Sunday 20th April Village Cay marina, Road Town, Tortolla, BVI
Spellbinder
Sun 20 Apr 2008 15:03
On Tuesday the sun was back, and we motored three miles up the coast to Cinnamon bay, the location of a national park camp site, and handy for a road trip into the main town of Cruz. Beautiful bay, plenty of national park mooring buoys, and only a couple of other yachts, so we decided to stay on until Thursday. Took a taxi into Cruz for shopping and exploring, not much to recommend the town in terms of architecture or history, but a pleasant enough spot and free of the frenetic duty free shopping which so put us off St Thomas. A very good national park visitor centre, with some informative leaflets about the island. Back to the boat after lunch, and in to the beach to get Marjorie used to the snorkel, as there is a good reef, and lots of turtles around. After supper, black maria voted down in favour of scrabble, which led to some interesting discussions on acceptable words - "vroom", "quo" and several others. The boat needs a dictionary if this is to become a regular game!
Wednesday morning we set off for a walk along the old Danish road up onto the ridge that runs down the centre of the island. A good stiff climb, which took about an hour, through unspoilt forest. At the top, Henry set off to find a lift into Cruz, to check out from the USVI, while Marjorie and Martin walked back down, pausing en route to look around a set of sugar mill ruins. Finally got back to the camp site just as Henry appeared in a taxi, with tales of the folk he had met on the ridge road, and lifts in a cement mixer lorry and a pick up truck. As ever in our experience, the locals are very friendly and happy to chat. In the afternoon back in to the beach for more snorkel lessons, while Henry went off to walk around the sugar mill. Marjorie finally got the hang of it, and there was no stopping her, amazed by the beauty of the reef around the cay just off the beach. Finally emerged from the sea to be greeted by Dale and Wendy, who we had met earlier at Leinster bay, so another very friendly chat with them before returning onboard. Lovely Mahi Mahi fish for dinner, and then back to black maria. A cunning play by Marjorie led to a surprise defeat for Henry, perhaps three weeks is too long a stay for a visitor!
Thursday it was time to head back to Tortolla, but Marjorie was not finished with snorkelling, so after breakfast we set off in the dinghy to look for turtles in the sea grass beds near to the boat. Rewarded by close encounters with several, including one very large specimen. Made a farewell visit to the cay, using the dinghy to get to a less accessible part of the reef, again wonderful sights of fish, sea fans and coral. Back onboard for coffee, and then set sail. A lovely day, with a force 4 south easter, which gave us splendid beat to windward up the Francis Drake channel, reaching Road Town, Totolla in about three and a half hours.Settled in to Village Cay marina, and then rewarded ourselves with dinner ashore.
Friday morning was a boat jobs morning, with a good internal clean out and general re-organize ready for the forthcoming passage up to Bermuda. After lunch Marjorie spotted the chance of one more snorkel, so took a taxi over to Brewers bay on the opposite side of the island. Slightly intimidating surf running, but managed a swim, and were suitably reminded just how favoured we were over on St John. Marjorie then cooked us a lovley dinner, and then was gracious enough to loose the final game of black maria!
The alarm went off at 4.30 am on Saturday morning, and Marjorie departed for the airport at 5am for her flight to Antigua and the connection back home. Another morning of boat work, sorting out stowages and re-organising ahead of the next arivals, due Sunday evening. Then a trip to the supermarket, and a taxi back with lots of provisions, all to be stowed away, and entered into the J M Rabbit memorial victualling record system - many thanks Bunny! Dinner ashore and an early bed.
Today it is more boat jobs, and we await the arrival of Eric, Jane and Rosie, who will be with us for the next two weeks until we get to Bermuda.