THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS

We loved the US Virgin Islands and here are the places we visited while there:
REDHOOK, ST THOMAS

Getting washing done on the way to St Thomas

Damon's cabin

Strange things pass by our boat!

American Harbour, St Thoams

We anchored in the bay here and hired a car to fetch Cas and Damon. Car rental is $65 a day. There are bars and small shops here and everything is within walking distance from the American Yacht Harbour. Did shopping in Tutu which is a 15 minute drive away, where there is a KMart, Plaza Extra and Walgreens Pharmacy. Prices are a bit more expensive than the USA and St Maarten. It more organized here and we really enjoyed the feeling of being back in America. Our American phone works here and for $60 a month we were able to buy unlimited mobile phone coverage with data. The anchorage was very sheltered, and this made it extremely hot. It is a busy ferry port so this made the anchorage pretty rocky as the ferries went by. We spent 3 nights here.
CHRISTMAS COVE
We spent 2 nights in this secluded bay, a 15 minute sail from St Thomas main island. Picked up a buoy here, great snorkeling and calm anchorage. The kids took the dinghy, caught a taxi and hitched a lift to the Food Centre for a few supplies. Damon and Tayne were not allowed into the supermarket because they weren't wearing shoes.....welcome to America!!!

Going shopping

Collecting fresh water and doing washing in the rain

LEINSTER BAY, ST JOHN
We were planning on going to the BVI and decided to stay in the USVI instead of clearing in at Sopers Hole. We found a little bay called Leinster Bay and we were surprised to find a National Park buoy to pick up and only a few yachts here, a private island and beautiful forests. The diving was spectacular with turtles and rays and we went on a beautiful hike to an abandoned sugar mill. This was really interesting and made us feel like we were back in the days of pirates and slavery. All these islands are named after pirates and there are lot of interesting stories about this era. The scenery from there was amazing with turquoise seas and views of the surrounding islands. There is a $15 per night mooring fee which should be paid into a box on a floating raft. We spent 2 nights here.

Sailing between islands

A beach island

She ain't heavy, she's my daughter....

US Virgin Island views

The Anadale Sugar Mill ruins

CANEEL BAY, ST JOHN
The weather predictions were not great so we decided to stay on St John in protected bays until the front passed. Caneel Bay has beautiful, long white, palm fringed beaches and the best snorkeling we've had so far. It borders on the upmarket Caneel Bay resort and there is a shop on the beach selling drinks and souveniers. We loved it here, spent some time on the beach, but the anchorage was a little rolly. We found a small island and snorkeled off the beach there, with no one else in sight! We had a big old Baracuda sheltering under our boat and decided to try and catch him.....shame, he went straight for our livebait, gave Stephen a good fight and lucky for him, got away. Great excitement on Katz! We spent 3 nights here and they have the same $15 per night mooring fee.

A rainy afternoon with rum cocktails

Diving off an island near Caneel Bay

Our elusive Baracuda hunting under our boat

The boys baking chocolate brownies

Caneel Bay Beach

GREAT CRUZ BAY, ST JOHN
We wanted a bit of civilization and moved on. We made our way up the coast and after trying a few bays found an anchorage in Great Cruz Bay. Damon, Cas and Tayne went to the Westin Resort for a drink and some fries, while we stayed on the boat and made dinner.....something wrong with that picture?? :)
I found my dream homes here.....

We went back to Redhook to meet up with our friends, Carol and Greg and to get more supplies before heading for the BVI which is apparently very expensive. We really got into the Caribbean Christmas spirit with Chistmas carols being played by musicians and decorations all over. Some of the yachts around us have amazing Christmas lights, all the way up the mast and around the boat and the local radio station plays carols all day with the familiar marimba twist. I feel a bit sad hearing carols so far from home because my mom and I always love carols at Christmas with the rest of the family complaining bitterly! We have decorated our boat and bought some lights for outside, but we could never keep up with the Americans!

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