Visit From the Kids and Their Families

We left Leverick Bay and headed to Cane Garden Bay. On the way we were shocked to find a group of people paddle boarding on the back side of Tortola towards Jost Van Dyke Island in 3 -5’ swells and chop. They were doing pretty well as we were sailing in a 10 kt. wind with the jib up and they were passing us! After a night in Cane Garden we headed to the USVI and took a mooring in Great Cruz Bay. It being afternoon we walked to Woody’s for their $1 beer and well drinks Happy Hour. It’s the best deal in the USVI! The next day I did a scuba dive with Cruz Bay Water Sports. It was a nice 2 tank dive to some great coals and sponges. The next day we went to St. Thomas to prepare for the arrival of our kids. We spent a couple days getting provisions, checking out a couple of activities and topping off the fuel and water tanks.

Granddaughter Madison

Grandson Cole

We anchored in Lindberg Bay right by the airport so we could pick up Aron and his family as they would be the first to arrive. We brought the dinghy to the west side of the bay and I walked to the airport to meet Aron and Katie and their two kids, Madison and Cole. We all walked back to the dinghy and we ferried them to the boat to change into swim suits then it was off to the beach and pool until dinner time. The next day found us snorkeling and playing on the beach. Madison is a great snorkeler and we snorkeled the whole bay seeing lots of corals and small fish as well as a big Sting Ray, a small Green Turtle and three Lion Fish.

Aron and Katie

Lion Fish we saw snorkeling

Cole rings the start of the sail

Madison also rings the start

The next day, with Aron at the helm, we motored through Haul Over Cut into Long Bay where we anchored among the pirate fleet.  We dinghied into Yacht Haven to catch a Safari Taxi out to Coral Gardens, an aquarium park. The bus let us off at the end of the road so we walked the half mile to Coral Gardens. It is a really nice little place with great exhibits of Sting Rays, that you can feed, Turtles, Sea Lions, and other displays including a walk around circular reef. We had lunch there and literally had to step over and around all the iguanas! They are everywhere! When we had seen all the exhibits and lectures we went out to the local beach next door, snorkeled and fed the fish.    It was getting late so  a walk back to the bus stop and back to the boat for dinner and bed.

Cole steers us down Water Island

Madison takes us to Long Bay

Leslie and Cole feed the Sting Rays

Turtles are a big hit a Coral Gardens

The kids slept late, 8 AM, so I guess we wore them out at Coral Gardens. After an ice run Aron took the helm again and we headed back to Lindberg Bay to pick up Eric and family. We did pretty much the same plan as with Aron and I met Eric and Kelly and their two girls Tali and Cloe at the airport. We whisked them in the dinghy to the beach where Aron’s family awaited while Eric and I stowed their gear before heading into the beach and pool. With dinner time approaching, we went back to the boat and moved to the other side of the airport to Brewers Bay which was a much calmer anchorage for cooking dinner on the grill and staying up until midnight talking and catching up on events. It had been 7 months since we had all been together.

Granddaughters Tali and Cloe arrive

Eric Arrives

Kelly arrives

Eric carries luggage to the beach

Everyone enjoys the pool

Tali and Masdison are good snorkelers

Eric made T shirs for all the kids with their pirate names of Mad Rose, Tali Bonney, Black Cole, and Cutless Cloe!

Kids get their new T Shirts

The next day started slowly and after breakfast everyone went to the beach to play in the sand and snorkel. After lunch we weighted anchor and headed towards St. John, however as we sailed out of the lee of the airport we were met with stiff winds in our face and choppy seas. The crew was unhappy so we turned around and did some sailing in Brewer’s Bay before going back and dropping anchor in our old spot.

Kids take control of the boat

The little ones take on the steering chores

Then Monday we were up early to a nicer day and sailed out to St. John. The wind was almost in our face, but we had a couple of nice tacks which took us to Trunk Bay in St. John. There we took the dinghy into the beach and while Cole and Cloe played in the sand, Tali and Madison snorkeled the underwater trail. Kelly went to the snack bar to get hot dogs for the girls and was attacked by a couple of birds who made off with one of her hot dogs! Those birds are very bold and quick! With the beach close to closing, everyone took showers and we went back to the boat and motored over to Maho Bay in time for Eric, Aron, Kelly and myself to arrange for a Scuba trip the next morning.

Aron pays the mooring fees

Carl shows a starfish to the kids

We had a light breakfast and took everyone to the beach then the four of us headed to the Eco-lodge for our Scuba trip. The dive had a lot of interesting corals and sponges and little fish, even some arrow crabs, but not much in the way of larger fish. We returned to lunch on the beach and Eric found a coconut which he opened and shared with some people we met on the beach from RI. We all spent the afternoon in the sand and water and left only at sundown to go to the boat for dinner and spent the early evening on the trampoline looking at stars and searching for satellites.

Kelly on the dive

Eric can't do anything without Rum

Aron on the dive



Nice Angel Fish