We took our first boating trip this weekend and had fun exploring the British Virgin Islands. We visited Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island and Cooper Island.

After clearing customs on Tortola near Frenchman’s Cay, we headed to Jost Van Dyke (pronounced Yoast Van Dyke, or just Yoast to the locals) to stop at the Soggy Dollar Bar. Because there is no dock, you must hop in the water and swim to shore with your money, thus making all your dollars soggy by the time you get to the bar.

After Jost it was time to hop in the boat again and head to Norman Island for lunch. I say hop in the boat because that was what I did. Dan had to dive in and free the anchor from the seabed, all while the boat tries not to bump into a 60-ft catamaran. Glad I wasn’t driving.

After Norman Island we made a quick run to Cooper Island. If you’re thinking this sounds like a long day and a long trip, you’d be right. You can check out our stops on our island adventure map here.

After the Cooper Island stop, we headed back to Tortola to drop some of the group off, and then back to St. Thomas. All in all it was a fun day, and other than some lobster-colored shoulders, we had a great time. We met up with A & M for dinner at Fish Tails and enjoyed the crowds in Red Hook , there for the Marlin fishing tournament.