Hi All,
After a wonderful and too short visit from Mom and Dad I've decided to try to keep a blog. (Yes, there was some parental peer pressure involved). I'm not the Dickens Kate is so Ill just try to lay down the facts and be witty.
The weather has turned summer which in the BVIs means hot and sticky, buggy and caalllmm. The night they flew in was a full moon. I don't know if anyone else is aware of the full moon but down here we celebrate it like a monthly holiday. In Trellis Bay (where the airport is) there is a Full Moon Fireball and Jumbie party. Trellis is a beach bar with and local art work shop. In the water they fill carved iron balls with wood and light them on fire while colorful dancers on stilts dance to Soca, representing spirits of the dead. Most islanders choose to be buried barefoot as if their shoes are left on they are cursed to walk the earth for eternity. The on-site staff at Bitter End celebrate it with a hobie race a few miles upwind to Oil Nut Bay and a bonfire. With breeze blowing 8-10knts Team Gaudet made it up to oil nut as the 3rd boat! The bon fire was started with about 5 gallons of gasoline and the cooler opened. Sir Richard and his guests joined us with the Necker staff so we were well attended.
Mom and Dad had some great weather but little breeze while they were here. We did, however, have enough to sail to the world famous Baths (Dad, how do you put photos on this thing?). My friend Craig had his father in town and they joined us for our adventure. After a picturesque lunch at the Top of the Baths we had lots of time to explore the caves and massive boulders. Though there were some doubts from the participants as to the credibility of their tour guides everyone made it to the top to partake in the breathtaking vista. They don't just put these words in the guide books, it actually is breathtaking.. either the view or the hike to it. Tuesday I had to work (occasionally it happens) and Mom and Dad participated in a Discover Scuba dive with our onsite dive shop. Apparently Dad and Jen have the same ears as he had some trouble clearing to go to depth. I think the underwater world was appreciated, though, as they were avid snorkelers every other day.
Wednesday was the weekly trip to Anegada, the sunken island. The 14 mile trip out was flat and beautiful and the beach on the northside was as amazing as ever. Mom and Dad snorkeled before lunch with Rob and Mel and found some turtles and cudas to play with. Lunch included the famous conch fritters and shrimp from the Big Bamboo. On the trip back the boat stopped as 2 gray whales flipped their tales to say hello. After some amazing play with the whales we had to continue back to Bitter End.
Thursday morning was spent in the water of Eustatia reef snorkeling with an abundance of colorful fish. The noon ferry took us to Tortola where we were spending the afternoon and night for the early morning flight. Josiah's bay is a local surf beach a walk from The Tamarind Club, where we were staying. We spent the afternoon body surfing and attempting to stand on a board (Laurel will get it someday) and getting eaten by no seeums (see the caribbean isnt perfect). Tamarind was wonderful and relaxing for an early night before a 630 ride to beefisland for the airport. Very sad to see them go, I walked them through the departure tax (they get cha on the way out, mwhaha) and to security.
Thanks to mom and dad for making the trip. Ill try to keep this up. Looking for a ride out currenlty and should be up that way soon. Anyone know of anyone who wants to hire a watersports bum for a month or two this summer? Im good at stuff.
Miss you all.
L