DAY TWO OF THE SAILING VENTURE
Prior to getting to the BVI I told Ruth we’d probably get up every morning around 6 or so. When I told her that she sort of scoffed and said “yea, right…let me know how that works out for you!” Well, she didn’t realize that by about 6 the sun is in your eyes through the port hole and the day is calling! We were up and at it early! She had a chance to sort of let everything settle in and she seemed in awe of the surroundings (e.g. color of the water, boats, etc.) I fired up the GENSET and made coffee (the Moorings put a standard drip style coffee maker on this Power Cat …AND a blender which we won’t use- and a toaster….which we did use!) After I made some coffee I broke the bad news to her……”you have to disconnect us from the mooring ball!” I could see her cringe…but, she seemed okay. We got most everything put away where we wanted and settle in for the trip to CGB. I fired up both engines, prepared everything, I released on line so she only had to release one, went to the helm and told her to get us off of the ball. She had no problem with that task.
Because it was still rough and because she was still in mooring ball shock we didn’t go to the Caves, Pelican or Indians. I half-heartedly said “We’ll do that next time”…..truly believing in my heart, she may never want to come again after that mooring ball issue and the ROUGH seas! So we get out into the Drake and Neptune’s panties are still in a wad apparently as the seas are still rough. Although not as bad as yesterday, still rough. I make a bee-line straight to Tortola so that I could turn due west and have the wind at our back so that the ride may be easier…and it was. When I came about to the west things smoothed out a little. I rounded the turn by Sopers and told her what to look for and then through the Thatch cut and oh boy……..now we have no choice but to be heading east and taking every wave head-on. I looked over at her several times and was impressed….she seems to have settled in and was taking everything in stride.
We got to the opening at Cane Garden Bay and headed in and of course the water just laid down. She was getting really apprehensive about grabbing the ball…..I tried to reassure her that she would do fine. And, guess what?? WOW…first time she reached out she got it, pulled it up, did a pass through and got it on the cleat! I was/am SO proud and SOOOOoooo happy!!! I went down there, praising her the entire time, set the other line for her and congratulated her on a GREAT JOB!!
Once she had a chance to look around she was even more awe stuck. For those that have been there, you know how gorgeous CGB is with the palms, indigo water, beach and just the feeling of being there! She is a water-baby and said “I want to take a swim!” I mention this because it is significant to the story…..she got her suit on, jumped in and swam around the boat just staring off at the shore, back at the boat, up at me, at other boats, at the turtles going by…..and I was floored at what she said right then……it is something I hoped would happen,…..I told her it would happen…but I wasn’t sure after the weather and mooring ball and bruise….but she looked up at me and said “Oh my God…I just got it!! I JUST GOT IT!!!” <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> I cannot begin to tell you what that meant to me at that moment! She swam for the longest time and then came back aboard for a drink. We were relaxing and still stowing items when up to the back of the boat pulls Evan in a dinghy. I may have some events bass-ackwards but….we may have made a trip to shore before he came up. None-the-less….Ruth and I went ashore and walked to Callwoods, had lunch at Myetts and took lots of pictures.
Later that evening we met up with Evan and Nina and Bridgett and Brian. I have to tell you, it is very rare in my life that I take to people like I took to these four great folks!! It was like we had known each other for years and this was just another reunion! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> We had drinks at Myetts and listened to the live music of Brian Neale. Bridget got up and sang a duet with Brian in Van Morrison’s “Brown Eye Girl” and we all laughed and cut up like we had known each other for years! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" /> Ruth and I danced on the beach to the music and we took many pictures of the sunset. While sitting at the bar something happened that happened at least 5 to 7 times during the trip…..a guy came up to me and said “Are you on TTOL? Are you STONEYUSAF?” It was so fun to meet some many people that were there at the same time and they came walking up and recognized me…I guess most of the time I was hard to miss since I had on the same hat I am wearing in my picture on TTOL.
From there we went to the Elms and listened to the Elm Tones. A guitar player from Bob Marley’s band was sitting in and they sounded great!! We danced and had more great times.
As the evening got long, we all headed out and said good night and Ruth and I headed to the boat to continue our ING words for the evening….and of course….sleeping was one of those ING words…..Good night until the next report….we will head out for the short trip across to JVD in the morning and day three!
(by the way....the reason the report rejected the first time was because I used the name of the happy pills that Ruth took...they begin with and X and end with an X....go figure!)
