Toes in the Sand trip report

[toes in the sand]

Sunday – Arrived Sunday evening met Lester from C&C at the ferry dock, picked up our wheels for the week and headed to Bayview. Driving Centerline Rd in the dark is a quick full immersion back into island driving. We found Bayview and met the property manager. We dropped off our luggage and headed to Skinny’s for burgers and beer.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4132455748/" title="bayview (38) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/413 ... b71791.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="bayview (38)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4148790038/" title="bayview (92) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/414 ... a129d9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="bayview (92)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4148026913/" title="bayview (73) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/414 ... 0b28aa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="bayview (73)"></a>
Monday – I woke early and headed to town to find some breakfast. The rains rolled in and dropped a deluge of water. The rainfall was so heavy across the VI that the USVI closed all schools and government offices for the day. We had breakfast and organized our beach gear while it continued to rain, loaded it up in the jeep and headed out to …headed out to….JEEP…WON’T….START….. CRAP! Call into C&C. Everyone at lunch. 2:30. Lester soon come. We walk to Colombo’s for a smoothie. Rain = smoothie stand closed. Crap. We looked down the North Shore road from Centerline. Considered for a moment the 2 mile walk down to Annaberg until we considered the 2 mile walk UP from Annaberg. Walked back to Bayview to wait for our jeep repair. Lester arrives and quickly gets us on the road. We decide that with the rain run-off and the late start that we would stay dry today. We walked Cinnamon Bay and watched sunset. Crap all gone. We picked up a couple from NYC waiting for a taxi at Cinnamon on our way into town. They were staying at the Westin for a 4 day weekend. It had rained each day of their trip and they never had the chance to even swim from a North shore beach.
Beach Bar for dinner and grocery shopping to finish what still was a fine day.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4132451234/" title="bayview (15) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2536/413 ... ae6789.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="bayview (15)"></a>
Tuesday - I am a morning person, I know better than to push that quality while on vacation. Morning coffee and a late sunrise over Coral Bay from the east balcony begins my day. Forecast calls for partly cloudy with a mild southeast wind for the foreseeable future. Fantastic. North shore beaches are in my plans. I packed up the Jeep and made lunches. We head to Denis. 11am and we are the second Jeep in the lot at Peace Hill. The trail down to Denis is a wide goat path but easy enough as the wet ground from yesterday had all but dried. We found a perfect shady spot with sunny sand and dropped our stuff for the day. We snorkeled Perkins Cay. Nice elkhorn but the rains had deposited silt on the fans and still clouded visibility somewhat. Talking to another couple on the beach they told us they had snorkeled Haulover that morning and said it was wonderful. We stayed until about 30 minutes to sunset and left with enough light to climb back to the car.
Dinner at the villa tonight.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4142011163/" title="coral bay sunrise (25) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/414 ... 55e463.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="coral bay sunrise (25)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4141919107/" title="denis (37) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2595/414 ... 7b3950.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="denis (37)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4141913991/" title="denis (26) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/414 ... 7e1958.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="denis (26)"></a>
Wednesday – Coffee and another Coral Bay sunrise. It has been years since our last Waterlemon snorkel. We decided it was the morning for that. We planned Waterlemon then lunch at Maho so I tucked my drivers license, CC and $10 into a small ziploc and pinned it into my suit pocket. We drove to Annaberg parking lot and found a spot in the shade. We grabbed our snorkel gear and hiked to Waterlemon. The snorkel was good. We striked up a conversation with a couple close to us. They also had snorkeled Haulover and sang it’s praises. When we arrived back at the Jeep I realized that one of the safety pins that held my ziploc wallet in my pocket had failed and the wallet was gone. We decided to drive back to the villa and have lunch, cancel the CC and return to walk Leinster again. No luck with the lost wallet but was witness to another beautiful sunset on another beach that we had all to ourselves.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4142011165/" title="leinster (14) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2697/414 ... 738178.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="leinster (14)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4148775682/" title="leinster (7) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2523/414 ... e62ffa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="leinster (7)"></a>
Thursday – Salomon today. We drove to the NPS Biosphere center on the hill above Asolare. We walked the trail down to Salomon. A much wider path than the Denis Bay goat trail. We found about 10 people on the beach. We snorkeled the rocks in front of the NPS residence between Salomon and Honeymoon. Nothing special except for the wonderful clear water and the spectacular view. We enjoyed the peace of Salomon and about two hours before sunset we had yet another beach to ourselves. We stayed again until about an hour before sunset. We set off up the hill. Evidently we missed one of the intersections at the Upper Lind Point trail and ended up at the NPS center in Cruz Bay. I caught a taxi up to the Jeep and returned to pick up Sharon and our gear. We picked up a NPS worker waiting for a ride to Botanical Villas. He was from Winter Park CO and was working as a laborer for the NPS.
We cleaned up and returned to Morgans Mango for lobster night.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4142011137/" title="solomon (31) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2636/414 ... fcb8ae.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="solomon (31)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4142011117/" title="solomon (47) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2653/414 ... 74efc3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="solomon (47)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4142011129/" title="solomon (58) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2628/414 ... 3bfef0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="solomon (58)"></a>
Friday – Sunburns made Friday a trip to Charolotte Amalie shopping day. We took the downtown ferry and I fulfilled my promise of a shopping day downtown. My wallet will be lighter for the trip home.
Dinner at Shipwreck Landing tonight.

