Decide on an early departure from Lee Bay to head directly over to the Baths on Virgin Gorda. This is one of the busiest places in the BVI, so we want to get there early to secure one of the few National Parks mooring balls. Its about an hour motor (directly into the wind) but we beat the crowds and get a ball right in front of the beach. The sun is up, no clouds, its going to be a great day.
Tracy makes the kids pancakes for breakfast and we head in to go exploring. Its a little different then I remember, and the first beach landing doesn’t provide access to the trails in the Baths. So we head out and around the rocks to the next bay. Now its looking familiar. There are no dinghies allowed on shore, so we have to tie up to a dinghy “dock” in the water. (two moorings with a long rope in between). From there we have to swim in to shore. Of course I forgot the underwater camera in the dinghy, so no more pictures of the baths.
This is another highlight of the trip. We all love climbing over the rocks and discovering hidden pools of water and grottos. The trail leads to Devils Bay on the south side of the baths. Its a beautiful beach surrounded by the bath boulders. While there, a tour guide shows up with a group and shows up a spot to climb up on one of the rock and jump off into the water. Its about 10 feet high, straight down into the crystal clear water. A lot of fun, until the guide asks who is ready for the ‘big rock’. This is 30’ high and its a one way trip. once up the only way down is to jump. We follow him around to the point of no return, and then return. None of us are brave enough to make the climb. Instead we head back to the beach and watch the fun. About 10 people went with him, and its amusing to watch them stand on the top, refusing to jump. All but 2 make the leap. and he takes them down the side of the rock, about 10 feet lower where they are finally able to jump. The jump is over rocks, and we can see the guide throwing shells out into the water to show them how far out they need to jump. Its a big drop and not surprising that they are scared. After that entertainment we hike back through the rocks to the dinghy and back out to the boat for lunch.
We have used up 1 1/2 tanks of water, so I want to test the water maker. I’ve never used one before and want to learn how. After figuring out all the valves, we fire it up and start making water. Its loud, but its working. We run this for about 2 hours, while finishing lunch and heading up the coast to Leverick bay. We are able to make about 60 gallons of water for the tank and fill 9 jugs of drinking water. We have to use the water maker at least once a week, or the filters clog, but now we don’t have to worry about going in to marina’s to fill up the tanks, or lug gallon jugs back and forth on the dinghy.
I finally have our fishing line rigged, and on the trip up the coast we try that for first time. No luck, but fun. As we are pulling out of the Baths, someone on a passing sloop hollers out. Its my captain from my offshore Bahamas trip. He has been down here teaching sailing courses and captaining charter boats.
The mooring balls at Leverick bay are mostly available, but we are getting good at anchoring, and when there is plenty of room we prefer to just drop the hook. We go into shore to try to get wifi connection and check the weather report. 
Back at the boat after dinner, Captain Bob and his charter guest David come over for a nice visit.
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