Day 7: Ram Head, Honeymoon, and Aqua Bistro with Rev. Raven!
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:01 am
Day 7: Ram Head, Honeymoon, and Aqua Bistro with Rev. Raven!
Today we decided to head up to Ram Head to hike the pups. LMG had done a trial run without me earlier in the week one morning while my back was recovering from too much beach chairin'!
Having success with them alone, she figured she could handle it with me along.
I love the Ram Head hike. I am NOT a hiker girl. Really not a nature girl. It must be the views that reward you along the way and the stunning green, virgin beauty of the landscape. I just love it!
For those who don't know...to get to Salt Pond take the road to the right that runs by the gas station and out to Salt Pond. There is a directional on the fancy new corner sign. You'll pass Island Blues and the Cocoloba complex. Keep going. Past Miss Lucy's. Keep going. The first time we headed out there a few trips ago, we went right by the lot and ended up on the road to Lameshur. If you do this make a u-turn and head back.
You park in the lot and head down the road on foot to Salt Pond beach. GORGEOUS beach by the way. Very nice and wide. Usually fairly empty but again, when we passed the lot earlier in the week at midday it was PACKED. Not this morning. I think we were the 2nd car in the lot. I won't even go into the well documented hate of the walk back up from the beach to the parking lot. I won't tell you that it seems to be EVERYONE'S least favorite part.
Beautiful and early morning beach
Walk across the beach and follow the sign and you'll soon find yourself on the trail. For some sticklers (MARYBETH) this is the actual Drunk Bay hike starting point too. Drunk Bay, Brown Bay...same thing.
The beginning of the trail
Another beautiful St. John morning
Soon enough we hit Blue Cobblestone Beach. I am with JT on this one. There are few places in the world more magical. Something about the sound of the water here and the feel of the smooth stones. I, at least, feel at one with the peace of the sea here.
At the far end up Blue Cobblestone, before heading back up onto the trail, we noticed this guy.
Completely freaked us and the dogs out! We did not want to have to report to Pia that we'd lost a pup to a gigantic, prehistoric crab! CRAZY
Moving right along we headed back up onto the trail to complete the hike to the top.
Hiker Pups!
There is nothing more beautiful. As beautiful, sure. More beautiful, I think not!
And we make it to the top!
All in all, the hike is about 2 miles roundtrip, but that is pretty deceiving as it is kind of steep in places and can be challenging. As we all know, 2 miles on STJ does not equal 2 miles on a flat trail in Fairfax! If you are moderately in shape or out of shape as the case may be, you can handle it. If you are very weak or have breathing problems, then I'd say skip it. Otherwise, you can probably handle it and the payoff is SO worth the work. I would not do it mid-day, I would not do it in the dead of Summer. But on an early March morning, barely after sunrise, it was breezy and beautiful and absolute perfection! I know, I use the word perfection a lot but there is no other than captures it quite as well!
Time to head back down
A view of the trail
I did the hike in my keens, LMG in her sneaks and we were both totally fine. I've also done it in tevas (my hubby's) and they were fine too, I just paid more attention to where my toes were going. I would not recommend doing this one in flip-flops or barefoot. Even I am not that crazy!
Sorry another picture. I just can't help myself.
Back across Blue Cobblestone. Maybe those Tiger on island rumors were right, as we came upon this.
So, post-hike, we headed back to the house to find some fresh coffee brewing and to enjoy another rough morning on the deck.
One day Pia is gonna come home and find that I've pitched a tent on her deck and declared squatters rights!
And we have a beautiful bloomer today!
Ate my bagel, drank my coffee, packed up the cooler for the gang and set off to enjoy our beach of the day. My mama had never been to Honeymoon, so we decided that in spite of the short walk we'd head there. I know there is some angst on here about the $10 parking fee but we collectively decided $10 was a small price to pay for a gorgeous stretch of beach and HOPEFULLY, maybe the $10 would be a deterrent to the crowds. (Wishful thinking). Oh and if you eat/drink/spend anything at all they waive the fee.
