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VG Part 7 - Bittersweet Ending, Brand Me New Beginning
VG Part 7 - Bittersweet Ending, Brand Me New Beginning
Before I begin; LOL Ruth! "Boomerang Boy" says "COOL! Hi Ruth!" I'm certainly a glutton for punishment aren't I?
Yesterday Critter Boy was hanging over my shoulder and said he wanted to read about the Stick Shark. He just rolled on the floor, really busting a gut. He laughed and laughed and said "you're so funny mom." So I'm feeling pretty lucky thinking I've got a few years yet before I don't know anything when Drama Girl whom was reading one of the other installments chimes in with "OMG Mom! You are so UNFUNNY," while trying to hide a smile no less! I secretly know she's just being drama. There it was, I even heard a laugh! Being 10 years apart, and between the two of them and their LOVE/HATE relationship, they keep me psychologically well balanced. I have to tell you though because I know I've made Drama Girl out to be a total princess girl, but she is one of the happiest, friendliest, funnest and loveliest girls I've ever known. When she's not being drama, that girl lights up the room with simply a smile. Of course it would not have anything to do with the boatloads of $ I shelled out for Ortho but, Mom moment on: They are both my most priceless treasures and along with Honey (when he's not being the a$$ formerly known as), my fondest traveling companions and I want to thank them (for all the kick a$$ fodder they provide). Mom moment off. Thanks for indulging me!
This morning I am up at the butt crack of dawn because I am determined not to waste one of my last precious moments at my new favorite spot on earth; the beach of happy heart, Spring Bay. Before our planned morning there however, we decide to drive up to Top of the Baths and walk down the trail once more for some hopefully deserted morning pics. When I went to wake the kids, Critter Boy was ALL about climbing through the Baths again but Drama Girl was ALL about "are you freaking kidding me mom?" and chose to spend some PC time in Guavaberry's office instead. Talk about are you freaking kidding me! Whatever toots her horn I guess. The reward was worth the time spent as the beach at the Baths as well as the Baths themselves and Devil's Bay were completely deserted, so I scored tons of amazing shots. I was busy getting good vibes on, and spending some really great meditation time until Critter Boy went and got himself lost and totally ruined the moment for me cause all I could hear was Honey's piehole and "I'm gonna kick your little a$$" kinda stuff. Nice. I guess I'll take that over telling "some of the whole world" stuff they shouldn't aught to know though.
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1139.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1139.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1163.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1163.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... 1168-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... 1168-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
After that, we hiked back up to the car and drove back over to Guavaberry where we picked up Email Girl and then went straight down to one of the most beautiful jewels of a beach I've ever had the pleasure to lay my peepers on. Life is so much better than good! I seriously don't think I could ever get use to how breathtaking this beach really is, and it's all right there for me to plomp my J-lo down on! Almost immediately, Drama Girl busted out the float of love and proceeded with one final comatose session while Honey went for a swim, I immersed myself in the waters of I don't have a care in the world and Critter Boy unable to contain his exhilaration, welcomed Pearl at Soca down to the beach with open arms for a play date. After about an hour, my peeps followed me through the Crawl, up and over some granite boulders to Little Trunk Bay and all the way to the end to find the rope up the hill, and down the trail to the unadulterated perfection of Valley Trunk Bay. Just WOW! I can't begin to find, I mean words do not describe this exquisite beach. I walked the long and amazing length of it and then just lay on the wet sand letting the waves lap past me for what seemed like an eternity. What a very special place; a place I will come back to some day soon. After spending some real quality time on Valley Trunk and thanks to Tina for a late check out, we took a leisurely walk back over to Spring Bay where I snapped a few more pics, and then I think we all kind of just said our private goodbyes. A very memorable and bittersweet morning.
