they would pack it up for us and we could pick it up in the morning before catching the ferry to Jost. Perfect!!!
Our friends, Reggie and Debbie, arrived around 5:30 pm. It’s fun to meet someone coming into the BVI for the first time! Headed back to Rhymer’s for the night and went to Myett’s for dinner. The food at Myett’s is terrific!
Saturday, December 4, 2004
Up at 6 am and checked out of Rhymer’s around 8:30 and headed for the Ample Hamper Too. They had everything packed up and ready to go for us. Great service!
Made the 10 am ferry to JVD, and arrived around 11 am. We’ll be here for the next 2 weeks.
Arrived at the Pink House and it’s perfect! Unpacked and hit the beach! Tommy and I never made it past Ivan’s. We stayed there all day.
Noticed that this year there were a lot more boats in White Bay than last year.
Went to Foxy’s for Dinner.
After reading my journal, I realized that from December 5th thru the 19th there wasn’t a lot to write about. This vacation was all about relaxing and unwinding. I’ve been traveling weekly since July and Tommy has been working extensively on our business. So, this vacation was not about DOING, it was about UNWINDING and enjoying time with each other. So from here on out, here are the highlights:
Highlights from December 5 through December 19th.
Highlights from the trip
Dinner at Spaghetti Junction with Stan and Karen (skman), Misti and Gary(tortola lola), Gary and Gerry(owe), Cheryl at the Purple Pineapple, and John & Mari (topalof). April at Spaghetti Junction is fabulous. April and John’s new location is very nice and of course the food is spectacular. (Thank you April for the bottles of wine and after dinner drinks!) We’ll be back! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />
Meeting up with Gary and Gerry (owe) at Soggy Dollar. (Tommy and I were at Soggy Dollar having a couple of drinks. I saw this couple walking up from the water, I knew them! It was Gary and Gerry that we met at Spaghetti Junction a couple of weeks ago! This is fun, meeting people from TTOL)
Ivan’s BBQ!!!! Met up with Gary and Gerry for Ivan’s Thursday night BBQ. Lots of Fun!
Having breakfast with Gary and Gerry at the Pink House. (We had food left over that we needed to eat before leaving, so we invited them up for breakfast) If you ever get a chance to meet this couple, DO. They are wonderful people!
Boarding Gary and Gerry’s boat: On Eagle’s Wing and motoring to Little Harbor for dinner at Sydney’s Peace and Love. (Gary and Gerry invited us onto their beautiful sail boat “On Eagle’s Wing”, we motored over to Little Harbor, moored, had a couple of beers, and went to Sydney’s Peace and Love for dinner that night).
Patouche Powerboat Day Snorkel
Enjoyed a day of snorkeling on Patouche’s Powerboat Sandy Cay for a day of snorkeling, just the 4 of us. (Tricia, Tommy, Reggie, and Debbie)
Joe and Julie were on vacation, but we were able to see Debbie and Clive once again. They are such great people!
Snorkeled the Baths
Snorkeled the Rhone
Snorkeled Angel’s Reef
Snorkeled Miner’s Bay
Lunch at Willy T’s (saw a jumper)
Snorkel Day Trip with Charles on JVD
Snorkeled Sandy Cay
Snorkeled Green Cay
Ate at Foxy’s Taboo
Visited the Bubbly Pool (loved the bubbly pool!!!!)
Earthquake Tremor
Saturday, December 11, 2004. Tommy and I were sitting on the patio (of course) at the Pink House when we heard this ROAR behind the house. Then the floor started shaking and the patio columns were moving. It lasted about 30 seconds. This was a FIRST for us. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Occurred at 3:45 pm. (Major notes for journal)
Octopus in the Pants
Decided to walk up the beach of White Bay towards the Soggy Dollar and snorkel down towards the Pink House one morning. Tommy found a conical shell on the ocean floor, he verified that nothing was in it and put it in his swim trunks pocket. About an hour later, we were in front of the Pink House and got out of the water. Tommy pulled out the conical shell to show me. All of a sudden something popped out, it was a baby octopus. We quickly scooped it back up into its shell and returned it to the water. Wow!!! What would have happened if that baby octopus had decided to come out of its’ shell while in Tommy swimming trunks??????? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Rofl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Rofl.gif" alt="" />
Cactus in the Fingers
Beware of the Cactus between the Soggy Dollar and Ivan’s. Tommy inadvertently “shook hands” with a cactus and ended up with about 30 cacti in his fingers. (And he didn’t have anything to drink!)
Tarantulas:
Yes, we saw 2 tarantulas on JVD. No biggie. Ivan said they weren’t the type that could jump 40 feet. (So, do they jump only 20 feet?) Got video on one for proof (and chills!).
Typical Day on JVD
Extracts from my journal on various days:
Today is a slow day. Spent a lot of time on the Pink House Patio and relaxed.
Walked, snorkeled, napped, sat in the sun, emptied a few bottles of beer,,, not all in that order.
Went to Soggy Dollar and Ivan’s A LOT!
Food Related
Ample Hamper Too at West End: provisioning was great! We went in the day before going to JVD, made out our list, and they had it packed and ready for us to pick up prior to boarding the ferry. Good Selections! Great Wine Selections!
Rudy’s on JVD: carries only the bare basics
Restaurants:
Spaghetti Junction: excellent!! Great BBC’s: Bailey’s, Banana Rum, Pina Colada Mix
Myett’s: great food
Big Banana: good PK’s
Rhymer’s: good breakfasts
WillyT’s: huge rotis!!! (saw a jumper)
Foxy’s BBQ: ok
Ivan’s BBQ: fantastic
Ali Baba’s: fantastic food and great bushwackers!
Corsairs: fantastic. Beer is really COLD and food is excellent!
Foxy’s Taboo: great pizza! fantastic hamburgers!
Sydney’s Peace and Love: excellent lobster!
Soggy Dollar: of course great PK’s and conch fritters.
(KC had broken his ankle so it was different not seeing him behind the bar)
Pink House Review
The Pink House on JVD is wonderful! The view from the patio and the bedroom is fantastic. We had a tendency of not moving off of the patio during the day, because we had the shade, breeze, a great view, and a refrigerator not far away with cold drinks. The Pink House has ceiling fans in every room, including the outside patio. But they also provide floor fans, which really helped in keeping the air moving to warn off the mosquitoes. The Pink House had everything we needed. We are so happy that we were able to stay there for two weeks. The property manager Olivia runs the Superette in White Bay and is a shear delight to visit with. The Pink House is a very special place and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />
The things to remember about JVD: everything is basic, no frills. I realize that some folks have different expectations, but JVD is low-key, low maintenance, and very basic.
Things to bring: flashlights for walking up the beach at night, mosquito coils, and citronella candles.
December 18, 2004
St Thomas
Left JVD to Tortola, then on to St. Thomas for a night. Remember, we have been in the BVI for almost 3 weeks, we felt like we were “jolted” back into our normal life: lots of traffic, people, stoplights, and noise! Stayed at the Marriott which we REALLY enjoyed the air-conditioned bedroom!!!! Ate at Cuzzin’s for supper, which was great!
Left to return home to Raleigh on the 19th and entered 19-degree weather that night!
We have great memories, pictures, and videos of our 3-week vacation.
Already planning next year’s trip!
Amazing Findings
Skin So Soft: works great on repelling mosquitoes
Deet: 100%, yes it does create rashes on your skin. (My big fupa)
Lysol: specifically for those places with window air-conditioning units.
Fewer clothes: yes, I already made my list for next year. We still over packed. I had 3 weeks of clothes for both of us in one carryon, and it was still too many!