The Drill for those who haven't experienced the parking situation: Pull up to the gate, the gate lady will give you a "ticket/slip of paper" thing. Park. Take the slip with you (or leave it in the car if you don't mind trekking back to the car to get it before you leave, not that I am speaking from experience or anything). When you are done with your time at the beach, go to the main desk with your slip of paper (and your receipt for $10 or more or not) and either pay your $10 or if you've spent $10, say on like a pomegrante mojito, show your receipt to the kind lady to get a different slip of paper/ticket thing in order to leave. (Yes I know that was a run-on sentence. Don't judge.) The gate people do not collect any money. A bit more of a hassle but really not a problem as long as you know the drill.
So, again, LMG being her smarty pants self suggested hitting Deli Grotto pre-beach for lunch supplies. Great decision because we were able to hang out as long as we possibly could.
Cooler stocked, we unload the car and head to the trail to the beach. My mama, bless her, only complained once or twice. We told her it was only about 10 minutes of a walk and that we promised it would be worth it! She's a Maho kind of girl! She forgave us, once we got to the beach. Well, at least, until it was time to head back to the car.
Forgiveness gone
Just kidding, she truly was fine and we had a GREAT day. In spite of the Jersey Shore invasion that literally set up to our right on the beach. Did I mention we were at the FAR right end? They literally were up in the rocks around us. CRAZY SPRING BREAK!
Still Absolutely Gorgeous
Beautiful, white, wide, sandy. Heaven!
Take only memories, leave only footprints as the saying goes.
We enjoyed our day. Relaxed. Snacked. Ate lunch. Floated in the water. Relaxed. Read. PERFECTION again. Do you sense a theme?
So to recap: Ram Head Hike, Breakfast on the best deck in Coral Bay, Honeymoon Beach, Deli Grotto Sammies. Sun, Breezes, Saltwater. There is nothing finer.
As we were enjoying our Skeeters (alcoholic slushies) we noticed we had about 8 missed calls each. Pia was calling us as her ship was sailing from Tortola to the next port. We waved from the beach! I am sure those around us thought we were crazy. But that's ok. We are used to it!
As all things do, this day too had to come to an end. We decided to pack up and head down to grab a drink at the bar. If I am paying $10 to park I might as well get the promegranate mojito to show for it. $10 to park. Or $10 receipt for my drink. I'll take the option that comes with alcohol. Receipt in hand, headed to reception, traded my receipt for an exit ticket and off we were.
I think we made a pit stop at Skinny's to do a little shopping, as it was my mama's last full day ALREADY, and to pick up our tickets at Connections for the main Blues Festival concert on Saturday night! We were all still pretty full from Deli Grotto, so we didn't eat. PLUS, we were planning on dinner at Aqua Bistro.
Back to the house, play with the pups, clean up and relax on the deck till it was time for dinner.
By this point the Blues Festival was in full swing with various acts playing at two locations in Coral Bay and two locations in Cruz Bay each night. I had learned from our RESERVATIONS only experience at Shipwreck Landing and had called to get us a reservation for dinner at Aqua Bistro, especially since there would be live music. Knowing we wanted to stay in/near Coral Bay, our choices were Deb Callahan (sp?) at Island Blues or Rev Raven and the Chain Smoking Alter Boys at Aqua Bistro. Is it any surprise that we made the decision based on the name of the band alone? Rev. Raven it is!
I like the food and atmosphere at Aqua Bistro and my mama had never been so it was a good choice for our last night. I think she got the ribeye(?) maybe. I know LMG and I, again, SHOCKINGLY, ordered the SAME exact thing - Ahi Tuna served with ponzu sauce, noodles, wasabi and pickled ginger. YUM! Very very very good!
Of course, we also had to have pie. Key Lime. Thank you very much!
We thoroughly enjoyed the music and the atmosphere and our waitress and the hostess double ordered our drinks so we had extras on the house. Accidental rum and cokes are never a problem!
Tomorrow: Bye Mama Flip-Flop, Hanging out in Cruz Bay, PIRATE sighting and Innervisions from the deck!
Today we decided to head up to Ram Head to hike the pups. LMG had done a trial run without me earlier in the week one morning while my back was recovering from too much beach chairin'!
