Location: Sidney's, Jost van Dyke
Today started early with a wake-up time of about 6 am on the island of Tortola. We enjoyed a cereal breakfast before we were shipped off to solid ground to start a hike by 7 am. The four-mile climb up the mountain, 1700 ft of elevation, made us work our lazy legs for the first time in 15 days. Even with such a big challenge ahead, many of the 167 campers in Action Quest began the race up the mountain to get to the top first and write their names in ActionQuest’s log of accomplished climbers. Dylan, being an absolute track star, raced up the mountain, coming so close to first in the entire camp if he had not made two wrong turns and ending up in 16th. Erich would be the second to finish coming in 37th. A nice rest stop with a small restaurant near the top became very popular among the camp, with many banana smoothies being ordered. Coming down was just as hard, if not harder, for some, at least directionally. Charly, Bea, Kaya, Aidan, and Cahan found alternative routes that did not lead back to the beginning. However, Dylan had more luck coming back down than going up.
Sophie and Maggie took their time climbing the mountain and avoided the mistake of many others, and did not get lost. While waiting for others, early finishers, including Dylan, Erich, Katie, and Celeste, joined by Luke from another boat, sat down to eat lunch in town by the beach. Later, those lost to the islands winding roads would eventually also find their way to the beach for food and snacks. After being picked up at the dock and returning to the boat, the crew traveled to Sandy Cay to swim and take ocean showers. Here, we all freshened up for the BBQ night at Jost Van Dyke. At the party, we all enjoyed a jerk chicken dinner and roamed the nearby shopping stands. Kayan decided to change things up and sat down to have his hair braided at one of the shopping stands, and our night then ended relatively quickly as everyone was exhausted from today’s events. Once everyone returned to the boat, we were all in bed within an hour.
-Erich L.