2016 has started off with bang - we went straight from celebrating the holidays to enjoying the 1st week of 2016 in the islands. Yea, a lot of sailing folks do that but we were able to have our three beautiful children (young adults) join us! The last time all 5 of us were in the BVIs together was Christmas of 2009 - when they were not of legal age. This time we hit some of their beloved spots and enjoyed a few painkillers. The Bubbly Pool on Jost was not quite as big as they remembered and over the years there must have been a few accidents as it is posted "No Climbing on Rocks". Foxy's B-B-Q was still a wonderful choice and the kids and I enjoyed an afternoon at the active Soggy Dollar beach. Fun sipping, visiting and watching folks enjoying sun and sand. The Indians were a great snorkel as usual. Sopers Hole was a bit toasty as the winds died so we headed back to the marina for a good shower and an air conditioned night before they headed out. A highlight for me was getting to cook for 5 again and having all my loved ones under one roof.
Took me a few days, as it always does whether on land or sea) to get over all of them gone. The achy loss was filled with memories of how we all arrived, unpacked the boat, provisioned and got off the dock in less than 24hrs! My heart swells with pride as they are great people, living their lives and doing great things. May they always remain true to themselves.......and love their momma.
Not long before our next guests were to arrive so we headed to Jim's favorite anchorage - Benures Bay_ for a week of his kind of living. Read quite a few books, couple of island hikes, snorkeling, paddle boarding and Season 3 of Game of Thrones. Revived and back to Penns for the arrival of L-ARR-en and D-ARR-in (niece and nephew-in-law). What an honor to have young folks wanting to hang out with us for a week.
We started their vacay with island Rotis on the boat. After morning provisioning for anything they might have wanted on board we set sail to the Baths. Jim dinghied us close and we swam to shore. Love seeing folks enjoy those boulders and caves for the 1st time. Like our own children they climbed the boulders in Devils Bay. Capt Jim picked up Lauren while Darin & I swam back. First day adventurousness - a bit harder than he thought but made it no problem. Off to North Sound for a night of pirate entertainment with friends. So far we have brought both our week of guests to the Micheal Beans show and both times someone on board has won the conch blowing contest. Well, I I guess one can summize our family tree is full of blowhards. Haha Way to go Darin. My daughter was so proud of me at the last show I did it again - doubled my time sweetie!
Back on board for the evening we had an issue of wither the "Heineken Flu", food poisoning or sea sickness. Poor guy. By morning, feeling 1000x better he thinks he is allegoric to nutmeg. Island hike and a bit of internet on Saba during Happy Hour confirms his theory. A good thing to know!
Great wind for a sail towards Anegada with Darin at the helm. Kind of freaked Lauren out when Jim went below for a bit but he steered her straight and true. Headed back towards the Dogs only to find them all churned up due to the North swell so we continued onward to Pater Island. Snorkeling and a paddle board booze cruise is a good way to end a day. Morning walk on Peter to check out some of the best views in the islands followed by a sail out into the Caribbean Sea. Flying fish and the terrain on the north side of Peter and Norman lead us to empty moorings @ The Indians (Sweet!) A bit of wave, wind and current heading out allowed for a float back to the boat. A lot of fish, fan coral and a lone turtle made for a good time. Benures for the night. A wonderful spot and perfect time (almost full moon) for a night paddle yet another part of the board came unglued.!? Summer heat down here takes it toll. At least it has not popped like last season. Being it was the patch that holds the d-ring that holds the string to keep it attached to the boat it needed to be fixed after the afternoon paddle booze cruise. After a hike to The Bight we set sail to Trellis Bay. Lauren took the helm and after about 20minutes she was like a pro! Those years at Seafarer and on the Albemarle Sound came back.
Trellis Bay was packed as it was the Full Moon Party night. We dropped anchor on the "out skirts of town". The kids took their last paddle and we headed to the Last Resort for dinner. Had a fabulous meal and more entertainment than expected. Live music was known but there were Fire Gypsies. Yup, dancing ladies with fire batons, swords, hula hoops,...very entertaining. Not done yet - after a few more songs we watched an 8yr old girl ribbon dance?? two pieces of clothe hanging from the ceiling that she twirled and did splits, upside down stuff,...Now it was time to hit the other shore for football and full moon activities. Jumbie dancers, fire balls lit, music playing up and down the beach and Carolina Panthers headed to the Super Bowl!!! Well past cruisers midnight we headed back 'home'.
Not flying out until early evening we headed to Monkey Point for the day. Two weeks of north swell made the water very cloudy so we stopped @ White Bay on Guana. Could not see much in the water but they enjoyed a walk on the beach and the last few hours in the islands.
Why is 2016 going to be a great year? If nothing else good happens to have had 2 weeks of guests - young people who chose to hang out with us vs. anywhere else they could have gone and with their peers - they chose MyDeere w/ Capt Jim and myself and to do what we do is a great and humbling honor.
Life is full of choices and as we (the United States) is in an election year - choose wisely. Know your options. Know what they stand for. Don't let others choose for you - get out and vote!