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_0990.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_0990.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1180.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1180.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1193.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1193.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1197.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1197.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Back at the cottage, we cleaned up and finished packing while Honey cleaned out the car. When we were all as ready as we could be, we drove one last time to the office to turn in the towels, fins and keys along with our hearts, and to settle the bill. We said our thanks and goodbyes to our gracious hosts, the wonderful ladies at Guavaberry, Nick hugged Pearl and Soca like he never wanted to let them go (I swear that kid would have snuck them in his carryon if he thought he could get a way with it), and since Honey wasn't watching, I couldn't leave without purchasing Joan Soncini's coffee table book Virgin Gorda an Intimate Portrait. As we all filed out of the office, I turned to Valerie and the last thing I said to her was "you know; we didn't have to travel far from Spring Bay to truly find paradise." She looked at me with a knowing smile, then I turned and walked away.
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... 0989-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... 0989-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
So we were good and just about starved by now and decided to hit Dixies where I heard tell if you wanted comfort food, this was the place, and we were in desperate need of serious comfort here people. Dixies is a diner kind of joint, so we were thrilled with that and ordered up some Fried Chicken & Fries, Cheeseburger & Fries, Nuggets & Fries and cause I haven't had a French fry or deep fried anything for that matter in about a year, Fried Shrimp & Fries and I can totally hear the Halelujah chorus blaring in my head in anticipation. We rounded that out with side salads and Caribbean Rice. Oh, Gawd, that grub was worth it's weight in gold! Can I just say yum! And to Honey's everlasting, finger licking good enjoyment, cheap food and lots of it! After lunch at Dixies and since we were living in our suits, we decided to take one last drive over to beautiful Savannah and Mahoe Bays for a last walkabout and swim. After walking both beaches, snapping some last shots and dwelling on how much I love this little island, we watched the kids have one final swim.
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1200.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1200.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1041.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1041.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
We then took the drive back to the ferry dock where we parked the car and checked in with customs. We then rolled our stuff out into the shade and waited, and waited, and waited. Made a few calls, chugged down some water, then waited and waited and waited. Our ferry that was suppose to leave at 3:00 didn't actually leave until after 4:00 and here comes the really annoying part people, they ended up calling about 3 or four families back off the boat to check in with customs for the second time because someone had their head up their whatever! To add insult to injury, our direct ferry didn't exactly end up being direct. We had to "clear" in Tortola where clearing consisted of (and here's the important part), disembarking the ferry, walking 50 yards single file through the building without stopping, and straight out to the dock on the other side of the building where we waited and watched our ferry move from it's original dock, to the dock on the other side where all the same people marched right back on. You have got to be kidding me right? WHAT IS THAT?
After that fiasco, we quickly departed Tortola and enjoyed the rest of the ride cruising past the islands and onward to at long 2 years last, St. John. You know how all the softhearts say that they cry when they have to leave the island? Well not me, I'm pi$$ed hell having to leave. It's the arrival that has me hiding behind my dark shades of cry baby and this time was no exception. The second I had a good view of Cruz Bay and the Welcome to St. John, I was done. It's been a long time coming baby, a long time coming! Customs went swiftly even with a boatload of passengers and us being the last of them. Kurt from L&L was there and waiting with what Honey swears is the same Liberty we had 2 years ago, only she has a few more miles on her now and Mark at Seaview is also waiting to take us to our next home away from home, Orchid Hill. Like last time, before I even stepped a toe into the house, Pool Boy was on top of the situation doing kamikaze cannon balls, and slip and slide maneuvers on the floats into the pool. I was also verry happy to see that my two boxes had been hand delivered by Christy's Classics and were waiting for us on the porch. I won't post a bunch of pics of the villa cause Becky (liamsaunt) did such a great job with that when she was there in April, but I will say that the villa was lovely and just as expected. After Mark showed us around, Villa Gravity set in BIG. We were so damn lazy we couldn't even muster up enough energy to run out for dinner so we had a feast of heat & eat Velveeta Chili Cheese Dip with Chips and a little booze to go with our Cokes. Hey, we had the pool for Pool Boy, the hot tub for Drama Girl, the hammock for Honey, and the RUM for me, what more did we need?
