Spring Break Trip Report - Part Two
Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:06 pm
Day Two (Wednesday) –
We decided we would hike today from Grande Bay to Honeymoon Beach. We took the trail just past Mongoose Junction to Margaret Hill and enjoyed the wooden overlook platform to take in the gorgeous views. It was raining on and off but we barely felt a drop as we hiked under the trees until reaching Caneel Bay. Magically, the rain stopped before we arrived and the rest of our day at the beach was beautiful. After relaxing and enjoying the view and ocean, we took the Lind Point trail back to Grande Bay.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Wx1L ... C01978.JPG" height="400" width="225"></a>
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Z ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mIrI ... C01990.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kcAf ... C01981.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/f ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZdnG ... C02000.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
The hike to Honeymoon is a bit challenging and uphil for a long way, lots of rocks and tree roots make the footing interesting. It took us about 90 minutes and we rarely stopped. The hike back on the Lind Point Trail was much flatter and a nice way to get back to town.
A visitor hoping for a handout at Honeymoon
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RExj ... C02019.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
That evening, we visited Elaine Estern at Coconut Coast Studios. She hosts a cocktail reception on Wednesday nights in season. I highly recommend stopping by if you can to view her beautiful artwork and enjoy some music and appetizers.
http://www.coconutcoaststudios.com/Site/Home.html
Day Three (Thursday) – After our two active days, we decided to have a Grande Bay pool day. My son and I are planning to run in two local races in the next few weeks at home so we decided to get in a little run in the morning – which turned into no running, but a walk to the Westin (yes, up and down Jacob’s Ladder!). We then stopped at the Animal Care Center and took Peter (the dog) for a walk in preparation for a hike tomorrow.
After all that activity, we were ready to relax and spent about an hour at the pool before getting ready to meet one of our favorite island residents (and fabulous Realtor and Excursion expert) for lunch – Dianne Otis (aka Pia)! We enjoyed our visit with her and our delicious lunch at Ocean Grill.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8sN5 ... C02039.JPG" height="400" width="225"></a>
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/w ... site"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9SjT ... C02045.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
Look who I caught on his way home from work, the infamous John Brandi of Palm Tree Charters.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JpLa ... C02055.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
On our way back we stopped and bought some fresh fish from the local fishermen. We bought three steaks for only $10 and grabbed a few sides at the mini mart for dinner. The rest of the day was for relaxing at the pool and we did quite well at that! I cooked our mahi in the oven with a few simple spices and it was easy and delicious – I will certainly do this again on a future trip.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/l ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GflK ... C02056.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
Another great St. John day!
We decided we would hike today from Grande Bay to Honeymoon Beach. We took the trail just past Mongoose Junction to Margaret Hill and enjoyed the wooden overlook platform to take in the gorgeous views. It was raining on and off but we barely felt a drop as we hiked under the trees until reaching Caneel Bay. Magically, the rain stopped before we arrived and the rest of our day at the beach was beautiful. After relaxing and enjoying the view and ocean, we took the Lind Point trail back to Grande Bay.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Wx1L ... C01978.JPG" height="400" width="225"></a>
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Z ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mIrI ... C01990.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kcAf ... C01981.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/f ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZdnG ... C02000.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
The hike to Honeymoon is a bit challenging and uphil for a long way, lots of rocks and tree roots make the footing interesting. It took us about 90 minutes and we rarely stopped. The hike back on the Lind Point Trail was much flatter and a nice way to get back to town.
A visitor hoping for a handout at Honeymoon
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RExj ... C02019.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
That evening, we visited Elaine Estern at Coconut Coast Studios. She hosts a cocktail reception on Wednesday nights in season. I highly recommend stopping by if you can to view her beautiful artwork and enjoy some music and appetizers.
http://www.coconutcoaststudios.com/Site/Home.html
Day Three (Thursday) – After our two active days, we decided to have a Grande Bay pool day. My son and I are planning to run in two local races in the next few weeks at home so we decided to get in a little run in the morning – which turned into no running, but a walk to the Westin (yes, up and down Jacob’s Ladder!). We then stopped at the Animal Care Center and took Peter (the dog) for a walk in preparation for a hike tomorrow.
After all that activity, we were ready to relax and spent about an hour at the pool before getting ready to meet one of our favorite island residents (and fabulous Realtor and Excursion expert) for lunch – Dianne Otis (aka Pia)! We enjoyed our visit with her and our delicious lunch at Ocean Grill.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8sN5 ... C02039.JPG" height="400" width="225"></a>
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/w ... site"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9SjT ... C02045.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
Look who I caught on his way home from work, the infamous John Brandi of Palm Tree Charters.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JpLa ... C02055.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
On our way back we stopped and bought some fresh fish from the local fishermen. We bought three steaks for only $10 and grabbed a few sides at the mini mart for dinner. The rest of the day was for relaxing at the pool and we did quite well at that! I cooked our mahi in the oven with a few simple spices and it was easy and delicious – I will certainly do this again on a future trip.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/l ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GflK ... C02056.JPG" height="225" width="400"></a>
Another great St. John day!
