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12 Nights in Paradise – The End
12 Nights in Paradise – The End
I really need to wrap this up:
Wednesday, March 25.
We’re up early to take Scott to the Ferry. We say goodbyes to my favorite brother in law and hello to Ruth and Ron. Ruth is doing her part as the lovely Mayor of Cruz Bay, while Ron is schlepping boxes up to St John Spice. Ruth gives us a tip on where we may find a micro SD card for the camera mask – and we’re off to Mongoose Junction.
This place is so pleasant. We wander into Royal Caribbean and the salesman could not have been more helpful. A deal is made, and we walk away with exactly what we needed at a price the Remora’s allowance can afford!
Breakfast from Deli Grotto and it’s off to the beach. I overrule the remora and vote for Honeymoon. The swells are coming in today and tomorrow and I always love the snorkel between Honeymoon and Solomon, so I want to get there before it's too late.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eK ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/SdFMc ... 9.jpg"></a>
We find a shady spot and settle in for some reading and snoozing, and finally, a snorkel.
It’s a little choppy, and I’m constantly aware that some of the coral is in pretty shallow water. We spot our first Hogfish of the trip
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6u ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/SeTr8 ... 4.jpg"></a>
and more of the usual suspects.
The boys get in the water – and into mischief.
The remora prepares for battle
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cI ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_sn ... 9.jpg"></a>
His father embraces the challenge
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IX ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_so ... 9.jpg"></a>
The wild rumpus begins
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TB ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_sp ... 9.jpg"></a>
With each side getting their turn
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/t_ ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_sq ... 9.jpg"></a>
Until a winner is finally declared
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/36 ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_sv ... 9.jpg"></a>
and the two make amends
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kx ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_su ... 9.jpg"></a>
The wind and waves are picking up, and we decide to head home.
It’s cool rainy and foggy on Bordeaux this evening
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8w ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_r8 ... 7.JPG"></a>
and we'rea happy to stay in and have leftovers. I do a little packing, and begin my mental preparation for
our departure on Friday.
But first, there’s the final full day and we’re off on Thursday to the Donkey Diner for breakfast. We meet the chickens and Roosters (Ruth – I think there’s a chance for political assylum, at this place). The food is great – the child loves their French Toast, and we’re on our way to Vie’s for the morning. We pay our $7.50 and find ourselves a few beach chairs.
What a great snorkel we had. Unfortunately we had a camera mask snafu. I think the mask was too low on his face, because none of the fish are in the photos – and there were 39 photos and assorted video on this day.
Once again we encounter a very interesting underwater landscape with an abundance of fish and coral. We saw an absolutely huge Filefish – at first I thought it was a trigger fish, but Jacques Jr. set me straight. There were 10 squid by the shore, and then, there she was, the nurse shark. Unfortunately due to the camera mask issue we have only a picture of her tail as memory.
We wanted to finish the trip at Maho. We returned our fins to Crabby's, picked up sandwiches at Big Belly Deli and consoled the child when he realized that none of his photos and video came out.
Life Lesson:
Sometimes things go the way you want them to, and sometimes they don’t. You may not have the pictures, but you had the experience.
The swell is up and there’s nothing to be seen at Maho. We go to the tree on the left hand side of the beach, and sit on the branches while the water rushes in. It’s like our own little island.
We plan on one last Smoothie on the way back to Luna Vista.
We grill our final burgers, and watch our final movie, and pack most of our things for the morning departure.
Up and out by 8 am, with goodbyes to Jan and Bruce. I keep taking my emotional pulse – and that of my family.
We see Ruth and Ron and the Bongo Boys while we’re having breakfast at JJ’s. We say our goodbyes (they’re going on a boat trip, those lucky dogs). I go to Connections and print our passes. We make the 10:30 car barge. I cry a little as we’re pulling out of the dock.
The Jeep is returned to Dependable with 45 lbs of sand and an additional 305 miles on it.
At the airport I get a porter – as part of my personal economic stimulus plan – and we cruise through customs and security 2 hours prior to our flight.
The flight home is uneventful – thankfully. I’m wearing flip flops and Boston is COLD.
We’re happy to be home and to see our cat, and the progress our painter has made. Sleeping in my own bed feels wonderful, and I have two full days to adapt to re-entry, which, except for the house and the cat, isn’t a pretty sight.
Wednesday, March 25.
