This is a place where all seems right with the world. I arrived yesterday. I was tired, a bit worn out from the past few weeks, and feeling really thankful for such a reprieve. The Bitter End is tucked into a cove on the North Sound of Virgin Gorda. The sound (or perhaps it is the lack of sound) is hypnotic. Wind moves through the trees and the sea washes up. There are no cars. No music. No sounds except what nature brings up, and the ping of ropes against the masts that fill the harbor. I walked around, slowly, looking. Cactus grows off the rock. Flowering vines cover the stone walls. Small mangrove trees pop out of the sea. The water moves from crystal clear to turquoise to the deepest purest blue I have ever seen. Overlooking all of it are cottages with wooden plank pathways tucked along the shore and up the hillsides. It’s like living in a well appointed tree house with ocean views and running water. All of it, just up the path from your favorite pub where all you need to do is sign your name.
I was not given a key to my tree house. There are no thieves in paradise. A bit of food, some rum punch, and an 8pm bed time wrapped up my day.
I had big 6AM plans of touring the trails and checking out the early morning light. Rain and heavy winds suggested that I stay put. I rolled over and willingly obliged the island weather gods. When the rain stopped I loaded my gear and went out to discover, wide-eyed and well rested.
I chose something simple. There are amazing views here, and yachts, and hill sides, and happy people. But rather than getting caught up in the bigness of it all, I opted for something uncomplicated, a simple design of light and shadow, allowing myself to play with a whole new color palette; the island palette. This is my warm up. Tomorrow will bring a more expansive view.
The Mangrove Tree
8″ x 10″
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