Gotta Smile!: British Virgin Islands

April 12 - 21, 2014

A - Soper's Hole, Tortola B - Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke, C - Cooper Island,
D - Leverick Bay, Virgin Gorda, E - Gorda Sound, Virgin Gorda

Picture perfect Caribbean!

What were we thinking? Here we are in the Caribbean's busiest charter boat market. It is the height of Spring break and on a Saturday we decide to go to Soper's Hole and hang out on a mooring ball. Soper's Hole is one of the top destinations for people visiting the British Virgin Islands by boat. We pulled into the very large bay slowly working our way through the boats that were on mooring balls and carefully dancing around the other boats that were looking for an empty mooring. Many of whom were oblivious to the fact that they were in a busy congested harbor. When the marina was in sight, we looked at each and without another word called for a slip. Luckily there was one available. We were very glad to be secure and no longer playing in traffic. Soper's Hole Wharf and Marina is the picture perfect Caribbean village. Pussers flagship store is here along with restaurants and shops. It is a fun place to visit for a night. After anchoring in bays for so many days, I felt a little claustrophobic with boats so close in adjacent slips.

Methodist Church on Jost Van Dyke after Palm
Sunday service.

Palm Sunday we went to Jost Van Dyke's Great Harbor....the home of Foxy's. Took the dingy into "town". On the beach side of the packed sand road, hammocks are strung between the palm trees. The other side of the road is a series of small restaurants, shops and FOXY'S. I'm not sure how any of the other businesses manage to survive. Everyone that visits wants to see the famous Foxy's. The bar/restaurant is named after it's founder Foxy Callwood, a singer, entrepreneur and 5th generation son on Jost.

The hammock side of the road.

Main street in Jost.

We visited between the lunch and dinner crowds.

Did I forget to mention -- Jost has a beautiful bay?

Arriving at Cooper Island.

Cooper Island has a pristine bay that is remarkable even among the best. And, to make it even a more desirable their restaurant is phenomenal. Recently, they rebuilt the facilities. The cute Caribbean colored cottages are gone. Instead everything is groomed and landscaped and the buildings are a sand beige. We liked the former style, but the water and food are still among the best in the BVI.

Lush new landscaping and new rental units.

This is one of those places I could easily spend a week just relaxing....with or without a boat.

Small tables in the water for real beachfront dining.

The nights are as beautiful as the days.

I was barely out of bed and Brian was still reclined
reading emails, when we got a knock on the boat.
It was customs patrol. Now, even when you are
doing everything by the book, it is a bit unnerving to
see these guys at your door asking for the captain.
Kind of like driving on the highway and a patrol car
appears to be following you. All was good. They just
wanted to check our documentation.

The border patrol left and Todd arrived. He had been
in the slip next to us in George Town, Exumas. This
trip he's with his wife, Kelly. After breakfast they
both came over. I was in serious need of girl talk.
We had a fun visit. They are from Minnetonka, MN,
one of our past hometowns.
Once again -- small world!

This is as close as we got to the rich and famous.
Necker Island is Sir Richard Branson's private
island. The 10 bedroom villa can be rented for
$38,000/day. Should I inquire about dates for
any of you?

The Bitter End is a beautiful resort. The little villas
on the hillside rent for $1000/night. Our waterfront
mooring ball is $35/night. Considering our budget
we'll stay on board.
After our experience at Soper's Hole, we make sure
we are at our destination before noon. The
scramble for the last remaining balls at the end of
the day is cut-throat!

Twenty-three mile/hour winds with gusts to 35 arrived Wednesday (16) night and started dying down on Sunday (20). We were originally going to leave on Saturday, but the winds were still blowing like crazy. Then another glitch, the customs office closed on Good Friday at noon and wouldn't open until Monday. The BVI requires check out 12 - 24 hours before departure. So, our departure day is Tuesday. It's OK, we will have a smoother (11 hour) trip to Anguilla.

In order to be secure during the big blow we attached to a mooring ball in Gorda Sound on Wednesday morning after a night in Leverick Bay. Gorda Sound is home to The Bitter End Yacht Club -- a huge resort. To boater's the bitter end means the end of the free line. In this case it means the last stop before heading out to sea.

Here's a new one for us -- The night before Easter there was a big fireworks display. It was beautiful and seemed very appropriate....He has risen!

This visit to the BVI has really been a walk down memory lane. We have revisited some favorite places that were introduced to us about 15 years ago, when we chartered a sailboat with three other couples. Those were wilder days! We had some great times especially memorable were Cooper Island and the Bitter End. While enjoying dinner at the Bitter End we were told that if we didn't quiet down we would have to leave! We had always thought that the Bitter End was one of those places where anything goes. Through the years we have come to consider it a badge of honor to be reprimanded in such a legendary location!