USVI-On-Line

We were so lucky to be able to spend three weeks in St. John at Gallows Point.
We arrived on November 29, and since it was Bob's big 60th birthday we splurged on the Christopher taxi and the Dohms water taxi. It was so cool to head thru the back roads to red hook and get to the water taxi in record time. We were met at the dock by McKenzie and taken to Gallows.

It was a perfect vacation.
We met up with many from the forum, there was a gathering at the beach bar on Sunday and many fellow forumites showed up. Bill & Sandie, Scott & Tracy, Jan & Mike, Mike, Eric & Lois…
Scott and Tracy were with us at Gallows, and we dined with them at the Caneel Monday night buffet (all the Lobster you can eat!), and also at Bill and Sandy's place one night. We hit the Caneel lunch buffet with Bill and Sandy where there is endless food. We love the beach at Caneel, where the snorkeling is fantastic.
It was fun to meet St. John Ruth, and her shop is a must visit. Be sure to buy the bug free patches there – they are just trans-dermal Vitamin B and really work!

The shopping at Starfish was a surprise, it was not as expensive as I thought it would be.
The selection was quite good and adjacent shops fun to visit.

We really liked Cafe Roma and ate there three times, the pizza is amazing.

As to the beaches:
We loved to hang out and snorkel at Gallows, it is one of the few places in St. John where you can just stay and enjoy the water without shlepping your stuff.
That said, we did go to Francis twice and loved it.
We also went to Salt Pond and felt it was not worth the long shlep but did snap pictures of eel, Stingray and grouper.
We spent a morning at honeymoon, very nice, but not much to snorkel about.
and a few days at Caneel always a favorite.

Gallows is great, we were in 4c and could not have been happier. The rooms are spacious and airy, we slept with the louvers open and were lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. It may be the best sleep we have ever had. We met many interesting people staying there, including Libby and Mark, who live a mile from us here in Atlanta, we have seen them twice since we have been home. The staff at Gallows are precious – everyone so helpful and kind.

We spent two days with Captain Phil aboard the wayward sailor (www.waywardsailor.net). It was worth every penny and we will be sure to do it again next year. Captain Phil gets into the water with you and he knows where all the fish live.

Bob had so much fun with his underwater digital camera, and you can see the underwater shots and the pics of our fellow forum buddies at http://www.doppstein.com/stjohn06/.

We took the Charlotte Amalie ferry back and it was very convenient.

We have reservations to return in November for 23 days, and are counting the days until we return. This will be an annual event for us.

Safe travels!
Sharon and Bob

Thanks Bob and Sharon! Great report and your pictures are awesome. The fish ones are like looking through a reef fish book! Octopus, eel, lobster, squid and so many different types of fish. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip!

Thanks for sharing -

Tracy

Thanks for the great trip report and wonderful photos! We've been to Gallows and will return the end of May... I especially loved seeing your photos of our "home away from home."

Thanks Sharon!! I share your devotion to Gallows despite its unfortunate name. We love it and will be checking in in exactly 44 days and 22 hours. I have to say that is the coolest amateur photo of a dining octopus that I have ever seen. That is also the largest one I've ever seen in those waters, but I don't dive, just snorkle. Where was that? Also, If you don't mind my asking, what kind of underwater camera does Bob use? Is it digital?

Oh brutther. Just reread your trip report and I see that you mentioned that it is a digital. Would love to know the make and if he is pleased with it.

I'd love more details on the camera, too! The pictures are great!

Happy Birthday, Bob!!!! We really enjoyed your report and the photos as well. We should start an Atlanta club! Bryon and I live just north of Atlanta in Cumming (Lake Lanier). Sounds like there are a few of us on this forum!

Well well well. YOU did it! Fantastic pic's and a great report. Oh fellow forumites, these folks are the real deal. Had a ball being with them and as they know now we will be with them this Nov/Dec trip. Looking forward to seeing you guys soon. Maybe up here befor Nov??? God bless.....Bill

I loved your report and pictures! Where did you see that octopus? I have never seen one, and I really want to.

Thanks for your trip report and fantastic pictures. Love the octopus pictures; you never know what you'll find when peeking into the reef and rock cavities. Noticed that Bob used a weight belt and the technique to anchor himself while taking the underwater shots. Thank you for sharing.

Great Report guys, Tracie & I really enjoyed our time togther. I know I already mentioned this to you in an email, but those underwater shots are the best I've seen.....absolutely amazing!!

Dear Forum Friends,

To find an Octopus, you look for the "Octopus's garden". They live in coral caves and toss their dirty dishes out the front door. So you see a pile of fresh shells (the garden), and the hole next to it is its home. You have to dive down and look in – usually you see only one eye and a tentacle. If you are lucky, he will be out on a walkabout hunting… then they are spectacular.. changing colors and shapes to try to fool you. The one in this year's pictures was directly in front of unit 4 at Gallows. If you approach the building from the deeper water, you see a chain. Follow it toward shore. It is attached to a pipe. The pipe has some sort of anchor made of cement. Look to your right, and you will see a Sea Fan. Just behind that is the Octopuses Garden.

When we went out with Captain Phil (www.waywardsailor.net) we saw another Octopuses garden and got a nice shot of it.

On a similar note – eels are usually found be watching for grouper (or hinds or graysby) since they follow eels to get morsels they miss. If you see them nosing around a rock – an eel and sometimes an octopus on a walk-about will eventually be seen.

The camera is an Olympus CAMEDIA C-50 in the custom water-proof casing for that camera. It is important to be close to your subject. Never try to zoom as it just can't do it. If closer then 2 feet, I use the Macro setting. The flash is sometimes good – and sometimes it washes out the pic. The hardest thing is learning to aim – you just can not use the screen.. so have to learn to "shoot from the hip". The first day or two is frustrating when you look at your pics and all the fish are cut in two. The picture of the shark is a good example of poor aiming, but I included it anyway since it showed it's size. If it is dusk or dawn – or a cloudy day… few pictures will come out well.

Have fun shooting!
Bob & Sharon

3 WEEKS!!!! 3 WEEKS!!!! OMG!!! How lucky you are!!! And to be at Gallows!! Hey- my husband just turned 60 and how come we didn't go to STJ for 3 weeks??? Ummm...maybe because we still have 16 yr old twin girls??? oh well...someday!!! Maybe when I turn 60!
I loved the snorkeling at Gallows! there was always something to see among the rocks. And like you said, not to have to schlep everything...just stay put for the whole entire day!
We will be staying at Lavender Hill over Spring Break this year. I am hoping to mosey on over to Gallows and go for a snorkel.