April 26-May 4 - Trip Report (Part III) with a couple pics

MadCityMom · Post by **MadCityMom** » Tue May 14, 2013 12:17 am

April 26 - May 4 - Trip Report (Part III)

Thursday – Up and out of the house pretty early and there was one spot left at Gibney. We loved the calmness of this beach on our last visit – nice and calm for our young girls 5 and 3. We picked a nice spot way to the left and had about ½ hour before it started to mist and then rain and rain. The girls had a lot of fun standing and swinging on the tire swing in the rain! I got some great pictures. What memories moments like this make!

: Gibney.jpg (11.03 KiB) Viewed 3863 times

The tire swing is right in front of the Oppenheimer house – the house of the father of the atomic bomb. Until a snorkeler came ashore and notified a barracuda was in the water.

The girls, our babysitter and I headed back to our spot where hubby was trying to cover our things to keep them dry. We decided the rain was not relenting and packed our soggy selves and things back in the car. We stopped at the villa for a quick dry off and clean up and determined an “adventure” was in order. We packed into the beat up Explorer (my husband now loving this tattered old thing) and head out to centerline road. We’ve never been any further than Miss Lucy’s and after the fantastic reviews of the Tourist Trap, this was on top of must-do list. We enjoyed the drive and the views and finally arrived at the Tourist Trap (how could you miss it?). The girls enjoyed the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots at our table before a downpour, we moved to another table and finally a third table to escape the rain. We were soaked but in paradise so who cares!! Loved the Sugar Birds frolicking about. We tried the Keep Left, Drink Right drink to start, BBQ pork nachos, lobster roll and pork Tacos (all delicious!) followed by the homemade popsicles. Everyone was so friendly and the food was great!! Absolutely a great stop even though it was a rainy day. Caught a slowdown in the rain and started back to the villa. After a nap for the little one we took the girls and babysitter to Rhumblines for dinner. We had the fritters for an appetizer, sesame tuna for me and the babysitter and ultimate Pad Thai for hubby. The food was amazing! I really love this place!!! [Newbie friends did the Reef Bay Trail (in the rain) and dinner at the Inn at Tamarind.]

Friday – Last full day. Packed up the cooler and were planning on Maho but thought that my beloved husband would enjoy stopping at his FAVORITE beach, Hawksnest. Yesterday was pouring rain and today was a perfect day. That’s St John! We all enjoyed snorkeling! My 5 yr old is now an old pro learning this trip. Frisbee, beach time, sand castles, etc. My husband likes to talk to people and met a lovely 85 year old woman – she told a lovely story of she and her husband who lived on St Thomas and the US mainland back and forth for many many years and her husband passed about 16 years ago and a few years ago she swam out with a vile of his ashes in her bosom and spread his ashes in the Bay at Hawksnest, his favorite beach. Brings tears to my eyes as I write this… And the local ladies were singing in the pavilion as we heard the same sweet sounds three years ago… The local flavor of this beach is starting to make it my favorite now too!

: Hawksnest Friday.jpg (8.86 KiB) Viewed 3863 times

It was an absolutely perfect day and my husband just rested his arms on the floatie raft in the water and when I asked what he was doing he said “this is my zen moment, I’m soaking it in; when I’m sitting at my desk, I close my eyes and imagine I’m here.” On the way home to the villa, we were driving by Mongoose Junction and my husband suggested I look at Little Switzerland with the girls and babysitter while he returned the snorkel gear. [Girls and our babysitter shopped at Mongoose while I looked at Little Switzerland.] What a coincidence, my watch that he got me 7 years earlier in St Thomas as a wedding gift, just died. Michael was an amazing salesman with ties to the UP of Michigan (my mother was from the UP). My dear husband [who got three new t-shirts on the trip (One Love, Tourist Trap and Lion in da Sun], gave up a new riding lawnmower on my behalf in favor of a my beautiful new Tag Heuer!! Thank you Honey!! After that excitement we went back to the villa. Our newbie friends spent the day hiking to Salt Pond, Drunk Bay and Brown Bay with lunch at the Tourist Trap. Dinner at the villa of Sam and Jack’s and Starfish. Cleaning, laundry and packing. The last night it was cloudy but had the most beautiful view of St Croix that we had the whole week. Amazing!

