LAHOWIND » Just you, me, + the dog.

Indian Snork!

Fluttering sea fans. Colorful coral gardens. And boatloads of fish swimming on by. If you like snorkeling, then you’ll love the Indians!

Our current count stands at three separate trips to the Indians. Yup, three.

We did a quick tour of the popular snorkel site (just outside of Norman Island) ourselves before deciding it was definitely worth bringing others back to see. Stops two and three occurred when we had Jer’s cousin and sister aboard earlier this month. And although this is one of the more popular charter stops for most vacationers in the area, honestly, even after three visits, I would go for my fourth in a heart beat.

It’s been super easy to grab a mooring ball, jump in, and swim over to the reef to check out all the underwater action and sea life living around the four protruding rocks known as The Indians. Our highlights so far have been a massive permit fish, a small shark, and plenty of interesting tropical fish we had never seen until now.

Of course, I toted along the good ole GoPro for some underwater footage of our snorkeling adventures…

And, holy smokes, we even got our short snork video to upload and actually make it through the red tape over at Vimeo! Hooray!!!

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>>Thanks for visiting LAHOWIND sailing blog! We’d love for you to get to know us and follow our story as we attempt to navigate a whole new world of sailing, as we cruise the Caribbean.

Tim barberFebruary 13, 2015 - 3:54 pm

If you have an active blog sending to email would u please enroll me. Thank u

Jesse K on SmittyFebruary 17, 2015 - 12:44 pm

Did you check out the caves while in that area?

If not, its worth a return trip. Anchor in the Bight and then take the dink around the point and there are some great caves to snorkel.

Chartering in that area is what inspired us to do it full time. Can’t wait to get there on our own boat.

Fair winds,

Jesse

DeeFebruary 18, 2015 - 1:29 am

Same as previous comment. If you have an active blog sending to an email, please add me.

Beach Porn.

Not to piss off anyone who may or may not be sitting at the office staring at a computer screen right this very moment, but I just wanted to share a few of my fav beach-scapes from the past week of our boaty boat life.

Cruising is definitely not always lying around on white sand beaches or sipping tropical frozen drinks (believe me, it’s really not). Like for instance, yesterday we spent the first two and a half hours of our day sitting in the dinghy with Oliver while we attempted another DIY grooming. (Just think tons and tons loose poodle fur flying around in your face as you sit sweating in the hot caribbean sun. Fun times, lol.)

But when cruising life is good, it’s really good!

Here are some of the most drool-worthy locales we’ve visited lately in the BVI’s…

Sailing-Blog-Cruising-Caribbean-BVI-British-Virgin-Islands-Guana-Cay-LAHOWIND-Sailiboat-2015-eIMG_0638 ^^Anegada^^ Sailing-Blog-Cruising-Caribbean-BVI-British-Virgin-Islands-Guana-Cay-LAHOWIND-Sailiboat-2015-eIMG_0244 Sailing-Blog-Cruising-Caribbean-BVI-British-Virgin-Islands-Guana-Cay-LAHOWIND-Sailiboat-2015-eIMG_0274 ^^Sandy Spit^^ Sailing-Blog-Cruising-Caribbean-BVI-British-Virgin-Islands-Guana-Cay-LAHOWIND-Sailiboat-2015-eIMG_0768b Sailing-Blog-Cruising-Caribbean-BVI-British-Virgin-Islands-Guana-Cay-LAHOWIND-Sailiboat-2015-eIMG_0753 Sailing-Blog-Cruising-Caribbean-BVI-British-Virgin-Islands-Guana-Cay-LAHOWIND-Sailiboat-2015-eIMG_0794 Sailing-Blog-Cruising-Caribbean-BVI-British-Virgin-Islands-Guana-Cay-LAHOWIND-Sailiboat-2015-eIMG_0781 ^^Great Gauna Island^^ Sailing-Blog-Cruising-Caribbean-BVI-Jost-Van-Dyke-Great-Harbour-Foxys-LAHOWIND-Beaches-eIMG_1072 ^^Jost Van Dyke^^

>>Thanks for visiting LAHOWIND sailing blog! We’d love for you to get to know us and follow our story as we attempt to navigate a whole new world of sailing, as we cruise the Caribbean.

AlyseFebruary 11, 2015 - 3:06 pm

Beautiful as always! I love your photos!

I actually have (another) question for you… I’m taking a painting class on how to paint water (craftsy.com for the win!) and I wonder if I might have your permission in using one of your gorgeous water-scape photos as my subject? I probably won’t even close to do it any justice, and it won’t do anything but sit in my home as I learn more and more, but your photos are stunning and I hope that you’ll say yes. ☺

I’m always enjoying your blog. You do such fantastic work with your camera and stories.

Teresa KrampitzFebruary 11, 2015 - 3:40 pm

I love your pictures!! I follow your post all the time! We are such beach people!

RumShopRyanFebruary 13, 2015 - 1:42 am

Simply stunning guys! Keep up the good work. Hopefully our island paths will cross in the future. Cheers!

Tuesday Tell-Tales.

We’re back in our home away from home…good ole Christmas Cove! Somehow this little anchorage has become a great home base for us while simultaneously canoodling all around the USVI and BVI. We always seem to come back to this very spot, grab a (free) mooring ball, sometimes drop-off or pick-up visitors, do laundry, or just veg for a bit. It just works in so many ways.