Having success with them alone, she figured she could handle it with me along.I love the Ram Head hike. I am NOT a hiker girl. Really not a nature girl. It must be the views that reward you along the way and the stunning green, virgin beauty of the landscape. I just love it!
For those who don't know...to get to Salt Pond take the road to the right that runs by the gas station and out to Salt Pond. There is a directional on the fancy new corner sign. You'll pass Island Blues and the Cocoloba complex. Keep going. Past Miss Lucy's. Keep going. The first time we headed out there a few trips ago, we went right by the lot and ended up on the road to Lameshur. If you do this make a u-turn and head back.
You park in the lot and head down the road on foot to Salt Pond beach. GORGEOUS beach by the way. Very nice and wide. Usually fairly empty but again, when we passed the lot earlier in the week at midday it was PACKED. Not this morning. I think we were the 2nd car in the lot. I won't even go into the well documented hate of the walk back up from the beach to the parking lot. I won't tell you that it seems to be EVERYONE'S least favorite part.
Beautiful and early morning beach
Walk across the beach and follow the sign and you'll soon find yourself on the trail. For some sticklers (MARYBETH) this is the actual Drunk Bay hike starting point too. Drunk Bay, Brown Bay...same thing.
The beginning of the trail
Another beautiful St. John morning
Soon enough we hit Blue Cobblestone Beach. I am with JT on this one. There are few places in the world more magical. Something about the sound of the water here and the feel of the smooth stones. I, at least, feel at one with the peace of the sea here.
At the far end up Blue Cobblestone, before heading back up onto the trail, we noticed this guy.
Completely freaked us and the dogs out! We did not want to have to report to Pia that we'd lost a pup to a gigantic, prehistoric crab! CRAZY
Moving right along we headed back up onto the trail to complete the hike to the top.
Hiker Pups!
There is nothing more beautiful. As beautiful, sure. More beautiful, I think not!
And we make it to the top!
All in all, the hike is about 2 miles roundtrip, but that is pretty deceiving as it is kind of steep in places and can be challenging. As we all know, 2 miles on STJ does not equal 2 miles on a flat trail in Fairfax! If you are moderately in shape or out of shape as the case may be, you can handle it. If you are very weak or have breathing problems, then I'd say skip it. Otherwise, you can probably handle it and the payoff is SO worth the work. I would not do it mid-day, I would not do it in the dead of Summer. But on an early March morning, barely after sunrise, it was breezy and beautiful and absolute perfection! I know, I use the word perfection a lot but there is no other than captures it quite as well!
Time to head back down
A view of the trail
I did the hike in my keens, LMG in her sneaks and we were both totally fine. I've also done it in tevas (my hubby's) and they were fine too, I just paid more attention to where my toes were going. I would not recommend doing this one in flip-flops or barefoot. Even I am not that crazy!
Sorry another picture. I just can't help myself.
Back across Blue Cobblestone. Maybe those Tiger on island rumors were right, as we came upon this.
So, post-hike, we headed back to the house to find some fresh coffee brewing and to enjoy another rough morning on the deck.
One day Pia is gonna come home and find that I've pitched a tent on her deck and declared squatters rights!
And we have a beautiful bloomer today!
Ate my bagel, drank my coffee, packed up the cooler for the gang and set off to enjoy our beach of the day. My mama had never been to Honeymoon, so we decided that in spite of the short walk we'd head there. I know there is some angst on here about the $10 parking fee but we collectively decided $10 was a small price to pay for a gorgeous stretch of beach and HOPEFULLY, maybe the $10 would be a deterrent to the crowds. (Wishful thinking). Oh and if you eat/drink/spend anything at all they waive the fee.
The Drill for those who haven't experienced the parking situation: Pull up to the gate, the gate lady will give you a "ticket/slip of paper" thing. Park. Take the slip with you (or leave it in the car if you don't mind trekking back to the car to get it before you leave, not that I am speaking from experience or anything). When you are done with your time at the beach, go to the main desk with your slip of paper (and your receipt for $10 or more or not) and either pay your $10 or if you've spent $10, say on like a pomegrante mojito, show your receipt to the kind lady to get a different slip of paper/ticket thing in order to leave. (Yes I know that was a run-on sentence. Don't judge.) The gate people do not collect any money. A bit more of a hassle but really not a problem as long as you know the drill.
