Off to Necker Island

We set off promptly because Richard B had invited us to come and join him on Necker. He is heading to New Mexico on Thursday for his next Space launch, so we needed to catch him before he left. We had a wonderful sail there. The boat team gave us one of their mooring balls which was great, as it is always a bit bouncy there even though it is nearly entirely encircled by reef. We packed our bags and were on the island for lunch. The whole island is looking great even though there are more buildings, 3 big wind turbines, and a lot of solar panels. He is very keen for the island to be self sufficient which would be a great achievement as the have to make all their water from the sea. It must be 15 years since we were last here and good to see it has the same feel after two rebuilds, one after a devastating fire to the main house and another after hurricane Irma. Richard appeared just the same looking very fit as he should, with his own pro tennis coach and a fitness coach. All of course, gorgeous young girls!!!

Arriving at Necker.

Looking across to the the little sandy island on the reef.

This is where we moored.

It was all rather lucky for us, as guests have found it so difficult to get into the BVI, they had May set aside for friends, families and locals for a nominal fee. Still quite difficult for people to take advantage of, so it was pretty empty. We got given the master suite in the main house, which in the old days was where Richard and Joan stayed, it was a real treat. It is right at the top of the main house and has panoramic views over three quarters of the island. With huge decks on 3 sides, one with a little plunge pool.

Our gorgeous room with the biggest mosquito net on curtain tracks!

Top is the view from our bed to our plunge pool balcony.

View of Bali High out front.

Turtle beach view to the left.

View of Main beach on our right.

We arrived in time for lunch at the pool house on the beach, which has an enormous wooden crocodile table that can seat 40 people comfortably. There were only two other couples at lunch. A local couple and their son, turned out she worked in the government and was high up in the Medical dept and very involved with the COVID protocols. We managed to get a few important phone numbers off her, as it appears quite difficult to take our boat out the country. For some reason the medical dept have to release it first, which seems extraordinary and more red tape! So she was extremely helpful. The other couple were young Brits who were there as friends of the tennis pro, she is a lawyer so we asked if she knew my nephew’s wife and of course were great friends of my nephew, Lovat. Her partner is a vet and had been to Necker a few times helping with sick animals. Sadly my nephew moved to Hong Kong last year, where his wife was brought up, so we never managed to see him. I was so sad we never managed to see him here, but such fun getting to know his friends.

The Pool House, which has the enormous Crocodile table.

Izzy and Adam, my nephew Lovat’s friends.

A guest at the Great Crocodile table!

The beach hut which faced the wind was just glorious.

Rowan getting some kite surfing instruction, sadly there was too little wind to get going.

Richard still keeps incredibly busy and is on all sorts of committees. Rowan and I did a walk around the island in the afternoon before his tennis match against Richard. They are rehabilitating a lot of bird and animal life. They’ve managed to restore flamingoes to the island which is amazing, plus scarlet Ibis and quite a few other birds that are not local but endangered. Richard’s main project has been to start a breeding colony of lemurs, after visiting Madagascar where they are on the Cites endangered list. They have bred incredibly and now roam the island in great numbers. They have 7 varieties, some still in huge aviaries. They are very cute engaging creatures.

Rowan chatting to the lemur.

Both taking up the same pose!

We did the walk around the island late afternoon, which was lovely as it is so wild and rough the far side. The flamingos did their evening circling around the island which was magical in the setting sun. Sadly my phone camera just couldn’t catch it. At the start of our walk we went down to Turtle beach (where Phoeb’s was baptised) to see the two giant Galapagos tortoises who have just had babies. Apparently the first Galapagos baby tortoises outside the Galapagos.

Great new seating at Turtle beach.

The enormous Galapagos Tortoises.

PolePole moored just off Turtle beach.

Looking the other way along Turtle Beach.

View over to the Flamingo pond and the start of the island trail.

A few Scarlet Ibis in the middle who have bread with the white Ibis and now they have every shade of pink!

The start of the trail.

Secret tiny beach.

The birds love this wild side of the island.

Heading back to main beach.

Passing the menagerie on the road back to the Main house. Iguanas everywhere, and chickens who were blown there from the hurricane and have bred.

We had a lovely dinner outside on a terrace half way up the roof of the main house. It is the star spotting side as there aren’t many lights that side. Izzy the girl Lovat knows has only once seen a shooting star, it wasn’t long before we spotted one – but she missed it! The tennis pro had family quarantining at separate accommodation at Bali High. Joan, Richard’s wife was also quarantining in their separate new house as she had been in America. Selfishly it was great just having 8 of us, it made it much more relaxing.