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We arrived STT today. We will spend the night here and catch the 2:30 ferry over to Roadtown for a sleepaboard at the Moorings. Stanley from love cab was ontime as always to pick us up. Staying at the Galleon hotel which is looking like a mistake. Will Update hotel situation tomorrow. Damage in ST Thomas not as bad as I expected. Looks like a lot of cleanup and repairs accomplished but a lot more to go.
Weather is good except for a ton of dust reducing vis to about 3 miles. Does not seem like Sahara dust and has a really gritty feel. Hopefully better in the BVI. Will add more tomorrow!
G

Dust? From where?

Enjoy!

I don’t know, does not have the orange tint of Sahara dust and seems grittier.
G

George, we had even more dust than usual. We lost so much vegetation that more of the ground is bare. Might that be the case on St. Thomas, too?

George..for an amazing dinner head to Grand Cru!! I do believe, BTW, that this is just Sahara dust..keeps tropical storms down!

Mighty thick Sahara dust today in St Thomas, doubt it is any less in the BVI but I can't see Tortola -- The dust is too thick!

Locals say it’s the standard Sahara dust. Hope it dies down a bit as the week goes on.
G

On BVI Pirate weather page there is an option to view the Sahara Air Layer. It will give you an idea of the future. Just check the Sahara Air Layer at the top of the page.

Here is a page for Sahara dust:
http://tropic.ssec.wisc.edu/real-time/sal/splitE/movies/splitE5new.html

First evening and day two. Had dinner at the Fat Turtle at Yacht Haven Grande. Very slow almost non existent service and meals not even average. It’s been a few years since we ate there but we liked it in the past. Slept in during the morning and then hit King street for a bit of shopping. Had lunch at the sandwich shop by CYOA. Great sandwiches as always with good prices! Caught the Smiths 2 PM ferry. They are leasing a small boat but right on time. Arrived at the Moorings about 4pm. No issues with checking in or boat. All the ordered food was onboard. I was however disappointed that they were not surviving dinner at the pool. Said they had a private function and no food for charterers. Roadtown looked better than I expected but lots of damage. Inner harbor still has boat wreckage that needs clearing.
Moorings base is a work in progress but not bad overall. 2nd floor of Mariner inn is still closed and harbor market not yet open. Riteway appeared fully stocked. Sahara dust a bit better, looking forward to getting off the dock in the morning. No idea where we are going. Maybe Cooper!
G

George I saw you at the deli and on the docks, thanks for stopping by. At Yacht Haven the restaurants worth patronizing are Fresh and Grand Cru.

Dust any better?

Off the dock about 11. We have newbies onboard and 3 kids so over to Cooper for a relaxing first day. Cooper has done a amazing job on the rebuild. Everything looks great but the loss of vegetation is huge. I see buildings I never knew were here! Water is still emerald green and kids are having a blast. Sahara dust is present but not near as bad as I have seen it. Not really a issue. Trying to work up the energy for a dive but might just lime!

Hi George, just curious, what time did you arrive at Cooper today and generally, how was ball availability?

Arrived about 12:30. Maybe a dozen boats at that time. Sun setting now and balls still open!
Happy hour was great!
G

HUGE thumbs up here for Grand Cru at Yacht Haven on STT..same owners as the heavily damaged Oceana and amazing food and service..

I wish I had gone to Grand Cru! Next time!
G

Arrived at the Baths from Cooper. At 8:30 there are 3 boats here and 1 on the way. Looks like about 18 balls available. Feels like 25 years ago.
G

Thanks for the updates George. We arrive STT in one week!!!

Was Cooper full? What time?

When we were there 2 weeks ago Cooper was the only place we saw with the mooring field full. I would say last buoy was taken around 3?..A lot of boats coming around noon to 1pm

If the dust was grayish and there was a southerly flow of air then it’s must be the fine pumice from the Montserrat volcano which is gritty

Answers to questions.
Cooper had a couple of balls still open at sunset. Wide open at 3 pm.
Dust is gone, fantastic vis today. Weather virtually perfect. 12 to 15 knots of wind clear skies!
Toured the baths and they are in great shape. Top of the baths looked fully repaired and the fritters were great.
Snorkeled Great Dog on the west side. Only boat there at 1. Sadly lots of coral damage but still interesting.
Dove Bronco Billy on George dog and happy to report it was a I remembered it. Nice dive!
On the dock at Leverick now, heading to the BBQue in a bit! Leverick looks good but no tank refills. Tito and dock staff great as always.
G

Buffet tonight excellent, the show very weak. Only two dancers showed up. Off to dive Branson’s boat in the morning!
G

George, you might be able to get air from sunchaser. They operate out of a trailer over at BEYC.

Sunchaser is up and running. He is filling tanks on a appointment type system so call in advance. He is taking out dives this morning. I need a dive computer battery because some idiot named me bought the wrong size and he is running it over to me at Leverick in the morning. Nice service!
G

Maybe idiots should find safer activities. Please post your diving experiences

Only two dives so far. Will hit it harder later in the week. Bronco Billy was great, exactly as I remembered it. I tend to go past the usual turn around point at the cavern. Some nice rock formations about 50 yards past. Kodiack Queen was ok. It has some fun simple penetrations and decent fish life. First time we have had to wait for a ball. Dive boat on one and charter boat on another. Rental powerboat showed up and went right over the top of the wreck at about 10 knots. I think the crewmeber on the sunchaser boat gave them a piece of his mind. Sunchaser pulled their last diver onboard and dropped the ball within two minutes. Not everyone is that courteous when people are waiting. Very professional operation.

Monkey point for lunch today. Looks like it survived ok but much less fish life than normal. Probably just caught it on a off day. CDB for crew pickup and to spend the night. Does not look as bad a I expected but extensive damage. We wish we had gone over to Jost. Loud and I mean really loud music being blasted into the bay. Jet skies racing between the boats and within 30 feet of the kids on our boat swimming. CGB is a place I once loved but I won’t overnight here again.

Brain cramp CDB?

Fixed it, CGB-Cane Garden Bay. Music still blasting!

George, perhaps you were merely at CGB on a bad day.

I thought that the jet skis were only in use on cruise ship days.

We were also at CGB this past Wednesday and would agree about the blasting music - not crazy, but certainly letting us know that they were looking to gather a party on the beach. As far as the jet ski or other traffic - we didn't have any of that while we were there. Quite a bit of construction taking place throughout the bay and it was a positive sign!

Went from CGB to Jost today. Dove the playgrounds and it was excellent. Very strong fish life. From there a short stop at Sandy Isle and on to White Bay. Great lunch at the Soggy Dollar. Chicken Roti’s as good as ever! Wind has clocked south. Coming from about 140 degrees. Might be able to lay the SFD tomorrow. Picked up water at the small Marina on the west side of great harbor. Very friendly and helpful.
G

I Hope that the weather is favorable for the playgrounds next trip down

Thanks for the updates! Would appreciate updates as you go as time permits. We depart July 2

Conditions were great for the playgrounds yesterday. When they are not so great you can anchor of Sandy Spit or even grab a ball at Diamond key and dinghy over to the dive ball.
G

Spent the night at Norman. Big fence put up around pirates. Not sure why. Snorkeled the Indians on the way in. Fish life was excellent. There is some coral damage but still a great snorkel. Probably hit angelfish reef for our morning dive.
G

The fence was around Pirates when we visited in April. I think they are still doing construction on that building, so it is a safety thing.