Leinster Bay Mosquito War

Karen and I decided to make a side stop to Leinster Bay, on the North side of St. John, USVI. I think this is our favorite island so far. It is really rustic, with minimal population, and many historical sites still partially intact. This is the same island that we toured in the Jeep and visited Tektite.

Leinster Bay is a quiet bay and reminded us of times in the 5th wheel...you find your spot and then go to the US Park Service pay station and put your $ in an envelope. We spent the evening snorkling in the reef areas, seeing many fish, coral and sponges. Karen spotted a fish (google  stoplight parrotfish) hassling a small stingray (eagle ray) by hovering over it wherever the ray went. The ray would get ticked off and try to fly to another spot, but the fish kept right above it the whole time.

Later, we took the dinghy ashore and hiked up to the Annaberg Sugar Mill ruins. These were constructed in the late 1700's and early 1800's to process sugar cane (with slave labor) into molasses, sugar and rum. Along the way back to the dinghy, we were assaulted with millions of mosquitos. They didn't seem to mind the massive quantities of Deep Woods Off we had already put on. In fact, it may have been a "turn on" for them, as they seemed to relish the challenge of biting. They even followed us to our boat. We got the best of them by adding 2 more coats of Off. It seems the multiple chemical layers may have been too deep for their little snouts. I seem to have either developed an immunity to the little buggers, but Karen has a real inviting blood type. She was covered in war wounds. The sad thing is that she seldom feels the bite, just the aftermath. I killed at least 7 on her back on the return trip to the boat. Most of them had got a piece of her before they were crushed, leaving little blood spots all over her back...I didn't share that last part with her, though, because she was already miserable enough. She had read that Brewer's Yeast pills would help to make a person less appetizing, so she's been taking them. It appeared that the Leinster Bay mosquitos have no respect for those type of efforts.

I am "bite-free" Sandy

Cane Garden Bay (Tortola) Diamond Cay (Jost Van Dyke)

Sailing to Cane Garden Bay, on the East end of Tortola, was a real treat! We were able to do some sailing in higher wind that exceeded 20 kts. We were "running" downwind some of the time and we saw 7.5kts of SOG (speed over the ground)  Most of the time we averaged about 6 kts. Arriving in Cane Garden Bay was a easy transition, as it is sheltered from the winds and the bottom of the bay held the anchor well. We took our dinghy to shore and walked around looking at some of the buildings and sites. Cane Garden Bay hosts the BVI Music Festival each year in May. The village there is very laid back and appears it would be a wonderful place to spend some time.

Our next stop was to the East end of Jost Van Dyke, to Diamond Cay and check out "Foxy's Taboo" restaurant. We had heard that "Foxy's", in Great Harbor/Jost Van Dyke was a nice dining experience. The sail over there was a little less windy, but we still made good time. Arriving in the main area to anchor the boat, we discovered that most of the area was already taken by permanent moorings... all of the minor and major harbors in the BVI and USVI have been covered in these things, that are either privately owned or you have to pay ($25/night) . They are great for the people that put them in, but it squeezes out most of the opportunities for folks like us that would rather use their anchor and save a few bucks. Anyway, we ended up motoring around the corner of Diamond Cay and found that we could anchor in a secluded small bay all by ourselves...we actually were a little worried to be there, though, because we wondered why the other 15 boats didn't do that. Just to be a little cautious, Karen suggested we try out using 2 anchors instead of the 1 we normally use. So...out into the dinghy I went, motored around to the front of our boat and  Karen slowly lowered the 35# anchor, 20' of 3/8" chain and then fed out the 150' of 5/8" line....SHE-GIRL!! Later, we ate a great meal at Foxy's. While there, we learned there was a natural pool formed in a crevice open to the ocean waves. What fun!!! We laid in the pool and a wave would come crashing through the gap and fill the pool about a foot more or so. It sure made the water bubbly...like champagne. It did take us a while to get there because of the poor directions on a map we saw at the restaurant. We joined other dinner guests and discovered two of them were liveaboards like us. They had recently brought their catamaran sailboat to the area in a rally called the "Caribbean 1500". There were about 80 boats participating. Our boat broker, Todd Duff, happened to have his boat in it.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

We want to wish everyone a wonderful, peaceful and happy Thanksgiving. Karen and I have soooo much to be thankful for. The LORD has lavished us with wonderful and supporting families and friends, our health and the opportunity that allows us to live a lifestyle such as ours. We pray that all of your lives are happy and fullfilled to the brim with the LORD's blessings.

