>And the fun begins!

>

breakfast time

 

After waking early and having breakfast at our hotel, we took a cab to TMM Yacht Charters.  Our bags were unloaded from the cab and placed neatly on the dock.  We were waiting patiently for our approval to board the Martha R when it started to rain.  We quickly hurled our gear onto the Martha R and sat in the bimini covered cockpit, only to continue waiting patiently to officially start our cruise.  Jon and I were turning into limp noodles.  We had just gone from 5% humidity in Phoenix to 75% (and climbing) in Road Harbor. 

At 11am (30 minutes early!) our provisions arrived, and so did Sam, who was going to give Captain Jon the lowdown on the vessel and her operation. (Sam was one and a half hours late)  We had it timed so the captain’s meeting would be complete before the provisions arrived.  Suffice it to say, that didn’t work out so Susan and I put away the provisions while Jon and Jeff learned about the boat.

the calm before the storm

Once that chaotic flurry of activity was over, we had to go out on a little cruise with Sam so he could show us the operation of the main sail.  His timing was impeccable…it started blowing at 20 knot gusts, and it started to rain!  It was a virtual monsoon–Jon, Sam and I were all drenched while Susan and Jeff took cover in the main salon.  I have never had my eyes so full of salt water!  On the positive side, we were now cooled off and humidity was no longer a problem!


That craziness ended as quickly as it began, Sam jumped off the boat, and we started out on our adventure…

>Day One in the BVIs…the beginning

>We took a Cessna 402 from San Juan to Beef Island. (Tortola’s airport)  I was a bit frightened at first but then actually enjoyed it because the view was so spectacular!

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

The plane was tiny; everyone’s luggage fit in the nose or in the wing!  Good thing we didn’t overpack!!  And it’s critical that they know the weight on the plane so each piece of luggage was weighed and each passenger had to declare his/her true weight.  Now that’s incentive to drop a few pounds! 

Our luggage, about to be loaded onto the plane

This might give you a feel of just how TINY the plane was!



A couple of cruise ships in port



Just take a look at the color of the water!  Beautiful!

“We’re going to land on THAT?”

Landed…with plenty of runway left!  HA!

And the story begins…

>Another day, another bay…a sampling

>

Road Harbor, Tortola

The Bight, Norman Island

White Bay, Jost Van Dyke

Cane Garden Bay, Tortola

Cane Garden Bay, Tortola

The Last Resort, on its own tiny island in the middle of Trellis Bay, Beef Island

Trellis Bay, Beef Island

The Baths, Virgin Gorda

Cooper Island

Red Box phone booth, Marina Cay

Every day was another bay (or two!)  All the islands are so close and each one is unique, with the exception of the people.  I was so amazed by the polite, friendly, warm people who live and work in the British Virgin Islands.  It was so refreshing to have service with a smile EVERYWHERE we went!