Trip to the BVI from Feb. 1st-Feb. 8th.
Travelers: myself (Brian), Kim (wife), Scott & Joni (friends from Omaha).

Thurs 02/01 (my birthday). Arrived STT around 10 pm. Scott&Joni flew Omaha to ORD, we met them there (we live in Chicago) and went on to MIA and then STT. All flights were uneventful and on time. All baggage intact upon arrival. Caught a cab to the Best Western Carib Beach. Could have almost walked...we couldn’t have been in the cab more than three minutes. Rooms were OK, but definitely nothing special...only $140 though. The bad part was that everything at the hotel was closed and we found out after checking in that there was nothing in walking distance. So, no birthday drink for me. No working TV either for that matter, so off to bed and ready for an early rise the next day.

Fri 02/02. Woke early and had breakfast at the hotel. Caught a cab to the Smith Ferry dock to catch the 8:35 am ferry to Roadtown. Boarded the Marie Elise (what a clunker) and took off into rough seas. This was the roughest water we encountered all week. Got very wet in the back of the ferry and a bit queasy on top of it. Arrived at Roadtown, cleared customs and back into another cab headed for Moorings/Nautic Blue. We had chartered a 37 foot power catamaran, however, upon arrival we were informed that someone had run our boat over a reef the day before. They told us the had good news though...they were upgrading us to a Leopard 47 foot sailboat. We were a bit leary...more boat than I had ever handled...and we don’t sail (I know sacriledge to many of you). They assured us the two diesels would move us along at a reasonable pace and we would enjoy the extra space on the boat. As it turns out, they were correct...we loved the boat.

After going through the drill of “orientation” on the Leopard 47, checking provisions, signing all the paperwork, etc., the folks at Nautic Blue noticed we had a fishing pole and asked about my fishing license. I told them everyone I talked to said not to worry about it...they are impossible to get and no one had ever been checked. They must have been pinched recently for telling people not to worry about a license, because they were pretty insistent I get one. So, back in the cab and off to the Magistrate’s office (or whatever the heck you call it) to get a license. Short story...took 45 minutes $55 total including cab ride.

Finally get on the boat, get a short on-water orientation from Capt. Dave and we’re off. Didn’t get far before our first issue. We put the dink up on the davits, but evidently didn’t get it up high enough out of the water. While still in the harbour, a wave came under the bottom of the boat (one thing I didn’t think of this being our first time on a cat), hit the dink and swung it out far enough to dump the oar, the anchor and the gas can out. So...they we are, doing circles around the gas can, trying to reach it off the back of the boat to grab it and get it back in the dink. After four times around, we grabbed it (luckily lost little or no fuel) and the oar and got everything secured. What a bunch of rookies!!

From there it was smooth sailing, but getting late. Sopers hole was packed, so we chanced it and went around to CGB where we were able to get a mooring. Ended up mooring right next to Paul and Carolyn aboard the Cattitude. Headed into Big Banana Paradise Club for a painkiller and then to Quito’s for dinner...great meal!. The view from Quito’s upper level at sundown is spectacular. After dinner, off to Bomba’s full moon party. I think we must have arrived too early and left too early, because none of us were impressed. Carolyn tried to warn us, but we had never been before so decided to check it out...need to go later next time, I guess. Left Bomba’s and headed back to Quito’s to hear his band. By midnight we were walking zombies and needed to retire.

