Pre-trip report for April 27 - 2 is a Perfect Number

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:44 pm

Well, it's been since 2004 that Christine and I hit the islands without a herd. After the Gang of 24 in November, we are ready for some simple one on one time. This is going to be a low key (no pun intended) trip for just the two of us.

We are headed down Friday morning Arpil 27th on Spirit Air (first time) out of Washington National via Ft. Lauderdale. There are some forumites on the FLL leg - I expect we'll obsess about the islands and irritate the other travels. I'm comfortable with that. With any luck we'll arrive at 1:25PM and be on the 3PM Charlotte Amalie ferry. Conrad Sutton for vehicle and VIVA Villas for the trip out to Callaloo Villa overlooking Coral Bay. Once we are settled we plan to head back to Cruz Bay and meet the forum gang at the Beach Bar for drinks at around 8 or 9.

The rest of the week is completely open, excepting Sunday Jazz at the Beach Bar. By choice, we are going to skip day trips and concentrate on relaxing. We've got a full moon on May 2 that rises at 7:05PM, per the Naval Observatory. With any luck we'll be able to see it from the villa.

Cheers, RickG

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:47 pm

Have fun and say hi to every one for me

augie · Post by **augie** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:48 pm

Rick - have an awesome time.

Do you mean no off-island day trips, or are you going for maximum no tan lines/villa time?

I can't imagine you being satisfied snorkeling in just the pool, but maybe one of the provisioning services can stock it with tropical fish and creatures for you.

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:49 pm

hey RG, didn't you go down in Nov. with 24 and come back with 25??? Be careful out there

Have a great time.. wish I was joining you for jazz at the Beach Bar!

bethgsimm · Post by **bethgsimm** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:07 pm

rickg-

took the spirit flight through DCA /FLL to Stt last month. Be aware there are at least 10 flights all arriving within minutes of each other in FT Lauderdale, add that to 1 bathroom in that part of the terminal , and one restaurant to grab food for lunch. TOTAL CHAOS. If you can swing it , bring some snacks/sandwich cause the layover may not be long enough to get through the lines. Also , in case you didnt know spirit charges for snacks, no lunches available to buy onboard.
Enjoy your trip,If you get a chance, try Mosquito Bites above aqua bistro for breakfast/ sandwiches . Very nice people there, and we enjoyed their very casusal breakfast.
Also , the full moon rising over coral bay is incredible, hope you get to see it. It was one of our highlights of the trip.

ENJOY

theshopper3 · Post by **theshopper3** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:33 pm

Hey Rick,
I guess we will be on the FLL leg to STT with you & Christine. Can wait for Thurs to arrive as we are heading to Detroit to catch our flight out on Fri AM.We will probably pick your brain the whole way over to get all the best places to go to & see.

So it sound like you are not renting a vehicle on STT & taking it over???? Do you want to perhaps share a cab to CA. I am glad it is up & running.

We will be met by the Villa agent & get ourselves settled & then are heading over to Woody's for Happy Hour & then to the Beach Bar. Hope we can stay away at the Beach Bar

Sounds like a great turnout, I have the Name tags packed in my carryon so I don't fortget them at the villa

See ya Friday in FLL. I will look for the St John Spice hat

The Shopper (Ruth)

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:34 pm

Have a fab time RickG & Notanlines! That 4 day countdown is tough to swallow but I know mine will be under triple digits soon enough....patience is a virtue or so they say.

Nic in KC · Post by **Nic in KC** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:50 pm

Wishing you a great travel day Rick! We'll follow on Saturday, but won't make it over to STJ until Sunday. Maybe we'll see you at the Beach Bar for jazz if we aren't too chilled out at the villa by then! Have a great trip!

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:53 pm

Nic in KC wrote:Wishing you a great travel day Rick! We'll follow on Saturday, but won't make it over to STJ until Sunday. Maybe we'll see you at the Beach Bar for jazz if we aren't too chilled out at the villa by then! Have a great trip!

yeah for you Nicolle! Enjoy and I can't wait to hear your report

JT · Post by JT » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:58 pm

Hey, Rick! Have a great trip. The one on one, no plan trips have been my and Mrs. JT"S favorite island trips. Take great care of Donna and tell her that Joe and Betty from MD say hi.

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:13 pm

Augie - lets just say we are optimizing on quality (pleasure) rather than quantity! I'm an active guy and my lover likes to lounge in the ocean and get nibbled by the fish. We'll see the beaches every day and I'll snorkel most days. We have a Southern exposure, so the mornings will be the best pool time. I have no tan lines at all now (WHITE) and will be focused on managing my redding (rather than tanning).

MB, that was 23 down and 24 back in November. Let's just say that we are about as likely as you to catch! I got a dog in December and my paternal instincts are fully satisfied at the moment.

bethgsimm - great tips! I think we'll be packing some food and get drinks after security. Healthy snacks work for me for the most part (beef jerky, pork rinds). We did the Coral Bay full moon (reference the vampire goat thread) in 2004 and loved it. This time we'll have a villa with the right orientation to watch the moon rise. Shipwreck Landing is more my speed for a full moon dinner than Miss Lucy's mayhem. We'll likely sit at the bar if Donna is working and give regards from JT (Joe and Betty from MD).

theshopper3 - sure, lets grab a taxi together. There should be no rush for the 3PM CA ferry.

As Sean Paul put it:

"Woman get busy, just shake that booty non-stop
When the beat drops
Just keep swinging it
Get jiggy"

It always sounds better blaring from a low rider in Cruz Bay.

Cheers, RickG

beachluvers · Post by **beachluvers** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:50 pm

Have a wonderful time, Rick. I got relaxed just reading your post....... "This is going to be a low key (no pun intended) trip for just the two of us." Don't we all need that from time to time?

nascarfan59 · Post by **nascarfan59** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:40 pm

RickG - 2 is the number we always go with. Nothing like time alone with each other on STJ to remember why you are together. My children are in their 20's and have their own lives going but next year we are taking my daughter and son in law and in 2009 my son and daughter in law will be joining us. Of course on dad's ticket

Have a great time, relax and enjoy.

Wave to us at the airport.

patr · Post by **patr** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:26 pm

Rick, hope you and your honey have a terrific vacation. Our recent trip was our first stay on the Coral Bay side of the island and I can say it is definitely less harried and more laid back.

The full moon over Coral Bay is breathtaking! If you skip the FMP at Miss Lucy's, be sure to try it one other evening for dinner. It is a gorgeous setting for a romantic dinner and they have a very nice menu.

Also, try to make it to Vie's beach. It is quite nice.

I am envious of your multiple countdowns!

p.s. Isn't Calliloo the Villa with some very strange bathrooms?

brenda · Post by **brenda** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:59 pm

Rick, hope you have a fantastic vacation. I do have a question for you. We have a similar arrival time (1:16pm) and was wondering why you choose the CA ferry over RH. We have done both and prefer the longer ferry ride. That said, I was thinking of heading to RH to catch the 3:00pm ferry. It would get us ther a little sooner. Not only that, we found it to be hot sitting waiting for the ferry in the sun (is that wimpy?) with our bags. My husband went to get us a painkiller from across the street somewhere and then couldn't take it on the ferry. Had to take one for the team and get freezer brain to finish it.

usvi-on-line