A good day.

Sunday, our friends Doug and Kathy Bradley were nice enough to invite us to accompany them on their 60ft sailboat, Aeolus, as they moved it from the hurricane-proof Village Cay Marina to a mooring ball in much prettier Trellis Bay. Stacy and I leapt at the chance and met them at the marina at 9am.

Having helped Doug storm-proof his boat as hurricanes and tropical storms threatened the BVI in weeks passed, I was learning a little bit about sailing, knots and the responsibility that comes with calling a boat your one and only home. I was eager to get out on the water.

We left Marina Cay under the Iron Spinnaker (diesel power) due to a tear in the headsail we had discovered as we removed it before tropical storm Erika. We motored east along the southern edge of Tortola and rounded Beef Island on our approach to our snorkeling grounds on the eastern edge of Great Caminoe.

Coast of Great Caminoe.

Making sure we don't anchor on the reef.

Shooting the gap.

The water was gorgeous. As we approached Lee Bay, our lunch\snorkeling stop, we were told about how Doug and Kathy used to consider this bay their own little secret until, flying home on holiday they saw a photo of it on the cover of American Airlines Magazine with the headline 'Discover Lee Bay in the BVI.' Never the less, it was deserted.

Hope the Wonder Dog. 100% Tortolan Mutt. Kathy wonders how they ever lived without her and Doug wonders why they have her. Hence the name.

Straight flowin'

We dropped anchor, donned our snorkeling gear and jumped ship. This was the day I most regretted not having my underwater camera. First, we spotted some Spanish Mackerel and watched them dart in for a meal amidst a school of tiny fish. Then, Stacy spotted a Green Sea Turtle a few yards away from us. It swam a few circles around us as we spun to keep it in view. Just as the turtle left us, we were treated to the presence of two enormous tarpon as they emerged from the school of fish mere feet in front of us. As they turned to swim away, a school of Horse-Eyed Jacks, at least 2ft long and vicious predators, swam from the bubbles and came close to us. As they circled, I spotted a Nurse Shark cruising over the submerged boulders looking for an easy meal. It was 10ft from us, between us and the shore. Stacy and I looked around at all of the predators around us and figured it was time to head back to the boat. Curses to UPS for losing my underwater camera!

Back on the boat, we had a great lunch and raised anchor to head in to Trellis Bay. Along the shore about a hundred yards away I swear I saw a mermaid. We saw a huge sea turtle surface next to the boat on the way towards the mooring ball.

This place is called The Last Resort. The site of the Cedar School Christmas Party.

Home for Doug and Kathy for the next month or so.

After the short ride back to Lambert, Stace and I took a nap and woke up to an amazing sunset out our sliding glass doors. We could hear the surf pounding as we opened them. I said to Stace "Hey lets go down to the beach and take some pictures!" As soon as we got there, I saw our friend Tim, on island doing his physician's residency for a few months, riding some waves. I got all excited and ran in to play like a little kid and left Stace with the camera.

Time to play.

Graceful as a ballerina.

These tiny waves grow to 8-10ft in the winter.

Dead.

No snorkeling along these rocks tonight.

"Tortola is a pretty okay place," -Doug