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One morning as Ashley and I walked along the beach in Cane Garden Bay enjoying the scenery and people watching, we spotted a tiny puppy and stopped to talk to the owner. Her name is Pip and she lives on the island with her two kids, Becky and Barney and their newly found puppy Dumpster. An odd name one might think but Pip found him late one night abandoned in a dumpster and climbed in and rescued him. The kids thought it was the perfect name and somehow it suits him! Pip and I really hit it off and before we knew it her and the kids were joining us aboard Sophisticated Lady for a wee holiday!
Becky and Barney playing at the Bubbly Pool
We spent a lovely morning at the Bubbly pool playing in the frothing water and cooling off as the days are getting hotter and hotter. Dumpy loved the water and plunged right in with no fear. The kids hunted for rocks and shells and the dogs lounged in the sun as we floated in the pools. The water was so clear we could see tiny tropical fish swimming around us and hiding in the pockets of water by the rocks.
Dumpster the doggy
Although Dumpy was only 6 weeks old and not too steady on his feet yet, he took to the sea with ease and loved sailing! We all enjoyed the quiet anchorage at Diamond Cay and dinghyed ashore to visit Lewis at Foxy's Taboo. We sipped cool drinks under the shady patio and gazed out at the ocean as it washed over huge coral banks.
'Lucky' making friends with Barney
Becky and Barney thought Lucky was very cool and she amused them with her antics and funny phrases. She was trying to learn a new phrase and mixed up her sentences and made us all laugh. She loves when new people are on board and she can hear new laughs and voices to copy.
Delivering the dogs back from the beach
We decided to spend the next day at White Bay, a beautiful day anchorage with the most incredibly clear aqua blue water, stunning beach and tiny bars and shops to wander in. We anchored close to shore so we could enjoy swimming right off the boat to the beach. The dogs loved their rides on the body boards, it was their own personal ferry system! The water was the perfect temperature and felt absolutely delicious to dive into and cool off.
The girls hanging out at their own private oasis
Pip and I nabbed the best seats in the house, 4 comfy beach chairs under the shade of the palms. It was our own private oasis over looking the bay. We both sat down and sighed, "it doesn't get much better then this, does it?!". From our seats we could take in the beauty of the beach, sip cool drinks and watch the catamarans pull up to shore and drop off clumps of people for their hour on the beach.
Beautiful white sand beach at White Bay, Jost Van Dyke
It was wonderful to lounge in our chairs and watch the world walk by as the kids and dogs played and laughed in the sand and surf. Every so often we would get up and walk to the Soggy Dollar Bar to quench our thirst or slide into the cool water for a dip.
The view looking out from the Soggy Dollar Beach Bar
The Soggy Dollar Bar is this great little place on the beach with hammocks and couches and shady patios all strewn in the sand. There are games to play on the tables and a popular ring toss in the shade. Everyone is happy and the smell of delicious food grilling on the bbq wafts through the air. The music is loud and you can't help moving to the beat as the smiling bartender expertly mixes you an island drink.
Ellen and Terri having sundowners aboard 'Sophisticated Lady'
After we anchored in Great Harbour for the night, our friend Ellen came aboard to visit and stay for dinner. We all enjoyed the coolness of dusk as we chatted about island life and ate dinner. Ellen also lives on island and runs our favorite shop at Foxy's Taboo. It was a lovely mellow night after our day of swimming and beaches. As our dinner ended the sounds of the live band at Foxy's drifted out and we decided to head in for a bit and enjoy the music. Pip's mini holiday had turned out to be great fun for all of us and it was wonderful to get to know her and the kids. We will miss all our island friends and we will think of them often on our long journey home.
Looks like Dad checking us out while Mom looks up at us from below
We dropped Pip and the kids off back at Cane Garden Bay and made our way to Sopers Hole for the night. As Ashley and I were about to get back aboard after our morning walk I noticed a big grey patch at the back of the boat. I thought it was a giant sting ray and then a fin broke the surface. It was 4 dolphins and one was a little baby with its mum!!!! I shrieked for Rick to come up and he ran out thinking I had fallen over board or something. They were swimming all around the stern of the boat and me and Ashley in the dinghy. Rick grabbed the camera and jumped in and we began to follow the dolphins.
Mom and baby swimming side by side
They continued to swim all through the anchorage and along side of our dinghy. They stayed right at the surface and the baby would jump into the air and push his little body up every so often. It was magical and we were mesmerized. They were so close at one point the Dad nudged our dinghy with his fin when he thought we were too close to his baby.
Dad checking us out one last time.
We snapped as many pictures as we could and followed them right out of the bay as they made their way back to the ocean. It was an incredible experience and we climbed back aboard with huge smiles on our faces.
Cheers,
Rick & Terri 'Sophisticated Lady' |
