another may trip report- engaged at Ram Head

[mountaingoat]

here is yet another trip report and a thank you to those who offered info for our trip this past May.

We arrived late night on 5/13 and met a guy working for/with National Geographic documenting virus/bacteria that might be found in the dust that blows in from Africa. We were told that the dust is more common in the summer and contains microscopic germs that might affect the local ecosystem. Would like to see that report sometime in the future if it's ever on TV.
Had a great late night dinner at Joshies.
Next day we went to pick up the renatl jeep, was suprised that they were all rented out (thankful we had one reserved) Several people satopped in to check on availability and were turned away. I thought this was off-season. Cruz bay traffic sucked!! road construction and driving on the left combined to make it stressful. Oh well, head out of town and stop at Jumbie bay- instantly covered in mosquitos.. Ouch. We drove to Annaberg and started the hike to waterlemon, drenched in rain, so we decided to head over the hill to Coral bay. Rented a sea-kayak from Crabby's. They were very freindly and we would both recomend them to anyone. The next few days all blend into one another so here is a list..
Places kayaked: Kiddle Bay, Round Bay (Haulover South side, Elk Bay, and Hansen Bay). Both Great and Little laeshur bay, salt Pond to Booby Rock and Blue Cobblestone. Got caught in a storm near Elb bay, visted to wrecked sailboat there along the shore.

Places snorkeled: Nanny Point- rough waves, Kiddle Bay- 1st time got rained on, second time swam from kiddle to Grootpan, Bee-hive Cove- actualy was crowded due to two seperate sailboat at the mooring bouys with a large group of people. They didn't seem to understand common courtesy about not crowding others in the water and swam almost right ontop of us..
Cabritte Horn Point- waves were a bit rough and I saw a shark! (was maybe a blacktip based on pictures and my best semi-educated guess). it came a little close to me for comfort but didn't attack. It's easy to rationalize these things may not be agressive, but seeing it when you are on your own in deep water was quite an adrenaline rush. I swam about 15 minutes back to the "beach" and kept looking back to make sure it wasn't following me.

North Shore: did the Perkins Cay snorkel Waves were rough and water murky. mosquitos not bad due to high winds. Girlfreind lost her sunglasses at parking lot.

Haulover Bay South and Pelican Rock (did Pelican Rock from the kayak). This was the same day as the storm in Elk bay..

Blue Coblestone and Booby Rock. the water was colder out near Booby Rock- tied up to the mooring bouy with kayak at Booby Rock. Was hoping that I tied the knot well since the wind was strong and was blowing the boat out to sea.

Yawzi Point- was quite murky compared to last year.

Grootpan east side- also murky

Haulover north- different day, colder water. saw fishing line and hook tangled on an elkhorn coral head. Donkeys hanging out on the beach...

Salt Pond- was almost in the evening, mosquitos attcked both as we were going in and getting out of water. was cool, saw 2 large spotted eagle rays. water very murky on western portion over the sea grass beds.

Hikes done:
Ram Head- this one was important. I had the engagement ring with me and gave it to her out on the point, we saw a sea turtle come up for air from the cliff above. She said "yes" so the return hike was interesting as I was with my new fiancee.

Lameshur Trail to petroglyph Pool. Pretty but hellish mosquitos. We stopped at Europa bay on the way back.

We left on the 22nd and waited in the airport for about 5 hours (flight delayed from Miami due to storm). had 2 connecting flights to get home and finaly got there at 1:00 AM on the 23rd. If I had known about the huge delay at the airport, I think we could have squeezed in about 2 good hours at the beach that morning before heading over to St Thomas. Oh well ....

[Lovermont]

Congratulations on the engagement. What an excellent place to pop the question. I'm curious why the return was so interesting.

You sure packed in a lot on your vacation. I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one feeling like a bit of slacker.

Thanks for the report and congratulations to both of you!

Lovermont

[b-as-u-r]

Had to head home for some rest? Congratulations on your engagement and making the most of your time there. Most certainly a special and memorable trip. Ali~

[mcdomzal]

Congratulations! Maybe you'll be back for your honeymoon????

[Bob & Anita]

Congratulations. STJ will now be a special place in your lives.

[lprof]

What energy...sounds like not a moment lost...big fun!
Congratulations!

[mindehankins]

Congratulations! Sounds like you had a terrific trip. You mention a ton of places I've never heard of before.
I'm with you on your shark rationalizaton, as I got scared out of Waterlemon by a barracuda as big as me.

Dinner at Joshies? I'm totally jealous.

[LMG]

Wow, that's a lot of stuff packed into a trip! Reminds me of my first trip--- I've become so lazy.

Congratulations on your engagement!

[cptnkirk]

Congrats on the engagement. Boy ya did alot, to bad about the snorkeling conditions

[Bun55]

I can't think of a more beautiful place to propose . . . that was our favorite spot on the whole island . . . congratulations to you both!

[teragram]

Nice Report!

We're thinking of the Ram Head hike, sounds like it's the place to go!

[Berlingirl]

Mountaingoat...

Congrats on the engagement! You and your soon to be bride have my admiration. You managed to do more in one trip than we've done in probably all ours combined and you did it during the worst skeeter onslaught of the year. Ouch...I agree!
Next trip will be honeymoon and you'll be wanting to relax!

[mountaingoat]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. I just re-read my trip report and, wow, I must have been tired and in a hurry. I am a lousy typist....I actualy did a solo trip last year and did more snorkeling and had to either walk or hitch-hike since last year I didn't have a rental car. This time I had a jeep and a kayak for several days.
My new fiancee doesn't like snorkeling as much as I do, but she did enjoy it to a point. She actualy wanted to do more hiking, but the mosquitos turned her off of that. I think she would probably want to go somewhere else for a honey moon and I guess that would be OK with me. This was my 4th trip to the Virgin Island (both British & US combined) and I keep coming back becouse I know I will have a great time. I have freinds who have been to other places and their experiences don't seem like the type I am looking for. One of the big things is that so much of St John is undeveloped, and that is a rare thing anywhere in the world these days. We did decide, however, that if we ever got rich (yeah right) that we would want to do one of those sailboat trips through the islands instead of being based on land. I was jealous of the people on those boats moored in the bay in the evening becouse I'm pretty sure the mosquitos didn't bug them out there over the water. Also, it's really fun to go snorkeling from a boat as opposed to doing it from shore. When we did the off-shore sea kayak/snorkeling thing, there was an element of intimidation that I had under-estimated before actualy doing it. Anyway, I would love to be back some day and make it back to the BVI also.
I would post pics, but don't have any online accounts and it looks like you can't load them directly to the website?[/img]

[Berlingirl]

Mountaingoat...sometimes the skeeters are just as mean on the boats as they are on land...just depends on if your under sail and what's happening with the wind!:)