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Trip Report April 4 - 11
Trip Report April 4 - 11
Hi, first time posting to this forum. My wife Sharon and I live in Seattle. We spent a lovely week as guests in Reef Madness Villa with my wife's sister Marcia and brother in law Randy. Spent our time doing typical island things, including a highlight island hopping adventure on Captain John's Palma Bella. He just posted the video, so the cat is out of the bag, so to speak. Ruth and Ron came along as well. Quite an introduction to the islands, as I had not been to the Caribbean before. My photo's aren't up to some of the other shots, but here is one I took after my walk of wow. We are going back in January, so I have a return visit to look forward to!
I also write poetry as a hobby, and here is my ode to the island and to Marcia and Randy's fabulous villa!
Happy Hour on Seagrape Hill
Painkiller
Jet lag works well as a base. Add two parts
mirror world traffic, one part hairpin turns,
hugging cliff faces. Finish with a float
of wild donkey brays. Shake well and serve chilled
over surf dashed rocky promontories.
As you top the final white-knuckle rise,
You’ll find your past has faded to a trace
of worry, which blows away like spindrift
torn from a Caribbean breaker’s crest.
You tumble into rum laced dreams at last,
scenes punctuated by reggae rhythms
reverberating up from Coral Bay.
Eye-opener
A rooster cracks the dawn like an egg, and
Drops the sun neatly into the bowl of morning.
Swirl in the susurrous sing-song of bananaquits
Queueing for their daybreak sugar fix.
Sip gingerly, and let the tropic ambrosia
Soothe away the remnants of last night's excess.
The questions of the day simplify themselves
With insistent island logic.
Island Smoothie
A roller coaster ride in your rented four-by
Exposes picture postcards at every curve.
On Maho Beach, lapping waves deliver
The necessary astonishing shade of blue.
Add a sprinkle of finest white grained sand,
A squeeze of sun-screen and you're off
To pursue elusive fins
Of every imaginable hue.
Night Cap
Seagrape Hill again, the lights of Coral Bay
Dancing among the sailboats rocking at anchor.
A shallow draught of the evening trades
Sifts your hair, seeking lost sailers,
While the moon shepherds cloud shadows
Over Hurricane Hole, tarnishing
The rippled silver of the sea.
Last Call
You twist around along the seat back’s ridge,
As the sun ladles shots of molten gold
Down the furrowed braid of the ferry’s wake
Offering one final tempting tasting.
Bartenders jealously guard proportions
Of their popular concoctions. Likewise
The alchemy that has transformed this place
In which you find yourself will resist your
Attempts to probe its elusive nature.
Accept the gift from those knowledgeable
In the arts of release, and drink deeply.
You will return.
------------
Be kind! And I hope to see some of you at one of the Sunday gatherings down the road a piece.
I also write poetry as a hobby, and here is my ode to the island and to Marcia and Randy's fabulous villa!
Happy Hour on Seagrape Hill
Painkiller
Jet lag works well as a base. Add two parts
mirror world traffic, one part hairpin turns,
hugging cliff faces. Finish with a float
of wild donkey brays. Shake well and serve chilled
over surf dashed rocky promontories.
As you top the final white-knuckle rise,
You’ll find your past has faded to a trace
of worry, which blows away like spindrift
torn from a Caribbean breaker’s crest.
You tumble into rum laced dreams at last,
scenes punctuated by reggae rhythms
reverberating up from Coral Bay.
Eye-opener
A rooster cracks the dawn like an egg, and
Drops the sun neatly into the bowl of morning.
Swirl in the susurrous sing-song of bananaquits
Queueing for their daybreak sugar fix.
Sip gingerly, and let the tropic ambrosia
Soothe away the remnants of last night's excess.
The questions of the day simplify themselves
With insistent island logic.
Island Smoothie
A roller coaster ride in your rented four-by
Exposes picture postcards at every curve.
On Maho Beach, lapping waves deliver
The necessary astonishing shade of blue.
Add a sprinkle of finest white grained sand,
A squeeze of sun-screen and you're off
To pursue elusive fins
Of every imaginable hue.
Night Cap
Seagrape Hill again, the lights of Coral Bay
Dancing among the sailboats rocking at anchor.
A shallow draught of the evening trades
Sifts your hair, seeking lost sailers,
While the moon shepherds cloud shadows
Over Hurricane Hole, tarnishing
The rippled silver of the sea.
Last Call
You twist around along the seat back’s ridge,
As the sun ladles shots of molten gold
Down the furrowed braid of the ferry’s wake
Offering one final tempting tasting.
Bartenders jealously guard proportions
Of their popular concoctions. Likewise
The alchemy that has transformed this place
In which you find yourself will resist your
Attempts to probe its elusive nature.
