Upon my return to St. Thomas from Christmas in NY we set
sail for the British Virgin Islands visiting our favorite anchorages and a new
one too. Little Harbor on Peter Island. We dropped the anchor there and backed in
towards shore between 2 catamarans and tied to trees on shore. The winds were blowing 20 knots but we were
tucked into the perfectly flat anchorage surrounded by steep tree-covered
mountains and clear sparkling blue water.
Up to 4 remora under our boat waiting for scraps to be tossed
overboard. Remora resemble a shark shape
but they have a suction cup on the top of their heads and attach to boats or
large fish waiting for handouts.
 |
| Persephone anchored at Little Bay, Peter Island |
Another favorite anchorage is the North Gorda Sound where we
anchored in “Jerry’s secret spot” near Saba Rock Resort.
 |
| Moon rise at Saba Rock Resort |
Ready for a new adventure we hopped on the free
ferry that goes from Saba across the Sound to the settlement of Gun Creek.
There is a fairly new Customs and Immigration
office here we wanted to see.
We were
already checked in to the BVI so we just stopped in to say hello and find out
their hours.
If we were sailing onto St.
Martin this is a convenient place to check out from as long as you do it before
they close at 1 pm.
Gun Creek settlement is on Virgin Gorda so named by
Christopher Columbus who thought the island shape, from the sea, resembled a
fat woman lying on her back. Many peaks
on Virgin Gorda are over 1000 ft. Lots
of steep hills to climb! Leaning forward
in the blazing heat of the midday sun up we hiked for over an hour zigzagging
on the switchbacks up, up, up searching for the place we’d heard serves
traditional West Indian rotis. In the
air the smell of hot brakes as vehicles passed going downhill and the smell of goats. Goats were roaming all over the place and beef
cattle grazing along the road in rocky, fenced, almost vertical pastures. Finally we find the sign for Hog Heaven and
turn onto that road. A pickup stops and
offers a ride. We hop in and Jerry asks
about Hog Heaven and rotis. No rotis,
we’re told, but excellent food and prices.
How does this man know so much about Hog Heaven? The man introduces himself as Blondie and he
is the owner of Hog Heaven. We forgot to
ask how in the world he got the name Blondie but we see that Hog Heaven is the
right name for a place that sells a lot of pork and is perched near the top of
a mountain amongst the clouds. From the
outdoor dining tables the views are spectacular of North Gorda Sound, all the
boats at anchor, the island of Anegada 12 miles off, and a horizon of nothing
but blue water beyond. Our boat looks
like the perfect vessel for ants from this vantage point. We are there for a couple of hours having
juicy, sticky finger, delicious bbq chicken for lunch. We watch people come and go, some just
stopping by for the vista from Hog Heaven’s deck. We’re on our own for the walk back down. No free rides. You’d think that going down would be a relief
but it turns into a knee-straining, calf-building exercise with extra care
taken not to slip as we trek back down to Gun Creek and the Saba ferry. We enjoy a well-deserved painkiller at Saba
Rock Resort before getting in the dinghy to go back to the boat.
 |
| Way up on the hill we see Hog Heaven from the boat after a long day's hike. |
 |
| Can you see it yet? |
 |
| Hog Heaven up at top center. |
 |
| Hog Heaven |
A nice surprise awaits us back in Charlotte Amalie on St.
Thomas. Our friends Favio on Odoya and
Leandro on Alaussa are anchored here. We
first met them in Jacksonville, FL a couple years ago and we enjoy their
company again along with their friends on board. We’re the old people and we listen to stories
about couchsurfing.com and crewbay.com where these youngsters find
opportunities to visit places anywhere in the world affordably by staying on a
host’s couch or boat or they find crew for their own boats (they’re both
single-handers). We learned so much!
The rest of the week we spend cleaning up and preparing for
company.
Our first time having a couple
(besides Mom and Dad!) stay on board.
Mike and Liz from Callahan’s Marina on Oneida Lake (who winter in FL)
are coming for a week.
We pick them up
from the airport and whisk them off sailing to the BVI after an evening of
Bingo on Honeymoon Beach, Water Island.
Little Harbor, Saba Rock Resort, Cane Garden Bay, Great Bay on Jost Van
Dyke, rum punches, painkillers, snorkeling, sailing, fresh fish and some
exploring on land.
It’s always fun to
share our lifestyle with friends.
Jerry
loves to cook breakfast and made home fries, eggs, toast and bacon every
morning.
The week flew by.
Nothing like leaving the Virgin Islands by a
salty dinghy ride to the beach and a quick walk up the road to the
airport!
Thanks for coming Mike and Liz!
 |
| Mike, Liz, Karen, Jerry enjoying the lounge chairs at Saba Rock Resort |
 |
| Liz and Mike with a view to the sea |
 |
| Mike and Liz at Cane Garden Bay |
We’re anchored back at Honeymoon Beach at Water Island
walking in the mornings and swimming in the afternoons. We get together with our friend Kari (who
moved to Water Island and works at Dinghys Beach Bar and Grill) to tell
stories, laugh and try to beat Jerry at rummy.
At the end of the week our friends Kevin and Cindy are coming from cold,
snowy NY for a week in the sun!
Karen & Jerry
 |
| Mike with mahi. Fresh fish for dinner! |
 |
| Sunset at Cane Garden Bay |
