Snorkeling About
Our favourite snorkeling spot lived up to all expectations. It was
fantastic. We stayed there for four days and every day snorkeled the
reef right beside our boat. We used our lightweight wet suits that
proved to be a worthwhile investment. They allowed us to stay in the
water longer (water temperature was 27C) and we did not have to worry
about getting sunburned as we hovered watching the fish below. The
variety of fish was incredible. As soon as we came back to the boat,
we would rush for our Reef Fish and Fish Behaviour books by Paul
Humann and try to identify all the different fish we saw. These books
are a must have for anyone interested in snorkeling reefs (thanks
again, Bob & Linda). We were lucky to have the set and they get well
used after each snorkel trip. The books also describe fish behaviour
so you can watch for different activities. Karen found a cleaning
station and watched as cleaning gobies did their work on a rock hind
and a snapper. As the week progressed, we started to observe more
different types of fish and know the territories of certain individual
fish (our favourites to look for were two large Queen Angelfish and a
funny looking Trunkfish). BVI still has some of the best snorkeling
that we have found along our travels.
At Normans, we also had to go in and visit the Pirates beach bar for a
Pirates Punch. This bar used to be called Billy Bones but was recently
taken over. Apparently someone bought the island, and wanted a change
in management. The Pirates Punch was still good though. It is one of
those "feel good" rum punch drinks and should come with a warning
label - "do not stand up too fast after finishing". We sipped the
drink on a swing overlooking the bay while getting eaten by
no-see-ums. At least we did not feel the bites.
We decided to move on Friday. I do not know why but it seemed like the
thing to do at the time. From Normans, we went to Marina Cay. After a
swim, we wandered the shore and discovered that they had live
entertainment at Happy Hour that night by Michael Bean. We went back
to the boat, cleaned up and got there in time to get good seats and
drinks at the Happy Hour prices. The Michael Bean show was great fun.
There was a lot of audience participation, including a conch-blowing
contest and a pirate toast capped with Pussers rum shots. So what is
the first letter in the pirates alphabet? --- Arrrh! Maybe you had to
be there. We got back to the boat and watched "The Princess Bride".
Karen and I had just finished reading the book and had wanted to see
the movie. It was a great flick and the book was enjoyable and very
readable as well.
By this time, we needed some more fresh food so, on Saturday, we went
to Leverick Bay in Gorda Sound of Virgin Gorda Island. We found a
phone and bought some phone cards and actually got hold of our boys.
Normally we only can communicate by e-mail so it was great to hear
their voices. We picked up our groceries and decided that Sunday would
be laundry day. Note I said day as laundry becomes a major activity
when boating. The good news was that there were laundry facilities at
Leverick Bay. Karen gathered all the bits and pieces that we took to
the dinghy dock and hiked to the laundry room. The bad news was the
dryers were busy but, as it turned out, they did not dry anyway, so
being busy was irrelevant. Unfortunately, all this knowledge came to
pass after three loads of washing were washed. So it was back to the
boat with the wet laundry. We upped anchor and moved across the bay
to anchor off Prickly Pear Island (less wavy we hoped) and proceeded
to hang out the laundry. We strung lines between the shrouds for the
small stuff and hung the king-size bed sheets on the Genoa sheets and
soon we looked like a floating clothesline with two sheets to the wind
(I couldn't leave that one alone). I am sure we impressed all the
charter boats as they headed for the Bitter End resort. We did get a
lot of looks but no requests for laundry. All went well and we found
that the laundry dried very quickly in 15-knot winds with gusts to 20.
This was a good thing as more boats were coming into the anchorage,
however they all anchored well away from us. At least we can now
approach the new week with clean clothes and sheets.