Back to the Islands: Virgin Gorda and St. John - Part 2
Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:30 pm
Less talky talky and more photo photo than Part 1...thank God...
To pick up first with some misc photos from first few days on Virgin Gorda.
Night blooming flowers that smell like vanilla…
This is all I need to make some mighty fine “rum punch”…
…the added bonus is much less calories than painkillers and bushwackers, which I know is heresy to say, but we just don’t like very much…
Thursday 5/30 third day on Virgin Gorda. Drove up to north end of the island to catch the free water taxi over to the Bitter End Yacht Club (BEYC) for lunch and to join their 2 hr snorkel excursion for $25 each for non-guests.
Stopping along the way…
Water taxi
BEYC – very nice…
Lunch was good there – a buffet with all manner of fresh salads and fruits.
Saba Rock out in the middle of the North Sound…
It was pretty windy and choppy, so they tried to put the boat on the leeward side of some of the smaller islands, which probably did not necessarily jive with the best snorkeling locations. But it was interesting that the first stop was next to Necker Island where Sir Richard is rebuilding after that destructive fire.
Like I said, snorkeling was not great. This is the second time we have done an “off shore” snorkeling excursion (not a daysail) and were thoroughly underwhelmed both times. These were the best I could do photo wise…
We had dinner that night at the Mineshaft Café. Not a good sunset, so didn’t bother to get there in time to view from their elevated deck and be entertained by the chickens making their noisy and clumsy way up into the trees next to the deck (to stay away from nighttime predators). A disappointing meal for the most part – my ribs were pretty good, but the Mahi and chicken wraps were not. The restaurant was pretty empty, as were a lot of places on Virgin Gorda.
Dinner the next night was at the Rock Café – excellent lobster pasta and pasta primavera.
Over the next few days we did a walk and swim to the beautiful beaches just north of Guavaberry = Spring Bay and Little Trunk Bay and to the south = The Baths and Devils Bay.
Top of the Baths – we had breakfast there with this view…
The next day we took a ride up to Hog Heaven on the top of Gorda Peak for lunch.
Some views along the way…
As you might imagine, Hog Heaven specializes in BBQ which was very good. Pretty stunning views from up there, but it was super windy.
Leverick Bay via zoom lens…
Necker Island via zoom lens…
That night we got pizza take out from the Rock Cafe – was pretty good. Enjoyed from our deck with a nice sunset.
Near sunset down at the beach…
Sunday we are scheduled to take 3pm direct ferry to STJ, so we enjoy a late check out and shower and change in the nice bathroom facility adjacent to the GB offices. Earlier that morning we took a quick ride over to the Coppermine Ruins.
The ferry is over an hour late departing as we wait for them to do the paperwork and a group of kids and a class trip from STT. It also isn’t cheap - $60 one way. The BVI ferry system is a big mess. It is driving the folks on the BVI centric forums nuts.
We get into Gallows later than expected, but love the fine views we enjoy over the next 5 days from recently renovated upper ocean 7D.
We clean up and walk into town and decide to eat at Rhumblines because they had a lobster special and my goodness it was awesome.
So begins the next part of the trip in St. John. It feels good to be back after 4 long years.
Next up: more photos and details on the STJ portion to finish out this trip report.
To pick up first with some misc photos from first few days on Virgin Gorda.
Night blooming flowers that smell like vanilla…
This is all I need to make some mighty fine “rum punch”…
…the added bonus is much less calories than painkillers and bushwackers, which I know is heresy to say, but we just don’t like very much…
Thursday 5/30 third day on Virgin Gorda. Drove up to north end of the island to catch the free water taxi over to the Bitter End Yacht Club (BEYC) for lunch and to join their 2 hr snorkel excursion for $25 each for non-guests.
Stopping along the way…
Water taxi
BEYC – very nice…
Lunch was good there – a buffet with all manner of fresh salads and fruits.
Saba Rock out in the middle of the North Sound…
It was pretty windy and choppy, so they tried to put the boat on the leeward side of some of the smaller islands, which probably did not necessarily jive with the best snorkeling locations. But it was interesting that the first stop was next to Necker Island where Sir Richard is rebuilding after that destructive fire.
Like I said, snorkeling was not great. This is the second time we have done an “off shore” snorkeling excursion (not a daysail) and were thoroughly underwhelmed both times. These were the best I could do photo wise…
We had dinner that night at the Mineshaft Café. Not a good sunset, so didn’t bother to get there in time to view from their elevated deck and be entertained by the chickens making their noisy and clumsy way up into the trees next to the deck (to stay away from nighttime predators). A disappointing meal for the most part – my ribs were pretty good, but the Mahi and chicken wraps were not. The restaurant was pretty empty, as were a lot of places on Virgin Gorda.
Dinner the next night was at the Rock Café – excellent lobster pasta and pasta primavera.
Over the next few days we did a walk and swim to the beautiful beaches just north of Guavaberry = Spring Bay and Little Trunk Bay and to the south = The Baths and Devils Bay.
Top of the Baths – we had breakfast there with this view…
The next day we took a ride up to Hog Heaven on the top of Gorda Peak for lunch.
Some views along the way…
As you might imagine, Hog Heaven specializes in BBQ which was very good. Pretty stunning views from up there, but it was super windy.
Leverick Bay via zoom lens…
Necker Island via zoom lens…
That night we got pizza take out from the Rock Cafe – was pretty good. Enjoyed from our deck with a nice sunset.
Near sunset down at the beach…
Sunday we are scheduled to take 3pm direct ferry to STJ, so we enjoy a late check out and shower and change in the nice bathroom facility adjacent to the GB offices. Earlier that morning we took a quick ride over to the Coppermine Ruins.
The ferry is over an hour late departing as we wait for them to do the paperwork and a group of kids and a class trip from STT. It also isn’t cheap - $60 one way. The BVI ferry system is a big mess. It is driving the folks on the BVI centric forums nuts.
We get into Gallows later than expected, but love the fine views we enjoy over the next 5 days from recently renovated upper ocean 7D.
We clean up and walk into town and decide to eat at Rhumblines because they had a lobster special and my goodness it was awesome.
So begins the next part of the trip in St. John. It feels good to be back after 4 long years.
Next up: more photos and details on the STJ portion to finish out this trip report.
) out in front of Gallows in the water....is that just for Gallows guests? We've never snorkeled there, but it looks interesting!