Saturday morning. Cleaned up and packed up. Dropped off the cars and keys in the drop box at C&C and off to the dock. A little shopping at St John Spice and St John Kids followed by last drink at High Tide. Ferry to Charlotte Amalie then lunch at the Green House (a tradition). Open air taxi held our bags and then to airport (everyone loved the open air taxi). To the airport, last St John Brewers Liquid Sunshine and then long travels and home by about 1:30 a.m.
Everyone had a wonderful time – our newbie couple and newbie babysitter totally “got it” as we thought they would!!! Many new experiences but still so many yet to experience! Until we meet again…goodbye our beloved St John!

smilesfromMN · Post by **smilesfromMN** » Tue May 14, 2013 8:02 am

Thank you! Fun to wake up and read your new post.
I have a "moment" just like your husband of floating in Trunk Bay and all around me I see "that blue" of the water. If I close my eyes, I'm right there.
My husband has met the Gibney barracuda as well! We had someone tell us that he gets territorial in that area (the fish, not my husband!) and will "escort" snorkelers out of his area. Got my husband's heart rate up a little as the barracuda followed him all the way back to the beach.
It's good to hear that your friends and babysitter "got it". We will have newbies with us in Dec and I hope they get it, too!
It sounds like you had a wonderful week - time to start planning the next trip!

SandyPants · Post by **SandyPants** » Tue May 14, 2013 8:44 am

Wonderful report--your love for this place just shines through! We are coming for the first time in a couple of weeks; have to admit Hawksnest was not at the top of my beach list before reading your report but now it is a must!

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Tue May 14, 2013 9:18 am

Thanks for the lovely trip report. It sounds like everyone had a great time!

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Tue May 14, 2013 10:13 am

MadCityMom wrote:April 26 - May 4 - Trip Report (Part III) Pics to be added tomorrow*

We stopped at the villa for a quick dry off and clean up and determined an “adventure” was in order.

I love your attitude!

MadCityMom wrote: My dear husband [who got three new t-shirts on the trip (One Love, Tourist Trap and Lion in da Sun], gave up a new riding lawnmower on my behalf in favor of a my beautiful new Tag Heuer!! Thank you Honey!!

Wise man

I enjoyed your reports, thank you for taking the time to post.

ruffmom · Post by **ruffmom** » Tue May 14, 2013 11:42 am

I am so sorry to see your trip report end...I felt like I was back on St John myself for a few moments. Thanks for taking the time to do such a descriptive report. I loved it.

piscesgirl0314 · Post by **piscesgirl0314** » Tue May 14, 2013 12:31 pm

Thanks for sharing...can't wait to get back.......

ColumbiaSCTraveler · Post by **ColumbiaSCTraveler** » Tue May 14, 2013 12:58 pm

Thanks for sharing! Can't wait for the pix!

(Esp the Tag.

)

We, too, adore Hawksnest and Gibney. Oh, how I was I was there RIGHT. NOW.

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Tue May 14, 2013 2:35 pm

Hawksnest is where my wifes ashes are too. The morning after we spreaded them there was a wedding there seamed like a sign.

MadCityMom · Post by **MadCityMom** » Tue May 14, 2013 5:40 pm

Waterguy, thank you for sharing. I'm so sorry for your loss. You can't get any closer to heaven than Hawksnest. It really is heaven on earth. What a wonderful place for her and you to remember her always being there. I think that wedding was a sign to you..

DonnaM · Post by **DonnaM** » Tue May 14, 2013 8:08 pm

Great TR! Thanks for sharing!

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