Petersen Family Adventures: Our Vacation to the Virgin Islands- Part 2

Day 3- Leinster Bay, St. John to Benures Bay, Norman Island

We awoke early on day 3 (we awoke early every day thanks to little Teddy) and got an early start to see some more ruins. Since Nayeli was still asleep, Jane was kind enough to stay with the kids while Gary took us ashore in the dinghy.

We visited the Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins, which is part of the national park in St. John. They are from the late 1700's and were run by slaves brought from Africa. It was a very interesting place, but sobering as well to think of the labor those slaves had to endure there. The history buff in me loved it and lamented it at the same time.

Ben shooting pictures of me, like he does

By the windmill structure, which would crush the sugar cane

Here the sugar was boiled down to make molasses and rum

After returning to the boat, we sailed into the British Virgin Islands. Our first stop was the main island of Tortola, in a little harbor called Soper's Hole. It was a quaint place with fun shops.

On our way! Teddy's face here is the best.

Soper's Hole

Our first stop was to look in the shops at souvenirs. Jane was kind enough to buy Nayeli a stuffed turtle, and Nayeli even spent money she had earned herself on a pencil with a fish and windmill on the top of it. I bought a cute shirt with "Tortola" on the front. We then headed to the grocery store to get ice cream.

Oh this boy has my heart...

So does she. In heaven with her pencil and turtle

Actually they were both in heaven. Just look at those faces.

We then stopped at a restaurant to enjoy conch fritters, courtesy of Gary. They were delicious, but I believe Ben and I got more fritter than conch in ours. It was fried though, so how could I complain?

After our Soper's Hole stop, we were on the move again headed for Norman Island.

On the bow

Sam and Bonnie, who got engaged just a week or so after returning from the trip. We love Bonnie and are really excited for them.

Teddy getting to help sail the boat with Grandma Jane and Grandpa Gary

Once we reached Norman Island we put on our snorkels and swam into some caves. They are rumored to be places that actual pirates hid their treasure and plunder years ago, but nothing is left now. It's just fun to swim in and imagine them filled with gold coins and treasure chests. I'm sure that's not how it actually was, but it's fun to imagine it anyway.

We didn't get any pictures here so I borrowed one from another source. Just imagine that's us snorkeling into the caves, okay?

Something really cool that we did here was that we fed softened rice to the fish as we snorkeled. We'd release it and they'd come in swarms. We saw a barracuda and large spotted eagle ray (like a huge spotted sting ray) while snorkeling as well. When we returned to the boat after exploring the caves, Nayeli was so disappointed that she didn't get to go into a "real" pirate cave. That's when Grandma Jane stepped in, and being the amazing swimmer that she is, she swam Nayeli into each cave so that she could see it all. She's a wonderful grandmother.

Ben, Sam, Gary and Jane also did a famous scuba dive here called "The Indians". Ben took a GoPro down with him and got some cool pictures.

Ben. What a hunk in all that scuba gear, huh?

Sammy

After we were done diving and snorkeling, we went to moor in Benures Bay. There Ben and I took the kids to shore to beach comb and find some fun shells. We found some cool conch (which we didn't bring home because it is illegal), as well as other amazing coral and shells. Many were really big and fragile, and unfortunately they didn't survive our kids. Oh well. I keep telling myself that there are things more important in life than seashells.

That night, and a few other nights on the trip, we played board games after dinner. Ben's family loves board games, especially Settler's of Cataan. We had a great time playing together. Then after games, we often moved out onto the bow to lay on the area we affectionately termed "the trampoline", a large plastic net stretched over the front of the boat. Sam, Bonnie, Ben and myself were usually the last ones awake and we chatted until our eyelids dropped low. It was great fun, and we got to know Bonnie much better during those conversations. Those are great memories.

