Trip Report From Bert!! Day 9 The End.....

[CariBert]

Last Entry...Star Date Seven Fifteen Twenty Oh Eight...Bummer
All good things must come to an end. We all have been there, the last full day on Island. It could shape up to be a major bummer. But we had other plans. As stated before, Gibney is our favorite beach, and since we had a friend staying there, we thought we would grab a little brunch and head over there. Of course the morning routine was pretty much the same, get up, go on the deck have coffee, feed the little demanding birds their sugar......I swear, they must have been cops in a former life, all I needed was a Duncan Donuts sign to hang on the deck. There was one lone little Banaquit wanna-be....he jumped right in there and ate the sugar and acted like he belonged, but I never saw a solid black Banaquit before:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ne ... YhCI"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SLBUGx5N ... 8.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/S ... lPYhCI">St John Day 10</a>

Off we went to Deli Grotto to pick up our fresh baked bread for the Mimosa Brunch:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I3 ... tomA"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJYmOy93 ... o.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/T ... omA">Three Days at Gibney WIth Mags</a>

I popped the cork on the Champaign:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6r ... tomA"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJYmNCfI ... 1.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/T ... omA">Three Days at Gibney WIth Mags</a>

And we absolutely enjoyed ourselves!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-A ... tomA"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJYmOS8c ... y.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/T ... omA">Three Days at Gibney WIth Mags</a>

After brunch, we decided we needed some beach time
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UQ ... tomA"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJYl__Jo ... s.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/T ... omA">Three Days at Gibney WIth Mags</a>

A little Gibney water time:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n3 ... tomA"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJYl_DMi ... 5.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/T ... omA">Three Days at Gibney WIth Mags</a>

I don't know if any of you have seen inside the Gibney Cottage, but here are a few shots I took while we were there. It really is a very nice place! And right on the beach!!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Rr ... tomA"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJYmIBnq ... a.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/T ... omA">Three Days at Gibney WIth Mags</a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X2 ... tomA"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJYmJW0s ... a.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/T ... omA">Three Days at Gibney WIth Mags</a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZN ... tomA"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJYmL49b ... 9.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/T ... omA">Three Days at Gibney WIth Mags</a>

Pretty soon, it was time to pack up and say our good byes. Dam I hate that part...
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lE ... MiSI"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SLAzTnT0 ... 5.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/S ... DfMiSI">St John Day 9</a>

We went back to the villa, packed, had some pool time, more adult beverages (of course) and then we tried to down all the left overs we had from our previous meals. It was a solemn time we spent that evening.
The next day, we were up early. Our flight out was pretty early so we had to catch the 10:00ish ferry to Red Hook. We went back to Deli Grotto for some breakfast:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FL ... YhCI"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SLBUL59v ... 6.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/S ... lPYhCI">St John Day 10</a>

It was very good!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cp ... YhCI"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SLBUfAHP ... 4.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/S ... lPYhCI">St John Day 10</a>

But soon, we were on the ferry...
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ab ... YhCI"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SLBUi5v4 ... 0.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/S ... lPYhCI">St John Day 10</a>

On our way to the airport and the flight home. One last Bushwhacker:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1r ... YhCI"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SLBUjcl5 ... 1.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/S ... lPYhCI">St John Day 10</a>

As many of you saw, thanks to Ruth, who is pretty quick on the camera trigger, my parting shot from the ferry dock:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZA ... YhCI"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SLBUgfbQ ... 6.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/S ... lPYhCI">St John Day 10</a>

Sorry it has taken so long to finish this report, but those people at work actually expect me to do some! But, we are planning our return trip! It won't be long before we are standing here waiting to go to St. John!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/q7 ... YhCI"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SLBUZ4lo ... 7.JPG"></a>
From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/S ... lPYhCI">St John Day 10</a>

Thank you for your indulgence, and allowing me to relive this trip on the board! Til next time...
-Bert

[stjdeb]

Your WOW was very sad indeed (she says wiping a lone tear from the corner of her eye!). But glad the next trip is in the planning stages. I'm so far out for our trip,(sighing & pouting) although we did pass an important mile marker, there is less time ahead of us now, rather than behind for our last WOW. Does that make any sense at all?

