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Virgin Islands 2006

 

Pictures from 4/06 Culebrita

The beach at Culebrita, with lighthouse on the hill    A closer view of this beautiful beach... a wonderful spot!    The very familiar process of pulling the dinghy up onto the beach! It takes some muscle!    A view of the bay from the trail   

Pictures of our now famous hike up the hill to the lighthouse. We took the marked trail up (easy), but then Jeff decided we could find an even easier, faster way back down to the bay. Two hours later, after hacking through small trees, bushes, and tons of cacti; crawling through dense brush; and lowering ourselves down a rock cliff by our fingertips, we finally arrived at sea level, on the opposite shore from our boat!  Our shoes were full of burrs and cacti spines! It was a real test of our perseverance and ability to find humor in adversity! As you can tell from the pictures, the girls didn't have much confidence in Jeff's idea, even from the start down (we have done this kind of thing before, perhaps??). They will never forget this hike! 

Jeff found a branch, and used it as a scythe/walking stick, to hack a rudimentary trail down. This stick has a place of honor on the boat now. The girls are convinced we never would have made it down without Dad and his prowess with the stick! At least it was an easy trail from the sea side, back to the bay! Even though we still joke about it, the girls remember this as one of those character-building days in the whole cruising odyssey! I keep telling them, when they face some insurmountable task in the future, just think of the "Culebrita Lighthouse Hike", and then you'll know you can get through anything!

This is a view from the trail of the cut between Culebra & Culebrita, with a boat passing through    Another view of the cut, with some of the vegetation of Culebrita showing    A good sample of the various cacti & bushes on the island    A view of the incline up to the lighthouse, with Jeff & girls half hidden in the brush   

The actual lighthouse    The hike was well worth the spectacular, panoramic view     A good view of the calm north-facing bay to the left, and the waves breaking on the eastern facing shore to the right    A close-up of the numerous coral heads down below on the eastern shore   

The waves coming into shore, and the US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas) in the background    Here's that moment where the decision is made to go "down this way"!     A few minutes later, and Marcie's already wondering if we should go back the way we came!    No, the committment is made. Jeff is disappearing into the brush, but isn't that another nice view of the bay below?   

Rachel, showing me exactly how she feels about this "adventure"! I didn't get a shot of Jillian's reaction, because she was right beside me. Jillian, being the shortest, actually had the easier time climbing down and through the brush!    Rachel, emerging onto the beach on the south side of Culebra. We're thrilled to arrive on flat ground at last!     Jeff, with his bushwhacking stick    The southern shore, but looks great to us right now!!   

The beach and bay...   

The girls, tired out, and delighted to be back at the bayside beach!    "We made it through the hiking ordeal!"    After a rest, they're ready to play again.... with whatever's handy on the beach... bamboo and palm fronds!    Jillian kayaking - she loves it!

Jeff & I snorkeling at the reefs    Jeff & Marcie both upside down, checking out what may be underneath the coral    Blue tangs everywhere!    Hundreds of minnows

Pictures from 3/06 Culebra (Spanish Virgin Islands)

The aptly named Dinghy Dock Bar & Restaurant    The cut from Culebra harbor to the bays on the western side    Mamacitas restaurant    Jeff giving Marcie a lesson on a friend's sailing dinghy.... great fun! Thank you to Teri & Frankie on Second Wind! The town of Dewey, Culebra in the background   

 Jillian in the sailing dinghy with Jeff   Rachel had a great time flying around in the sailing dinghy... Jeff's just enjoying the ride!    I get my turn! This is sooo much fun! Much different from sailing the bigger boat!    Thanks to Teri & Frankie for the use of their sailing dinghy! I loved it!   

We had tons of sea stars around us where we were anchored, in Dakity Bay    Rachel shows me a white sea star, one of many    Rachel also discovered a rare six-legged sea star!    Here's a close-up! We thought it was a mutant, but our research indicated there are occasional sea stars with more than the usual five legs. For a bit Rachel thought she had a huge find!   

Jillian, enjoying the hammock in the water    We also found several conchs, and this fellow was particularly active. Buddy just did not know what to make of him!     Another freshly-caught dinner!

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