USVI-On-Line

Augie, what a fantastic post.

STJ trips are like snowflakes -- no two are alike!

For me, each trip is filled with repeat pilgrimages to favorite spots, but like djmom, we try to do one thing we hadn't done before.

Our first trip was filled with "must-sees", which was exciting, but kind of exhausting. It's all my fault -- there were so many beaches I wanted to see that I divided up each day into two beaches -- morning and afternoon!! The benefit was that we really got a pretty good feel for lots of the island on that first trip. The drawback was that I felt like some kind of crazy beach vagabond.

Now that we're planning our sixth trip in 4 years, our only job on vacation is to fall deeper in love with STJ every time. Which is a pretty easy task to accomplish.

whew...OK...so after reading this I now have the following items added to my must-do list for my next 7-day trip:

Miss Vie's
Candi's BBQ
Uncle Joes's BBQ
rent a dighy
buy some greens (even if I don't like to eat them)
snorkel Waterlemon
Woody's
get on 1st name basis with at least one bartender
make it to Lameshur
make it to Blue Cobblestone
hike Ram's Head
see the petroglyphs
hike the Reef Bay trail
do more soul searching

Oh Crap...I hate you guys now... hahahaha

Seriously though...I get all your comments and have now scratched pretty much everything off the list!

Great post...

I've been to ST J 25-30 times since the late 70's and the only 'must' each time is applying sunblock!

What a great post.

I have internally in my mind tagged this trip "The Stress Reduction Tour" so the only thing on my "to do" list is White Bay, JVD. besides that, whatever else happens or doesn't happen will be just perfect.

I love to read the trip reports and always think how if I did one it would probably be boring.

We are ready for wheels up next week so thanks again to the entire forum for such great info.

Splash

I made it to the petroglyphs last time (Check) and will get to Jost this time (check)

I want to buy greens
I'd like to hit the beach in the morning

Mostly, this will be a different trip because, for the first time, the older child will be joining us. I'm prepared to do whatever she wants and let her explore. I'm antsy as it is, so this will give me an adventure companion.

But, as many have said, it's what you make of it. In 3 trips, our friend CB has never made it farther west that Little Maho. She's happy as a clam about that

We are leaving tomorrow and have absolutely nothing planned except for a boat day with Captain Brandi and the Ayers, and to probably go to the Beach Bar forum gathering on Sunday.

I'm looking forward to some quality chillaxing time on the deck of our villa, maybe a couple of dinners out, and hopefully lots of decent snorkeling. That's it!

John and I do always try and visit one new-to-us beach per trip. I have a couple of out of the way candidates in mind, so we will see!

liamsaunt I hope you and John have a wonderful trip. I look forward to your trip reports and photos. Enjoy!

This has been such a joy to read- As I think to my to do list for July - It includes hopefully a spotted ray but if it doesn' happen I will see plenty of other cool things!!! I am with Gromit I am at total peace with who I am on the island. Thankfully my husband gets it too.

Our to-do list has always been short. Lately it has included a dive boat. We took our first certification two years ago and got hooked. The water, companionship, challenge and marine life keep us coming back. Coming back to STJ and coming back to the dive boat.

As far as other activities, we like the idea of doing all the things there are to do there. We also like the idea of doing little or nothing while we recharge the batteries of life. Since we spent all that time and money getting to STJ, it seems to be a shame to waste our time sitting and reading when we could be out there doing the uniquely STJ things.

We got hooked on STJ and diving. We plan our year around when we can come back. We have been to STT numerous times and STJ together twice (the third coming a month from today) and she has been twice more with SOTB. This year we have the trip next month, a week in STT in September and she has her 3rd SOTB in November.

We have several things on our STJ Bucket List. There are beaches we haven't snorkeled and dive sites we haven't seen. The Rhone will get checked off in about 5 weeks. She went with SOTB last year, but we get to go together this time.

There is one other thing we talked about during one trip. We were sitting on Hawksnest vegging out and watching the waves, boats and birds. She asked me, "Is this your favorite beach?"

I said, "It's one of them."

She replied, "Good. This is where I plan on scattering your ashes."

I don't think she has any immediate plans for checking that off, but it is good to know that I get to spend Eternity there on Hawksnest.

I don't know what it is about that "One Particular Harbour" that has gotten a hold of us. There is something mysterious, magical, and therapeutic that surrounds us when we smell that air at the airport. It follows us onto the ferry and on to the villa. We find the food tastier, the colors more vivid, the sun warmer, and the relationships stronger. It is finalized by the very real sense of grief that we feel as we watch the island get smaller as we sail away. That grief is tempered and lessened by the realization that we can and probably will have a next trip.

Whether you fill the days with activities, practicing 12 ounce curls on a favorite bar stool, or gazing at the horizon on a deserted beach, this is a place where you can do it.

JIM

We to always made a "to do" list.

One thing that was never on the list but we did do was make great friends for life!

After we made our 1st trip to STJ we would have never thought that we would be spending our 11th trip renting a villa with 6 other people that we have met multiple times on previous trips.

So varying from your "to do" list can be a good thing.

Great post!
Thanks Buddy

Well, after giving it a lot of thought, we have concluded that we will try to hike every trail, rent a dinghy, go to at least 2 other islands, see the Baths, see the Indians, snorkel 'till we drop, try every new bar and drink on 3 islands, eat in every new eatery, listen to every band playing, make it to every forum get together, shop every shop, .....

Yeah, right. Now for the real plan. The plan is there is no plan. Plans? We don't have no plans. We don't need no stinkin' plans!

My trips are so different then most I will work for a friend most days for a couple hours It brings me back to my senses as why I couldn't live in my favorite place then the rest of the day is spent just letting the island bring that quiet back to my life that is needed.

We are cooking dinner right now and so enjoying reading about everyone's must-dos and not-so-much-dos.

Our upcoming trip with be stripped down and wonderful for us. No vehicle and no plans except beach all day and dinner somewhere.

'cept we need to visit all the historical sites as the little guy is all about pirates, all the time. Any stone structure is pirate as far as he is concerned.

He is wearing the Capt'n Jack outfit right now and acting out Pirates of the Caribbean. Anyone visiting the beginning of July, keep your eyes out for the pirate. Gymnastica knows what I am talking about!