trip report #4
Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:18 pm
Sat. Apr. 7
Today was our charter to BVI's with Stormy Petrol/Pirates Penny. We had used them about 3 or 4 yrs ago, used Flyaway Charters last year, and decided to use Stormy/Pirates again. We were a party of 5 and there were 2 other parties of 3 and 3. Pick up at Natl Park dock right on time, 8:15. told us from the start that it would NOT be a smooth ride...Oh great...I get sea sick sooo easily. Thank God I took my Bonine when I got up. I swear by Bonine ...better than Dramamine and better than the patch. Our Capt. was Al ( not the owner ,Al. another Al) And mate was Brooke. Both took good care of us.
The Baths were very very crowded, as it was Easter weekend. Apparently many many boats from Puerto Rico come over to BVI's or USVI's to spend the weekend on their huge yachts. The marina was jammed, but we found a place to "park". How Al ( or any capt) can park these big boats without hitting anything, is a miracle to me!!! Al found out that it would take an hour to get thru immigration/customs and then more time to leave the marina, get to the Baths and swim in. Stormy and Pirates typically drop off at Baths and we swim in. So this time, Al went to immigration ( or customs) and Brooke got us a taxi to take to Baths. It was a nice change for us, since we had been there twice before and always swam in. Got to see a little of Virgin Gorda (albeit, a very wee bit) and was able to see Baths from the top. for those of you who have never been there, it is just as fun to swim in!!!
Brooke took us thru the Baths on a neat tour, thru little crevices and caves,"rooms' and formations. she filled us in on alot of history and interesting facts. this is one of the diffenrences between
stormy and other charters. Most of them just drop you off and you are on your own. This one takes you on a private tour in the rock formations. You crawl, roll, crab walk to get thru some of the passageways. At the end, Brooke took some of us to the top of a rock formation to JUMP!!! About half decided to do this, and actually it was probably only 14 ft high, but looks alot higher. I had "been there, done that" so hubs and I watched along with a few others. the kids had fun doing it tho!!! Jump is into real deep water.
Regroup and hike back to the top to get the taxi back to boat. Little snake scurried down the path and some of the ladies scream and jusmp on rocks!!!! Funny!!! Get back to boat and away we go to Cooper Island for lunch. Brooke calls ahead with our order, so it is almost ready when we get there.
Cooper Isalnd Beach Resort is so cute. Only thing on the island and it only has about 12 units. Beautiful, beautiful spot, but you had better like water activities and the sun, and you had better like the restaurant there, because that is all there is!!!!
First time I tried Chicken Roti and I love it!!!
One other snorkeling spot on the agenda, and they usually go to The Indians, but the swells are too bad, so we go to some other place. Beautiful coral, and deep water, but fish must have heard we were coming, and they booked!!!
Headed back to STJ, but could not take the south shore, which I love,because of rough water. OK by me, with my weak stomach. Pull into Cruz Bay and it is very crowded at customs and immigration. Ferry from Tortola butts infront of us, actually took our parking place!!! At least they held off letting the passengers off and let us get in line first, otherwise we would have been there forever!!! Remember to "behave" yourself when going thru customs...Al and Brooke were telling ud...no joking around, and make sure you have appropriate clothing on. ( covered up) and be EXTRA nice to Christopher , the customs agent ( its a lady!!!)She can be "testy". Must be a power thing.
Had a great great day and highly recommend Stormy Petrol/Pirates Penny. Drinks are included all day and Brooke whips up rum punches as needed!!! $125 pp plus $20 customs fee pp. they make the trip very personal. We tipped about 12%...and were very unsure about the tip. We could not remeber how much we had tipped in the past. But when you are paying $600, another $90 is alot!!!( for 15%) What do you all tip?
We got take-out from Candies this night- the "other" bbq ribs/chicken place. It was great. Very friendly. Ony got the ribs, so can't compare the chicken with Joes. Ribs just as good, if not better at Candies.
