USVI-On-Line

We varied our routine a little today by not getting up and doing our early AM snorkel - I think the long day on Sunday did us in, as we slept in until almost 7:00!

The group consensus the day before, confirmed by early morning email, was that the "beach of the day" for today was to be Little Lameshur. Since we'd never been there before, we were looking forward to checking it out. Part of the reason we chose this site was that the storm we'd seen the day before from Maho and Cruz Bay was the leading edge of a system that brought a swell that hit the north facing beaches head on.

On the way there we stopped at Lily's and Big Belly Deli for ice and sandwiches respectively, then made our way west down the south shore. I believe that the original thinking was to hit the Tourist Trap for lunch, but since they were closed Mondays subs from Big Belly wasn't a bad "plan B".

We'd never driven past Salt Pond Bay before and soon ran out of paved road and headed down the rocky, bumpy roadway to Lameshur. It's not all that bad, you just need to be patient and take it slow. There is a section that is now paved - I'd heard that "the worst part" had been paved, and I could see how that section - with some elements of elevation and switchbacks - could have been interesting in its native state!

We found a spot to back under a tree in the parking lot, took a peek down the beach, saw "our peeps" waving at us to come on down, and we hauled our gear to where the chairs and coolers were set up. After briefly exchanging greetings we needed to get into the water!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10044245@N04/4091811218/" title="stj09_091 by augiegator, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2518/409 ... 71f11a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="stj09_091"></a>

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I finally saw the famous lunch raiding mongooses (mongeese?) - this guy kept climbing up onto the picnic table when no one was nearby:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10044245@N04/4091812820/" title="stj09_094 by augiegator, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/409 ... af223d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="stj09_094"></a>

We really enjoyed this beach, the snorkeling here, and, of course, hanging out with our friends.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10044245@N04/4091813278/" title="stj09_095 by augiegator, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2618/409 ... 487b91.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="stj09_095"></a>

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On the way back I saw more cars at the Salt Pond Bay parking area (even along side the road outside of the parking lot) than I'd ever seen there before - and this is slow season! I guess those swells really were chasing folks away from the north shore beaches!

The gameplan for the evening was to have a happy hour/potluck dinner at the villa Allesandra, where Jorge, Barb, and Mr & Mrs B were staying. I'd never been there before, and you drive a LONG way up Rock Ridge Rd. to get there, but the villa, and the view from the villa, are certainly well worth it!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10044245@N04/4091816884/" title="stj09_100 by augiegator, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2636/409 ... b2901d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="stj09_100"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10044245@N04/4091818210/" title="stj09_103 by augiegator, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2496/409 ... 992a_b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="stj09_103"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10044245@N04/4091052661/" title="stj09_104 by augiegator, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2501/409 ... a7a6c4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="stj09_104"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10044245@N04/4091819784/" title="stj09_106 by augiegator, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/409 ... d99f82.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="stj09_106"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10044245@N04/4091820894/" title="stj09_108 by augiegator, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2517/409 ... 908c38.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="stj09_108"></a>

We had a very fun evening talking, eating, drinking, listening to music, dancing (not me - that's a YouTube event no one wants to see!), and generally just hanging out with some really fun and cool people!

In all these years I never went to Lamshur because of the roadway and car rental company telling us not to go there. We will definitely go this week and try it out. Thanks for the TR.

Augie,The first pic you posted was beautiful!So cool to see the above and below water pic. The road going out to Lameshur Bay years ago was a blast! I wasn't sure if we would make it up the big sand hill just before you arrived at the beaches,but we did! Kinda scary,and it made you feel like you had earned the right to visit that area if your jeep made it. Love the reports! Parafins

Kevino wrote:In all these years I never went to Lamshur because of the roadway and car rental company telling us not to go there. We will definitely go this week and try it out. Thanks for the TR.

yeah what's the deal on this? I think we ended up here last year but didn't tackle the road. is it a no no with a rental and if so what other option is there? it didn't seem like you could park around there and walk the dirt road part.

That was a splendid day! Thanks for the memory. I think the gang was starting to relax that day, except for our new arrivals!

Cheers, RickG

Looks like a lot of fun.

What forum fun! I bet you did a lot of driving that day and night!

What fun! I want to come to a forum potluck!

Nice report Steve and great pictures. Your group looks like a great bunch of folks that enjoyed a great time! Great underwater shots what kind of camera do you use?

Take care

John

Great report, gorgeous pictures.

I just love pic #1! What a magical shot!

Looks like you all were having such a great time.

I second parafins - the first photo is so cool. Did you snorkel right or left? We snorkeled the left side but didn't see much.

We've seen a safari taxi truck parked out there at Little Lameshur. It made us wonder if they really go that far... or if the truck was rented by some folks.

cool breeze wrote:Nice report Steve and great pictures. Your group looks like a great bunch of folks that enjoyed a great time! Great underwater shots what kind of camera do you use?

Take care

John

Thanks!
I have an Olympus C5050 with an underwater housing.

Pickle wrote:I second parafins - the first photo is so cool. Did you snorkel right or left? We snorkeled the left side but didn't see much.

I believe that picture was taken along the left side (as you're facing the water). We were there for a good while, so we probably snorkeled both sides,as well as in the middle!

Great pictures. I must get an underwater camera for the next time! Have always liked the solitude of Little Lameshur, and that road makes me feel like it was worth while renting a jeep.
We tried Francis bay on that same day, the swells were not bad but no visibility. Having been to Little Lameshur a few days before, we ended up at Salt Pond which did get very busy but the snorkeling was excellent.
Really enjoyed meeting you at the Beach Bar party.

Yeah, I posted twice today, day before T-day and no one is in. (Those that are, are not doing anything).