Final VG thoughts:
There are so many things that we didn't get to do! I'm getting myself back there to do them!
Virgin Gorda just does it for me, I mean it really blows my dress up!
Anegada was an experience I will never forget! Would love to go back!
VG is hotter than the pits of hell. WAY hotter than St. John...WAY!
Spring Bay is AMAZING! So is Valley Trunk, Devils Bay, Savannah, Mahoe...all BREATHTAKING!
Guavaberry is the SH*T! And I mean that as the very best of compliments!
Next Up: Honey I'm home!
Yesterday Critter Boy was hanging over my shoulder and said he wanted to read about the Stick Shark. He just rolled on the floor, really busting a gut. He laughed and laughed and said "you're so funny mom." So I'm feeling pretty lucky thinking I've got a few years yet before I don't know anything when Drama Girl whom was reading one of the other installments chimes in with "OMG Mom! You are so UNFUNNY," while trying to hide a smile no less! I secretly know she's just being drama. There it was, I even heard a laugh! Being 10 years apart, and between the two of them and their LOVE/HATE relationship, they keep me psychologically well balanced. I have to tell you though because I know I've made Drama Girl out to be a total princess girl, but she is one of the happiest, friendliest, funnest and loveliest girls I've ever known. When she's not being drama, that girl lights up the room with simply a smile. Of course it would not have anything to do with the boatloads of $ I shelled out for Ortho but, Mom moment on: They are both my most priceless treasures and along with Honey (when he's not being the a$$ formerly known as), my fondest traveling companions and I want to thank them (for all the kick a$$ fodder they provide). Mom moment off. Thanks for indulging me!
This morning I am up at the butt crack of dawn because I am determined not to waste one of my last precious moments at my new favorite spot on earth; the beach of happy heart, Spring Bay. Before our planned morning there however, we decide to drive up to Top of the Baths and walk down the trail once more for some hopefully deserted morning pics. When I went to wake the kids, Critter Boy was ALL about climbing through the Baths again but Drama Girl was ALL about "are you freaking kidding me mom?" and chose to spend some PC time in Guavaberry's office instead. Talk about are you freaking kidding me! Whatever toots her horn I guess. The reward was worth the time spent as the beach at the Baths as well as the Baths themselves and Devil's Bay were completely deserted, so I scored tons of amazing shots. I was busy getting good vibes on, and spending some really great meditation time until Critter Boy went and got himself lost and totally ruined the moment for me cause all I could hear was Honey's piehole and "I'm gonna kick your little a$$" kinda stuff. Nice. I guess I'll take that over telling "some of the whole world" stuff they shouldn't aught to know though.
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1139.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1139.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1163.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1163.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... 1168-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... 1168-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
After that, we hiked back up to the car and drove back over to Guavaberry where we picked up Email Girl and then went straight down to one of the most beautiful jewels of a beach I've ever had the pleasure to lay my peepers on. Life is so much better than good! I seriously don't think I could ever get use to how breathtaking this beach really is, and it's all right there for me to plomp my J-lo down on! Almost immediately, Drama Girl busted out the float of love and proceeded with one final comatose session while Honey went for a swim, I immersed myself in the waters of I don't have a care in the world and Critter Boy unable to contain his exhilaration, welcomed Pearl at Soca down to the beach with open arms for a play date. After about an hour, my peeps followed me through the Crawl, up and over some granite boulders to Little Trunk Bay and all the way to the end to find the rope up the hill, and down the trail to the unadulterated perfection of Valley Trunk Bay. Just WOW! I can't begin to find, I mean words do not describe this exquisite beach. I walked the long and amazing length of it and then just lay on the wet sand letting the waves lap past me for what seemed like an eternity. What a very special place; a place I will come back to some day soon. After spending some real quality time on Valley Trunk and thanks to Tina for a late check out, we took a leisurely walk back over to Spring Bay where I snapped a few more pics, and then I think we all kind of just said our private goodbyes. A very memorable and bittersweet morning.
