USVI-On-Line

GOOD MORNING, VIOL! (i.e. Robin Williams) We've been really lazy this week. Not much snorkeling, but lots of relaxing on the beach, floating in the water and eating good food. I really have moved out of my beach chair a few times when my STJ Summer Ale was empty.

If any forumites with teens are on STJ and read this, S.O.S. Hayer is missing her friends in a bad way. No whining or pouting....she's a great traveler. But if you'd be willing to share your teen for a few hours, please pm me. I believe a few hours with someone her own age might cure what ails her.

Here's my question for the STJ experts today. If you snorkel from Chocolate Hole to Devers Bay, is there a place at Devers where someone can park and pick you up? And, how do you get the Devers by car? Thanks!

B&J in VA wrote:Sounds like a nice trip so far. I just looked at the SeaScape villa web site and it looks like one we might be interested in. The pool looks awesome - I love to swim laps and not many villas come with such a nice big pool. It sounds like only the master BR has air and not the guest cottage - is that correct? How are the views out to sea?
We have upgraded to 1st class a few times and it spoils you forever!
Enjoy your trip.

B&J in VA: The guest cottage does have A/C and the views are great. I'll do a villa report when we're home. Haven't even been in the pool, but it is good size. It's a very functional villa, but it is older. I'm not sure, but I believe it may have been Oppenheimer's second home.

Love it, love it, love it.

Thanks for taking the time to do this!

It's time for your mid-afternoon STJ update.

Few spotty showers this morning, but we headed off for Gibney/Oppenheimer, but first a stop at Grotto Deli for lunch sandwiches and salad. The ladies had the Veggie Sandwich and I had the Greek Salad with Chicken. Umm Umm Good.

Gibney (foreground)/Oppenheimer (distance)


Iz that seclusion or what? A few people and a few sailboats did show up later in the morning, but it was very nice and peaceful.

Oppenheimer House


I think back on Oppenheimer, Teller and the others invovled in the Manhattan Project and St John just seems so far away from such destructive forces.

After lunch back to the villa for some gravity time, but first our friends the Bananaquits and others need to be fed.

Eating sugar right out of the bowl


Finally, it may not be Friday but here is your beach picture for Tuesday

Cinnamon Bay Monday 7/28/08


Later

The Wednesday update follows:

Woke to an overcast sky with a great deal of haze. This was our day with Capt John Brandi of Palm Treed Charters. Met him at the NPS Dock at 8:30 and off we went. As we cruised the North Shore Beaches it was clear there was a strong Northeast breeze making the water relatively choppy which was accompanied by an extreme amount of haze (later attributed to Saharan Dust).

We first stopped at Waterlemon where the ladies did an extended snorkel around the Cay. They reported they saw some interesting sights, but thought their snorkel at The Indians last summer was better.

We then headed over to Tortola to check in with BVI Immigrations, which was a breeze. Next it was on to Smugglers Cove to have one of Steven's wonderful drinks. Personally, I favor the BBC, but you can't miss with whatever you get.

Steven mixing up a BBC


After a leisurely time on the beach and in the water we headed off for Jost Van Dyke to have lunch at Foxy's. We had been to Foxy's Taboo on Diamond Bay last year, but this time we wanted to go to the Original Foxy's.

As we were docking I discovered this for you Jerry Seinfeld fans.


We found a table with a breeze at Foxy's and were just talking about Foxy when all of a sudden, he just appeared. Having never met him we were somewhat taken by his storyteling, particularly about American politics and the current presidential race. He was quite a card.

The Man Himself-Foxy


Speaking of Foxy's Taboo, while we were there we also met Taboo (the big black lab). He was quite a treat.

Also while we were eating another gentleman came strolling in with a backpack over his shoulder and Capt John says, "That is Ivan." We said, "Who?". He then told us it was Ivan who owned Ivan's Stress Free Bar at White Bay. He sat down at the bar and had lunch. What are the chances of having two of JVD's most famous entrepreneurs in the same restaurant at the same time. Apparently, quite good, if you're lucky.

Ivan


After a great lunch and seeing two local celebreties it was time to move on to our final destination, White Bay and The Soggy Dollar. To our surprise there were more boats and more people there today than there were last year at this time and in April when we stopped by with Capt John from our cruise ship.

