In the BVI's - Memories and Living in the Moment

Posted by Liz

At first, we were a little bummed to be heading to the BVI's (Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Cooper Island, Norman Island and others) and the USVI's (St. John will probably be our only stop there) because it meant that we're closing in on the end of what has been a most WONDERFUL winter and adventure together.

But now that we're back here, it's bringing us back to the time of our original courtship and falling in love stage 11 years ago or so. My first experience cruising in the islands was here in Tortola in April 1999 - shortly after I had met Ed (December 1998). It was a magical week in many ways - the beauty and exhilaration of sailing (while at the helm then, as a novice, I got our boat speed up to 9.3, probably with the help of Ed's excellent sail trim and perfect wind too), the warm and blue waters, and the magic that started happening for us personally.

We're here in Road Harbour, Tortola for a day or so to get laundry done and work with an excellent machinist, to possibly recreate a new bimini structure and perhaps work on some other projects for us while we're cruising in this area for the next 6 weeks.

From here, we're heading up to the Bitter End, Virgin Gorda - where "Club Swan" is having their annual Caribbean cruising regatta and festivities - where fellow Swan owners gather to enjoy time together.

We'll just spend the next 6 weeks cruising around these great islands - small, beautiful achorages with great restaurants and nightlife (if we can ever stay up past 9pm!). All of the islands are within a few hours sailing distance from each other, so you can leave one place at 8am and be somewhere else in time to drop the hook, snorkel and have lunch and a nap!

We're going to try to Live in the Moment and cherish every minute!