Day 4: Benures Bay, Norman Island to Peter Island

This day was Sunday, so we awoke early to get into our harbor in Road Town, Tortola and make it to 10am church. It was only a short walk from the harbor, and we enjoying seeing some of the city on foot. It reminded me so much of Belize, except that it was much cleaner, there were less stray animals (we saw a "small animal control" vehicle driving around), and they drive on the opposite side of the road. The branch we attended had about 30 active members- we met in a cement office building on the top floor. The members were wonderful and it was a great experience to be there with them. Plus I love that the church is the same everywhere. It is so refreshing to me.

We also may have stolen Bonnie's camera and had a little fun...

After church we sailed toward Peter Island. Honestly, I was so tired and grouchy this day I just wanted to sleep. The kids got naps, then Ben, Jane and Gary took them to the beach so that I could get some rest. I got a nice, long nap and it was wonderful.

Teddy asleep in our cabin. The dark square in the photo is the cubby where he slept.

Nayeli would curl up with her stuffed animals and sleep nearly anywhere. And it was so hot I often just let her run around in her underwear.

My cute cougar

Playing with Aunt Chelsea

By that night I felt like a new woman and it was so refreshing. It was the perfect way to spend a Sunday in the Caribbean.

Day 5: Sprat Bay, Peter Island and back to Sprat Bay, Peter Island

On this particular morning I had some dirty clothes that I needed to clean, so I went to the stern of the boat and started my washing. As I went to rinse the clothes in the water, I looked down to see a three foot barracuda staring up at me, watching me wash. He didn't startle as I splashed and moved- he stuck around for quite awhile. Gary said that barracuda aren't likely to attack humans (a barracuda is the kind of fish that killed Nemo's mom), however I sure didn't like how looked at me, and I steered clear of the water in that area.

Peter Island is known for it's luxurious and expensive beach resort- Gary said that a room there is a minimum of $1,000 a night. They also had a "high class" private beach, tennis courts, a private swimming pool, and spa. We found a spa pamphlet and an hour couple's massage was only $400- I told Ben if we weren't so time strapped we could do it... maybe next time? ;)

The beach was called Deadman's beach and we got to go to the "middle class" area since we had paid for a mooring the night before. I must say that all of Peter Island was stunning- the most beautiful sand and surf I had ever seen in my life. We arrived early enough that we had the beach to ourselves nearly the whole morning. The kids were in heaven in the sand and we played coop and beach volleyball together. Ben and Sam also had fun throwing a frisbee and football. And of course we went swimming. Of course.

Sprat Bay. It's interesting to see all the flags flying- England, US, British Virgin Islands, and the resort flag (I think)

Deadman's beach. That's the resort over in the distance.

It was such a fun morning to just relax on the beach, but soon we had to get back to the boat for lunch and more adventures. Teddy crashed in Ben's arms on the way back- he was so tired and worn out. In all honesty, we sort of ran our kids ragged, but there is no time for two naps a day when you are on the trip of a lifetime in the Carribean. Besides, our next destination was one of the coolest yet.

In 1867 the RMS Rhone, a 300 foot iron ship transporting goods from England, hit a hurricane and split in two as it crashed into the rocks off Salt Island. 123 people were killed and the wreck still lies where it sunk nearly 150 years ago. The stern lies at only 30 feet depth and can be seen while snorkeling, however the bow is down at 80 feet and requires scuba gear. Ben, Jane, Gary and Sam all dove to see the wreck, then came back and I was able to go snorkle and explore a bit. It was incredible; eerie almost. Ben said it was the best dive he had ever done since it combined the Rhone with all the coral and fish that had made the ship their habitat. Here are a few pictures he got with his GoPro:

The stern, with the propeller seen at the left.

Portholes

A mast

After our visit to the Rhone, we did a detour to the area we were going to visit the next day. Although we found it to be full, and we had to back track to Peter Island, Gary took advantage of the travel and showed Ben how to sail.

Ben has always had a dream of sailing. Dream fulfilled.

Gary explained to us the basics of sailing- the wind, the sails, tacking, etc. It was fascinating. I had no idea sailing was such an art until our trip.