Sat 02/03. Arose at a liesurely time and made breakfast. Scott and I headed over to Cattitude to get a personal tour from Paul & Carolyn. What a nice boat and what great people. I would really like to charter the Cattitude next year. Headed for Pelican Island after lunch...very rough across the Sir Francis Drake Channel and a bit of a challenge for our twin 56 hp diesel motors. Did some great snorkeling once we arrived. Not many others there. Had a pretty good sized barracuda hanging out under the boat the whole time we were there. After we got back to the boat, we realized they hadn’t filled us up with fresh water before we left Nautic Blue (rookie mistake...next time we’ll check). About the same time our galley faucet sprung a leak. So, back across the channel to Road Harbour to get water and our faucet fixed. Back again for dinner reservations at the Willy T. in the Bight at Norman Island. Got back across faster than the first time and were able to snorkel the caves before dark...really awesome at sunset. Quick showers and took the dinghy over to the Willy T. What a crazy place this is! Had great Mahi sandwiches on the “restaurant” side and checked out the “bar” side after dinner. Had a fantastic time...mostly just people watching! Witnessed body shots...got great pictures, but not sure that I should post them. Also, befriended a man named “Willy” from Pennsylvania who gave pretty much every woman in the bar a well placed tatoo by the end of the night. Did a few ski shots. Managed to run into Paul & Carolyn and their friends from New York again also. Just before we left we watched an “over-served” group make their way out. Funny to watch these people try and get in their dinks. One fella lost his shoes between the Willy T and his dink...he never did find them. There were so many dinks tied up, they had to tie over top of one another. Shortly after the “over-served” group left, we noticed the Cattitude’s dinghy floating away. The “over-served” didn’t tie it back up after untying their dink. Scott ran Paul out quickly in our dinghy to retrieve it. A bit of a fiasco, but kind of funny in retrospect.

Sun 02/04 Super Bowl Sunday. Had to go to JVD for Super Bowl Sunday. Went there right away so we could get a good spot in Great Harbour. Even arriving at 10 am, we were still out further than we anticipated...didn’t see anyone leave after we arrived either. Had some European folks show up next to us that sunbathed naked...different to see for a midwesterner like myself. Headed to Foxy’s after lunch to see what the Super Bowl arrangements were. They had three decent sized TVs set up and had tables arranged as best they could to accomodate as many as they could for the game. We went ahead and made reservations for game time. Got Greg Callwood to taxi us over to White Bay for painkillers at Gertrudes and then caught Ruben Chinnery at the Soggy Dollar. An absolutely beautiful way to spend a Super Bowl Sunday afternoon. The Soggy Dollar was quite busy and the vibe was great. This guy Ruben is very good! Also, happened to run into Shepster, noticed her husbands TTOL hat. Only got to say hello, as they were racing to catch the ferry back to Tortola. Headed back to Foxy’s about 5:30 pm. Shortly after arriving the whole island lost cable TV. Outright panic set in at Foxy’s as the Super Bowl was to start in less than an hour. Too late to head to a different island...we were stuck. Luckily it came back 30 minutes later to huge cheers from the crowd at Foxy’s. The Bears lost, but the atmosphere at Foxy’s was a lot of fun. Headed back to the boat after the game. We are Brown's fans and had our Browns flag flying all week. It's very easy to find your boat in a full harbour knowing you have to have the only Browns flag flying in the BVI on Super Bowl weekend when the Browns finished 4 and 12!

Mon 02/05. Went to Christine's for breakfast. I had heard good things about Christine's, but I have to tell you, we weren't impressed. It's basically just her kitchen...we had a muffin and a cup of coffee (paid dearly for the refill) and mosied around the beach for awhile. Back to the boat and headed for Diamnod Cay. Went to Foxy's Taboo for lunch. We really liked this place and our waiter, Louis, was fantastic. Took the hike to Bubbly Pool after lunch. The seas were calm, so not much activity at the pool, but we did have the place to ourselves, except for the dog that followed us from Foxy's Taboo. Since the pool was calm, we decided to venture out on the rocks where the water enters the pool. This was a mistake, because the first good wave that came through knocked us on our rears and bumped us along the rocks...Ouch!. For whatever reason, those scrapes from the rocks took two weeks plus to heal and itched like crazy...won't do that again! Walked back to Foxy's Taboo with our dog escort in tow and headed back to the boat. Motored over to Sandy Spit to do some snorkeling. Waters were rough, but the snorkeling was awesome. Saw a sea turtle and managed to get a few pictures. Snorkeled over top of him for probably five minutes and then, just like that, he surfaced and I never saw him again...great while it lasted. Back on the boat and headed for North Sound. About halfway into the trip though, we realized that with those two diesels pushing us at only 8 knots, we weren't going to make it before dark. So, plan B was to anchor at St. Thomas Bay, Spanish Town. Grilled steaks and headed into shore to catch a cab to the Rock Cafe. Got there around 8 pm and had the place to ourselves. We sat around the piano and listened to this guy play and sing (can't remember his name, but he was pretty good). Scott fell asleep in a chair at Rock Cafe, so we decided we had better head back to the boat.

