 Day
1- Saturday:
Lisa, the kids, and I met up with Tim and the family and departed
Atlanta airport en route to Beef Island airport, British Virgins Islands.
After a quick connection in San Juan Puerto Rico, we arrived ready
for some fun in the sun aboard our 65’ private charter yacht
Wanderlust. Beef Island has a beautiful new airport and clearing customs
and immigration was a breeze. Upon leaving customs we were met by
Mr. Quick, Wanderlust’s personal taxi driver, and taken to Trellis
Bay. Trellis Bay is right next to the airport, so we were on the dock
within about 15 minutes of landing. Waiting for us on the dock was
the Wanderlust crew with a welcome tray of fresh lemonade and Pina
Coladas. Captain Dick introduced us to two of his crew, Peter and
Craig. Soon we were aboard their spacious (and dry!) 21’ tender
and on our way out to the most luxurious multi-hull I have ever seen.
Peter and Craig brought our luggage out in another tender (they have
two!). The rest of the crew was waiting for us on board. Eric, Decker,
and Candice introduced themselves and got us settled on the large
aft deck for lunch. Feeling instantly relaxed and extremely hungry
after our flight, we inhaled the selection of deli sandwiches and
salads Eric had prepared. Without us even realizing, Dick and the
crew had gotten us underway while we were eating. We were OFF, the
holiday had begun! We quickly found ourselves in a beautiful, secluded
bay on the island of Camanoe. Peter and Decker got us set up with
snorkel gear and we were off with the kids leading the way. We snorkeled
through huge schools of fish and saw a couple turtles. It was beautiful
and there was no one but us around. We returned to the boat just in
time to watch a gorgeous sunset. Sundown cocktails were enjoyed by
all (virgins for the younger ones!) and Captain Dick gave us a briefing
about the boat and what our options were for the week. He then walked
us around and showed us our cabins and how everything worked. Lisa
and I and Tim and Emma took the two aft cabins that walk up onto the
aft deck. Michael and John took the two mid ship cabins. Julie and
Meagan moved into the two forward cabins, and Matt and Dylan shared
a forward cabin with four bunk beds to be known from then on as “the
game room”. All they had brought other than their bathing suits
were video and other games. The boat was far more than we expected.
There was more space than we had imagined, more than enough room for
the ten of us, and the cabins were perfect. The cabins were spacious,
and huge hatches over the beds let in plenty of fresh air. We gathered
on the aft deck again and enjoyed hors devours. Chicken Satay brochettes
with chicken wings for Matt and Dylan. Dinner was eaten in the salon
with the ten of us seated around a beautiful teak table set for a
king. Dinner consisted of sun dried tomato & roasted pine nuts
with mixed greens, grilled Swordfish, mango & papaya salsa, wild
& white rice, buttered asparagus, and dark chocolate mousse for
desert with Cointreau cream. After dinner Tim and I sat out on deck
and enjoyed a fine Cuban cigar and Courvoisier, while the ladies and
kids watched a film in the salon. The trip is off to a great start!
 Day
2- Sunday:
Awoke from a wonderful sleep to the smell of fresh coffee and pastries.
I found Emma on the aft deck with a big bowl of fresh fruit and an
even bigger smile. What a way to start your day! The two of us decided
to go for a snorkel until everyone else was up. By 9:00 everyone was
up (except Michael who sleeps like a bear) and enjoying French toast
with maple bacon. Peter, the SCUBA diving instructor, asked who wants
to dive this week. All hands went up! Those who are not certified
needed to take a short Resort Course which gives them the basics and
means they can dive for the rest of the week under Peter’s watchful
eye. The course is a video/lecture followed by a training dive off
the beach. John, Meagan, Matt, and Dylan all take part and we can
see they are instantly hooked. While we sat down for a lunch of Pesto
chicken with black olives, and mushroom, artichoke & roast pepper
pizzas, and green salad with herb balsamic dressing, Dick and the
crew got the boat ready to move. After lunch it was time to go sailing.
