During my stay on Tortola BVI, one of the most expensive places in the Caribbean, my main object was to find work on a boat to travel further into the Caribbean.

I put a lot of effort into this search. I even found a Canadian skipper, who offered me a job to deliver a powerboat for him, which unfortunately didn't happen in the end. So just before Christmas I ended up without work and money, and was in dept to my landlord for 100 US dollars for the room I rented up to that day. Luckily I new there was a campground on the north side of Tortola, which has the reputation of having very easy going and helpful campers.

So, after spending my whole day walking the docks of Road Town (see map) unsuccessfully, I headed for the road that runs across to the bay on the north side of the island. Hours later, thanks to three different hitchhiker friendly drivers, I ended up in a moonlit bay, were the campground was located. 8 PM was of course long past their reception time and I had no other choice, than to make my own way into the campsite to look for one of the already prepared and vacant tents. Luckily almost all the sites were next to the beach and completely deserted. My backpack with all my belongings was still with my earlier landlord as deposit for his hundred dollars! I was very glad to find a tent with seemingly fresh linen. As I was really hungry by now I went for a stroll along the beach to look for some food.

After walking almost to the other end of the campsite, which was set up along the beach front, I finally found an occupied tent. Two young cousins from the US were having there late dinner in front of a small campfire. They invited me to join them and after I told them my story, they invited me to hang out with them until I found a job.

Luckily only two days later I got a job cleaning and helping out on a yacht in the West End of the Island, which enabled me to pay back my debt and to have some spending money. Although I still planned to continue on to Barbados I ended up staying two more weeks at the campground having a good time and meeting lots of people.