[Gromit]

I loved the pouts!! It's how we ALL feel when we do the dreaded WOW.

Thanks for the fab report and the peek inside Gibney cottage!

[Anthony]

Bert it was great to meet you and your lovely wife. Thanks for the reports and all the great photos. (And for all the purchases you have made from Caribmart over the years).

A question - what was with all those table tags?

And - that is not Champagne! That is sparkling wine!

This is Champagne:

http://gallery.me.com/anthonyfinta#1000 ... &view=grid

[CariBert]

Bert it was great to meet you and your lovely wife. Thanks for the reports and all the great photos. (And for all the purchases you have made from Caribmart over the years).

A question - what was with all those table tags?

And - that is not Champagne! That is sparkling wine!

This is Champagne:

http://gallery.me.com/anthonyfinta#1000 ... &view=grid

Good one Anthony! I use the term "champaign" in the generic sense, like "coke'....sorry, I should have known someone with your expertise in wine would catch that!

It was great meeting you too, and I look forward to seeing you and all my friends again...soon...on the Island!

And lastly....I don't have a clue about those tags...they just showed up! I didn't do it on purpose!

Take care my friend..until next time!

-Bert

[California Girl]

Dear Mr. Pouty Face - LOL! I sat at that very same table at Deli Grotto! Makes me a little verklempt.

Great report Bert! Thanks!

[Diana2]

Good report, Bert. The solid colored 'quit' that you saw was probably a grass quit. They love sugar too and there are lots of them around STJ. They have a little different voice/song than a banana quit.

[hugo]

Bird ID: Not a grassquit, but a Lesser Antillian bulllfinch. Came into the VI by a "range extension" from the Leeward Islands in the '80's. Guess they have a "diet extension " now too, since they are supposed to be crunchy seed eaters (note the heavy-duty beak) not sugar-addict nectar sippers like the bananaquits.

[brenda]

Thanks Bert!!! I loved your entire report and pictures. I'm sorry to see it end .

[CariBert]

Bird ID: Not a grassquit, but a Lesser Antillian bulllfinch. Came into the VI by a "range extension" from the Leeward Islands in the '80's. Guess they have a "diet extension " now too, since they are supposed to be crunchy seed eaters (note the heavy-duty beak) not sugar-addict nectar sippers like the bananaquits.

hugo...I am impressed! Where were you when I had all those questions about the flora and fauna?? I need your help, buddy, when I am writing about these things of which I know very little!

Thanks for your help, and I'll try not to be too jealous of you living there....while I'm not.....

-Bert

[greyhoundmom]

Bert, many thanks for letting me revisit my vacation through your trip report. Your postings and pictures were wonderful and you all looked like you had an amazing time! Appreciate all of your time and effort in bringing it to the forum.

Jan

[mbw1024]

Bert, sorry to see your story end! Thanks for the pic's and the report. Enjoyed it.

[pjayer]

Bert (aka Mr. Pouty-Face), loved all your reports and pictures. We wondered what the black birds were who joined the banaquits. So, now we know. Thanks for your reports. I'm sorry to see them end, too.

And, we see you sneaking a smooch from Mag. Trying to get a personal invite to the cottage? (Can't say I blame you. Anything to get back to STJ! If it would get me ticket, I'd kiss her, too. )

[Diana2]

hugo, thanks for the bird id. All this time I've been calling them grass quits. I'll look closer at their beaks next time I see one.

[Pickle]

Ahhh, I miss Gibney. It's my favorite beach also. Nice to see the inside of the cottage. Thank you for the photos... and the pouts and all the reports!