http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , British Virgin Islands en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:08:29 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:08:29 BST Virgin Gorda is the thirdlargest after Tortola and Anegada and second most populous of the British Virgin Islands BVI. Located at approximately 18 degrees 48 minutes North and 64 degrees 30 minutes West it covers an area of about 8 square miles 21 km. Christopher Columbus is said to have named the island The Fat Virgin because its silhouette resembles a rotund woman lying on her bac http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-287998.html Here we are...Had a beer at Foxy's yesterday and a hamburger Dad had Conch fritters and then I had another Presidente for George incidentally George you owe me 4 bucks you asked me to have a beer for you...heheheWhile waiting on lunch long wait M walked out towards the beach spoke to a local he told her a cute story...There is this huge black dog on the beach a local dog he asked me if http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Jost-Van-Dyke/blog-287812.html Unfortunately we decided to leave the BVIs after our brief 3 day visit. There were many reasons why we cut our time there short but mainly it was due to weather as sailors we live and die by the weather and when a good weather window develops you take it or wait for the next one which can easily be 23 weeks later. Besides we were tired of the crowds and ready to explore new islands and an http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Jost-Van-Dyke/blog-273527.html Before Mel Brad came to cruise wersquod emailed back and forth about great things to see and do in the ports good tours good things to do on your own my recommendations their interests etc. And for our day docked in Tortola Mel wanted to do as I did last month and head over to The Baths at Virgin Gorda. Irsquod also mentioned to a bunch of friends how we could get to The Baths on ou http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-273205.html The BVIs are as crowded as they are beautiful there must be at least a thousand or more charter boats out here. First you have the bareboat charter people who come out for a week or two and rent a boat from a charter company then take off on their own to explore the islands. I think it is safe to say that the majority of these people donrsquot really know what they are doing. They cruise t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/blog-272250.html One area in the BVIs that we were excited to explore was Cane Garden Bay on the western end of Tortola. Unfortunately we had skipped this anchorage on our trip 10 years ago and we wanted to make sure to visit it this time. Cane Garden Bay as the name implies was a major port for the sugar cane industry. In fact there is the still a working rum distillery in Cane Garden Bay which has been in t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Tortola/blog-272244.html We decided to cross the Sir Francis Drake Channel into the territorial waters of the British Virgin Islands a whopping 2 miles away from St. John. Our first stop was Soperrsquos Hole on Tortola to clear customs and visit Pusserrsquos Landing. Pusserrsquos Landing used to be the base for sunsail charter boats and has a great restaurant bar and many fun shops to explore. It is amazing th http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Tortola/blog-271871.html Every summer for 13 years now Irsquove spent at Centauri Summer Arts Camp in some capacity or another. There is a family who lives in Tortola British Virgin Islands and sent their two boys to camp for about 5 years though itrsquos been I think 4 years since theyrsquove been there. The boys used to joke with me about me coming to visit them in Tortola. It was a nice little fantasy tha http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-263382.html We finally escaped St Martin. We had some good news. Our auto pilot could be fixed without having to wait for parts from the States. It is amazing what you can achieve when they want the dock space. After about 10 trips to the supermarket and a lot of hair pulling trying to work out where to put every thing we were all provisioned ready to go.We said goodbye to our friends knowing that we would http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/blog-263346.html The time has come to say goodbye. After 6 months of travelling the Caribbean on Ocean Star I now have a few months off to travel back to England see my family hang out with Mrs Mott and generally enjoy some rest and relaxationI hope you have had fun hearing about my adventures and finding out a little bit more about the weird and wonderful sights of the Caribbean whether it was learning abo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-259413.html Happy 2008 to you allThe Fox family set sail in the Caribbean for a 10day adventure that proved to be a true vacation and some quality family time. We left Denver the day after Christmas leaving behind a foot of snow and setting our sights to San Juan Puerto Rico. We only had one full day to really enjoy Puerto Rico so we woke up early to walk the streets of Old San Juan. Even though we were http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Tortola/blog-233736.html The pace in Hampton was a tad more frantic than Deltaville. The boats for the 1500 were arriving every day and each no doubt had many things to accomplish. We arranged for our inspection for Monday morning as we wanted as much time as possible to rectify any shortcomings. Rick showed up bright and early the next morning and we went through the list point by point. Well it seems the frantic activit http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Tortola/blog-227109.html This is the last week of our current trip around the Caribbean on Sunday all the students fly home and it will be a time for maintenance training and rest aboard Ocean Star. To round up the end of the marine science courses the shipmates spent this morning at a local school in the British Virgin Islands teaching the children about strange marine