The sailing was beautiful. Matt quickly found himself at the helm
and steered us toward the Dog islands. Dick gave him his very own
Wanderlust hat for being the captain. The rest of us busied ourselves
sunbathing (Julie, John and Meagan), fishing (Dylan and Michael),
chatting over a few of Candice’s margaritas (Me, Lisa, and Emma),
and sleeping! (Tim). Had another nice snorkel and walk on the beach
at Great Dog. The plan was to distract Tim long enough for the crew
to get the boat ready for the party. When we got back, we found Wanderlust’s
salon filled with balloons and streamers and a big HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY
TIM! banner. Tim was very surprised and we were all very impressed.
Is there anything this crew does not do? We had Champagne sundowners
with our hors devours, a huge vegetable platter with herb dip and
Parmesan toasts. Tim opened his presents and then we sat down for
his birthday feast. Eric had prepared his favorite food… steak!
We had rolled flank steak with proscuitto & basil, lyonaisse potatoes,
carrots, and Broccoli followed by a huge homemade birthday cake decorated
by Meagan. After dinner the kids watched a movie and played video
games in the salon, while we adults danced and had more champagne
on the aft deck. Lisa and I finished a perfect day by lying on the
bow and watching shooting stars.
 Day
3-Monday:
We woke up with slightly heavy heads from last night’s celebrations,
but recovered quickly after a swim and a breakfast of eggs to order,
bacon, and hash browns with grilled tomatoes. We then enjoyed our
first dive. Tim, Emma, Michael, Julie, Dylan, and I did a great dive
on the Visibles. It was a shallow dive to 40’ to get us comfortable
again. We saw lots of fish, beautiful coral, and a Barracuda that
followed Dylan around. While we were out diving, Decker took Meagan
and Matt tubing. When we surfaced from our dive we could hear their
laughter from across the water. Lisa and John stayed on board and
worked on their tans. For lunch we had Mediterranean pasta salad with
crusty garlic bread. After lunch, Michael and John helped Craig hoist
the sails and Lisa and Julie helped Peter bring up the anchor and
we were off to Norman Island. After a long leisurely sail we anchored
in Privateer’s Bay. Again we were on our own in another beautiful
bay. Dick really knows where to go. Tim, Lisa, Emma, and I did a late
afternoon dive on the Indians. Beautiful coral walls, and loads of
fish life. Candice took the kids snorkeling in “The Caves”
and told them the story of Treasure Island. Norman Island was the
setting for Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, and treasure actually
was found in those exact caves! Michael stayed behind so Decker could
give him some pointers on his wakeboarding. We all met back at Wanderlust
and told of our various adventures while enjoying another Caribbean
sunset. Hors devours were mild curry vegetable Samosas (a local treat).
Dick then took us on a little boat ride into the main harbor of Norman
Island to see a floating bar/restaurant called the Willy T. The Willy
T is a big old schooner yacht that they have converted into one of
the BVI’s biggest tourist attractions. We had a few cocktails
and heard stories of people jumping naked off the top to win free
T-shirts and other stories of debauchery. When we got back to Wanderlust,
the crew claimed to have never heard of the place!!! For dinner that
night Eric prepared lemon garlic shrimp skewers followed by roast
breast of chicken filled with spinach, goat’s cheese & shitake
mushrooms, and coarse grain mustard cream. French lemon tart finished
the meal. After dinner, Dick led us in a game of girls vs. guys Trivial
Pursuit. I will not discuss the outcome although a rematch is already
planned! After the game, we all crawled to our cabins exhausted and
ready for a good nights sleep.
 Day
4- Tuesday:
Everyone awoke refreshed (except for Michael of course), and after a
breakfast of Belgian waffles, warm syrup, whipped cream and a tropical
fruit tray, it was time to go SCUBA diving on a great site called Coral
Gardens. Everyone went except for Matt and Dylan who were more interested
in tubing with Craig. The dive was spectacular as expected with a big
Spotted Eagle Ray as the highlight. When we got back to Wanderlust the
boat was ready to go sailing. Our next stop was Salt Island. They actually
farm salt here and Candice took us all for a walk on shore and showed
us the salt ponds and introduced us to the man who lives there, Norwell.