We’re up early to take Scott to the Ferry. We say goodbyes to my favorite brother in law and hello to Ruth and Ron. Ruth is doing her part as the lovely Mayor of Cruz Bay, while Ron is schlepping boxes up to St John Spice. Ruth gives us a tip on where we may find a micro SD card for the camera mask – and we’re off to Mongoose Junction.
This place is so pleasant. We wander into Royal Caribbean and the salesman could not have been more helpful. A deal is made, and we walk away with exactly what we needed at a price the Remora’s allowance can afford!
Breakfast from Deli Grotto and it’s off to the beach. I overrule the remora and vote for Honeymoon. The swells are coming in today and tomorrow and I always love the snorkel between Honeymoon and Solomon, so I want to get there before it's too late.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eK ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/SdFMc ... 9.jpg"></a>
We find a shady spot and settle in for some reading and snoozing, and finally, a snorkel.
It’s a little choppy, and I’m constantly aware that some of the coral is in pretty shallow water. We spot our first Hogfish of the trip
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6u ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/SeTr8 ... 4.jpg"></a>
and more of the usual suspects.
The boys get in the water – and into mischief.
The remora prepares for battle
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cI ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_sn ... 9.jpg"></a>
His father embraces the challenge
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IX ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_so ... 9.jpg"></a>
The wild rumpus begins
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TB ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_sp ... 9.jpg"></a>
With each side getting their turn
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/t_ ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_sq ... 9.jpg"></a>
Until a winner is finally declared
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/36 ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_sv ... 9.jpg"></a>
and the two make amends
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kx ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_su ... 9.jpg"></a>
The wind and waves are picking up, and we decide to head home.
It’s cool rainy and foggy on Bordeaux this evening
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8w ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sc_r8 ... 7.JPG"></a>
and we'rea happy to stay in and have leftovers. I do a little packing, and begin my mental preparation for
our departure on Friday.
But first, there’s the final full day and we’re off on Thursday to the Donkey Diner for breakfast. We meet the chickens and Roosters (Ruth – I think there’s a chance for political assylum, at this place). The food is great – the child loves their French Toast, and we’re on our way to Vie’s for the morning. We pay our $7.50 and find ourselves a few beach chairs.
What a great snorkel we had. Unfortunately we had a camera mask snafu. I think the mask was too low on his face, because none of the fish are in the photos – and there were 39 photos and assorted video on this day.
Once again we encounter a very interesting underwater landscape with an abundance of fish and coral. We saw an absolutely huge Filefish – at first I thought it was a trigger fish, but Jacques Jr. set me straight. There were 10 squid by the shore, and then, there she was, the nurse shark. Unfortunately due to the camera mask issue we have only a picture of her tail as memory.
We wanted to finish the trip at Maho. We returned our fins to Crabby's, picked up sandwiches at Big Belly Deli and consoled the child when he realized that none of his photos and video came out.
Life Lesson:
Sometimes things go the way you want them to, and sometimes they don’t. You may not have the pictures, but you had the experience.
The swell is up and there’s nothing to be seen at Maho. We go to the tree on the left hand side of the beach, and sit on the branches while the water rushes in. It’s like our own little island.
We plan on one last Smoothie on the way back to Luna Vista.
We grill our final burgers, and watch our final movie, and pack most of our things for the morning departure.
Up and out by 8 am, with goodbyes to Jan and Bruce. I keep taking my emotional pulse – and that of my family.
We see Ruth and Ron and the Bongo Boys while we’re having breakfast at JJ’s. We say our goodbyes (they’re going on a boat trip, those lucky dogs). I go to Connections and print our passes. We make the 10:30 car barge. I cry a little as we’re pulling out of the dock.
The Jeep is returned to Dependable with 45 lbs of sand and an additional 305 miles on it.
At the airport I get a porter – as part of my personal economic stimulus plan – and we cruise through customs and security 2 hours prior to our flight.
The flight home is uneventful – thankfully. I’m wearing flip flops and Boston is COLD.
We’re happy to be home and to see our cat, and the progress our painter has made. Sleeping in my own bed feels wonderful, and I have two full days to adapt to re-entry, which, except for the house and the cat, isn’t a pretty sight.
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StJohnRuth
- Posts: 1989
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:42 pm
- Location: St. John, VI
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snorkeler525
- Posts: 186
- Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:40 pm
- Location: Wellesley
Thanks for the great trip reports! Mine is way delayed because I keep reading wonderful ones like yours and know that I cannot compete. Your remora, aka dolphin, aka kid sounds much like mine and she too loved her camera mask while we were there. She has a great octopus one so maybe I can get her on on-st.john too.