Accept the gift from those knowledgeable
In the arts of release, and drink deeply.
You will return.
------------
Be kind! And I hope to see some of you at one of the Sunday gatherings down the road a piece.
welcome!-
mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
-
StJohnRuth
- Posts: 1989
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:42 pm
- Location: St. John, VI
Great job, John!
I loved Captain John's video, especially the part where Randy and Marcia are dancing on the beach at Sandy Cay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti7Y5b3se-0
And thanks for the Nancy Griffith CD you sent. It was a nice surprise and I am enjoying it very much.
- Ruth
I loved Captain John's video, especially the part where Randy and Marcia are dancing on the beach at Sandy Cay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti7Y5b3se-0
And thanks for the Nancy Griffith CD you sent. It was a nice surprise and I am enjoying it very much.
- Ruth
Thanks for all your encouraging responses, folks. Glad you liked the Nanci Griffith CD, Ruth. Your play list made me think of her covers of some of those great songs.
I thought the video was a hoot as well! The color of the water off Sandy Cay inspired this little item I wrote for Captain John, although he hasn't seen it.
Cheers!
--John
Sir Frances Drake’s Reserve
Who would have thought the old pirate cared?
Sated with plunder, staring to windward
From the deck of his cruiser,
Running down his eponymous channel
With his brandy pricked mind
Ruminating on how he could improve the view,
Did he talk Mother Nature into unlocking
A special reserve palette for his private enjoyment?
How else to explain the succession of impossible blues
Breaking on beaches sanded to brilliant whites
And anchoring the undulating hills.
I thought the video was a hoot as well! The color of the water off Sandy Cay inspired this little item I wrote for Captain John, although he hasn't seen it.
Cheers!
--John
Sir Frances Drake’s Reserve
Who would have thought the old pirate cared?
Sated with plunder, staring to windward
From the deck of his cruiser,
Running down his eponymous channel
With his brandy pricked mind
Ruminating on how he could improve the view,
Did he talk Mother Nature into unlocking
A special reserve palette for his private enjoyment?
How else to explain the succession of impossible blues
Breaking on beaches sanded to brilliant whites
And anchoring the undulating hills.
1st trip ....John
John,
ANYONE who uses & knows the word "spindrift" is #1 in my book, we'd love to have you on STX!!!!!!
ANYONE who uses & knows the word "spindrift" is #1 in my book, we'd love to have you on STX!!!!!!
Two words: Patrick O'Brian
According to the dictionary, spindrift is the spray blown from wave crests by gale force winds or stronger (8 or higher on the Beaufort Scale). After your comment I had to look it up to be sure I used it appropriately!
A lot of my nautical knowledge comes from the Aubrey-Maturin series. I've read and reread it. His vocabulary stretches to the horizon, along with pulse racing excitement in the battle sequences. I'm bringing Reverse of the Medal, one of his books that starts out on Barbados, next time I come to St. John.
A lot of my nautical knowledge comes from the Aubrey-Maturin series. I've read and reread it. His vocabulary stretches to the horizon, along with pulse racing excitement in the battle sequences. I'm bringing Reverse of the Medal, one of his books that starts out on Barbados, next time I come to St. John.
SPINDRIFT
Hey John,
My dad had a hotel in NH overlooking the ocean, it's name was "Spindrift" & I (lucky me) was the lifeguard @ the pool...summers only of course! I spent days in Mazatlan, Mexico last fall, teaching our waiter to speak the word & memorize the meaning. Sooooo, I love that word & your poems!! Karen
My dad had a hotel in NH overlooking the ocean, it's name was "Spindrift" & I (lucky me) was the lifeguard @ the pool...summers only of course! I spent days in Mazatlan, Mexico last fall, teaching our waiter to speak the word & memorize the meaning. Sooooo, I love that word & your poems!! Karen
I read Randy's blog...he cracks me up..."donchano", so had somewhat followed your journey from his view
...had to go slow here in order to savor all the images and not miss a one...loved every second.
Your words expose the picture postcards just as the ride.
I hope that you will add more of this poetry any time..."Off Topic" is a great place for places and thoughts not of St John.
Wishing you and Sharon many more trips to the islands.
...had to go slow here in order to savor all the images and not miss a one...loved every second.
Your words expose the picture postcards just as the ride.
I hope that you will add more of this poetry any time..."Off Topic" is a great place for places and thoughts not of St John.
Wishing you and Sharon many more trips to the islands.
... no longer a stranger to paradise
-
Bob & Anita
- Posts: 611
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:20 pm
- Location: Charlotte, NC
