Recap on “Erwin 2011” boys trip. We met Captains Erwin,
Hendricks, & Weber and their merry crews on their first day in the BVIs. We
took the opportunity to provision at the nearby Right Way. Never seem to get
out of these grocery stores for less than $60. Could be the $1.25 per roll
toilet paper. What do the locals use? Zimbabwe Dollars? Next day we sailed upwind to Marina Cay. The
island is dominated by a Pusser’s bar/ restaurant and outlet. Pusser’s rum, had
a long tradition with the British Navy. Not only was it rum of choice for daily
rations up until July 31’st 1970, I’m sure it had much to do with recruitment
tactics just prior to a ships leaving port.
Pusser’s Inc. on Marina Cay has evolved into a slick marketed product,
full of branded overpriced shirts and hats, and, on an island with no
competition, a pretty overpriced place to eat and drink. We did enjoy our 8
dollar cocktails and 36 dollar Wahoo dinners, but I won’t be back anytime soon.
In fact I was so miffed at the Wahoo pricing that I obtained a BVI fishing
permit which took all of 15 minutes and 45 dollars. What I found most
interesting was when I walked out of the BVI Administrative Building, I carried
out only two pieces of paper, the credit card receipt and the license itself.
If I was in the states I would have been buried with 25 pamphlets saying what not
to do, when not to do it, a life study of some endangered species that no one
gives a rat’s ass about although it has some lobbyist’s fingerprints all over
it. Not here. Nothing saying you shouldn’t
fish with dynamite, catch and eat new
born sea turtles and use their shells for ashtrays. Nothing. Now this is government that can run lean! Team
Erwin and Thai Hot went our separate ways for the remainder of the week with a
promise to meet up at Cooper Is. on Friday or back at Conch Charter on
Saturday. We started off at Cam Bay, Great Camanoe Is. which is just south of
“Throw Way Wife Bay” (can’t make this stuff up) for a restful night alone at
anchor listening to the breakers on the reef just off our bow. We than worked South to Norman Island, where
we first started noticing a trend develop,
no room to anchor. The “harbor master” has seen fit to carpet bomb most
of the harbors with mooring balls making it damn near impossible to put an
anchor down. You are then compelled to use a 25-30 dollar mooring instead of a
free anchor. We made our way northward and upwind from Norman Is. to Cooper Is.
in rather “snotty” conditions. Gusts of wind would tear the whitecaps off the
waves and send them off in a fine spray. Enough rain water to fill the dink. Cooper Island went through some management
changes a few years back and the new group has reinvented the place. New open
air restaurant and bar along with several cottages for rent, very professional
staff. A pleasure to go there. Met some fellow North Jersey sailors from a
neighboring town on the beach and shared stories and cocktails. Always great to meet people with a sailing
passion. Erwin’s fleet didn’t make it from West End, Tortola and had to put in
at Norman’s for the night. We caught up with them in Road Town and had a
wonderful dinner at the Dove. So good that we made reservations for Christmas
Eve dinner there. It’s our first Christmas not being spent home or with family.
And I don’t care how you spin it, Reggae Xmas overdubs and lights on palm trees
don’t cut it. Although I don’t miss any of the holiday craziness, malls, over
commitments and deadlines.
We made our way to Anegada.
An Island of the BVI’s that’s a bit off the normal path. It was always billed by the chartering
companies from which we rented from in the past, as a place that’s great to go
to but the journey there leads through the gates of Hell. The real reason is that it is “over the
horizon” ie: you can’t see it from your current anchorage. The chartering company isn’t sure their
charters can read a compass or pick out a coral head in the crystal clear
water. The main attraction to Anegada is its relative remoteness, fresh local fish, and what has become a staple in the Islands… a $53 Spiny Lobster grilled over a split 55 gallon drum fired up by loose branches and whatever is lying about. Sucker! The next day we thought of renting bicycles and touring the Island. It was either $40 for two bicycles or $50 plus gas for a small car w/ac. After a brief description of the Islands road “system” we opted for the car and quite happy we did. We left with a stern warning to not drive into the pond and a “stay left” we were on our next adventure. We ran into our first road crew just as the road ran out of concrete, just a few miles from “town” this crew was busily cutting side brush.
Just another example of lean government. No union guys leaning on shovels here… and fertilizer to boot! We looked into all the pond openings we could find for the fabled Caribbean Flamingos but did not see any. Perhaps they have taken up new digs on the front lawns of America. We did find one of the last remaining great places to go, Cow Wreck Beach. An open air restaurant and bar looking out at the reef system and breakers on the North side of the island. Incredible views, deserted beach, and someone had the foresight to put a restaurant there that could put out excellent ceviche as well as an ice cold beer. You were so close to the water that the leading edge of the cement slab the building rested on, was a tad undermined. This was the BVI’s before merchandising areas got bigger than the bar. Ms. Bell, the owner/operator made sure everything was right as she went about her chores.
Ms. Bells Place.
Now that’s a beach!
Cowboy boot sandals, hand tooled! Soon to be a Dallas craze.
Where’s the Corona bottles?
Tearing ourselves away from near perfection, we continued
our trip circumnavigating the Island. We
next hit the other main beach restaurant at Loblolly Bay. Nice for the family,
but no Cowboy Wreck. Headed past the Airport and into the “settlement” as the
locals call it, which actually shows they have a sense of humor. There were herds of goats, chickens, more
donkeys, and the best... free range cows and bulls. Luckily the little fella
was following a clearly hot cow into the local garbage dump for a little dinner
before dancing.
We finished our adventure back at town, dropping off our
vehicle and headed to Neptune’s Treasure Restaurant. A bit away from the rest of the
establishments, but far and away the best.
Great fresh fish and wonderful service with a view of the BVI’s.