17 more days in paradise, final

[liamsaunt]

Part one here: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... 195e371f81

Part two here: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=13072

Part three here: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... 9509837100


Day 15: Slept late: 8:30! Off to the yummy Caneel breakfast. Here's the view:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713760821/" title="Caneel breakfast view by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/371 ... 34534b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Caneel breakfast view"></a>

and then, after a wildlife sighting:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714573652/" title="Caneel deer by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2592/371 ... 2bfc80.jpg" width="500" height="460" alt="Caneel deer"></a>

back to Scott beach, where we were joined by a friend.


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713851499/" title="Scott beach donkey companion by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/371 ... 8022f2.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Scott beach donkey companion"></a>

We grabbed a couple of floaties and headed in. Floaties were in high demand today! People were walking up and down the beach looking for one, and asking people who had them by their chairs to give them up. It really didn’t seem like there were many floaties to be had, not sure why. We floated for a couple of hours, watching the baby turtles munch on the sea grass.


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714679510/" title="Scott turtle surfacing angle by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2481/371 ... 0eae76.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Scott turtle surfacing angle"></a>

We finally gave up the floaties and went in to snorkel the left side of Scott to Cottage Point. It was a pretty good snorkel. Lots of blue tang, Spotted drum:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714594290/" title="Cottage point jackknife fish by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/371 ... 341469.jpg" width="500" height="346" alt="Cottage point jackknife fish"></a>

French angelfish:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713781647/" title="Cottage Point french angelfish and tang by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/371 ... 9995f1.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="Cottage Point french angelfish and tang"></a>

trumpetfish, and a big lobster.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713783253/" title="Cottage Point lobster 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3474/371 ... e22f5a.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Cottage Point lobster 2"></a>

Out around Cottage Point John practically jumped out of the water insisting that he could hear dolphins. I did not see or hear anything. Hmm….

On the way back to shore we found some squid:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713859167/" title="Scott beach squid best by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2421/371 ... 16bb3d.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Scott beach squid best"></a>

and then what I think might be an Atlantic pygmy octopus. It was only about an inch and a half long. Can someone verify my ID here? It’s the first one we’ve found, and they are considered rare.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713849419/" title="Scott atlantic pygmy octopus 3 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3501/371 ... fa51bb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Scott atlantic pygmy octopus 3"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714557302/" title="atlantic pygmy octopus 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/371 ... b48a1e.jpg" width="500" height="346" alt="atlantic pygmy octopus 2"></a>

More turtles:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714585380/" title="Caneel turtle looking by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/371 ... c8a428.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="Caneel turtle looking"></a>

Back to floating, this time with a (plastic) glass of wine. Living the high life, I’m telling you!

Eventually we got cleaned up and went to the Caneel bar for a cocktail. I tried a caipirinaha—never had one before.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714572598/" title="caneel capirinaha by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2675/371 ... 1ac563.jpg" width="500" height="349" alt="caneel capirinaha"></a>

It was good, but one was enough, if you know what I mean!

Caneel sunset:

<<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714582446/" title="caneel sunset 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2557/371 ... ae265c.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="caneel sunset 2"></a>

We decided to taxi into town for dinner. We ended up back at La Tapa. Dinner was good again. We had the sauces con pan (the mango is still my favorite, and I still wish they had better bread). We then had the giant langoustines in mango sauce (yum, especially the heads!), and then a salad of house made mozzarella with jamon Serrano, greens, and grape tomatoes. That was delicious too, but I would have liked a little more tomato. They gave us two. GRAPE tomatoes. Come on, you could have at least spring for that third tomato, La Tapa! Entrees were good, but not quite as good as the other night. I had mahi with a coconut champagne sauce and then John ordered the same pasta I had enjoyed a few nights back. The pasta sauce did not taste as full as it had the other night. I think it had less roasted garlic. Too full for dessert! Back to Caneel for sleep!

Day 16: Last full day. BOO. Oh well, all good things must come to an end, I guess. Back to the Caneel breakfast, yum! The Sahara dust had blown in the night before and it was noticably hotter.

