There is no doubt that it is always great to be in the British Virgin Islands.  Its warm, the people are nice, and of course time moves slowly.  And given that we have been there several times (2 years ago, 4 years ago, and 6 years ago), perhaps you are wondering - does it get boring?  Well - let me assure you dear reader that this trip was anything but boring.  It started with a week of sailing in 30-35 knot winds (main with three reefs, no jib, heeled well over).  And then, Mason lost a tooth.

Smile as you will (and as he will too), but the excitement just kept coming.  Notice the cast?  How beautiful and new looking it is?  Well - one evening, running along the beach in Anegada, he tripped, fell, and broke it.  End of the vacation?  Certainly not.  End of the smiles?  Certainly not.  End of the swimming?  For this trip.  Sorry, big guy.

Not content with sailing our own boat, Lyell and I rented a Laser at the Bitter End.  He gives the thumbs up.

I give the thumbs up.

And we are off.  Looking pretty good, if I do say so.

In search of more adventure, we headed for The Baths in an open island taxi.  This is adventure enough.  But then you see Mason back to running on the beach.  Watch out for that other arm, big fella!

Everyone likes The Baths - though I'm pleased to say there were no more adventures there.

Until we left, and Mason the one-armed Pirate took the wheel.  Watch out in the Bay!

As excitement is the theme for this trip, you will not be surprised to know that we had a shark visit us one evening at dinner time.  This guy was nearly 5' in length, and seemed very much to like crackers.  No swimming for a few minutes, boys...

Adventure also means getting onto islands that are sufficiently untravelled that you can find pieces of fan coral which look like this just lying on the beach.

And you can also find some pretty unusual species of - well - silliness.

Of course the real excitement was having Deb and Kate, and Jules and Bill join us for pieces of the trip.  Very nice - and better mannered than the shark above.