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_0990.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_0990.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1180.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1180.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1193.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1193.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1197.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1197.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Back at the cottage, we cleaned up and finished packing while Honey cleaned out the car. When we were all as ready as we could be, we drove one last time to the office to turn in the towels, fins and keys along with our hearts, and to settle the bill. We said our thanks and goodbyes to our gracious hosts, the wonderful ladies at Guavaberry, Nick hugged Pearl and Soca like he never wanted to let them go (I swear that kid would have snuck them in his carryon if he thought he could get a way with it), and since Honey wasn't watching, I couldn't leave without purchasing Joan Soncini's coffee table book Virgin Gorda an Intimate Portrait. As we all filed out of the office, I turned to Valerie and the last thing I said to her was "you know; we didn't have to travel far from Spring Bay to truly find paradise." She looked at me with a knowing smile, then I turned and walked away.
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... 0989-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... 0989-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
So we were good and just about starved by now and decided to hit Dixies where I heard tell if you wanted comfort food, this was the place, and we were in desperate need of serious comfort here people. Dixies is a diner kind of joint, so we were thrilled with that and ordered up some Fried Chicken & Fries, Cheeseburger & Fries, Nuggets & Fries and cause I haven't had a French fry or deep fried anything for that matter in about a year, Fried Shrimp & Fries and I can totally hear the Halelujah chorus blaring in my head in anticipation. We rounded that out with side salads and Caribbean Rice. Oh, Gawd, that grub was worth it's weight in gold! Can I just say yum! And to Honey's everlasting, finger licking good enjoyment, cheap food and lots of it! After lunch at Dixies and since we were living in our suits, we decided to take one last drive over to beautiful Savannah and Mahoe Bays for a last walkabout and swim. After walking both beaches, snapping some last shots and dwelling on how much I love this little island, we watched the kids have one final swim.
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1200.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1200.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1041.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/ ... C_1041.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
We then took the drive back to the ferry dock where we parked the car and checked in with customs. We then rolled our stuff out into the shade and waited, and waited, and waited. Made a few calls, chugged down some water, then waited and waited and waited. Our ferry that was suppose to leave at 3:00 didn't actually leave until after 4:00 and here comes the really annoying part people, they ended up calling about 3 or four families back off the boat to check in with customs for the second time because someone had their head up their whatever! To add insult to injury, our direct ferry didn't exactly end up being direct. We had to "clear" in Tortola where clearing consisted of (and here's the important part), disembarking the ferry, walking 50 yards single file through the building without stopping, and straight out to the dock on the other side of the building where we waited and watched our ferry move from it's original dock, to the dock on the other side where all the same people marched right back on. You have got to be kidding me right? WHAT IS THAT?
After that fiasco, we quickly departed Tortola and enjoyed the rest of the ride cruising past the islands and onward to at long 2 years last, St. John. You know how all the softhearts say that they cry when they have to leave the island? Well not me, I'm pi$$ed hell having to leave. It's the arrival that has me hiding behind my dark shades of cry baby and this time was no exception. The second I had a good view of Cruz Bay and the Welcome to St. John, I was done. It's been a long time coming baby, a long time coming! Customs went swiftly even with a boatload of passengers and us being the last of them. Kurt from L&L was there and waiting with what Honey swears is the same Liberty we had 2 years ago, only she has a few more miles on her now and Mark at Seaview is also waiting to take us to our next home away from home, Orchid Hill. Like last time, before I even stepped a toe into the house, Pool Boy was on top of the situation doing kamikaze cannon balls, and slip and slide maneuvers on the floats into the pool. I was also verry happy to see that my two boxes had been hand delivered by Christy's Classics and were waiting for us on the porch. I won't post a bunch of pics of the villa cause Becky (liamsaunt) did such a great job with that when she was there in April, but I will say that the villa was lovely and just as expected. After Mark showed us around, Villa Gravity set in BIG. We were so damn lazy we couldn't even muster up enough energy to run out for dinner so we had a feast of heat & eat Velveeta Chili Cheese Dip with Chips and a little booze to go with our Cokes. Hey, we had the pool for Pool Boy, the hot tub for Drama Girl, the hammock for Honey, and the RUM for me, what more did we need?