creatures and their ways of living and surviving http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-225361.html Latitude 30 deg 20 min N 70 deg 20 min W 400 miles SE of Cape Hatteras 200 miles SW of Bermuda and 700 miles from BVI wind NE 30 to 35 kts seas 12 ft 3 reefs in the main 70 of our small jib surfing 9 to 10 kts. We have come through several squalls tonight and there is lightning all around its 5 AM black the wind is fairly steady the seas are building. At our last radio check the prev http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-225163.html Everyone has now arrived on Ocean Star and we set sail from Tortola on Saturday morning to our first anchoring spot at Virgin Gorda. All the students are from around the United States in fact I am the only person from the UK aboard so I am introducing them to important English traditions like marmite sandwichesBefore departure we had to stock the boat with food for 15 people for 80 days. Shop http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-205566.html I arrived late last night on my home for the next 80 days of sailing Ocean Star. It was a bit of a monumental journey via car then three plane trips a taxi a ferry and last of all a small boat to arrive exhausted but happy to be at my final destination the British Virgin Islands.Boat living is somewhat more confined than living at home I am in a cabin with one other staff member. The room http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Tortola/blog-203162.html Writing a quick blog about my last stay on Tortola my favorite island in the BVIVI. I stayed at Fort Recovery this past may with my son and wife. The place is fascinating and sits right on it's own private beach. There is a 17th Century Dutch Fort right smack in the middle of the resort which is ENORMOUS and is the oldest standing Fort in the Caribbean. We were amazed how it was so perfect and http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Tortola/blog-178074.html Voyage de noces The BathsnbspCentral America Caribbean raquonbspVirgin Islands raquonbspVirgin Gorda By MOANAJune 29th 2007France et GuyNotre voyage the Bath le 20 juin c'est dommage que nous ne puissions photographier ce que nous avons vu dans le fond de l'eau. C'est aussi cet endroit que quelqu'un avec les mains mouilles a pris notre camra et l'a endommage avec d http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-175245.html Hello families and friendsWell we thought we had arrived but there was one more adventure left We delivered the great San Juan boat one leg further to the beautiful island of Virgin Gorda. What a gorgeous trip calmer seas and interesting islands. We picked up the owner and his family after customs and immigration again and headed over to Tortola where we stuffed our gear in our bags and http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Tortola/blog-112679.html The pickin's are slim at this time of year for restaurants on Virgin Gorda. Here are the ones we enjoyed in no particular order1 Dixie's local joint in Spanishtown open late and serving up tray after tray of fried chicken fabulous milkshakes and reggae videos. We got to meet Chicken Harry and Shadow two frequent patrons.2 Island Pot see previous post. We only saw Island Pot open http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-96292.html We are huge proponents of free WiFi. It's always the smaller poorer cafes hotels and terminals that have free wireless while the large rich chains such as Starbucks and Westin charge an arm and a leg for access. Airport lounges are the worst. Not only should WiFi be provided free by the Port but at a minimum the super exclusive executive lounges should provide it gratis. The cost to do http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-96291.html Are you tired of hearing about deserted beaches with crystal blue waters and soft as can be sand Well too bad here's one more for you to salivate over Savannah Bay is two bays over from Maho Bay where Mango Bay Resort is located. We stopped by to catch the sunset there one evening and met an American bulldog named Captain. He is not a swimmer like our Salty but he loves to jump and play http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-96288.html J is now a certified PADI Open Water Scuba Diver After 4 days of intense work with Scuba Steve and his wife Sara he graduated at the top of his class of one. The classroom and shallow water part of the course were conducted at Little Dix Bay I know life's rough He made 4 dives off the Dog Islands Coral Gardens the Chimney Cockroach Island and the Visibles. These locations also h http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-95222.html The biggest tourist attraction in Virgin Gorda is the Baths. It is difficult to describe this surreal place so I will let the pictures speak for themselves. There are actually two beaches. We hiked from one to the other through caves and up and down ladders then snorkeled back to the first. While snorkeling we saw a sea turtle and of course the requisite hundreds of tropical fish.Unfortunate http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Virgin-Gorda/blog-94864.html Tortola British Virgin IslandsCapital City is RoadtownUp early again to get ready for our trip on the Island. Tortola is the Capital of the British Virgin Islands. . There are 50 Islands in the British Virgin Island group and only 18 occupied. Raining quite hard as we get off the ship. Same type of transportation as St. Thomas except this one does not have a roll down curtain on our side. We http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Tortola/blog-68490.html So I flew in last night. First I had a fairly long flight from Chicago to Puerto Rico. Everybody on the plane spoke spanish and I sat next to this abuela who was trying to ask me all these questions to which I tried to respond in broken spanglish. Everyone was very nice and they all treated each other like a big family. Then I connected to a prop plane in Puerto Rico that flew me to Beef Islan http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/British-Virgin-Islands/Nanny-Cay/blog-20638.html