I was in bed at 9:00. Easter bunny coming tonight
Today was our charter to BVI's with Stormy Petrol/Pirates Penny. We had used them about 3 or 4 yrs ago, used Flyaway Charters last year, and decided to use Stormy/Pirates again. We were a party of 5 and there were 2 other parties of 3 and 3. Pick up at Natl Park dock right on time, 8:15. told us from the start that it would NOT be a smooth ride...Oh great...I get sea sick sooo easily. Thank God I took my Bonine when I got up. I swear by Bonine ...better than Dramamine and better than the patch. Our Capt. was Al ( not the owner ,Al. another Al) And mate was Brooke. Both took good care of us.
The Baths were very very crowded, as it was Easter weekend. Apparently many many boats from Puerto Rico come over to BVI's or USVI's to spend the weekend on their huge yachts. The marina was jammed, but we found a place to "park". How Al ( or any capt) can park these big boats without hitting anything, is a miracle to me!!! Al found out that it would take an hour to get thru immigration/customs and then more time to leave the marina, get to the Baths and swim in. Stormy and Pirates typically drop off at Baths and we swim in. So this time, Al went to immigration ( or customs) and Brooke got us a taxi to take to Baths. It was a nice change for us, since we had been there twice before and always swam in. Got to see a little of Virgin Gorda (albeit, a very wee bit) and was able to see Baths from the top. for those of you who have never been there, it is just as fun to swim in!!!
Brooke took us thru the Baths on a neat tour, thru little crevices and caves,"rooms' and formations. she filled us in on alot of history and interesting facts. this is one of the diffenrences between
stormy and other charters. Most of them just drop you off and you are on your own. This one takes you on a private tour in the rock formations. You crawl, roll, crab walk to get thru some of the passageways. At the end, Brooke took some of us to the top of a rock formation to JUMP!!! About half decided to do this, and actually it was probably only 14 ft high, but looks alot higher. I had "been there, done that" so hubs and I watched along with a few others. the kids had fun doing it tho!!! Jump is into real deep water.
Regroup and hike back to the top to get the taxi back to boat. Little snake scurried down the path and some of the ladies scream and jusmp on rocks!!!! Funny!!! Get back to boat and away we go to Cooper Island for lunch. Brooke calls ahead with our order, so it is almost ready when we get there.
Cooper Isalnd Beach Resort is so cute. Only thing on the island and it only has about 12 units. Beautiful, beautiful spot, but you had better like water activities and the sun, and you had better like the restaurant there, because that is all there is!!!!
First time I tried Chicken Roti and I love it!!!
One other snorkeling spot on the agenda, and they usually go to The Indians, but the swells are too bad, so we go to some other place. Beautiful coral, and deep water, but fish must have heard we were coming, and they booked!!!
Headed back to STJ, but could not take the south shore, which I love,because of rough water. OK by me, with my weak stomach. Pull into Cruz Bay and it is very crowded at customs and immigration. Ferry from Tortola butts infront of us, actually took our parking place!!! At least they held off letting the passengers off and let us get in line first, otherwise we would have been there forever!!! Remember to "behave" yourself when going thru customs...Al and Brooke were telling ud...no joking around, and make sure you have appropriate clothing on. ( covered up) and be EXTRA nice to Christopher , the customs agent ( its a lady!!!)She can be "testy". Must be a power thing.
Had a great great day and highly recommend Stormy Petrol/Pirates Penny. Drinks are included all day and Brooke whips up rum punches as needed!!! $125 pp plus $20 customs fee pp. they make the trip very personal. We tipped about 12%...and were very unsure about the tip. We could not remeber how much we had tipped in the past. But when you are paying $600, another $90 is alot!!!( for 15%) What do you all tip?
We got take-out from Candies this night- the "other" bbq ribs/chicken place. It was great. Very friendly. Ony got the ribs, so can't compare the chicken with Joes. Ribs just as good, if not better at Candies.
I was in bed at 9:00. Easter bunny coming tonight