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"Susie St John's" Trip Report w/Pics....Part 1
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Jan&MikeVa
- Posts: 1084
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:32 pm
- Location: The Chesapeake Bay
"Susie St John's" Trip Report w/Pics....Part 1
Here's our trip report, or rather "Susie St. John's" trip report!! Our time on Island was great; we had a wonderful week and Susie really enjoyed herself. We didn't do a lot, but we knew that going in. We spent some good family time together and all of us enjoyed some R&R. My pics are all odd sizes, I finally gave up on trying to get them right! Here's the troops:
Walt, Susie, Judy, and Steve
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Jan and Mike
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... 010789.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Day 1, Saturday 5/26:
We met up with all but Steve at Reagan/National and had good flights through Miami. As soon as we see Susie at the airport Mike & I are "attacked with hugs"!! She is wound up and ready to go!!! Susie loves to fly, and enjoys looking out the window the whole time. We waited to be last off of the plane in STT because of Susie & her fear of steps, wise move. My nephew had arrived about 1-1/2hrs before us and had just gotten his luggage. The conveyor belt was broken and he said it was a crazed free for all. Fortunately the belt started working and we got our luggage, a private cab, and were hoping for the 4pm CA Ferry. But we were told it wasn't running, so on to Red Hook. We got in line for tickets at 4:40 and finally got tickets at 5:50, there was no 5pm ferry so we were all on the 6pm ferry, which was overflowing. What is going on with the ferry system???
We arrived on STJ and she looked beautiful.................warm and inviting, just like going home. Us girls stayed with the luggage and the DSJ rep while the guys got the jeeps from Donald Schnell. Mike & I had the same Wrangler we had rented from him back in December; that was pretty cool. An easy trip up to Cocotier, which is right off of Gift Hill Rd. A quick tour, assigning of bedrooms, and our crew is ready for dinner. Susie loves her bedroom/bathroom suite & her bedspread was covered with palm trees!!
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Judy & I made a dash down to Dolphin for must have groceries while the guys heated up frozen Sloppy Joes brought from home. We enjoy a pretty sunset, a much-anticipated swim in the pool, and a good nights sleep. The crickets and tree frogs were singing, it's so familiar and intoxicating...........lulls us right to sleep!
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... G_0160.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
View from Cocotier
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Day 2, Sunday 5/27:
After breakfast and some effort to get the troops moving, we are finally off to Hawksnest. There was a "power swim" that day from Maho to Hawksnest and we must have hit at the wrong time. The parking lot was overflowing, cars parked all up and down the road. So a sure bet was Maho, and it was WONDERFUL! No crowd, the water temp was great, and we all enjoyed a good swim. Susie is so excited she can't stand it. "Look at the Palm Trees" she kept saying over and over again. She couldn't get over the fact that she could see her feet while in deep water! At some point while her and I are playing in the water she tells me that she loves me, never said that before. Okay...........so there were also a few tears shed on this trip. Susie is just so special to me. First grandchild in the family and I was only 9 when she was born. She really is the little sister that I never had. She's a 42-year-old "child at heart" kind of gal.
Jan & Susie @ Maho
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Lunch is at Island Blues, they never disappoint with the food. We had Black & Blue Burgers, Chicken Fingers, Chicken/Pesto Quesidilla, Chicken Enchilada Special, Salad; it was ALL GOOD...........rave reviews all around. We sat down by the water and enjoyed a nice breeze. Judy & I head to do the serious grocery shopping while the others go back to the villa and nap. Prices seem about the same as last December, good selection of produce at Dolphin. Never made it to Starfish this trip. Next we're off to The Beach Bar for the Forum gathering and some good jazz. WOW, was it HOT. No breeze and hot sun and high humidity. We met up with some of the gang, but didn't stay long. My family was not overly social, Mike was not feeling well, and I was just too hot. I APOLOGIZE for not hanging out and meeting everyone, very disappointing. So many folks that I wanted to meet and it didn't happen; that was my loss, a real bummer. Dinner was steak on the grill, no one ate much we were just too hot & full from lunch. Bed came early to our group Sunday night.
Day 3, Monday 5/28 (Memorial Day)
Mike & I are used to grabbing our coffee, and heading to the beaches early. It's about the only "real" plan we have while on Island. The beaches are deserted in the morning and it's much more quiet and peaceful. But this group is serious about breakfast and slow in packing up their stuff. So by the time we got to Cinnamon it was almost lunchtime and fairly crowded. We had a good day there and my nephew and brother in law got in some snorkeling. Mike & I played with Susie in the water; we are having a great time with her. She is so sweet and appreciative of all we do. She gets to ride up front in our jeep most of the days and she is so busy pointing out this and that! She LOVED the wildlife! We swam in the pool when we got home while Judy made "Chicken Parmesan" for dinner.
Jan & Susie
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
We spent most of our evenings watching the sunset, swimming in the pool, and hanging outside talking.............or reading! Walt was on a marathon; think he broke a record. We all enjoyed some good books, swapped some out with the villa collection. A resident cat showed up tonight and I happily fed her some dinner!
More Later....
