Day 10: Good-bye always sucks, Ferry Freak-outs, ATL Delays!
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:28 pm
Day 10: Good-bye always sucks, Ferry Freak-outs, DELAY in ATL, and finally HOME AGAIN!
Well, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I can't begin to explain how grateful and recharged I felt after 10 days at Ms. Pia's beautiful home, so comfortable and classy. Just absolutely the best gig in the world. Pia adores her dogs and I felt very trusted to be their co-caretaker for the week!! It was so awesome to have a home away from home for a while that included amazing views and two fun pups and a Beach BFF to boot! I know its a rough life.
The final day was spent doing housekeeping duties. I didn't want to leave anything in disarray, so laundry, tidying up and what not. And of course, the DREADED packing. How is it that I always bring about 5x what I need and when I am there it expands in such a way that getting it back in the bag is a beeeeeotch?
All packed up and organized, I headed up for a last spell on the deck.
It just really never does get old. My flight was at 1:15 so I wanted to give myself plenty of time, especially due to the in season nature of the time of year. We were aiming to hit Deli Grotto for a sammie to go and to make the 10 am ferry.
By 9 am we headed over the hills to Cruz Bay. Bye bye Coral Bay. Bye Bye On a Whim! Bye TIKI and COKI! We stopped at Deli Grotto first so I could grab my lunch and pick up some last minute snacks and then we were off to the ferry dock. I thought 9:45 arrival would give me plenty of time. When I arrived the line was all the way back to the STJ Spice stairs. YIKES!
I said my goodbyes to LMG and headed to get in line. It was SO awesome to spend a week with someone like her. As we both said/thought, it could have been so really AWFUL but instead it was so really great. She is one cool chick. EVEN THOUGH she tried to kill me. All was forgiven on the ferry docks as I departed
Thanks LMG for such a fun time!!
So I get in the long line and people are still lining up behind me. There were a couple of really freaked out peeps! The line was moving but slowly and I think folks thought they were gonna pull the ferry out at 10 am on the dot. They won't. As it was the ferry ended up leaving around 10:10. Everyone on board.
The best thing you can do in this situation is remain calm, have your money ready and be patient and relaxed. Freaking out doesn't help. I saw one guy totally go off on the ferry guy and I will say that the ferry guys response was cool and collected and the freaking out didn't help at all!
Ruth popped down to say bye and offer to take the Walk of Woe photo but I just couldn't do it. But chatting with her did make me feel better at least for a few minutes. Right up until I remembered I had to get on that damn ferry!
I had earlier in the week texted my hubby to request that he just pack them all up and meet me there vs. me coming home. That didn't go over all that well!
I was a little stressed about the timing and really hoped I had given myself enough time. Ended up at the airport by 11:30 and had plenty of time to maneuver through customs. I had checked in online and was able to avoid the lines which were pretty crazy. When all was said and done, I had a good hour or so to kill before boarding. Soon enough my chariot awaited...
I hate this part! HATE IT.
Though I will say it did ease the pain knowing that I was heading home to my little people and my hubby!
If things had gone according to plan I would have been home by 9pm and the kiddos were going to come with daddy to pick me up. As things actually turned out, we had major delays in Atlanta. When I arrived, skies were blue and clear, about 15 minutes later the sky turned black and it poured rain and there was lightning and thunder. As quickly as it came it was gone leaving behind a gorgeous rainbow you could see end to end.
But of course, it is Atlanta, and that was enough to totally screw all outgoing flights. My 7:20 departure soon became, 8:20, then 9:20. We finally got out of Atlanta at 10:15 or so. Arriving way too late for my people to come get me
Finally arrived at home around midnight, dumped the stuff and curled up in my own bed. I was missing Coral Bay but also loving my comfy surroundings at the same time. It is always so bittersweet to return from a place I love so much to a place that is my home that, of course, I also love.
But I know there will be a next time. Don't know when, don't know how, but I do know it will soon come!
Till then...thanks for all of your kind comments and fun responses!
Peace, Love & Beaches....
Flip-Flop
For those who may have missed an installment:
Day 1: Getting There is always the longest day ever!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#188726
Day 2: Ferry to Jost, Hanging out with Mic & Visiting with Ivan!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... sc&start=0
Day 3: Hiking Drunk (the bay or Brown Bay if you are a stickler MBW), Beachtime and other stuff
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... sc&start=0
Day 4: Maaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhho, Skinny's, Hi Ruth & Lime Inn Key Lime Pie!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#189169
Day 5: Hiking Brown Bay, Vie's Beach, Vie's Lunch
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... sc&start=0
Day 6: St. Pattys on St. John, Lameshur, Tourist Trap & Donkey Diner Pizza!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#189378
Day 7: Ram Head, Honeymoon, and Aqua Bistro with Rev. Raven!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#189481
Day 8: Bye Mama Flip-Flop, Hanging out in Cruz Bay, PIRATES
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... sc&start=0
Day 9: Mahhhhhhho Again, LMG tries to kill me & Blue's Fest!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=16083
Well, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I can't begin to explain how grateful and recharged I felt after 10 days at Ms. Pia's beautiful home, so comfortable and classy. Just absolutely the best gig in the world. Pia adores her dogs and I felt very trusted to be their co-caretaker for the week!! It was so awesome to have a home away from home for a while that included amazing views and two fun pups and a Beach BFF to boot! I know its a rough life.
