6/21-6/28 Trip Report Part 5 (final)

[sherban]

TR Part 1 link: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... php?t=7825
TR Part 2 Link: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... php?t=7833
TR Part 3- http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... php?t=7850
TR Part 4- http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... php?t=7879

photos: http://s240.photobucket.com/albums/ff71/sherb/

I gotta finish this report up so here goes.

HIKING- We did two hikes on this trip, one was from our Villa (C-Tarn) down Johns Head Road to Cinnamon Beach, then up the Cinnamon Bay Trail (not the loop but the one that goes from North Shore Road to Ceneterline Road...this was, altogether, near two hours of exploring. The cinnamon Bay Trail is nice, shaded and not too steep...the beginning is pretty steep and there are a couple other parts where we huffed and puffed a little but it is intermediate difficulty at most. Here's a couple pics from the trail (although it is mostly wooded with minimal view):




The second hike I went on was the Johnny Horn Trail and then the Brown Bay Trail...I really wanted to see the view from the Ruins above Waterlemon (boys home, I think), as well as the ruins closer to the water there (guard house?)...the upper ruins which I believe are the boys home ruins, are awesome and if I had known this I would have packed a lunch and some beverages for an awesome picnic. There is a picnic table up there overlooking the bay...
...sweet view!---

and the place I would love to picnic.....

The walk up to the ruins was fun ...a little strenuous but not too bad...worth the VIEW!!!
Then we headed on to Brown Bay trail (I had read there are some Conchs there)...found the brown bay trail marked by a metal "post" with labels on it about ~ .8 miles after the top ruins, hang a left onto the brown bay trail, past all the clothes in the trees (were told by other hikers that alot of refugees or immagrants come through here and leave their stuff...don't know if I believe it) and on down to brown bay (AKA Neptune's Lair)---you can't miss it...just follow the conch shells!.....
the bad news is that "the chop" was up in the bay so I chose not to snorkel, my freind Doug did and he said visibility wasn't very good I found some ruins down there behind the left side of the beach that were cool... Then we had a pretty good downpour of rain...who cares?.....

This hike was fun, would liked to have snorkeled Brown Bay if it had been calm...the Ruins above waterlemon get two thumbs way up.

WRAP UP & CLOSING COMMENTS:
Again- sincere thanks to all who helped me with my endless research of STJ, this is an awesome forum for sure. I found STJ to be a place of immense beauty (as most do), I tried to greet everyone with a "Good Morning" or "Good afternoon" and was treated well by those folks on island I interacted with. WE didn't do alot of dining out because my buddy and I both are OK with cooking so we brought some frozen meat and bought about $300 worth of groceries on Island(s)...and another $200 worth of beer . We went out a few times and had good times each time we went...the laid back culture there is great for "unplugging". We found Catherineberg a great place to stay with a million dollar view, Cinnamon Tarn was a hit with the group. My wife would have appreciated AC in the house a couple nights and I think she also wants more civilisation/action on our next island...that's just her. Staying with five adults worked out fine...no meltdowns, privacy has it's value but sharing with friends (and sharing costs)has value too. We have wonderful memories from our trip to STJ and I would go back in a New York minute...anyday! Oh yeah, the best part about leaving our kids with grandma and grandpa was going home to see them and give them a huge hug (the kind where you want to squeeze their souls into yours and feel their wamth penetrate yours. This gives me something to want to come home to and reduces the vacation ending blues (I had none because I was so happy to be with our kids again).
In closing, stealing the words of JMH, the beauty of St John is "Bold as Love" and, yes..."Blue are the life giving waters taken for granted"...go see them soon!
Cheers- Sherb

[RickG]

Come back soon!

Cheers, RickG

[waterguy]

Thanks for the report.

[Pia]

So glad you had a great trip and thanks for taking the time to do a trip report

As far as the illegals getting dropped off at Brown Bay that is correct - huge amount of traffic comes in there from time to time, although it has been quiet lately

Pia

[brenda]

Nice report, Sherban. Thanks for posting.

[Maggy]

Thanks for your reports and pictures. Appreciated the information about hiking. Glad you had such a great time. STJ is really a beautiful island.

[soxfan22]

You're a good guy Sherban...Nice comments about coming home to the kids. When the kids are healthy and happy, life is perfect, no matter where you are.

And thanks for the tip on the picnic table on Johnnny Horne...How far up that trail is that picnic table/ruin area from the waterlemon coast. We're definitely gonna take you up on your picnic idea next week (but we probably won't continue on to Brown Bay)!

Thanks again

[sherban]

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments, is was fun.


Soxfan- There are two sets of ruins above Waterlemon...the path up the hill is on the other side of the beach (right side looking out from the beach)it goes up the hill to the right and is pretty obvious...the first set of ruins is at the top of the first hill, straight up (maybe ~100yds), the second set of ruins is maybe another ~150 yds up the hill and the trail to the second set of ruins (the ones with the picnic table) is a bit more obscured but not too hard to find. The trail for the top ruins goes off to the left right about when the trail levels out...I'm pretty sure it's all uphill until then and once it levels out start looking for a trail off to the left, then it's another ~ 40 yards until you will see the stone stairs up to the ruins...have fun and enjoy that view!

[liamsaunt]

I am glad that you had a good trip, and that you (mostly) liked Cinnamon Tarn. I'll have to think about trying that trail next time...the views look amazing. I also must comment that your kids are adorable.

So, do you think you'll be back? Or will you try a new island first?

PS: I don't get the post-vacation blues either. I just come home and start planning the next vacation.

[sherban]

Liamsaunt- Thanks for your kindness...we loved CT it's a great villa, AC in BRs and a pool would have made it perfect. Next time I'll steal your week at La Mer . Actually, if I were to book another week today it would probably be Reef Madness...

I think my wife wants more "people/party action" at our next destination...she would actually like STT better than STJ is my guess. She was glad to have acy cold AC, a cold beer, hot wings and some rock-n-roll at Hooters on STT on our way back.

I'll be back to STJ, it is awesome, but it will probably be a few years...

Cheers!

[msgcolleen]

Loved your son with the tie! How did you do that?

Thanks for the awesome report. You must go back soon!

Cheers~ Colleen

[sherban]

msgcolleen- Thanks, the funny thing is that my son is into wearing ties when he wants to impress...this is no doings of mine (it is so cute that he takes himself serious like this). He has done this on special occaisions at school...That picture was on my birthday and he wore the tie on his own accord to show his sincerity in the event. We went to a Japaneese hibachi style restaurant that night (they always love those) and then we took them to B&N and let them split a moccha-latte...they were jacked up!!...it was hilarious. And no we're not bad parents...we don't even let them drink soda with caffeine...but this was a rare occaision, we decided worthy of an adult pleasure. Like most parents, I feel lucky/blessed to have these kids.
Have a great day- sherb