18:25.6N  64:39.6W

 

Welcome to the British Virgin Islands! That’s where we are currently, in Tortola, home to the BVIs capital, Road Town. But, on this set of islands, later!

 

The last blog began to describe St Maarten, the Dutch and French island, which lagoon we anchored in. There isn’t much else to say about it, except that it was a very good place to stock up on chandlery things and that we met up with a friend called Gerry Bryant, who Mum and Dad met on the rally. We had dinner with him, his 2 cruising friends and Moxie at a restaurant called Lagoonies. Also, that Kerry and I have now got 3 braids on our hair, that we acquired for $6, while on the beach!

 

On the 7th February, we woke up at 4.00 in the morning to sail to the Virgin Islands. A section of the Virgin Islands are called the BVIs and those are only part of the Virgin Islands we have seen and are going to see. After a long sail (of which I slept half way through!), we arrived at Virgin Gorda and anchored near The Baths. We went for a fun expedition into The Baths, which are rock formations by the beach. The mysterious atmosphere, that is created by the shafts of light playing along the water that covers the sandy floors, makes you believe that a buccaneer of old will soon come hobbling around the corner! We also did some snorkelling in the adjoining bay, where Kerry and I saw a ray and a small turtle!

Kerry exploring the Baths.

 

 

Then on the 9th, it was Mum’s birthday, when she turned 46, despite her pretences at 42 (the answer to life, the universe and everything, according to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)! She received from Kerry an embroidered tea towel, from Dad a pair of paua shell boat earrings and I gave her a bracelet I made from Fimo (a type of coloured clay you put in the oven to harden). We sailed to Buck Island the same day.

 

The next day Kerry and I had our birthday! We both turned 13 and I’m still kind of adjusting to being a teenager! Our parents gave us their iPhones in return for ours. This was a great swap since we both had 3GS and they had iPhone 4s! Kerry made a beautiful To Do list book and also gave me a pencil with an iguana on it, whom I have named Marty after the island he was bought; St Maarten. I gave Kerry a necklace made out of Fimo. Gerry and his friends also came for a celebratory drink and Kerry and I received a cookbook and a book containing the answers to questions you thought you knew, but don’t. For example, did you know that Henry VIII had 2 wives, not 6?

 

The next day we sailed for Norman Island, where we saw a metre large ray eating. Soper’s Hole was next and I bought a T-Shirt that had 3 Caribbean puppies (complete with sunnies, dreadlocks and tie-dye shirts!), while Kerry’s where kittens dressed similarly.

 

Having a drink in Soper’s Hole.

 

Now we’re in Cane Garden Bay, a quite beautiful bay, surrounded by jungles, golden beaches and beach bars (sadly, with rather loud music).

 

Making use of the sun in one of Cane Garden Bay’s beach bars.

The picture-perfect beaches of Cane Garden Bay.

 

Tomorrow, the 14th, we set off for the Spanish Virgin Islands, 2 islands that are part of Puerto Rico which in turn is a USA territory. Soon, we’ll say farewell to the incredible Caribbean and howdy to the root’n, toot’n US of A!

 

So, Happy Valentines Day for tomorrow and I hope that, for all you people in England, that, as a Valentines present, England gives you some dry and sunny weather!

From,

Robyn