He takes his place on the dirt mound, serious and full of hope. He dreams of strikes, yet deep inside his sweet soul fears hitting his opponent. The over-sized mitt behind home plate is up; ready to receive his pitch. Accuracy trumps speed. Determination and intensity captured on his young face.
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"Family is not an important thing, it's everything." - Michael J. Fox "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in our heart."
Blessed with five nieces and three nephews. This kiddo turned eight yesterday! He captures passerby's with his gold-flecked blue eyes. Master story teller, actor, and thief of hearts! Day 7: We left Bitter End Yacht Club after provisioning and headed towards Norman's Island, BVI. Here we enjoyed snorkeling the caves. It was like being in an aquarium. We saw plenty of sea life including a lizard fish and beautiful Blue Tang. Later that evening as Mom was preparing dinner, Steve and David headed to Willy T's; a floating bar. As they were enjoying a drink or two, they noticed smoke in the distance. They continued to 'monitor the situation' and realized they needed to head back to the boat. Good thing they did! Mom and I were watching the smoke get darker and darker, only to realize a boat was on fire. The boat had been 'set free' as to not catch other boats or the pier on fire. It was a live fireball heading right towards us. David immediately dropped the mooring and we circled the cove, waiting for the flaming boat to pass. Day 8: We enjoyed another early morning snorkel, this time near Angelfish Reef. William was able to attempt scuba diving with Grandpop, who used an octopus to allow him to stay under with him for a long minute or two. William signaled to surface, and they did. What an experience! We ended the afternoon with a sail back to Francis Bay, St. John, USVI. We were in 'quarantine' until we could clear customs, which we planned to do the very next day. Days 9 & 10: The final leg of our trip brought us to Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI. Here we cleared customs and did a little shopping. We also visited the National State Park office, where the boys were able to get stamps for the National State Park passports, something we started for them when they were babies. We enjoyed our 'last meal' together back at Island Time Pub, famous for their pizza and fun atmosphere. After packing and showering, we set our alarms for our early morning departure. I truly can't express how fortunate we feel to have been able to have this amazing opportunity. "Life is short, live it. Love is rare, grab it. Fear is a mind-killer, face it. Memories are sweet, cherish them." -Unknown Day 5: The bubbly pool is located near Foxy's Taboo on Little Yost Van Dyke, BVI. After a hike through the woods and Manchioneel Trees (poisonous trees with a deep, dark bark), you begin to question your path. However, hand painted markers on boulders along the way encourage you to continue climbing and maneuvering through the rugged terrain. Alas, you arrive at your destination. A small cut in the rocks allows the waves to rush in every 3rd or 4th pass, making for a small 'bubbly pool.' We all enjoyed the beauty of this natural pool and had some fun as the waves pushed us around. We ventured back to Foxy's Taboo, where we enjoyed drinks and shopping in their little gift shop. The boys befriended a local man who helped them grab a coconut from the tree. They also enjoyed petting Shadow and Midnight, two local pups hanging out in the bar. We left Little Jost Van Dyke and sailed towards Virgin Gorda. The winds were cranking on our sail over. The goal was to pick up a mooring in Marina Cay, however the anchorage was full. So we crossed the way to Trellis Bay. Here we enjoyed dinner at the Loose Mongoose, an open air restaurant. Day 6: We left Trellis Bay and continued on to Virgin Gorda. The winds were whipping again, and Steve got a little green on this passage. Once we grabbed our mooring in Virgin Gorda, he jumped overboard to help eliminate the sea sickness feeling (it works almost instantly by the way). We swam from the mooring into the beach at the Baths. The Baths are large rock formations that create caves and passages. It is a fascinating site and a place I am happy we got to take the boys. The moorings at The Baths are for day use only, so we dropped our mooring and found our way to the Bitter End Yacht Club. Located in the North sound of Virgin Gorda, this beautiful club was constructed in the late 60's. Today it boasts a beautiful shoreline framed with cottages. Sandwiched between Prickly Pear Island and Virgin Gorda in the North Sound is Saba Rock, an acre and a half island accessible by boat or helicopter. This island consistently ranks as one of the most popular watering holes in the Caribbean, and is a famous stop for celebrities and the yachting crowd. Once on Saba Rock, we enjoyed a delicious meal and serene atmosphere. The live fish tank was popular with the boys, as well as watching the helicopter take flight. |
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AuthorTraci, a wife, mother of two boys, Special Education teacher, and sole proprietor of Eco Alternatives LLC. Archives
September 2021
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