usvi-on-line
Blaine and Minde back to St. John - trip report
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mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
Nice report Minde. What a great day of snorkeling! I am usually in heaven if I am fortunate enough to see one turtle on my whole vacation. A shame about the poor visibility but your pictures turned out good considering. Francis Bay has always been my favorite beach. Can't wait to read more about your trip.
AH
AH
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EagleRayLover
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:56 pm
- Location: St. John -WooHoo!!
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piscesgirl0314
- Posts: 598
- Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:31 pm
- Location: Chesapeake, VA
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mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
Monday 4/25/11
We had a nice breakfast at the condo, cause yesterday Blaine was hungry at Francis, and saying we needed to bring "two lunches." I thought "no, honey, we need to eat breakfast!" So we did. I made some tuna salad sandwiches for lunch, and we hit the road.
Being early birds, we scored the first parking place at our new beach for this trip:
Oh, this place is lovely!!! Definitely added to our list of favorite beaches, now! It's a very short walk down a little path, to find this:
We got right in the water, and snorkelled to the right. This was the first time I've ever felt cold snorkeling on St. John. I remember reading Augie's reports of EagleRayLover's feeling cold, and thinking "really???" Well, now I know. Might have to invest in a rash guard, after all, cause I was really shivering! Visibility was again an issue, and this snorkel wasn't so great, but we found this little cove that was listed in FF&4WD:
and some nice coral:
and I always love to find these little sea urchins (?).
I remember learning on a kayaking trip near Sarasota, that they collect little things they find, and use them for shade. I'm always intrigued when I find these sea urchins now, shaded, cause it makes them less "passive." Silly, I know
We spent the afternoon reading. I read "Little Bee" and although it was disturbing, it was a great read! I think Blaine was working through a Dean Kuntz book. Turned out we only needed "one lunch" if we ate breakfast...LOL!
We went home to shower, which is normally just a function of and not a highlight of my day, then to Starfish for a couple of items and then steaks on the grill. Cruz Views had a new grill, and we didn't have to buy one this year Another first!
This pic reminds me of why we come to St. John....balance, and focus!
Tuesday 4/26/11
I was up with a start this morning, cause we were off to my favorite place...Miss Vie's! I videotaped most of the trip, but it looks awful when I downloaded it. I'll play with it, and if anything comes of it, I'll post.
I had a little phobia I had to get over, so I jumped right in the water. I'm happy to report that there was nothing interesting in there
Lots of mundane Caribbean snorkelling stuff like this:
It looks like someone has built the beginnings of a reef. I don't think this was there in 2009:
We went for lunch to Miss Vie's. Carrie was working the snack shack. We hadn't met her before, and she was as delightful as her mom and sister, who's working at the bank now. She's got the family talent (and recipe) for conch fritters!
I admit to not having the patience to photograph first and taste later!
After lunch, I spent the afternoon trying to teach myself to free dive. Blaine helped with encouragement, but no real instruction. He was, um....dry, as a matter of fact. I worked hard (and made a damned fool of myself) all afternoon. I'm sure the folks on the beach were struggling to decide if I was hysterical or pathetic! I came to the conclusion that I cannot dive. I float.
Spent the evening laying around, not feeling so good.... I'm not sure if it was my overindulging in Vie's cuisine or salt water!
We had a nice breakfast at the condo, cause yesterday Blaine was hungry at Francis, and saying we needed to bring "two lunches." I thought "no, honey, we need to eat breakfast!" So we did. I made some tuna salad sandwiches for lunch, and we hit the road.
Being early birds, we scored the first parking place at our new beach for this trip:
Oh, this place is lovely!!! Definitely added to our list of favorite beaches, now! It's a very short walk down a little path, to find this:
We got right in the water, and snorkelled to the right. This was the first time I've ever felt cold snorkeling on St. John. I remember reading Augie's reports of EagleRayLover's feeling cold, and thinking "really???" Well, now I know. Might have to invest in a rash guard, after all, cause I was really shivering! Visibility was again an issue, and this snorkel wasn't so great, but we found this little cove that was listed in FF&4WD:
and some nice coral:
and I always love to find these little sea urchins (?).
I remember learning on a kayaking trip near Sarasota, that they collect little things they find, and use them for shade. I'm always intrigued when I find these sea urchins now, shaded, cause it makes them less "passive." Silly, I know
We spent the afternoon reading. I read "Little Bee" and although it was disturbing, it was a great read! I think Blaine was working through a Dean Kuntz book. Turned out we only needed "one lunch" if we ate breakfast...LOL!
We went home to shower, which is normally just a function of and not a highlight of my day, then to Starfish for a couple of items and then steaks on the grill. Cruz Views had a new grill, and we didn't have to buy one this year
Another first!This pic reminds me of why we come to St. John....balance, and focus!
Tuesday 4/26/11
I was up with a start this morning, cause we were off to my favorite place...Miss Vie's! I videotaped most of the trip, but it looks awful when I downloaded it. I'll play with it, and if anything comes of it, I'll post.
I had a little phobia I had to get over, so I jumped right in the water. I'm happy to report that there was nothing interesting in there
Lots of mundane Caribbean snorkelling stuff like this:It looks like someone has built the beginnings of a reef. I don't think this was there in 2009:
We went for lunch to Miss Vie's. Carrie was working the snack shack. We hadn't met her before, and she was as delightful as her mom and sister, who's working at the bank now. She's got the family talent (and recipe) for conch fritters!
I admit to not having the patience to photograph first and taste later!
After lunch, I spent the afternoon trying to teach myself to free dive. Blaine helped with encouragement, but no real instruction. He was, um....dry, as a matter of fact. I worked hard (and made a damned fool of myself) all afternoon. I'm sure the folks on the beach were struggling to decide if I was hysterical or pathetic! I came to the conclusion that I cannot dive. I float.
Spent the evening laying around, not feeling so good.... I'm not sure if it was my overindulging in Vie's cuisine or salt water!
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mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
-
EagleRayLover
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:56 pm
- Location: St. John -WooHoo!!
Keep the reports coming Minde- sounds like you guys are having fun! I definitely got colder in the water this trip past trip as opposed to our trips in the fall- I love my little skin guard and would highly recommend it. (we tend to stay in the water awhile so I am sure in the fall- It will keep me nice and toasty especially if we try a night snorkel!)
Leslie, Kids Night In Babysitting