Making Memories One Island at a Time...

Some say I married my husband Jerry, because his dad had a boat. I love the water and everything about the deep blue sea!

Jerry and I have been married 39 years and talk about how many more summers we have to enjoy life and do what we love to do…boating. We both love to be exploring and enjoying life with family and friends. We love to help make the memories and experiences that our guests will never forget—They experience beautiful sunsets and kayak rides through gin clear water, snorkeling and scuba diving on coral reefs and wrecks, fishing the deep blue sea for Tuna, Mahi and Wahoo, exploring for a dolphin adventure where they hitch a ride on the wake of your boat, or just laying back in the BVI’s and enjoying the view, great restaurants and relaxing bars with endless crystal clear water.

My favorite is the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke. You have to swim in or use your dingy. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world! You can tie to a buoy or anchor next to shore.  It is like a swimming pool with a sand bottom…something everyone dreams about. I could have spent the whole week at White Bay just floating on my raft with a nice cool drink in my hand. One of the things people will tell you about me is that the only thing I like better than being on the water is being in the water! I am usually first in when the anchor drops. On this day, Bryan, a friend that came with us, and I snorkeled out to the rocky point at the eastern edge of the beach. I was surprised to see millions of minnows all around us. They were so thick you could barely see though them. Bryan tapped me on the shoulder and showed me what was on the other side of the minnows. Looking through and focusing, a large tarpon appeared with an entourage of other fish. It looked just like a metal sculpture, a piece of art. How beautiful and exciting to see! Bryan also swore that when the millions of minnows changed direction he could hear them “swoosh”!  What an unbelievable memory.  Swimming with the tarpon and “minnow noise?”

One trip we brought something no other boat had. We had an underwater light (fishnlight.com), designed to attract fish. Just before dark each night we would put it in the water. The first time we did this we were at Cooper on a tie buoy next to shore.  The bottom was grassy and beautiful, very healthy. We snorkeled the beach and viewed live coral heads, lobster, eels, and many tropical fish during the day. That night with the light in the water a huge bait ball of fish formed, and then…6 large tarpon appeared. What excitement they created as they swam through the bait ball and ate, rolling and hitting the surface of the water. Since the water was shallow and so clear, I decided to get in and take some photos. This experience was like no other. The tarpon did not leave, and continued to eat. The show and beauty of being in the water with such large fish was exciting. This night was our first and no one else entered the water. They should have, since this experience and these conditions did not repeat themselves. So many experiences on the water are “once in a lifetime”! We tried another time with scuba tanks in deeper water, but the fish did not come as close due to the tanks and air bubbles. Remember…live for today. Experiences make the memories for tomorrow.

We have visited many places Bahamas, the Florida Keys and now the BVI’s. Thank you for your hospitality and support. We had a wonderful adventure!

OTHER MEMORIES…My favorite places and times from this vacation

• I read this at the Soggy Dollar Bar… 
  It’s not about the breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away!
• The caves of Norman Island
• Cooper Island – less busy, nice restaurant and bar, great snorkeling for beginners along the shore
• Saba Rock – the beautiful color of the water, hammocks on the beach and great restaurant
• Nail Bay – hidden secret restaurant at the SugarCane Restaurant on Virgin Gorda between Long bay and Savanna Bay (Note: only one tie buoy and a hike up hill) has pool with a swim up bar and great food.  The nicest people to greet you in the restaurant. Also the traditional Roti meal.
• Marina Cay – PARTY DOWN with Pirate Michael Beans…  Oh what fun!  Do not miss this one.  Early show great for kids and adults alike.  I’m sure it could get going at night. GREAT LOOKING PIRATE, AND CHECK OUT HIS LARGE CEMENT BOAT.  He turned all the women’s heads in the mooring when he arrived to do his show.
• ROUND ROCK PASSAGE – and then west to Norman - Fishing was great and we could have caught as many Mahi as we wanted. Even with the wind at 15 knots we traveled with the seas and it was not uncomfortable for our friends. We wanted to not over fish, so when we landed a Mahi big enough for two dinners we were done.  Note: look for birds working, flying up and down.  Keep the boat going with the waves even when the fish is on. Many Dolphins also swam with us “Dolphin encounter”.
• Just relaxing with friends on the boat, enjoying the view… and re-living the day’s adventures… 

Linda and Jerry Newton are the proud owners of the Leopard 47 Power Cat – M.V. Blue Waters.