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^^Our little rocky sea-glass filled Christmas Cove beach for Oliver.^^

And holy moly it’s like the young cruiser blogosphere collided right here alongside us. Lately, Christmas Cove, St. Thomas has been packed to the gills with sailing bloggers. Over the past week or so alone, we’ve seen MJ Sailing, Kasablanca, Where the Coconuts Grow, Sailing Altera, It’s a Necessity, Salty Kisses and probably a few others I’m forgetting. Kinda freaky, no? ;))

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^^Oh hey Matt + Jess! Oliver loves these two!^^

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^^We also found them snorkeling around while we were dinghying with Oliver.^^

This week we’re sticking around Christmas Cove and plan on laying low and mostly just vegging (plus I’m sure completing a few boat chores) after having some awesome boat guests the past two weeks.

Happy Tuesday! :)))))))

>>Thanks for visiting LAHOWIND sailing blog! We’d love for you to get to know us and follow our story as we attempt to navigate a whole new world of sailing, as we cruise the Caribbean.

Jessica @ MJ SailingFebruary 10, 2015 - 6:24 pm

Omg, I love all these photos! And we had such a blast hanging out with you two! Who knows, if the weather continues to look crappy this week, as it is at the moment, maybe you’ll see us back in Christmas Cove. 🙂

GeorgeFebruary 10, 2015 - 8:55 pm

Love that you have your dog with you. Have you blogged about dog management issues?

Pia Lewis PerryFebruary 11, 2015 - 10:23 pm

Looks lovely! We are heading down to play for a couple of weeks. Get the family afloat while we continue the search and plan for a boat life 🙂 Love following along with those who are already living it.

Bering EscapeFebruary 21, 2015 - 9:18 am

I must start off with a thank you. Your blog has given me the extra push to make sailing the Carribean a reality rather then a day dream. I work in the Bering Sea commercial fishing 7-9months a year and coninusly find myself waiting for your next post. I put my new home up for sale in Arizona a week ago and I’ll be selling my truck come June. I am taking ASA classes this April, then plan to fly to Florida in October to purchase a boat and head south! Maybe we’ll cross paths along the way. Safe travels!

Canada Came to Visit. Again.

I’m starting to think we should raise a Canadian courtesy flag in honor of all our recent Canadian family and friends who have graced us with their presence aboard these past few weeks.

First, Linds + Keith, now Jer’s sister Ashley and Melissa. :))))))

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And we are so grateful to have had them all make the haul down from Canada to the Caribbean and hop aboard our tiny sailboat for some fun in the sun!

We picked up Ash + Mel at our home away from home, Christmas Cove, St. Thomas, and sailed them over to BVI and along the southern coast of St. John for a few days.

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We squeezed in some snorkeling at the Indians, celebrated Mel’s birthday at Pirate’s Bight on Norman Island, and spent a nice night in Great Lameshur Bay, followed by (our secret fav) Fish Bay, St. John. There were lots of turtle sightings, two huge barracuda (and a little seaweed) Ash reeled in, and lots of rest and relaxation to be had by all.

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Thanks guys for coming to visit us!!! Oh and for bringing us a stash of new dog toys, some of Jer’s favorite Mio water drops, and my favorite black bean + rice mixes. :)))))))) And all of our mail. Hah! You guys rock!

>>Thanks for visiting LAHOWIND sailing blog! We’d love for you to get to know us and follow our story as we attempt to navigate a whole new world of sailing, as we cruise the Caribbean.

BrittanyFebruary 9, 2015 - 1:46 pm

So fun to have visitors – that is so great. And it sure looks like you guys are showing them all AWESOME times (minus the illnesses, of course). Hope to see you soon!

A Mixed Bag at Cane Garden Bay

High: Me finally feeling better after battling a 24-hour pukey puke bug.
Low: Jer + Lins coming down with the same virus the very next day. And no, it definitely was not a case of sea sickness.

High: Surf was up. Keith (and Jer too!!!) got to squeeze in a little paddle-surfing sesh.
Low: Surf was up. There wasn’t much sleep to be had in this wave-breaking washing machine of an anchorage.

You get the picture. Cane Garden Bay was a very mixed bag of highs and lows. Lol.

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We rolled into this bustling little side of Tortola, BVI last week with Jer’s cousin Lindsay and her hubby Keith in tow. And at first, it seemed like it was going to be a great spot to anchor for the night. We lounged around and enjoyed a gorg sunset while Jer and Keith attempted paddle-surfing some smallish waves on the west end of the anchorage. And Jereme caught his first real wave while the boat next to us cheered him on!

We made it into town that night and enjoyed another great meal and drinks at Quito’s while staring across the ocean at the glowing lights of St. Thomas.

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Unfortunately, by the time we got back to the boat the anchorage was beginning to take a turn for the worse. At that point, it looked like we were going to be in for crappy night. And that it was. Total washing machine rolly polly night at anchor. Ugh, the worst!

The next morning when we awoke, we were staring at waves literally breaking behind our boat.

Big waves.

Not exactly what you want to see in an anchorage, if you know what I mean. :((((( Unless of course you’re a surfer.

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With Keith, our surfer guest, out catching some waves on his paddle board early that morning, the rest of us weighed anchor as quickly as humanly possible to get out of this horrible anchorage and set sail for Jost Van Dyke.

Don’t worry, we picked Keith up on our way out of the harbor as Jereme and Lindsay began puking their guts out and I manned the boat. Fun times.

>>Thanks for visiting LAHOWIND sailing blog! We’d love for you to get to know us and follow our story as we attempt to navigate a whole new world of sailing, as we cruise the Caribbean.