Jan (akaCharlie)
Walt, Susie, Judy, and Steve
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Jan and Mike
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... 010789.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Day 1, Saturday 5/26:
We met up with all but Steve at Reagan/National and had good flights through Miami. As soon as we see Susie at the airport Mike & I are "attacked with hugs"!! She is wound up and ready to go!!! Susie loves to fly, and enjoys looking out the window the whole time. We waited to be last off of the plane in STT because of Susie & her fear of steps, wise move. My nephew had arrived about 1-1/2hrs before us and had just gotten his luggage. The conveyor belt was broken and he said it was a crazed free for all. Fortunately the belt started working and we got our luggage, a private cab, and were hoping for the 4pm CA Ferry. But we were told it wasn't running, so on to Red Hook. We got in line for tickets at 4:40 and finally got tickets at 5:50, there was no 5pm ferry so we were all on the 6pm ferry, which was overflowing. What is going on with the ferry system???
We arrived on STJ and she looked beautiful.................warm and inviting, just like going home. Us girls stayed with the luggage and the DSJ rep while the guys got the jeeps from Donald Schnell. Mike & I had the same Wrangler we had rented from him back in December; that was pretty cool. An easy trip up to Cocotier, which is right off of Gift Hill Rd. A quick tour, assigning of bedrooms, and our crew is ready for dinner. Susie loves her bedroom/bathroom suite & her bedspread was covered with palm trees!!
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Judy & I made a dash down to Dolphin for must have groceries while the guys heated up frozen Sloppy Joes brought from home. We enjoy a pretty sunset, a much-anticipated swim in the pool, and a good nights sleep. The crickets and tree frogs were singing, it's so familiar and intoxicating...........lulls us right to sleep!
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... G_0160.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
View from Cocotier
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Day 2, Sunday 5/27:
After breakfast and some effort to get the troops moving, we are finally off to Hawksnest. There was a "power swim" that day from Maho to Hawksnest and we must have hit at the wrong time. The parking lot was overflowing, cars parked all up and down the road. So a sure bet was Maho, and it was WONDERFUL! No crowd, the water temp was great, and we all enjoyed a good swim. Susie is so excited she can't stand it. "Look at the Palm Trees" she kept saying over and over again. She couldn't get over the fact that she could see her feet while in deep water! At some point while her and I are playing in the water she tells me that she loves me, never said that before. Okay...........so there were also a few tears shed on this trip. Susie is just so special to me. First grandchild in the family and I was only 9 when she was born. She really is the little sister that I never had. She's a 42-year-old "child at heart" kind of gal.
Jan & Susie @ Maho
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Lunch is at Island Blues, they never disappoint with the food. We had Black & Blue Burgers, Chicken Fingers, Chicken/Pesto Quesidilla, Chicken Enchilada Special, Salad; it was ALL GOOD...........rave reviews all around. We sat down by the water and enjoyed a nice breeze. Judy & I head to do the serious grocery shopping while the others go back to the villa and nap. Prices seem about the same as last December, good selection of produce at Dolphin. Never made it to Starfish this trip. Next we're off to The Beach Bar for the Forum gathering and some good jazz. WOW, was it HOT. No breeze and hot sun and high humidity. We met up with some of the gang, but didn't stay long. My family was not overly social, Mike was not feeling well, and I was just too hot. I APOLOGIZE for not hanging out and meeting everyone, very disappointing. So many folks that I wanted to meet and it didn't happen; that was my loss, a real bummer. Dinner was steak on the grill, no one ate much we were just too hot & full from lunch. Bed came early to our group Sunday night.
Day 3, Monday 5/28 (Memorial Day)
Mike & I are used to grabbing our coffee, and heading to the beaches early. It's about the only "real" plan we have while on Island. The beaches are deserted in the morning and it's much more quiet and peaceful. But this group is serious about breakfast and slow in packing up their stuff. So by the time we got to Cinnamon it was almost lunchtime and fairly crowded. We had a good day there and my nephew and brother in law got in some snorkeling. Mike & I played with Susie in the water; we are having a great time with her. She is so sweet and appreciative of all we do. She gets to ride up front in our jeep most of the days and she is so busy pointing out this and that! She LOVED the wildlife! We swam in the pool when we got home while Judy made "Chicken Parmesan" for dinner.
Jan & Susie
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267 ... edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
We spent most of our evenings watching the sunset, swimming in the pool, and hanging outside talking.............or reading! Walt was on a marathon; think he broke a record. We all enjoyed some good books, swapped some out with the villa collection. A resident cat showed up tonight and I happily fed her some dinner!
More Later....
Jan (akaCharlie)
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Kentuckygirl
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obsessedmuch
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cypressgirl
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Jan&MikeVa
- Posts: 1084
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:32 pm
- Location: The Chesapeake Bay
Thanks guys for all your kind words and encouragement. The vacation afterglow is lasting an extra long time from this trip. So many times a day I get a really big smile on my face. I've envisioned Susie into something back on the island....it's pretty cool. 
Hey RickG no, no I'm sorry that is OUR house!! Don't I wish........
Oh and we didn't see a cooler with your name on it, a couple of big blue Colemans though.
Jan (akaCharlie)
Hey RickG no, no I'm sorry that is OUR house!! Don't I wish........
Oh and we didn't see a cooler with your name on it, a couple of big blue Colemans though.
Jan (akaCharlie)
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howie's sunshine
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:44 am
Hey Girl,
Great report so far glad you had such a great time with susie.give mike my love and I will talk to you soon.
love cindy
love cindy