Saturday – Last full day on island called for a no-hike day at Francis Bay. Francis is so close and easy from Bayview. We parked in the lot and even though it was 11 when we arrived we had our pick of the beach and selected the table on the left nearest the rocks. It was gorgeous. We swam, floated and sunned all day. We found a secluded beach between Francis and Maho bays. Once again we outlasted all others on the beach and had our champagne sunset.
Dinner at the villa again tonight and packing.
We were mosquito free all week after the hard rain on Monday until we were packing saturday night then they started attacking without end.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4141921731/" title="francis (1) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/414 ... 2f1975.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="francis (1)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4142685460/" title="francis2 (6) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2762/414 ... b10e4d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="francis2 (6)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4142683162/" title="francis (26) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2547/414 ... 39bf84.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="francis (26)"></a>

Does anyone know the name of this beach between Francis and Maho Camps beach?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4147940313/" title="francis maho (2) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/414 ... daeb9d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="francis maho (2)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4147943135/" title="francis maho (33) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2587/414 ... dd007c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="francis maho (33)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4148709338/" title="francis maho (52) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/414 ... d98c6b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="francis maho (52)"></a>
Sunday - Alas, all good things must come to an end. We cleaned up and packed our things after breakfast and took our last drinks from the fridge and headed to the East End. We had never visited here before. We drove to the overlook and then to Haulover for pictures only. We promised to return next trip. Back to town to return the Jeep and the ferry ride to Red Hook.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4148785260/" title="haulover north (1) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/414 ... f47d3d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="haulover north (1)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4148019707/" title="haulover north (4) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2604/414 ... 99a04e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="haulover north (4)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4148783216/" title="haulover south(1) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/414 ... 5fb216.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="haulover south(1)"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44939534@N05/4148017179/" title="haulover south (5) by toes_in_the_sand3, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2722/414 ... 6f87d3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="haulover south (5)"></a>
Friday after Thanksgiving – I decided today was a good day to replace my drivers license and stopped by the license office. Closed today but open tomorrow. Crap. I returned home and picked up the mail. In the mail I found a letter addressed from St Thomas USVI. In it was my license, CC and the $10 less postage costs. Good island mojo at work again.

[lprof]

Enjoyed your report, really liked your photos, and loved the happy ending. Hope the good memories sustain you til the next time. Thanks for letting me share another week on St John.

[DELETED]

DELETED

[Bigcheeze]

NICE pics and TR...TY for sharing

Dave

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

The photos were really well done. Toots sweet.

[jayseadee]

Beautiful pictures.

Yes, that was quite the rains that Monday It looked like the remainder of your week was great.

That's awesome that you got your wallet back.

[Teresa_Rae]

When were you there? We were there November 14-21...worst weather we've ever had by far.

[tipsy]

Terrific TR & Pics. So happy that you got the wallet back intact.

[mbw1024]

great pictures and report. thanks!
good for the person who returned your stuff!

when you say you drove to the East End and stopped at the overlook what do you mean?

[dtenel]

GREAT report! I am so glad that you got your wallet back Your pictures are just beautiful

[toes in the sand]

great pictures and report. thanks!
good for the person who returned your stuff!

when you say you drove to the East End and stopped at the overlook what do you mean?

On the top of the hill before Haulover there is a wide space in the road. We stopped there for some pictures.

[toes in the sand]

When were you there? We were there November 14-21...worst weather we've ever had by far.

We were there Sunday 15 Nov to Sunday 22 Nov. Except for Monday morning we enjoyed partly cloudy, 85+ degrees with a light wind from the SE. Only a few scattered showers during the day but it rained almost every night at Bayview.

[toes in the sand]

One thing I forgot to mention in my TR was the view from Bayview. It was beyond expectations. To the East we had a spectacular view of Coral Bay, East End and the BVI's including Norman island, South we had mountain peaks and West to North we had a view of Francis Bay, Mary Point, Whistling Cay and more BVI's incuding Tortola and the Thatch cays. We had more than one morning when the sunrise clouds rolled up the mountain and shrouded us in fog. But for the most part we had an unobstructed 280 degree view.

[Teresa_Rae]

When were you there? We were there November 14-21...worst weather we've ever had by far.

We were there Sunday 15 Nov to Sunday 22 Nov. Except for Monday morning we enjoyed partly cloudy, 85+ degrees with a light wind from the SE. Only a few scattered showers during the day but it rained almost every night at Bayview.

There were torrential downpours Sunday and Monday (the 15th & 16th) and it rained every day where we were in Coral Bay. It seemed to get nicer once we hit Ajax Peak...we found ourselves wondering if we should have just left for the beach even though it was still raining by us. Almost every morning we had an interesting time getting down the mountain from the villa because there were so many rocks and boulders strewn over the road from the heavy rain. We did get to see lots of mini water falls though

[toes in the sand]

There were torrential downpours Sunday and Monday (the 15th & 16th) and it rained every day where we were in Coral Bay. It seemed to get nicer once we hit Ajax Peak...we found ourselves wondering if we should have just left for the beach even though it was still raining by us. Almost every morning we had an interesting time getting down the mountain from the villa because there were so many rocks and boulders strewn over the road from the heavy rain. We did get to see lots of mini water falls though

We were on Ajax Peak and were able to see the clouds that would "walk" up from the shoreline into the mountains. One afternoon we watched the road crew collecting the rocks that had washed down Centerline and re-deposit them into the washouts.