Final VG thoughts:
There are so many things that we didn't get to do! I'm getting myself back there to do them!
Virgin Gorda just does it for me, I mean it really blows my dress up!
Anegada was an experience I will never forget! Would love to go back!
VG is hotter than the pits of hell. WAY hotter than St. John...WAY!
Spring Bay is AMAZING! So is Valley Trunk, Devils Bay, Savannah, Mahoe...all BREATHTAKING!
Guavaberry is the SH*T! And I mean that as the very best of compliments!
Next Up: Honey I'm home!
You are just so darned funny!
Thanks for the awesome reports. You, and the other recent VG reporters, really make me want to stay on Virgin Gorda. The photos of the beaches are just stunning. Interesting that it is so much hotter than St. John.
Thanks for the awesome reports. You, and the other recent VG reporters, really make me want to stay on Virgin Gorda. The photos of the beaches are just stunning. Interesting that it is so much hotter than St. John.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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designbyroe
- Posts: 1348
- Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:27 pm
- Location: Chilaxin on White Bay at least in my mind
I think one thing that surprised us was how much of a hold the boulder beaches on the southern part of the island would have on us. We expected that we'd want to spend a lot of our time there, but also expected that we'd be spending a good bit of time at Savannah, Mahoe and Nail Bays where there are reefs and better snorkeling. We did spend a great morning snorkeling at Savannah, but for the most part were willing to forego the better snorkeling for the unique beauty of the boulder beaches. The snorkeling at Devils Bay and Spring Bay was interesting enough, but it was the boulder/seascape that held us there. And I absolutely loved it in the caves at the Baths. We were alone in them for much of the time and it was spellbinding for me.
Next time we go I do want to spend more time at the other beaches, but it was definitely the boulder beaches that entranced us this time.
And we agree that the folks at Guavaberry really have it together.
Next time we go I do want to spend more time at the other beaches, but it was definitely the boulder beaches that entranced us this time.
And we agree that the folks at Guavaberry really have it together.
Thanks for your wonderful reports. Unfortunately my english is not that good, so I can understand all the funny expressions, but of course I get it in general.
You certainly bring me back to our favorite island, and I almost start to regret that we have decided to skip next years trip and go somewhere else.
I agree that Guavaberry and it's staff are the best. Soca and Pearl are also very cute. I missed the Himalayan cat though, but she died in January
Your pictures are wonderful!
You certainly bring me back to our favorite island, and I almost start to regret that we have decided to skip next years trip and go somewhere else.
I agree that Guavaberry and it's staff are the best. Soca and Pearl are also very cute. I missed the Himalayan cat though, but she died in January
Your pictures are wonderful!
Chrisn: Terrific, terrific report and photos! Your assessment of VG is dead on accurate. Spring Bay can be hotter than Hades and during a rainy spell is the buggiest beach I've ever been on. But that would not stop me from returning. It's really a must do. One thing I did notice about Mahoe Bay is it's cooler and breezier (and more St. Johnish) than Spring Bay. I was pleasantly surprised how nice it was. I may consider booking a villa there with the fam for our next VG trip for temperature comfort, but it sure is hard to pass up the location and beauty of Guavaberry. I went there twice, once with my husband and then took some friends on a girls trip. Some highlights were swimming amongst the boulders at night (yes, we're a little nuts) and trekking over to Valley trunk at night for a spiritual moment after learning of a loss back home. The caretaker at Sol Y Sombra did give us a bit of a scare and rushing down that rope was a hoot. We also did an Anegada day trip that was remarkably similar to yours. Thanks again - Great job!
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Teresa_Rae
- Posts: 2053
- Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:44 pm
- Location: Downstate IL
