This is going to be the first in a series of postings about a trip. For Gilligan, the Skipper, Ginger, Mary Ann, the Howells and the Professor, it started out as a three hour tour. It ended a few years later. Well, our trip started out as a seven day, six night adventure aboard Reggae, a 38 foot Benneteau sailboat. This particular craft was made in 1986 in France, and is a beauty. And, she was our home while sailing, snorkeling, and diving around Tortola and Virgin Gorda.
First, our hats' off to USAirways. Often maligned, we were pleasantly pleased with our connections. We left Jacksonville (NC) on schedule, arrived in Charlotte, on time, left Charlotte, on time after a short layover (just enough time to grab a quick breakfast, and arrived two minutes early at St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Amazing when you consider the distance, the variables, the vectoring around storms...that's the way to run an airline.
A ten minute taxi ride to the ferry landing in Charlotte Amilie, a 55 minute ferry ride, and voila! We were in Tortola. And, our hosts and friends met us in their dingy at the dock to transport us to Reggae.
I've known Larry and Linda Stutz for darn near 30 years. Larry retired as an airline pilot almost five years ago. They spend a month each year aboard Reggae, a boat they and eight others share. Each gets a month each year. The boat is in dry dock three months for repairs and routine maintenance.
In the coming days, I'll detail the trip, our week at sea. It was a blast for my wife, Robie, and me. We came home relaxed and refreshed. But, now, I'm just gonna post a few pictures I grabbed during those days.
Larry and Linda. Our hosts. Captain and co-captain. Larry's been sailing since he was a kid. Linda has learned a lot over the past few years, and is preparing for her sailing certificate.
That's us. Robie, the good-lookin' half. And, me. What can I say?
Larry loves to eat. Well. I do, too. With Linda on board, there's no end to the food. She whips up some fine chow, food with a flair, food with flavours (had to add the u; after all, we were in the British Virgin Islands), flavours only enhanced by our surroundings. From chicken, to steak, to tacos.Yummm.
My friends at the Ship's Wheel (gift shop at Tideline Marine in Jacksonville) sent a bottle along. Not filled with booze, just with all of the necessary material to send a message. And, we did. I'll let you know if someone finds our note and makes contact.We set her afloat in Drake's Channel.
Robie, though a certified SCUBA diver, chose to snorkel a bit.
On the other hand, I headed for the bottom. First dive, and I couldn't believe it. After more than 45 years of diving, from North Carolina all through the Caribbean, I finally found some treasure. Returning to Reggae, after 50 minutes looking around and under every crevice I could find (ok, so I was searching for lobsters), I found this $20 bill half buried in the sand. Nice find, for sure. Lottery tickets, here I come. That twenty might be a lucky one. Who said I was superstitious?
Walking the dog. Early morning, at Soper's Hole on Tortola, this cute guy paused to chat.
On one of our ferry crossings, three of these guys stayed right with us. I believe they were our escorts. You know, sort of like the fighter jets that often accompany Air Force One. We felt special.
And, after all these years on earth, I finally learned how to play dominoes. I even won. Once.
Ok, admit it. It just can't get much better than this. Right?
More pictures to follow. Lotsa boats, lots of scenery. As I recall, I uploaded something over 500 images when we got home. I'm still sortin' 'em out. I'll try to convince Linda to give it up on a couple of the recipes that I plan to use at home. She did something with a filet mignon that was pretty cool.
This is a rough idea of our route from the West End, at Soper's Hole on Tortola, up to The Bitter End Yacht Club and Saba Rock (not Saba Island near St Marteen) at Virgin Gorda.
A ten minute taxi ride to the ferry landing in Charlotte Amilie, a 55 minute ferry ride, and voila! We were in Tortola. And, our hosts and friends met us in their dingy at the dock to transport us to Reggae.
I've known Larry and Linda Stutz for darn near 30 years. Larry retired as an airline pilot almost five years ago. They spend a month each year aboard Reggae, a boat they and eight others share. Each gets a month each year. The boat is in dry dock three months for repairs and routine maintenance.
In the coming days, I'll detail the trip, our week at sea. It was a blast for my wife, Robie, and me. We came home relaxed and refreshed. But, now, I'm just gonna post a few pictures I grabbed during those days.
Larry and Linda said they had not seen so much rain during any of their trips. Ok, so it did rain, off and on, for the first couple days. But, that didn't slow us down. And, if you haven't stood on the stern of a boat, at sea, soaped up, and let the fresh, warm rain rinse you off, then you don't know what you're missing.
Sunrise is important to me. It's the start of every new day. And, photographically-speaking, the 15 minutes before sunrise through the first half hour after sunrise, are priceless. The scene changes every minute as the light changes. A fresh start to a brand new day. Colors can be muted, brilliant, or pastel. Check it out.
More pictures to follow. Lotsa boats, lots of scenery. As I recall, I uploaded something over 500 images when we got home. I'm still sortin' 'em out. I'll try to convince Linda to give it up on a couple of the recipes that I plan to use at home. She did something with a filet mignon that was pretty cool.
This is a rough idea of our route from the West End, at Soper's Hole on Tortola, up to The Bitter End Yacht Club and Saba Rock (not Saba Island near St Marteen) at Virgin Gorda.
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