First Class Passageros
Oriole
Sun 26 Feb 2006 14:40
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Cathie and Charles' flight from Antigua to Tortola
was running on Island
Time and so was the little ferry to Marina Cay where Oriole was anchored. We met them at the airport but it was late by the time we got on board but supper was well prepared and we were up early after a good nights sleep for the rigors of the charter.  Better late
than never, C&C arrive on Island Time.
On Monday we sailed over to the Baths on Virgin Gorda where the sea washes through enormous boulders piled up making enclosed
and covered pools for
swimming. Our observations of hoards of our
transatlantic cousins supported
the notion that their legs are becoming vestigial
which certainly does not apply
to their abdomens. Then on to Gorda Sound for
the
night, before a close reach for the 20 miles out to Anagada a low sandy island surrounded by coral reefs where lobsters breed in profusion. We dined in a beach restaurant and consumed 4x2 pound lobsters between us. 
Dinner in preparation.
The next day we worked it all off on hired bicycles
and all ended up with very
sore bums after struggling on the sand roads which needed great care to prevent coming to a prostrate halt in deep sand. Nevertheless we had a great day and swam on one of the windward beaches and retired exhausted back to Oriole.  A
bit warmer than Princes Street.
Charles has been horrified by the high tech
conveniences on
Oriole and felt justified when John had to spend an afternoon in the anchor chain locker fixing the electric windlass. Full running rig was brought out for the return trip to Tortola where we anchored in a quiet bay with excellent snorkling and flocks of pelicans feasting on the shoals of fish. Friday night is barbeque night in Jost van Dyke where there was more gastronomic excess and even a little dancing on the beach to the strains of live reggae. Today we are snorkling into caves, and joining with another yacht to barbeque on the beach. Tuesday is changeover day and we wait to see if the charterers survive the course. |