We get it! Newbie TR VII

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 3:56 pm

We woke to yet another perfect morning and left home headed for Waterlemon. We hadn't gone looking for a snorkel vest but I figured if I did it last time.... Right? En route, Blaine decided to go to Maho instead, rent a kayak and do Whistling Cay and Mary's Point. We'd intended to do that last trip but were too tired by the time we got a decent day.
We stopped for a few photos.
Cruz Bay:
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/2zewgfk.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Trunk Bay:
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i38.tinypic.com/a2xhl.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
We bumped our way into Maho and asked a guy in the parking lot, if Maho was renting kayaks. They were. We explained that we didn't plan on renting, so we had no credit card with us for a deposit, but we had $180 cash between us. He said he'd ask George the owner and the decision would be up to him.
We walked down to the water sports area and George approved us with no deposit. We rented snorkel vests there at Maho for something like $5. The kayak was only $45 for 4 hours.
We waited and enjoyed the really chill vibe at Maho, until the water sports area opened.
Little Maho Bay:
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i35.tinypic.com/1z68t4z.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i38.tinypic.com/206eqfc.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Almost to Whistling Cay!
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.tinypic.com/2rcv692.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Through the guard house window:
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i38.tinypic.com/sgs479.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/29m1wxy.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

Maho had a summer camp type atmosphere, with signs that said things like "What I saw....Where I saw it" and other interactive displays.
The water sports guy gave us a fantastic orientation to kayaking (that we didn't need) and how to plan the trip (that we did need). He said to kayak directly to Whistling Cay, snorkel the beach area, be careful of the shallow water reefs. Then he said we'd be best off to kayak to the beach just around Mary's point and snorkel there, then stay really close to the point in the kayak on the trip back, close to the rocks that are the right of Francis Bay, to avoid the wind. He also said that the iguanas on Whistling Cay are bigger and not at all afraid of humans and will "rush" you, so don't be afraid. Very helpful guy!
We did exactly what he said.
WOW! BEST CORAL EVER!
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/2604jlz.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i36.tinypic.com/16i5yti.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i35.tinypic.com/33y28wg.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i34.tinypic.com/2d8f239.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.tinypic.com/2uyhq0y.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i36.tinypic.com/2exbtrn.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Then we followed this couple across Fungi Passage, to the little rocky beach around Mary's Point.
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.tinypic.com/2vsi5uu.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
for more WOW!
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/1zmpkja.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i35.tinypic.com/20qbzvo.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i35.tinypic.com/11vtflk.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
He looks friendly

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.tinypic.com/aua9uv.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i35.tinypic.com/2ugnl02.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
We brought the kayak and snorkelling vests back and said goodbye to Maho. We're going to our favorite place again!
A switchback:
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i35.tinypic.com/2s1osci.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i35.tinypic.com/ab19id.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Here you can see North and South:
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/qq74gh.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i35.tinypic.com/2pysykz.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/u0ema.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

Vie's beach and Snack Shack

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.tinypic.com/sw8cw7.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
First, a little float. What you lookin at?
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.tinypic.com/zy6jdf.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i34.tinypic.com/2qkl3e0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i34.tinypic.com/16jq1r5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i34.tinypic.com/2yo3frt.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Then some food and resting under the Sea Grape trees.
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i36.tinypic.com/29bbuva.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
We left after saying goodbye to Miss Vie, with heavy hearts! We will so miss this place!
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.tinypic.com/2vv0v9u.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Yet another spectacular sunset awaited us.
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i35.tinypic.com/14xpjzl.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
I steamed our crab legs on the grill (Thanks Liamsaunt!!!) and we pigged out with a big ol dinner, watching this.
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i34.tinypic.com/121tr3c.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
We went to sleep dreading the end of our time in paradise!

vi lover · Post by **vi lover** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 4:19 pm

Thank you, THANK You, THANK YOU for taking the time to post such great trip reports and pictures. I really am enjoying them and looking forward to referring to them later as we decide what "different" things to do on our next (and 6th) STJ trip!

loria · Post by **loria** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:39 pm

thanks again! great report! I think that George at Maho is the same guy i did my padi certification with back in 1986! he used to run all the Maho dive stuff--a really nice guy (serious when he needs to be though!)
loved the sunset picture......

P-600 · Post by **P-600** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:23 pm

Thanks so much. I really enjoyed your TR's!

Sun4MySoul · Post by **Sun4MySoul** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:33 pm

Great pics!

Still haven't done that kayak trip. Very jealous!

islandjo2010 · Post by **islandjo2010** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:47 pm

Another great read and photos...Thanks!
Did you say that all your photos were taken with a Canon D-10? Purchasing a good waterproof camera is one of the items on my yet-to-do before STJ trip!
Take care,
Jo

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:37 am

Yes. So far, all the pics I've posted are from the D10. We're very happy with it, followed all the nice recommendations on the OT forum, and bought the floating strap as well.
We loved it. I edited yesterday's TRs with Picassa Web editing, at Sun4MySoul's recommendation, and that made them even better!

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:00 am

We'll definitely do the kayak trip again, next trip, and we'll do a full day trip. Time flies when you're snorkelling and we didn't have any way of telling how much time we had left, so we rushed a little. This is a place you'd want to have quite a bit of time to explore.
An outstanding snorkel!

cptnkirk · Post by **cptnkirk** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:23 am

mindehankins great job love the sunset pics hard to beat those Cruz View sunsets

I too was going to recommend Picasa works miracles for underwaters. If ya haven't figured it out yet and ya want to straighten any pics just go to the staighten button works great for those crooked shots.

islandjo2010 · Post by **islandjo2010** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:34 am

Hi minde!
Thanks for the info on the Canon D10. I had read alot of good reviews on it as well as the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000. I have seen other photos besides yours taken from the D10 and they all look great!
Thanks again and take care,
Jo

tipsy · Post by **tipsy** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:42 am

Again another fabulous TR and gorgeous pics !!

You're info and sense of humor thru all the reports is terrific.

Thanks for sharing and making us so very anxious to get down there !!

SunnySal · Post by **SunnySal** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:18 am

Minde-What kind of float strap and where did you get it

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:52 am

We bought this starter kit, which includes a strap. http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-W ... 026&sr=8-4
And then I bought a strap separately as well, cause I'm a dummy like that. I sent the extra strap on to a forumite who was looking for one.
Here's just the strap: http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Foam-Floa ... pd_sim_e_7

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:55 am

cptnkirk wrote:mindehankins great job love the sunset pics hard to beat those Cruz View sunsets
I too was going to recommend Picasa works miracles for underwaters. If ya haven't figured it out yet and ya want to straighten any pics just go to the staighten button works great for those crooked shots.

I don't know about straighten...I'm not much of a photographer. Do my pics look like they need "straighten"? I'm guessing that's to make the horizon horizontal....I'm going to go back and look now!
I love the Picassa download and wish I'd found out about it before I posted all my earlier pics.

Edit: Wow...I see! Thanks for opening my eyes to that, Capt!

djmom · Post by **djmom** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:01 pm

Great report. love that photo on the road to the East End. And the sunsets of course!

So glad you had such a great trip!

usvi-on-line

Login or Register with your Facebook account

We get it! Newbie TR VII

We get it! Newbie TR VII