We headed back to Scott again and the snorkeling was as good as always. You can really see the Sahara dust in this photo:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714668520/" title="Scott beach sahara dust 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/371 ... d81983.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Scott beach sahara dust 2"></a>

More turtles:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713868123/" title="Scott turtle rising close up by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/371 ... fce525.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="Scott turtle rising close up"></a>

We were excited to find the tailless ray that lives here!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714678206/" title="Scott tailless ray by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/371 ... 453721.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Scott tailless ray"></a>


The past two times we stayed at Caneel we did not find him. Today was ray convention day, apparently. I have never seen so many rays! They were EVERYWHERE. At one point, there were four swimming together. They were also coming in right to shore—I mean two feet from the shore. I almost stepped on one twice! Juvenile damselfish:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714665082/" title="Scott beach juvenile damselfish 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/371 ... 65dcd3.jpg" width="500" height="336" alt="Scott beach juvenile damselfish 2"></a>

Found about five baby turtles on the way back to our chairs:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714679122/" title="Scott turtle munching by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/371 ... 5e2fa7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Scott turtle munching"></a>

and another giant hermit crab.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714658136/" title="Paradise hermit crab 3 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3524/371 ... c05064.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Paradise hermit crab 3"></a>

We read books for a while and then I looked up and saw them: dolphins! Two of them, right out by the swim buoys. We threw our gear on and went out but some boats saw them too. By the time we were near there were four catamarans clustered around and the dolphins had taken off. Oh well, at least this validated John’s insistence that he heard dolphins the day before!

We ended up just tooling around the middle of the bay to see what we could find. Upside down jellyfish:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714672866/" title="Scott beach upside down jellyfish by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3521/371 ... ec3cdf.jpg" width="500" height="432" alt="Scott beach upside down jellyfish"></a>

baby turtles, angelfish:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713852027/" title="Scott beach french angelfish by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/371 ... 3c5ebd.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="Scott beach french angelfish"></a>

stingrays, a hermit crab attacking a queen helmet (John moved the helmet away), barracuda. We went back to the fringing reef and found a HUGE nurse shark!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713855303/" title="Scott beach nurse shark 8 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/371 ... 8bb091.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Scott beach nurse shark 8"></a>

After a while we got cleaned up and headed down to the dock to meet the boat that would be taking us out on our sunset sail. The boat was named Kallina, and the crew is a very nice husband and wife. The visibility wasn’t great because of the dust, but we had a great time. We had the front of the boat to ourselves (everyone else went towards the back for appetizers, but we were going out to dinner later).

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713871193/" title="sunset sail sail 5 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3458/371 ... b1580e.jpg" width="281" height="500" alt="sunset sail sail 5"></a>

The water was calm, and the crew was friendly. This was a real highlight. Loved it, and will always book a sunset sail for our final night from now on. See how hazy it was?


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714660046/" title="sahara sunset by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/371 ... e58231.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="sahara sunset"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714681784/" title="sunset sail ocean view by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/371 ... 492622.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="sunset sail ocean view"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714583026/" title="caneel sunset 7 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/371 ... 71cba5.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="caneel sunset 7"></a>

Dinner was at Asolare. We started with the crispy calamari salad (good, but I missed the version with the sweet soy), and the tuna tartar. John had tuna and I had mahi. Both were tasty. We ordered a bread pudding for dessert which was a mistake. Too heavy!

Back to Caneel for sleep.

Day 17: Last day. One more yummy Caneel breakfast, so we both went all out and got omelets, bacon, etc. I did take some fruit too, so that cancels out the bacon, right? Right?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714572420/" title="caneel breakfast by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2590/371 ... 32e627.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="caneel breakfast"></a>


Packed up and checked out. We grabbed a cocktail for the noon ferry and then got on board.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713750721/" title="Caneel bay goodbye drinks by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2616/371 ... 4a9faf.jpg" width="500" height="365" alt="Caneel bay goodbye drinks"></a>


Ferry of doom


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714562520/" title="Caneel Bay ladt Mary by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3535/371 ... 1ac36e.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Caneel Bay ladt Mary"></a>

12:15 and we were pushing off for the airport. Goodbye St. John!


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713764979/" title="Caneel goodbye by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/371 ... f8abb1.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Caneel goodbye"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713805191/" title="goodbye 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2492/371 ... 1ef5b8.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="goodbye 2"></a>

Hey Ruth and LMG, is that you up there?