So, again, LMG being her smarty pants self suggested hitting Deli Grotto pre-beach for lunch supplies. Great decision because we were able to hang out as long as we possibly could.
Cooler stocked, we unload the car and head to the trail to the beach. My mama, bless her, only complained once or twice. We told her it was only about 10 minutes of a walk and that we promised it would be worth it! She's a Maho kind of girl! She forgave us, once we got to the beach. Well, at least, until it was time to head back to the car.
Forgiveness gone
Just kidding, she truly was fine and we had a GREAT day. In spite of the Jersey Shore invasion that literally set up to our right on the beach. Did I mention we were at the FAR right end? They literally were up in the rocks around us. CRAZY SPRING BREAK!
Still Absolutely Gorgeous
Beautiful, white, wide, sandy. Heaven!
Take only memories, leave only footprints as the saying goes.
We enjoyed our day. Relaxed. Snacked. Ate lunch. Floated in the water. Relaxed. Read. PERFECTION again. Do you sense a theme?
So to recap: Ram Head Hike, Breakfast on the best deck in Coral Bay, Honeymoon Beach, Deli Grotto Sammies. Sun, Breezes, Saltwater. There is nothing finer.
As we were enjoying our Skeeters (alcoholic slushies) we noticed we had about 8 missed calls each. Pia was calling us as her ship was sailing from Tortola to the next port. We waved from the beach! I am sure those around us thought we were crazy. But that's ok. We are used to it!
As all things do, this day too had to come to an end. We decided to pack up and head down to grab a drink at the bar. If I am paying $10 to park I might as well get the promegranate mojito to show for it. $10 to park. Or $10 receipt for my drink. I'll take the option that comes with alcohol. Receipt in hand, headed to reception, traded my receipt for an exit ticket and off we were.
I think we made a pit stop at Skinny's to do a little shopping, as it was my mama's last full day ALREADY, and to pick up our tickets at Connections for the main Blues Festival concert on Saturday night! We were all still pretty full from Deli Grotto, so we didn't eat. PLUS, we were planning on dinner at Aqua Bistro.
Back to the house, play with the pups, clean up and relax on the deck till it was time for dinner.
By this point the Blues Festival was in full swing with various acts playing at two locations in Coral Bay and two locations in Cruz Bay each night. I had learned from our RESERVATIONS only experience at Shipwreck Landing and had called to get us a reservation for dinner at Aqua Bistro, especially since there would be live music. Knowing we wanted to stay in/near Coral Bay, our choices were Deb Callahan (sp?) at Island Blues or Rev Raven and the Chain Smoking Alter Boys at Aqua Bistro. Is it any surprise that we made the decision based on the name of the band alone? Rev. Raven it is!
I like the food and atmosphere at Aqua Bistro and my mama had never been so it was a good choice for our last night. I think she got the ribeye(?) maybe. I know LMG and I, again, SHOCKINGLY, ordered the SAME exact thing - Ahi Tuna served with ponzu sauce, noodles, wasabi and pickled ginger. YUM! Very very very good!
Of course, we also had to have pie. Key Lime. Thank you very much!
We thoroughly enjoyed the music and the atmosphere and our waitress and the hostess double ordered our drinks so we had extras on the house. Accidental rum and cokes are never a problem!
Tomorrow: Bye Mama Flip-Flop, Hanging out in Cruz Bay, PIRATE sighting and Innervisions from the deck!
I think the snorkelers at Waterlemon were surprised as well !!! We proceeded past Brown Bay, past Waterlemon, past Francis, Maho, Cinnamon, Trunk and then made a turn and headed out but we could see Honeymoon so we knew the girls could see us so I was calling, and calling and calling (about 50 times) with no answer so I knew they were limin in the water probably with a "skeeter" but eventually we connected and waved at each other