BVI's
Kirofbrixham
Mon 26 Apr 2010 18:21
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Dear Reader,
Welcome to the first blog of Graeme and Patti's
holiday in the British Virgin Islands and the prelude to the Atlantic Adventure
Part 3.
We arrived in Tortola on Saturday 24/4 after 18
hours travelling to be met by Ian. On the way we also met Lynn, very
briefly, as she arrived in Antigua airport for her much delayed flight home and
just before we boarded our connecting flight to Tortola. We must have had
all of 3 minutes in the departure lounge before we went our reciprocal ways but
it was really good to see her. Having had to blag our way through
immigration because Ian had failed to send us a letter saying we were joining
Kir it was also great to see him as we exited the arrivals hall.
Tortola airport is an interesting place. It
is only big enough for turbo jets or private jets and is built on recalimed land
at the end of Beef Island. The favoured way of dropping off or picking up
crew is to anchor or pick up a bouy in Trellis Bay into which the runway juts
and which is no more than a 5 minute walk from the terminal. If you
know Ian, you know his aversion to marinas so it was no surprise that he chose
this route. So, off we marched, with far too much luggage, to the pontoon
only to be informed by said skipper that the outboard had coughed and died just
as he was coming to meet us so we would have to paddle out to Kir. After
such a long journey, we were very weary but the prosepct of a cold beer and
something to eat drove us on. After about 200m, with Ian being vague about
where the boat actually was and the light fading, the initial enthusiasm quickly
wore off. Luckily a young lady on a nearby boat saw our plight and took
pity. This damsel seeing our distress, roused her boyfirend and between
them and their tender towed us to Kir, for which we were truly
grateful.
We managed to stay awake until about 9pm (2am UK
time) before taking to our bunks. Graeme was up about 7am the following
morning, followed by Patti and finally, the one person who had no excuse, the
skipper.
Sunday has been pretty good. 29C, an easterly
force 4, 50% cloud. We left Trellis bay at about 11am, having watched a
few incredibly incompetent crews leave or pick up moorings and motored to a
small bay, Lee Bay, on the west side of Great Camanoe. For most of
the day we had the bay to ourselves, swimming, watching the Pelicans diving for
fish, lunching, more swimming and catching a few more much needed zzzzs.
You can imagine how hard it has been. Later in the day we were joined by
three other boats but it is hardly crowded. Tonight, it is steak frites
and as its nearly ready, time to sign off and open the wine.
More soon.
Graeme, Patti and Ian on Kir.
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