Finally we are taking our trip from pre-COVID March 2020.
Oct 27, 28 Early start to the day on our 3 day journey to get to the BVIs. Kelowna, then Calgary (meet up with Paul and Brenda), then Newark for an overnight. We can see the statue of Statue of Liberty as we are flying in. We take shuttle to the Marriott . It is sketchy but it is late. No food available so buy a dry noodle bowl to fill the void. Ick!
Next morning shuttle back to airport and Fly to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands the cab cost $22 per couple ridiculous. The HEAT and humidity feels wonderful. We get to Olga fancy resort which is in the Frenchmans quarter of St. Thomas for our overnight. Decent place and it has a pool. We go exploring and have some lunch at the Taco Chelles. TACO CHELLES FRENCHTOWN – Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number – Tripadvisor Friendly staff member, lots of fun. Out for supper at the Twisted Cork Café Twisted Cork Cafe (twistedcorkvi.com)
Oct 29 Next morning, we decide to hike Blackbeard castle. Google maps leads us astray. Of course, Neil and Paul would not ask for directions so I ask a couple of guys having a beer on their patio. We are going in the wrong direction. Then we run into a local guide and he said not worth it and we find out it is now private owned so you can’t go in anyway! Oh well, time for drinks. We stop at Bay John brewery for drinks and end up getting some T-shirts. Lots of shop and restaurants around but not many open. Apparently, there is not enough staff. We then wander to the Pie Whole. Do not recommend. Drinks were OK
Back to Olga fancy to grab our bags and meet up with Terry, Cathy, Lynn and Lorne. Take the van to a bay on the east side of island for a transfer to the BVIs. Wait wait, wait. I guess the Immigration system is down and is the cause of the wait. Chit chat with Americans for a bit and finally at dark we get very very fast boat over to BVIs. 4 engines on the speed boat and it is FAST! Immigration is handled for us by the boat taxi guy so we sit on the boat and help ourselves to a bottle of Prosecco. Then we are taken over to Voyage charters at Soper’s Hole. But there is a Problem – the boat not ready. Frick. We get a temporary boat for the night. This sucks because we can’t unpack which was the whole point on getting on the boat the night before take off the next day.
Oct 30 Next morning we are up early and get ready to move. Wait wait wait Go grab an expensive breakfast, get more groceries and by 1 pm we are on our way over to The Indians islands and Norman island. There is a bit of rainfall and we moor for night in the bay. A few of us take the dingy and go to the Pirates Bite to check out the cocktails. Quiet evening on board.
Here is a video so you get an idea of the catamaran. Down a few steps on each side (in the hulls) are 2 queen bedrooms with full ensuite. It really is a comfortable and decadent way to spend of week. Voyage Charters
Oct 31 Up for coffee and relaxing cruise over to Cooper island. While trying to moor we lose mooring ball pole. Ooops! We can see it but it is waaaay down on the bottom of the ocean. We make brunch and have ceasers. Do some snorkelling. Cathy and Lynn find a British guy (who is part of distance swim group) who agrees to dive down for the pole. No problem. He saved the day. Afternoon drinks to celebrate. Halloween tonight and we do a little dress up and go ashore. Party is not happening anywhere so we have one drink and head back to boat. Weird….
Nov 1 Next morning head for Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda. We moor in the harbour and get to use the showers. Nice treat compared to showering in the little shower in our bedroom ensuite. Tonight we are off to Coco Maya restaurant. Nice views of sunset when we arrive. Some Jenga, a good meal and a bit of dancing afterwards.
Check out the lively bunch on our cruise over to Virgin Gorda
Nov 2 Next morning off to Jost van dyke which is a 3 hours boat cruise. We arrive and settle into the bay. We have a little snack of poutine duck. Notice Jelly fish off the back of the boat but supposedly they are not the poisonous ones. But we don’t really know. Off to the Soggy dollar. Of course, we have Painkillers and pose for our friends on the web cam. They must hate us? We head back and make dinner. There is incredible marine life off back of boat – sting rays and plenty of different fish.
Nov 3 We start with a relaxing morning of dipping in the water, snacking and of course head into the Soggy Dollar again. Fun times! In the evening, we end up playing nostalgic music and guessing who the band is. Good old tunes.
Listen to the waves and the beach sounds…….
Nov 4 In the morning, we are up early to head back to Soper’s Hole. There is a storm brewing and we decide we will be better off at the marina. It gets very windy with heavy rain. This is exactly the hazards of being at the tail end of hurricane season! There might of been an afternoon snack of salt and pepper wings at Pussers. Since everyone is kind of trapped in close quarters the drinking starts, eating Hawkins Cheezies and so does the silly conversation……… “Tighter” Tiger” “Pick a fucking lane dickhead” “you know we had a tiger on that trip!”
Nov 5 The next day morphs into a second day in harbour. Rain clears a bit with roving showers with a really bad wind. So we might as well have a nap. Out to Pussers for supper. The rain and wind are really really strong. It is scary and the rain is pouring.
Nov 6 Next morning, we disembark and take speedboat back over to St. John to clear customs. Then to St. Thomas where the taxi is waiting for us to take us back to Olga Fancy resort for one night. We say our goodbyes to Cathy, Terry, Lynn and Lorne so they can head onto the airport. Beautiful view of the ocean from our room. Paul and Brenda and us head back to Taco Chelles. We have relaxing afternoon by pool and then out to French Quarter Bistro for supper. The Bourbon steak supper was delicious. Limoncello and soda for nightcap on our deck listening to the waves. Not wanting to leave this heat.
Nov 7 Relaxing morning. Check out with another ridiculous expensive cab ride to airport. Flight to Newark uneventful where we overnight. Great views of New York as we come into land.
Nov 8 Well today was to be our flight to Toronto. Nope! it got cancelled at 3:30 am because there was not enough time between shifts for the pilot. We wait at hotel on hold with Air Canada and finally get a flight to Vancouver but later in the day so we don’t leave for airport until mid day. Paul and Brenda show up at airport for their flight to Calgary shortly after but while we are enjoying a pint together they get notice their flight is cancelled. They go back to the Marriot and make the most of a crappy situation by taking in a Calgary Flames/New Jersey Devils game that night. We finally get on our flight to Vancouver early evening.
Airport entertainment below 🙂
It was a clear night and the views from the sky were incredible. We could see Chicago, southern Alberta, Montana, the mountains, and then finally Kelowna. If only we could of jumped out and get home to our own bed. Arrive in Vancouver late and everything is closed.
We wait, wait and then finally we get last flight to Kelowna and are greeted by Snow! Oh well, it tis the season. It feels sooooo good to climb into our bed.
Wine and Cheezies Travels 