Much Ado About Very Little

The natives back home in the States are getting restless...they're not happy about the low number of blogs I've been publishing. I think it may have something to do with the coooool temperatures up north. I sort of remember what that was like, but considering the temps here...about 80 almost everyday...it is just so hard to get motivated to do more than I do. So I've set down my rum/orange juice and decided to write a little about what we've been doing for the last week or so.

While snorkling around Trellis Bay, I came across a large shark-looking fish (about 4' to 5' long) swimming under me. I didn't have a clue what it was, and neither did others that I described it to. Finally, I ran across someone who suggested it might be a shark remora. What I know of remoras couldn't fit in more than this paragraph, but I do believe that remoras live most of their lives attached to fish larger than themselves, so one would have to wonder how large the host fish would need to be to have a remora this large attached to it. Since I didn't get a photo of the one I saw, I got permission from an online site http://www.thejump.net/  to post one of theirs:

After leaving Trellis Bay, we stopped in Marina Cay and bought a couple of nice sun hats for all of the sun we've had to deal with. We also met Charlie in the dive shop (BVI Scuba) who is working and sending $$ back home to the States for his family. Charlie says that he and his family hope to relocate from Florida to Wyoming someday. He, and his instructor Neal (from the UK,) invited us on a dive around the reef, and we didn't hesitate to say yes. We didn't see any large fish, but we did see a small green sea turtle and a quite a few of the smaller reef fish. Everyone got the chance to play with a small arrow crab...except Karen...she was satisfied to watch us handle the little spidery-looking critter. I didn't get a pic of it but here's one that you can see by going to this link  http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/sertc/images/photo%20gallery/arrow.jpg There were a lot of gorgonians and sponges, but most of the coral was "tired looking"...not in very good health. We've been snorkling on the east side of Marina Cay and the coral is much healthier there.

Charlie

 

Karen





 

A somewhat smaller remora trying to attach itself to Charlie's tank



Juvenile grouper

Neal and Karen in a forest of gorgonians



Later that evening, we went to the island for the Eric Stone show...he replaced Michael "Beans" Gardener, who has moved on to perform his pirate show at Leverick Bay Resort in Virgin Gorda. Eric plays a wide variety of music, much of it his own compositions. Although he would cringe if he read this, I think his music is similar in fashion to Jimmy Buffett or Christoper Cross (you remember him don't you?) Anyway, we had a great time and really recommend his show to anyone headed this way.

Eric Stone at Marina Cay

The next day, Karen and I motored north between Scrub and Gt. Camino Islands and set sail, going about 6 miles north into the Atlantic, then tacked back towards the islands, then back out/in again, eventually making the entry into the North Sound of Virgin Gorda. Along the way, we caught a small skipjack tuna. We had no idea that it had been hooked on our line, as there wasn't any action. Of course, being towed on 50# test at 5 knots for about an hour would take the fight out of any fish less than 20" long. The fillets sure tasted good, and as an added bonus, the meat was already "tenderized"!!



Holding the new world-record skipjack tuna



No ciguatera here!

In the evening we went to shore and sat at a table on the beach, $10 drinks in hand to watch the Michael "Beans" pirate show. He says he's really happy with the new venue and with new stage being built for him. We really liked the setup on the beach, where you can watch his show with sand between your toes.

Happy, Happy, Happy
(notice the tans from the incessant sun)

Leverick Bay's most famous pirate!

Yep, she's all mine

When you are near the beaches in these islands, the mosquito and "no-seeum" population can be pretty nasty so most of the bars and restaurants have a ready solution for everyone.

Right up there in necessity with the condiments!