USVI-On-Line

My hubby and I will be in STJ next Feb for 11 days, and I would like to plan a BVI day trip. I usually shy away from these kinds of trip, due to a handicap that I have. I had my hip replaced 16 years ago that resulted in a foot drop. While this doesn't stop me from doing much, it does makes things more difficult. My husband is great helping me get up ladders and such, but as I've gotten older (we are now in our 40's) it gets harder and harder.

I really would like to see the BVI's and go on one of these day trips. Can I get your take on the boats you have been on... how the ladders are... how it is getting over to Soggy Dollar? I can swim and love to snorkel, so being in the water is not a problem. It's just getting up and down ladders that get tricky. We went on a day sail in STT a few years ago from Red Hook, and before we went I was e-mailing the owner of the boat about everything, and she told me I wouldn't have any problem, but I never ended up getting off the boat because even my strong husband had a hard time getting up the ladder. I know it will probably be an exhausting day, but there's a difference between a GREAT exhausted day and a DIFFICULT exhausted day.

I did see the pictures of the Breakaway boat that CariBert was on, and that one looks like it could be okay.

Any advice for me?

Thanks so much,

My first question as a nurse specialized in foot and nail care is to ask about footwear and support for the "drop foot". I am also curious about how well you navigate on land during your every day activities. There is a great degree of variance in the recovery of patients with a hip replacement so I have to question this. Although supportive footwear and soft elastic splinting are hardly island attire, the soft splints that correctly position the foot would do well in tennis shoes or even fins. My patients who have had a problem and then begin using the soft elastic type splints, normally tell me that they have both improved function and comfort. It is just easier to walk when the foot is in the right position.

The ladders on the larger boats that I have been on are the better ladders with more of a slant and wider rungs. Although the sure bet for BVI may be to take the ferry across and disembark directly onto the dock and avoid any ladder climbing. You can then use taxi's to go over to Soggy Dollar or Foxy's. You can also take the ferry to VG and use a taxi. I have not done this and you may need more information about how far it is from the dropoff to the beach.

Best of luck with your upcoming trip. Do you need a private nurse to help. I can carry bags and make a mean bushwacker????

Diana

Hi Diana,

Thanks for replying. I do very well in my every day activities. I have "adjusted" so to speak with my drop foot. While I can't wear your normal flip-flops (which I must say, I miss terribly!) or shoes with no backs on them, I normally wear tennis shoes to the beach, and I love STJ because the sand is so soft. Those are the first beaches (i've been to many) that i can actually spend the day with my shoes off! If I do find rocks, then I have a pair of Land's End water shoes that fit me well and I wear those. I will even wear those in a pool to get in and out.

I have even found fins that I can use. I get the fins that are split at the top so it takes the pressure off of the ankles. In 16 years, I've become very creative! We get about knee deep in the water (backwards), then my husband puts my fins on for me, then helps me walk backwards until I can fall back and swim away.

I definitely do better with wider rungs on the ladders, that is definitely a must. Most sail boats do not have those kinds of ladders, so I tend to avoid those. The best we had was a catamaran that had the drop stairs in the bottom of the boat. I could sit on the steps and put my fins on then jump in.

Thanks for the offer to come and carry bags and making Bushwackers (those our definitely our favorites!)

If you just went to spend a day on Jost and see the sights, maybe you'd be better suited to take the ferry over for a day trip. There were steps on and off the boat, and plenty of cabs to take you around the island.