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I think I really fixed it now! 2nd-Time Trip Report Day 5
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Rebecca in NOVA
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:47 am
- Location: No. VA
I think I really fixed it now! 2nd-Time Trip Report Day 5
St. John Trip Report Day 5: Wed. June 4
(I'm pretty sure my one-half numeral was screwing up the Web posting magic. Here goes...)
Toddler is up at 5:30 again and we are to Maho Bay by 8.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80956522@N00/2726674479/" title="IMG_2656 by Rebecca Johnson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/272 ... 71f1c8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2656"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80956522@N00/2727499466/" title="IMG_2670 by Rebecca Johnson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/272 ... 6dfe29.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2670"></a>
We wanted to hit this beach because we didn’t make it there on the last trip and we heard it’s good for kids with shallow water and gentle waves. Both were true and Toddler really enjoyed getting into the water on his own. At one point a coconut floated by and he thought it made the best beach toy.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80956522@N00/2727499770/" title="IMG_2719 by Rebecca Johnson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/272 ... 632482.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2719"></a>
There wasn’t much to see snorkel-wise. There were some schools of fish and big fish all the way to the right of the bay, but we didn’t see much in the grassy middle. Grandma got in to do some snorkeling and didn’t see much either. We at least got our requisite snorkeling gear picture, though.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80956522@N00/2726674765/" title="IMG_2701 by Rebecca Johnson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/272 ... 68bff4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2701"></a>
We headed back to the villa about 11:30, took naps, then Husband and I skipped the pool and did an afternoon outing to Waterlemon while Grandma and Toddler stayed home.
It was a longish walk from the ruins parking lot all the way around to the point closest to the cay – probably took us a half hour. It was pretty, but also hot. We saw a mother donkey and its baby, which was cute. They were a little ways off the trail and were wary of us, but didn’t take off.
We donned our gear and very carefully picked our way around the sea urchins. Unfortunately the water was pretty choppy and the visibility not great. We snorkeled all around the cay and saw nice stuff but nothing exceptional, except on the far side Husband saw a shark! I was close by but missed it. He said it was black on top and definitely not a nurse shark. It kind of freaked him out, so he wasn’t willing to go look for it with me.
We hauled ourselves up onto the cay for a little break, which I definitely needed after swimming that far in the less-than-gentle waves. It was a little difficult to figure out how to get on and off the beach and avoid the urchins. On the way back to the shore we saw a turtle and followed it a while.
Then we walked back around to the beach and snorkeled over the grass. We saw 3 different turtles and lots of rays, including some really big ones. Then we saw a dozen really big, puffy starfish in varying shades of red, orange and yellow. So cool! We took pictures of them with our disposable underwater cameras, but of course they are the pits. Another person on the beach commented that she had never seen so many starfish together in one place. Husband also saw some baby barracudas.
If I go back, I may just skip the trip around the cay and stick with the grassy area snorkeling.
We left Waterlemon about 5:30 and picked up BBQ ribs & chicken from Candi’s on the way home. We all liked it.
Toddler and Grandma didn’t get in the pool in the afternoon, so we all got in after dinner. It was fun to look at the moon & stars while we were swimming and the water felt very warm after those couple of hot sunny days.
Another great day, but a little sad since we know we’re on the downhill slide toward the end of our week.
Rebecca in No. VA
(I'm pretty sure my one-half numeral was screwing up the Web posting magic. Here goes...)
Toddler is up at 5:30 again and we are to Maho Bay by 8.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80956522@N00/2726674479/" title="IMG_2656 by Rebecca Johnson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/272 ... 71f1c8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2656"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80956522@N00/2727499466/" title="IMG_2670 by Rebecca Johnson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/272 ... 6dfe29.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2670"></a>
We wanted to hit this beach because we didn’t make it there on the last trip and we heard it’s good for kids with shallow water and gentle waves. Both were true and Toddler really enjoyed getting into the water on his own. At one point a coconut floated by and he thought it made the best beach toy.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80956522@N00/2727499770/" title="IMG_2719 by Rebecca Johnson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/272 ... 632482.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2719"></a>
There wasn’t much to see snorkel-wise. There were some schools of fish and big fish all the way to the right of the bay, but we didn’t see much in the grassy middle. Grandma got in to do some snorkeling and didn’t see much either. We at least got our requisite snorkeling gear picture, though.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80956522@N00/2726674765/" title="IMG_2701 by Rebecca Johnson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/272 ... 68bff4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2701"></a>
We headed back to the villa about 11:30, took naps, then Husband and I skipped the pool and did an afternoon outing to Waterlemon while Grandma and Toddler stayed home.
It was a longish walk from the ruins parking lot all the way around to the point closest to the cay – probably took us a half hour. It was pretty, but also hot. We saw a mother donkey and its baby, which was cute. They were a little ways off the trail and were wary of us, but didn’t take off.
We donned our gear and very carefully picked our way around the sea urchins. Unfortunately the water was pretty choppy and the visibility not great. We snorkeled all around the cay and saw nice stuff but nothing exceptional, except on the far side Husband saw a shark! I was close by but missed it. He said it was black on top and definitely not a nurse shark. It kind of freaked him out, so he wasn’t willing to go look for it with me.
We hauled ourselves up onto the cay for a little break, which I definitely needed after swimming that far in the less-than-gentle waves. It was a little difficult to figure out how to get on and off the beach and avoid the urchins. On the way back to the shore we saw a turtle and followed it a while.
Then we walked back around to the beach and snorkeled over the grass. We saw 3 different turtles and lots of rays, including some really big ones. Then we saw a dozen really big, puffy starfish in varying shades of red, orange and yellow. So cool! We took pictures of them with our disposable underwater cameras, but of course they are the pits. Another person on the beach commented that she had never seen so many starfish together in one place. Husband also saw some baby barracudas.
If I go back, I may just skip the trip around the cay and stick with the grassy area snorkeling.
We left Waterlemon about 5:30 and picked up BBQ ribs & chicken from Candi’s on the way home. We all liked it.
Toddler and Grandma didn’t get in the pool in the afternoon, so we all got in after dinner. It was fun to look at the moon & stars while we were swimming and the water felt very warm after those couple of hot sunny days.
Another great day, but a little sad since we know we’re on the downhill slide toward the end of our week.
Rebecca in No. VA
Last edited by Rebecca in NOVA on Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Rebecca in NOVA
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:47 am
- Location: No. VA
Agreed there's some stuff there, but in comparison to some of the other beaches I generally rate Maho at the bottom for decent snorkeling.
I love the fact that the sand there is the softest on STJ and feels like superfine sugar beneath your toes!
It's also a great spot to watch the pelicans (or whatever those things are) swoop down and get their fish.
I love the fact that the sand there is the softest on STJ and feels like superfine sugar beneath your toes!
It's also a great spot to watch the pelicans (or whatever those things are) swoop down and get their fish.
*Another fine scatterbrained production
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Rebecca in NOVA
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:47 am
- Location: No. VA