The Soggy Dollar


Mic was on duty and the Painkillers were flowing. But since we weren't in a great deal of pain, we left some for the next group to follow us down. The ladies did enjoy some conch fritters and declared them worthy of being eaten.

We always love going to White Bay, if not for the drinks for the beautiful beach and the great fun.

White Bay


As we headed back to STJ it was clear the haze had moved further north, but was clearing to the south, so hopefully tomorrow will bring us another haze-free day.

Tonight we returned to The Lime Inn. As I said Monday night, you just can't go wrong at the Lime Inn.

Later

Hope to meet you when I arrive on STJ on Friday. Maybe the BB on Sunday.

Sorry we will be leaving on Saturday, but if we could get together on Friday evening that would be great.

I most likely will beon the 5 o'clok ferry from STT. Let me know where you would like to meet. The BB would be good and then maybe dinner. When I get in from the ferry I'm heading up to my lodgings and could be back into town by 7 or so.

Silverheels - I pm'd you. HOpe you get it before you leave. Safe travels.

Thursday, July 31 On St. John:

Went to Maho today. This was the first day we had clouds nearly all day long. On the way out we stopped at Deli Grotto (is there a pattern developing here?). Actually their food is so good one could almost eat it three times a day and not get tired of it.

Maho on Thursday


Stayed at Maho 3-4 hours and did some snorkeling. The water is not as clear as it was last year, by did see some interesting sights. Another perfectly wonderful day on the beach (except for the clouds).


These underwater shots are for Mike in MS:






Back to the villa to get ready for some shopping and dinner. Went by the Beach Bar after shopping and who should show up to moor his boat but Capt John Brandi.
Had a round with Capt John then on to dinner at The Banana Deck. Very good waiter by the name of Josh from Wilmington, NC

The Banana Deck at night


Tomorrow, our last full day (sniff, sniff), we are off to Salt Pond and possibly Drunk Bay.

Later.

bayer40601 wrote:These underwater shots are for Mike in MS:

I'm dyin' here!

Love the night shot at the Banana Deck!

This will be our last "sort of live" report as we have to take the big bird back to the States tomorrow .

But, what a great way to start out our last day on STJ. We found a rainbow this morning just off our balcony. pj thought it was a sign that we needed to stay another week, but I'm not so sure,


We decided to spend our last day on the Coral Bay side for at least two (maybe three) reasons. We needed to exchange a shirt at Sloop Jones, we wanted to go to Salt Pond Bay and most of all we wanted to have lunch at Shipwreck Landing again. The food and service on Monday was so good we wanted to try it out again.

Got to Salt Pond Bay and found just a very few people around, much like other beaches we have visited this week.


After some snorkeling, pj and I decided to walk over to Drunk Bank and upon arrival we were greeted by the "coral people" in all states of dress and undress.


Drunk Bay


We also learned that Drunk Bay is not a place you want to swim as the waves were breaking big time.


On the way back to Salt Pond Bay we noticed that Salt Pond was a very eery reddish tint and smelled distinctly of hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs),


On getting back to the Bay we packed up the gear and headed to Shipwreck Landing. As I mentioned on Monday and earlier in this post, we really enjoyed the food and the service. One of the best restaurants we have eaten at on this trip.


pj had the curry nut crusted grouper which she pronounced worthy of "two thumbs up."


Headed back to the vila for some down time. I went to Connections to print our boarding passes and get the car cleaned up.

After dinner tonight it's back for the dreaded task of packing up for the "walk of gloom" in the morning, I am going to take the position that the sooner we get home, the sooner we can plan our next STJ trip. Not sure pj will buy that logic, but what else is a guy to do? At least tomorrow we can look forward to Rachel meeting us at the RH Ferry Terminal.

We hope you have enjoyed these reports. We have enjoyed writing them. After we get back home pj will be writing up a more extensive Trip Report (hopefully without the underwater pictures so Mike will read it.)

Later. Peace.

"pj had the curry nut crusted grouper which she pronounced worthy of 'two thumbs up.' "

PJ, I told you that was delicious!
-Ruth

Had a great trip, thunder, lightning and rain all night last night (some storm) and all, made it home tonight at 11:00 pm.