Love Sandy and Karen

Virgin Island Information link and other stuff!

Hi Everyone,



Numerous followers of our blog are interested in where we are each day or where the locations are that we mention. We are including a link area in the side bar of the blog that you can go to that will let you search maps, items of interest in our locations, etc. Since we are really newbies at all of this, please let us know in the comment section of the blog of any suggestions, problems, or other info that could improve the blog. Scott Newpower, from BIL ATCT, has given me some insight on how to make available some of the video we have taken that we've been unable to post as of late. Stayed tuned for more!


Sandy

Lee Bay, Great Camanoe Island, BVI

Hello again, everyone...

I am Sandy...and answer as "El Capitan" once in awhile also. We stayed 2 nights in Lee Bay, Great Camanoe Island, BVI and now we are in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, BVI. Since the adventure at Cane Garden isn't yet finished, I will tell you about Lee Bay.

We haven't been able to do a lot of sailing, as the winds have either been exactly opposite to the direction we needed to go, the timeline was too short to sail or the winds too light. This time we chose to go from Marina Cay around to East of Scrub Island, then turned West to the Western side of Great Camanoe then South to Lee Bay. We were able to catch some moderate winds...about 10 kts...along the way and most of the time we were "running" with the wind at our backs.

After arriving at the bay, we cooled off by snorkling. We went over to an area against the Southern cliffs of the bay and discovered a school of small 2" fish that had to have numbered in the millions. There were so many that you couldn't even see the bottom 10' away without them moving. Then, I noticed a huge fish swimming away under the school. Karen and I waited and "It" returned along with some of his buddies. They were tarpon...about 4' long and they just swam under us and kept us in view. It was almost as though they were checking us out! Later, in the center of the bay, we noticed a stingray trying to avoid detection in the sand about 20' below us.

We celebrated our 10th anniversary that evening with fried chicken, snow peas and mashed potatoes with gravy.

The next morning we took our dinghy to shore, brought out the recently purchased coconut machete and I started to make some morning dessert. On our return to the boat, the folks on the other boat that anchored there with us, called us over to introduce themselves...Capt. Shawn, Sheri, Karen and John. When we told them that "no, we weren't on a charter...that we lived on our boat and were retired" they wanted to give us all of their unused provisions, since they needed to take their boat back and fly to New Hampshire. Like a light that clicked on, we both realized that we may have stumbled on an opportunity that might keep on working if we exploited this concept more. Needless to say, we told them that we would be glad to receive their hospitality. This turned into a bounty of about $100 worth of food and supplies. Now, we need to start befriending other home-bound charter people and see what happens. Stayed tuned...a whole new cottage industry may be born for pirates like us. Regardless, we hope to run into them again soon...and return the favor or provide them with a meal or accomodations; They all seem as though they want to do what we are doing. That afternoon after our new friends left, we were alone in the bay and enjoyed a daylight shower on the stern...YEAH! Normally, we have to wait until after dark.

On some of the attached pics you can see what our "front, side, and back yards" look like...we sure enjoy the views here!

Latitudes and Attitudes, 2009 International Party

November 17,

After we left St. Thomas, we had to motorsail along the whole Southern side of Tortola, around the Eastern side of Beef Island, then to Marina Cay for the Latitudes and Attitudes party on the 19th. This took us over 6 1/2 hours. Along the way, we stopped in Soper's Hole, Tortola, to clear through BVI Customs. We hooked onto a temporary mooring ball and I used the dinghy to go over to the Customs dock. Mooring balls are float balls that are permanently attached to the sea floor with cable or heavy line. They are much easier to use than anchoring, but most are available only by paying a fee to someone...usually $25/night. We avoid these, when possible, to save on our expenses. Anchoring is free.

The party was a real success, and we made many new friends. Jim Palmer came to the party with us...he is the captain that taught Karen and I how to sail. I have a new favorite drink...the "painkiller" made with rummmmm...ooops...sorry about that momentary lapse. Four of those and I was having a great time. Even Karen enjoyed them! The band members gave a number of the guests, including Karen, maracas to play along with the music. There was also a conch horn blowing contest...to find out who could make a "horn" sound the longest. I could only blow it for 17 seconds because I was laughing so much...or maybe it was because of the 2nd painkiller. Anyway, the winner blew it continuously for over 24 seconds. I believe the record is about 73 seconds.

