Fun-Sun-Rum-Rinse-Repeat! Trip Report! Day 2

msgcolleen · Post by **msgcolleen** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:58 pm

Day 1:
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=21274

Day 2!
(* new experiences*)

I kept hearing about the fabulous snorkeling at *Haulover North and South* on the east end and planned to rent a car for the day to check it out. But oh so sweet CODEN was planning to go there too so they invited us to go with them! I know! So nice of them!!

We both took *Bonine* since we've been a bit queasy in the past driving up, down and all around the island and headed out at 9 a.m. We parked at *Haulover South*, set up camp and just soaked up all the beauty!

Who's a happy island girl?

We snorkeled straight out and saw beautiful coral, stingray and and aquarium of tropical fish. We headed to the left by the rocks and it was just beautiful. I wanted to go around the rocks toward Hanson Bay but the winds and current started kicking up so I just headed back. I took pics with my underwater disposable camera and wouldn't you know! The inside was full of water!!

Hopefully Coden will post her underwater pics to show how cool it was~

After our Haulover South adventure and some tasty refreshments, Coden & I decided to venture over to *Haulover North* to check out the conditions while the boys held the fort. Right when we hit the trail we could hear the surf sounds from the north! Whoa! Those were some tasty waves and there was no way we were going in there!

There was a bunch of seaweed looking gunk on the beach but learned later from forumite Loria who actually had a great snorkel there last week that it's called Flotsam and Jetsam! Lots of it!

Well, since we aborted the Haulover North snorkel, we packed up and drove over to *Vie's* to see if she changed her mind about closing for the season. NOPE! Oh well, Skinny Legs will have to do!

There's nothing better than a blue cheese burger after a great snorkel~

Time just flew by and we all wanted to get back to Cruz Bay to watch the *Beach Bar Wars* that I thought started at 3 p.m.

Back at Grande Bay we got cleaned up and hubby went to get ice for the ice chest at the front office and they told him the Beach Bar Wars started at noon and would end at 3 p.m.! Well, it was 2:45 p.m. so we decided not to go. Also, a super wave of tiredness came over us so we decided to take a little nap that turned into a major 3 HOUR SNOOZE!

I think it was the Bonine because I've never been that tired before!

I looked out the window and noticed Capt. John Brandi wrapping up another hard day at work and paddling his row boat back to the dinghy dock. I'm amazed that he does this every day and our special day was coming up on Tuesday!!

Row, row, row your boat, gently through Cruz Bay . . .

All refreshed we decided to stroll around Cruz Bay beach, watch the sunset, check out the park renovations, window shop at Mongoose Junction, listen to live music and grab some pizza slices at Joe's and have a relaxing swim in the Grande Bay pool. I love Cruz Bay!

Coming up tomorrow is another great fun, sun & rum day! Hawksnest/Gibney with our new forum friends and the *Sunday Beach Bar Gathering* with even more new forum friends!

I love this forum! Thanks Anthony!

Pianogrl · Post by **Pianogrl** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:14 pm

Thanks again Colleen for Day 2!! I came here today just to see if you had posted it & here it is!!

Love the pics...we've never been snorkeling at Haulover either. Definately will try that out!

Until Day 3....thanks again!

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:15 pm

I need to be there now, right now, doing all of that again!! It was too sweeeeeeeeet!!

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:20 pm

Oh - our underwater cameras. Hopefully we'll get something out of the two that we used. I'll try to take them to wally-world on Monday. Seems as if one of us was not advancing the knob as each picture was being taken, so I do not know if we have any or not.

This just proves that we need a digital underwater camera and not a point and shoot one.

brenda · Post by **brenda** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:27 pm

Loving your report

. We usually run hard our first couple of days, then crash and burn for an afternoon or evening. When you mentioned Joe's pizza, was it the place across from Joe's Rum Hut or elsewhere? We love being in Cruz Bay too, so convenient!

msgcolleen · Post by **msgcolleen** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:51 pm

Yes Brenda! The pizza came from Joe's right across from Joe's Rum Shack. I picked up a to go menu and that's what they called it! I call it delicious!

Hey Coden! My underwater disposable dried out and I took it to Target (Tarje') to see if they can make a CD of the pics.

I'm not getting my hopes up

Hope to invest in a Canon D10 or Panasonic DMC-TS3 like Ward's. I'm sick of snorkeling at really cool places and the pics not turning out.

It's at the top of my Christmas list along with a new snorkel mask and buff! Yours rocked!

Hey Pianogrl! You will love Haulover South! Try the north too if it's calm.

Capn Dan and Ruby · Post by **Capn Dan and Ruby** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 8:09 pm

Nice picture of Coden! I hate those cheep underwater cameras! We paid an arm and a leg for them to be developed and the pictures were all crappy! Going for a new camera and a deep water housing for the next trip!

Backtotheislands · Post by **Backtotheislands** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 8:36 pm

I wanna go back . . . to the islands!!! Love your pics! I am back at school with more hoops to jump through every year and really ready to run back to St. John! I get it, totally!!! Not sure my hubby does 100% and it's killing me!!

rpplano · Post by **rpplano** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:28 pm

I could handle a bleu Cheeseburger right now!

SOonthebeach · Post by **SOonthebeach** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 6:47 pm

Loooove my Cannon D10! Your pics and report are awesome! Fun being had by all. Thanks for the tip on Joe's- had heard of it but wasn't sure where it was. You pick it up and take home, yes? Can't wait for more!!

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:27 am

I am liking that shot of the slices and wine!

Kentuckygirl · Post by **Kentuckygirl** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:46 am

Loving your reports and pics! So wish I was there right now!

Hawaii · Post by **Hawaii** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:59 am

Loving your pictures too. Will have to try some of the different beaches on our next trip and maybe we can get to Haulover too.

burgec · Post by **burgec** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:15 am

Are great snorkeling, we were able to hit both last week. Don't let the flotsam deter you. South is good octipi hunting. North was calm for us but can see how it could get rough.

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