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VACATION IN VIRGIN GORDA
(Note: Clicking on any image in this travelogue will bring up a full screen version of the image.)
Saturday, January 11: The Western Shore
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This, being our last full day on Virgin Gorda, we decided to take a drive up the western shore of the island, which we had not previously explored. This area was more recently developed than the rest of the island, which is understandable. There was virtually no flat terrain in the area, and the mountain rose directly from the sea, leaving very little beach, and certainly no place to build a town with houses, shops, schools, or other infrastructure that would support a local populace. What development there was seemed primarily tourist accommodations.
Western Shore
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We followed the route we had in some of our previous forays, but cut off to the left just after Savannah Bay (See map above.) That took us up along the western shoreline (Photos #108 - 111). The good condition of the road reflected its more recent construction, but in many places both the slope and the severity of the switchbacks were more extreme, due to the steepness of the terrain. At the very northern-most extent of the road, where it turned southwards again, we saw some signs for Hog Heaven, and realized where we were: approaching that rib joint from the other direction. We could see it in the distance when we passed the big Virgin Gorda promotional sign (Photo #112). I got out of the car to photograph the sign, and we encountered a couple of tourists who asked me to take their picture in front of the sign. From their speech, I took them to be from Germany, and that proved a correct assumption. I asked them to return the favor, and take our photo (Photo #113), although I opted not to pose before the sign.
We pondered whether we should continue on straight, and return to GSB along the eastern shore, or turn back and return the way we had come, and decided on the latter course of action. On the way back, Jenny noticed the profusion of flowers alongside the road by the entrance to Mango Bay Resort (Photos #114 - 118), and had me stop so she could take some pictures. Yup. Real purty.
And as for the last three photos,
Photo 119: I have no idea where I took this one. But I left it in because I like the composition of the photograph.
Photo 120: When I got the idea to do a dedicated page in this travelogue about the peculiarities of Virgin Gorda, I knew that one of the things I would mention would be the pickup truck taxis. I did take a picture of one, but I had been looking for one of the "stretch" pickup versions that the tour groups use to bring their patrons to the various attractions. But every time I saw one, I couldn't get a shot of it for one reason or another. But on the way back to GSB on this last trip, there was one parked beside the road. So I stopped an took the shot.
Photo 121: This was January 11th. Some of the Christmas decorations were still up. Including this incongruous snowman. I wonder how many of the local inhabitants of this Caribbean island had ever seen an actual snowman, or even knew what that roly-poly figure on the pole represented.
We went back to Palm Cottage, and did our initial packing, leaving unpacked just the stuff we'd need for the flight home.
Sunday, January 12: Home, and a Very Big Breadcrumb
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Leaving for home is always stressful for me. What did I forget? Do I have my passport? What did I put in my checked-in bag that I'll need during the flight? Do I have my boarding passes? Do I have my passport? Did I leave a tip for the housecleaning staff? What papers do I need to sign? Do I have my passport?
We went to the GSB office, and did final settling up. I needed to pay the final balance on the rental. Turns out it had to be done by check; Michelle couldn't take a credit card. That's OK. I always keep a blank check in my wallet as "mad money". (Did I remember my wallet?) Yep, I remembered my wallet, and found the blank check. And then I got distracted while filling it out, and the spelled-out dollar figure did not match the number figure. That's OK. Michelle took my word that I'd mail it to her when I got home. (And yes, I remembered to mail it to her when I got home.) The car rental fee was included in the total, and she would settle that with Mahogany Rentals. All we had to do was park the car somewhere in the Ferry lot, and leave the key in a designated place on the vehicle.
I was somewhat over-burdened with my luggage. I had my guitar in its medieval armored flight case, that big rolling suitcase, packed only a few ounces under the 50-pound limit, my backpack with a sweater and my concertina wrapped in foam rubber, my camera, and various other sundries. Oh, yes, and my passport. And there was also my laptop. I could manage all that, but it was awkward, so I asked Jenny to take the laptop for me. I don't know how she does it, but she managed to pack everything for a 10-day vacation into her carry-on bag.
We grabbed breakfast somewhere, and got to Speedy's Ferry in plenty of time to catch our boat. In the parking lot, I happened to notice an ibis perched regally atop a chain link fence, and managed to extract my camera from my backpack, and shot Photo #122. And on the ferry, I happened to notice the sign in Photo 123, which answered a question that had been in the back of my mind since my first trip to Virgin Gorda some 25 years ago.
Our flight home was a different route than that of our arrival. Our layover was in San Juan, Puerto Rico, rather than in Miami. And that layover was terribly complicated. I lost track of how many lines I went through for airport security, customs, USDA inspection, baggage pickup, baggage drop-off, And finally, I collapsed in the waiting area by our gate, in plenty of time for the last leg of the flight.
"Uhhh, Jenny, do you still have my computer?"
"No, you took it from me to send it through the X-ray."
"Yes, I remember that, but what did I do with it?"
"I don't know."
It was gone. I retraced all my steps as best as I could remember them, checked with Airport Security, called Lost & Found. Gone. Brand new computer bought only a few weeks before the trip. And it was not only the expense, but the incredible headache of setting it up, getting my data back on it, loading all my software, and tweaking all my preferences. I had to do that all over again. it was an unhappy ending to what was an otherwise lovely vacation.