We found ourselves staggering around the island having lost our land
legs after three days on the water. The kids loved it and we bought
some local salt and a Conch shell horn made by Norwell. We all had a
laugh trying to make a noise out of it. Meagan was our Champion Conch
Blower. Lunch was Cajun garlic chicken Caesar salad. Excellent! After
lunch it was time to dive the world famous Wreck of the Rhone. The 300+
foot Royal Mail Steamer wrecked off Salt Island in 1867 and is now one
of the Caribbean’s premier dives. Peter knows it like the back
of his hand and showed us all sorts of amazing things we never would
have seen. We saw cannons, port holes with the glass still intact, old
tools, and even a spoon melted into the wreck when it caught fire and
sank. Add all that to several turtles, and a moray eel and it was truly
a spectacular dive. While we were diving, Dick moved Wanderlust up to
Cooper Island with the remaining gang. When we got back we found Lisa
and the kids snorkeling Cistern Point. They came back and said it was
the best, so Dick and Peter recommended we do a night dive on the reef
there. It was too good an idea to pass up. We went ashore for the women
to shop at Cooper Island resort. Hors devours of mini bruscettas were
on the aft deck when we got back. We enjoyed a dinner of chicken pate,
Cumberland sauce, and focaccia toasts followed by scallop and shrimp
skewers with special Caribbean rub, Thai curry sauce, and basmati rice
vegetable medley. All was washed down with sparkling wine in anticipation
of our dive. Tim, Lisa, Michael, and I joined Peter on one of the best
dives I have ever done. Lobsters, turtles, puffer fish, parrotfish,
and beautiful corals made it a truly spectacular dive, Lisa and my first!
We got back and found the rest of the gang night fishing with Dick and
Decker on the bow. Julie and John caught two big Jacks. We all got together
in the salon and enjoyed a late desert of double cream cheesecake with
fresh fruit coulis while watching the movie “The Deep”.
The film was shot on the wreck of the Rhone where we dove earlier.
 Day
5-Wednesday:
After another wake up to coffee, fruit, and my now favorite chocolate
muffins. We enjoyed Eric’s Spanish omelets and got ready for the
morning dive. We dove cistern point for those who had missed it. Michael
and Julie stayed on board with Craig who taught them how to windsurf.
They have a great beginner’s board that had them both up and sailing
by the time we got back. We got underway with Julie at the helm under
Dick’s instruction. She loved it and now wants her own boat (Thanks
Dick)!!!! It was a beautiful sail up to Virgin Gorda (the fat virgin).
After a lunch of burgers with cheese and bacon served with straw potatoes,
it was time to hit the shore. The plan was to have a beach barbeque
at Valley Trunk Bay. This is a true specialty of Wanderlust. They have
everything; beach volleyball, beach umbrellas, chairs, stereo, and even
sandcastle toys. After our sandcastle competition (won by John) it was
time for beach volleyball. The crew joined in and after three games
we all ended up in the sea to cool off. While the crew got the bbq ready,
we hiked around on the boulders that make The Baths famous. They were
huge and the kids (and adults!) loved climbing around them. We sat atop
one and watched the sun go down, then joined the crew for our bbq. Picnic
tables were set with tablecloths and the works on the beach by the sea,
surrounded by the picturesque boulders. We could not have asked for
anything more. Then it was time to eat and we were even more blown away.
Eric presented tossed salad & dressing, rustic potato salad, vine
ripened tomato's, Basil and pepper salad, bbq glazed ribs, marinated
chicken, corn on the cob, baked potato's, and grilled fruit skewers.
Decker brought wine, champagne, water, soda, and our favorite bar drinks.