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713848031/" title="parasailor by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/371 ... e3eaa9.jpg" width="500" height="398" alt="parasailor"></a>


This is the first time I got choked up when leaving. John quickly reassured me that we’d be back soon, so then I was OK. A big bird accompanied the boat for most of the trip over to St. Thomas, which was not nearly long enough. Of course, five hours probably would not have been long enough...


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714578050/" title="Caneel gull 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2522/371 ... 8f6247.jpg" width="500" height="422" alt="Caneel gull 2"></a>

Off to the airport and home.


Overall, we ranked this as one of our top visits to St. John. We loved our villa and Caneel was amazing as always. We had the perfect mix of snorkeling with downtime. And of course, it was great to meet so many of the wonderful folks that make this forum the terrific place that it is. We are already planning our next visit!


Itunes playlist for this trip (all grabbed from the forum itunes thread! ):

Angelique Kidjo: Iwoya
Christopher Cross: Sailing
Matt Costa: Sunshine
The Decemberists: Sons and Daughters
Paul van Dyk: Time of Our Lives
Peter Himmelman: Mission of My Soul
Van Morison: Into the Mystic
Jimmy Buffet: Summerzcool
G. Love: Rainbow
Van Morrison: These are the Days
311: Amber
Tribal Seeds: Island Girl
Damian Marley: And You Be Loved
Amos Lee: Shout out Loud
Bob Marley: Natural Mystic
Clear Conscience: Island Feeling
Noah and the Whale: 5 Years Time

Favorites list

Restaurant (lunch): Miss Lucy’s
Restaurant (dinner): Zozos
Beach: Scott
Snorkel spot: Great Lameshur to Tektite

Until next time…

The End!

Becky

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714644976/" title="maho becky by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/371 ... 8b29_m.jpg" width="240" height="174" alt="maho becky"></a>

And John

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3713924039/" title="Waterlemon John by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/371 ... 2e6a_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Waterlemon John"></a>

[AnyTing]

Becky, I seriously think you are the queen of snorkeling. I need to learn to be more observant. You see things I would never see. I'm always wowed and amazed!

[LysaC]

awesome- all of them! thank you so much for sharing!

[PA Girl]

Becky, I seriously think you are the queen of snorkeling. I need to learn to be more observant. You see things I would never see. I'm always wowed and amazed!

Seriously, your pics are awsome!

[LandLockedBeachLover]

I almost got choked up knowing this was the last of your reports!! You have some amazing pics and saw some crazy creatures! Your odds are greatly improved staying 17 days though - - I'm very jealous!

Thanks for taking the time to organize and share!

[Tracy in WI]

Thank you so much Becky and John - the reports were all great and the pictures were awesome. I really enjoyed meeting you both at Honeymoon (after you cleaned up the trash!)! Hopefully our paths will cross again on St. John.

Tracy

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Really nice trip reports, Becky! Like everyone else has said, your photos are amazing. Heck, I don't have to snorkel now, I've seen it all.

[cypressgirl]

I don't think I've ever seen a TR with better snorkeling photos. You could make a living down there very easily with your amazing food and snorkel tours. You should seriously give it some thought.

[pswlrw]

Thanks so much for your wonderful trip report. I agree, amazing pictures - I LOVE the turtle ones.

[greyhoundmom]

Thanks, Becky for the wonderful trip reports and underwater shots. I always enjoy reading them. Your amazing turquoise/brown octupus is now my screensaver.

[Ksea]

I really enjoyed all the reports and pictures. Thanks for sharing, they were all just great!

[LMG]

I keep saying this but I really should snorkel with you guys! I LOVE that picture of the turtle looking right at you.

That very well could have been Ruth parasailing again, I think she may be addicted.

I hope we cross paths yet again-- it was great to see you guys!

[onthelake]

Great report and pics. That little octopus was amazing!

[lark22]

EXCELLENT! I was totally riveted Thanks especially for the amazing snorkeling photos -- I'm going to try to invoke the Becky snorkeling vibe next time we're down, because I love octopi so much....

[California Girl]

What can I say that hasn't already been said? Awesome, wonderful trip report. I'm with LMG on that turtle looking at you picture...so cute! And I NEVER would have seen that teensy octopus! I would have swam right past him... you have such a keen sense of observation! Thanks for all the work you put into this report!