For those of you who would like to use the recipe of the painkiller to toast Karen and I on our 10th wedding anniversary...Nov. 20...here it is:

It comes in 3 strengths...no's 2, 3, or 4!

2, 3, or 4 oz of aged Rum, preferably "Pusser's Navy Rum"

4 oz pineapple juice

1 oz cream of coconut

1 oz orange juice

Combine the juices and cream of coconut, add the rum, blend and serve on the rocks, grate fresh nutmeg on the top, enjoy, but be careful and avoid drinking too many!

I will be following up on the next 2 anchorages...Lee Bay on Great Camanoe Island and then Cane Garden Bay on Tortola.

Catch you then!

Hello again,

As I said previously, here's the "scoop" on our next trip...St. Thomas. We anchored in Charlotte Amalie, the main harbor. That's it in the background behind Karen. It wasn't a lot of fun being there due to the wave action coming into the side of the boats. (The wind kept us pointing towards the East and the waves come into the harbor from the South.) During the 7 nights we anchored there, we saw no less than 13 cruise ships...Princess, Carnival, Disney, Costa, etc. We also spent time shopping at Kmart and the grocery stores to reprovision our boat and add some "homeiness" stuff like throw pillows and rugs.

On one of the days, we invited our friend Tobie Welch (Karen's scuba instructor) and Ron Sharpe (a friend we met on the airplane ride from the states to the Caribbean) onto our boat and went scuba diving off of the coast of Buck Island, BVI. The water was fairly clear...about 60' of visibility at 60' of depth. Ron is waving, in the one picture and the other is of Karen below me about 15'. The other pic is of a sea turtle Ron had found and then brought me over to take a pic of. The interesting thing for me is that the picture shown has been rotated 180 degrees. In other words, I was unable to take it from a normal perspective because of the close confines. I had to sink upside down in a vertical position to snap the photo. Tobie and Ron have asked to go out again, soon, so I guess we didn't scare them too bad! Tobie has also told us he plans on showing how to catch, prepare, and cook our own lobster and conch. This makes me think that we should stop typing, so that you all won't be drooling on your keyboards.

I will update you next on the sail back to the BVI. SEEE YAAA

Hi Everyone, this is Sandy

Long time, no talk! We've been without internet for some time. There is marginal coverage and it tend to be "island specific". In other words, what works in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) won't work in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

Shortly after our last blog, we traveled to St. John USVI. We rented a Jeep for a day to travel around the island, seeing many wonderful sights. These included overlooks over the ridgeline of the island, goats/sheep on the roads, a lot of termite nests (?) in the trees, and the "Tektite" sight on the SE side of the island. Google "Tektite" for cool info. on the 1969/1970 project! This year was the 40th anniversary of the original "aquanauts".

We also spent time learning to be better PIRATES!! We pretended to be guests at a fabulous resort on St. John, getting served drinks and snacks, by accident. Then we used their beautiful pool and had many drinks. Yes, we paid for the pool drinks. We also sneaked onto their lobby internet computer to check emails (it sure was a slow computer) and swapped books at their used book exchange. We met some new friends at the pool, Paul and Lisa, who kept our pirating secret to themselves. They were really interested in learning more about our lifestyle and we hope to see them out on the water someday.

The anchorages we have been to have produced some great friends as well. Mike and Kathy Cooke and their daughter Captain Cooke (Leslie) were very helpful and kind. Mike even gave a cool flagpole to fly the US flag from and a shirt for me. Leslie has promised to take Karen snorkling for conch to make stew or other meals from. Kathy and Mike have told us all of the different ways to prepare it.

I will post the next blog in a few minutes about our next trip...St. Thomas, USVI

Take care and write back when able!!

Full Moon Fireball Party

Karen here....I haven't written in awhile, but had to share our indredible evening last night. We went to the Full Moon Party at Trellis Bay, BVI last night. Incredible! Had large Fireballs in the ocean, stilt walkers, and a great carribean band. We still can't believe that we are not on vacation. We actually live here! We anchored in Trellis Bay yesterday for the night and took our dinghy to shore for the party.

Today at noon, we are suppose to meet Michael Sawyer on shore at the cyber cafe. He is flying in.... the airport is a five minute walk to cyber cafe for him, and a three minute dinghy ride for us. Michael is the guy we met online who set us up with Captain Jim who taught us to sail. Michael has offices in Seattle and Canada. He is flying here for a Charter Boat show. We have talked him on the phone several times, but haven't met in person yet. Should be a fun visit!

We are meeting some really great people. It is so nice to have friends here!