The final day was spent doing housekeeping duties. I didn't want to leave anything in disarray, so laundry, tidying up and what not. And of course, the DREADED packing. How is it that I always bring about 5x what I need and when I am there it expands in such a way that getting it back in the bag is a beeeeeotch?
All packed up and organized, I headed up for a last spell on the deck.
It just really never does get old. My flight was at 1:15 so I wanted to give myself plenty of time, especially due to the in season nature of the time of year. We were aiming to hit Deli Grotto for a sammie to go and to make the 10 am ferry.
By 9 am we headed over the hills to Cruz Bay. Bye bye Coral Bay. Bye Bye On a Whim! Bye TIKI and COKI! We stopped at Deli Grotto first so I could grab my lunch and pick up some last minute snacks and then we were off to the ferry dock. I thought 9:45 arrival would give me plenty of time. When I arrived the line was all the way back to the STJ Spice stairs. YIKES!
I said my goodbyes to LMG and headed to get in line. It was SO awesome to spend a week with someone like her. As we both said/thought, it could have been so really AWFUL but instead it was so really great. She is one cool chick. EVEN THOUGH she tried to kill me. All was forgiven on the ferry docks as I departed
Thanks LMG for such a fun time!!So I get in the long line and people are still lining up behind me. There were a couple of really freaked out peeps! The line was moving but slowly and I think folks thought they were gonna pull the ferry out at 10 am on the dot. They won't. As it was the ferry ended up leaving around 10:10. Everyone on board.
The best thing you can do in this situation is remain calm, have your money ready and be patient and relaxed. Freaking out doesn't help. I saw one guy totally go off on the ferry guy and I will say that the ferry guys response was cool and collected and the freaking out didn't help at all!
Ruth popped down to say bye and offer to take the Walk of Woe photo but I just couldn't do it. But chatting with her did make me feel better at least for a few minutes. Right up until I remembered I had to get on that damn ferry!
I had earlier in the week texted my hubby to request that he just pack them all up and meet me there vs. me coming home. That didn't go over all that well!
I was a little stressed about the timing and really hoped I had given myself enough time. Ended up at the airport by 11:30 and had plenty of time to maneuver through customs. I had checked in online and was able to avoid the lines which were pretty crazy. When all was said and done, I had a good hour or so to kill before boarding. Soon enough my chariot awaited...
I hate this part! HATE IT.
Though I will say it did ease the pain knowing that I was heading home to my little people and my hubby!
If things had gone according to plan I would have been home by 9pm and the kiddos were going to come with daddy to pick me up. As things actually turned out, we had major delays in Atlanta. When I arrived, skies were blue and clear, about 15 minutes later the sky turned black and it poured rain and there was lightning and thunder. As quickly as it came it was gone leaving behind a gorgeous rainbow you could see end to end.
But of course, it is Atlanta, and that was enough to totally screw all outgoing flights. My 7:20 departure soon became, 8:20, then 9:20. We finally got out of Atlanta at 10:15 or so. Arriving way too late for my people to come get me
Finally arrived at home around midnight, dumped the stuff and curled up in my own bed. I was missing Coral Bay but also loving my comfy surroundings at the same time. It is always so bittersweet to return from a place I love so much to a place that is my home that, of course, I also love.
But I know there will be a next time. Don't know when, don't know how, but I do know it will soon come!
Till then...thanks for all of your kind comments and fun responses!
Peace, Love & Beaches....
Flip-Flop
For those who may have missed an installment:
Day 1: Getting There is always the longest day ever!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#188726
Day 2: Ferry to Jost, Hanging out with Mic & Visiting with Ivan!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... sc&start=0
Day 3: Hiking Drunk (the bay or Brown Bay if you are a stickler MBW), Beachtime and other stuff
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... sc&start=0
Day 4: Maaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhho, Skinny's, Hi Ruth & Lime Inn Key Lime Pie!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#189169
Day 5: Hiking Brown Bay, Vie's Beach, Vie's Lunch
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... sc&start=0
Day 6: St. Pattys on St. John, Lameshur, Tourist Trap & Donkey Diner Pizza!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#189378
Day 7: Ram Head, Honeymoon, and Aqua Bistro with Rev. Raven!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#189481
Day 8: Bye Mama Flip-Flop, Hanging out in Cruz Bay, PIRATES
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... sc&start=0
Day 9: Mahhhhhhho Again, LMG tries to kill me & Blue's Fest!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=16083
Thanks SO much for letting me relive the memories with you!