Gun Creek

Stream
Darrell Jackson and Sarah Barnes
Wed 19 Feb 2014 19:28
18:29.41N 64:22.85W

Whether to go or not? That was the question. To return to St Martin was journey of 82 miles going direct. However, with the winds being in the direction they usually are it meant a headwind. So we were keeping a watch on the weather files to look for the wind changing to more north of easterly. It looked that this would be more favourable at the beginning of the next week. So for our last weekend in the BVI's we decided to head back up to Virgin Gorda North Sound, because we had liked it so much and knew there was some walking we could do.

We also wanted to explore Gun Creek because we had been told it was being developed and was a port of entry; Customs and Immigration! This would mean we could check out and leave from the sound, which would meant we were further north and give us a better tack on the return journey. So we sailed across the channel up to the sound. We had to drop sails early and motor into the sound so we didn't interfere with the racing that had been going on all week. It was quite a sight looking at the eight international boats racing around their course, watched by a number of smaller vessels and motor cruisers. We anchored of Gun Creek just before lunch, and were intrigued by a floating platform in the bay with warning notices on it. It was too far away for us to read them so had to get closer to find out that it was the sea plane disembarking platform. On the ferry jetty the local children were having fun throwing each other off the end. It is the same wherever there is a jetty, water and children!
We dinghied into Gun Creek and were impressed by the new terminal building that had been opened in 2012. It was the ferry/sea plane terminal and customs and immigration. Darrell made a note of the opening times and we went to explore.
In the boat yard they have a dry stacking unit for motor boats, like an automatic multi story boat park, very sophisticated. There was a well stocked supermarket with a variety of goods for boats, cars and provisions, but a checkout girl who kept disappearing to the boat yard. We did some shopping and then went in search of a drink and food. We were directed to the local bar and deli. This was an experience: there were two tables, one at which a very noisy game of dominoes was in progress, the other had one seat where a man was eating out of a polystyrene container, a meal that he extolled the virtues to us with great emphasis. The drinks were self service from some fridges hidden behind an empty shelving stack. Most of the kitchen equipment was still in it plastic wrapping from new and the menu on the whiteboard was difficult to decipher. The clientele were locals and workers from the high end resorts around the sound. Darrell wanted to try the food but Sarah was too confused, so we just had drinks. Apart from that there was little else in Gun Creek, so we upped anchor and motored across to Saba Rock, happy hour and wifi were calling us!

Sunday 16th February.
Walking the trails around the sound.
We set off on a trail from Bitter End and were soon scrambling up rocks on a path up the hill. It was only 400ft high but it got the lungs and heart working a treat. It also gave us some fabulous view over the sound and out across to Necker Island and the reef. We dropped down into Deep Bay and across the raked sand beach of the Biras Creek resort and wandered around to find the path that led along the Rock Ledge trail, which went through Biras Creek. We lunched at the Fat Virgin Cafe, although we were unsure whether to stay as it is not normal usually for an eating establishment to only have one member of staff and twenty people waiting to be served. However, when the ferry arrived so did the rest of the staff!
After lunch we continued along the mangrove trail and back to Bitter End. The walk was exactly what we needed to stretch our legs. We were lucky enough to see hummingbirds, yellow warblers, a smooth billed ani (large black bird with parrot-like beak and a long tail) and iguanas.