Tues 02/06. Quick breakfast and headed to The Baths. Very crowded and no moorings available, so had to anchor outside the yellow markers. Tied up at the dinghy line and did some snorkeling. Not the best snorkeling we did all week, but fun none the less. Walked up the path to Top of the Baths and ran into Paul and Carolyn again...they must have thought we were stalking them since this was about the third time we had run into them. Great lunch at Top of the Baths and back down the path to check out the boulders of the Baths. Headed to Trellis Bay and got a mooring. Made a reservation at The Last Resort, showered and headed to see the Pirate Show at Marina Cay. We missed the ferry over to Marina Cay, so decided to take the dinghy over. Someone on this forum had recommended not to do this, but it was very calm and I had seen a few other dinghies go across the channel. It worked out great..nine minute trip from our boat to the dinghy dock. The dock was packed, couldn't hardly find a spot to tie off. Once we got to see Michael Bean's show, we knew why...it was great! Arrrgh! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/pirate.gif" alt="" /> Had a really good time and saw Paul and Carolyn AGAIN! (not a big surprise this time since Carolyn was the one who told us about the Pirate Show). Dinghied back across the channel, but had a momentary scare when our outboard quit right in the middle. Don't know what happened, but it started right back up...thank goodness...would have been a long row! (I don't suppose it had anything to do with us dumping our gas can in the water two days prior). The Last Resort had a little different atmosphere. There were a couple of large parties...one group we thought we heard say they were staying on Mosquito Island, but we wouldn't swear to it. The other different thing was that there were a few dogs and cats walking around the place. Didn't bother us any, but I could see where some folks may not like animals walking around the restaurant while they eat. We actually enjoyed it, and it didn't seem to bother anyone else who was there. Food and service were great! David the One Man Band started to play while we were eating. This guy is VERY good. A younger, unassuming guy, kinda shy...but man, he was really talented once he got going. Played every single request we threw at him...played both piano and guitar. Back to the boat for our last night aboard.

Wed 02/07. Awoke at 6:30 am to a beautiful sunrise in Trellis Bay. Had to head out by 7 am so we could have the boat back to the Moorings in Road Harbour. A beautiful morning and a great last trip on the water. A good way to remember the trip, but also makes it suck that much more that you have to leave. Maybe if the weather was awful, it would be easier to leave...I don't know. Got checked out at the Moorings, piled in a cab and headed for the ferry dock. The ferry trip back was much nicer than the one on the way over. Bigger boat and calm seas made a world of difference. Parted ways with Scott and Joni when we got to St. Thomas. They had an earlier flight than Kim and I, so they headed to the airport and we hit tourist central on St. Thomas for a few hours. We were both delayed 45 min to an hour in SJU, but nothing too bad. Got back in Chiago to 5 degree temps and 5 inches of snow on my car. Motored a boat in nothing but a pair of shorts in the morning and was scraping snow in 5 degree temps by that night...just wrong...just wrong I tell you!!

This was our first trip to the BVI and we will definitely be back! The greatest vacation we've ever had...just a FABULOUS time. We're already discussing our options for next year...I've got my eye on Cattitude!. Thank you to everyone on this site that helped us out before we left...this forum is very helpful.

I posted a few pictures to the following web site. Check out the great picture I got of Ruben Chinnery from Super Bowl Sunday. I hope this works as good as it looks like it might. I used putfile.com...it sure was easy.
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