just got back and time to post the #1 trip report/pics...
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:39 pm
left from Indy last thursday, 85 degrees and sunny and get into St Thomas @ about 2 o'lock and it's been raining all day and 70 degrees. we start to wonder but just as advertised, Rachel is right on time waiting to pick us up and assures us not to worry, the sun will be out tomorrow. (she's right, of course...) was surprised by the length of time the ride took to get to cruz bay. some pretty intense traffic and the hills! we had a bumpy flight in and my wife (lisa) was already motion sick. it was nice to ride with Rachel who got her up in the front seat and talked the whole time to help her thru it. using her service was definitely the way to go and well worth the extra few bucks.
we stayed at Grande Bay resort which was great because it was within walking distance to everything. very comforting for a 1st timer....
once we settle in we're off to the Beach Bar for burgers, bushwackers and painkillers. i can see now why everybody loves this place!
1st order of business friday was to rent the jeep and i'm glad we did. the ability to pick up and go where ever and whenever we wanted was really nice. we rented from cool breeze on the recommendation of the condo owner and while we didn't have any problems (no flats, battery issues, breakdowns) the jeep we had was pretty beat up, missing parts and made all sorts of noises that made me think it would die any minute. i'll probably try somewhere different next time....(as an added bonus for Grande Bay we had a parking space which made it easy with the limited parking)
i didn't mind the left side of the road driving but nothing can prepare you for the combination of tight turns and steeps to climb. that little 3 turn combo a couple miles out on the north shore took some getting used to. at least coming back it was not so bad. i don't know how those guys in the big delivery trucks do it, especially when it rains??
with the easy parking, partial facilities, we decided to make Maho our first beach to visit. wasn't too crowded and we saw lots of cool stuff there
what's this mysterious sea creature??
more burgers and bushwackers at Joe's Rum Hut that night and after a good nights sleep we head off to Salt Pond on Saturday. on the way we run into these guys...
base camp at salt pond. thanks to those who recommended the "neat sheet", a very handy item...
ok, time to post this before i screw up and delete it. have some better stuff and some video for #2.
jb
we stayed at Grande Bay resort which was great because it was within walking distance to everything. very comforting for a 1st timer....
once we settle in we're off to the Beach Bar for burgers, bushwackers and painkillers. i can see now why everybody loves this place!
1st order of business friday was to rent the jeep and i'm glad we did. the ability to pick up and go where ever and whenever we wanted was really nice. we rented from cool breeze on the recommendation of the condo owner and while we didn't have any problems (no flats, battery issues, breakdowns) the jeep we had was pretty beat up, missing parts and made all sorts of noises that made me think it would die any minute. i'll probably try somewhere different next time....(as an added bonus for Grande Bay we had a parking space which made it easy with the limited parking)
i didn't mind the left side of the road driving but nothing can prepare you for the combination of tight turns and steeps to climb. that little 3 turn combo a couple miles out on the north shore took some getting used to. at least coming back it was not so bad. i don't know how those guys in the big delivery trucks do it, especially when it rains??
with the easy parking, partial facilities, we decided to make Maho our first beach to visit. wasn't too crowded and we saw lots of cool stuff there
what's this mysterious sea creature??
more burgers and bushwackers at Joe's Rum Hut that night and after a good nights sleep we head off to Salt Pond on Saturday. on the way we run into these guys...
base camp at salt pond. thanks to those who recommended the "neat sheet", a very handy item...
ok, time to post this before i screw up and delete it. have some better stuff and some video for #2.
jb