We had everything we could have wanted, and we were on a deserted beach!
Desert was home made brownies. After we digested and chatted for a while,
Candice turned up the stereo and brought out the limbo pole. A hysterical
contest ensued with Meagan ending up as limbo champion. After more dancing,
we returned to Wanderlust and collapsed into our beds after another
very full and fun day.
 Day
6-Thursday:
After morning fruit and pastries, Candice took us on a private tour
of The Baths. There was a trail that wound through, up, and over the
boulders, revealing hidden pools and caves. Beautiful. After a snorkel
around the boulders, we went back to Wanderlust for a brunch of blueberry
pancakes and the works. The ladies then went into Spanish Town (Virgin
Gorda’s main town) to do some shopping and came back with bags
full of souvenirs. Tim, Emma, Meagan, Dylan, Matt, and I did a dive
at the Aquarium that had more fish life than any of us had ever seen,
while Julie and John water-skied with Decker. We sailed up the coast
of Virgin Gorda to Mountain Point and enjoyed a lunch of quesedillas,
sour cream and fresh cut salsa. Mountain Point was another of Dick’s
secluded anchorage. Sundowners was highlighted by several of us (not
me!) seeing the green flash. Hors devours were crab & cream cheese
dip with baguette crackers. For dinner Eric made seared Ahi tuna, wasabi,
and pickled ginger. The herb & pepper crusted pork tenderloin with
tomato and apple relish, dauphinoisse potatoes, and zucchini was a big
hit with everyone. Desert of profiteroles filled with ice cream and
topped with caramel sauce sent most of us into food coma that ended
with us falling asleep in front of the movie. John, Meagan, and Matt
still had some energy and went for a night snorkel with Craig and Peter.
I am not sure how the crew keeps up…. but they do!
 Day
7-Friday:
After a morning snorkel and French Crepes for breakfast, we took a last
dive at Mountain Point. Lisa and Emma skipped it and went kayaking along
the coast. Michael and Julie decided to work on their windsurfing. We
rendezvoused on Wanderlust for a lunch of chicken clubhouse sandwiches
served on focaccia bread. A nice down wind sail found us in Camanoe
Island’s Bale’s Ground. This was a picture perfect bay.
There is room for one boat, ours, and where the sea reaches land; rocky
cliff walls climb up several hundred feet. The afternoon was spent doing
all imaginable watersports. The highlight was Tim and Emma learning
to sail the Laser sailboat. The kids kept busy tubing, skiing, kayaking,
surfing, and snorkeling. We all definitely packed as much into our last
day as possible. After sunset cocktails and smoked salmon canapés,
dinner was a antipasto selection, broiled lobster tail, tenderloin of
beef, blue cheese glaze, port wine demi-glace, roast garlic mash, and
asparagus spears. A brandy snap basket filled with fruit sorbets just
about finished us off, but not before a Trivial Pursuit rematch! (again
won by the women). The kids watched a film and we enjoyed after dinner
drinks on the aft deck and reminisced on a great trip that was coming
to an end. It had far surpassed all of our expectations.
 Day
8-Saturday:
After one last morning snorkel, we enjoyed a breakfast of eggs benedict
and mimosas. We forced ourselves to pack and get ready to leave Wanderlust,
which I had come to think of as home. Dick slowly cruised us back to
Trellis Bay. We signed Dick’s visitors book, which is actually
a world atlas with more entries than I could believe. He really has
been doing this a long time! (and it shows in so many ways) Lisa and
Emma gave Dick our mailing address so we could keep in touch and hear
about what is going on onboard until our return, which we are already
planning. We all got together and took group photos on the bow, did
some last minute shopping at the Wanderlust Boutique, and it was sadly
time to go. Miraculously our shoes reappeared and we hopped in the tender
and headed for shore. Mr. Quick was waiting at the dock to take us to
the airport. We are now on our way back to Atlanta and all I can think
about is how long until we can return to Dick and the Wanderlust! What
a trip, life just does not get much better!
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