We are family (mostly) tour - July 1 - July 10
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:43 pm
Trip dates were July 1 – July 10. In the past we’ve gone down for a week, but since it’s such a hassle for us to get to the island (all day and then some!) we decided to stay a bit longer this year. It ended up to be a GREAT decision. This was our 8th trip to St. John. First 4 years were at Cinnamon Bay Cottages and last 4 have been at a villa in Coral Bay (each has pros and cons – like most things in life).
Cast of characters – Me, my 2 sisters (Twyla and Marcia), my husband (Jim), and a family friend (John). So, 5 in all. Most of us in our 50’s. We’re not “ sit on the beach all day” kind of people, so we like a very active type of trip (it's all about the snorkeling) and usually need a “vacation from our vacation” by the time we get home. This year was no exception.
Travel day was long and boring but no surprises, so won’t bore you with details other than to ask if anyone else thinks that airplane seats have to be the most uncomfortable seat in the world - seriourly, I think it would have been more comfortable sitting on a 2x4 all the way to Puerto Rico!
Got our rental car from Penn and packed 5 people and all their luggage (After 8 years of this, we still take WAY too much) into our Jeep Wrangler and then made a quick stop at Dolphin Market to pick up just a few essentials for breakfast in the morning). Packed like sardines into the Jeep and make our way to Coral Bay. We had brought a bunch of frozen food with us so unpacked it, and relaxed for an hour or two before heading to bed.
By default, I’m the travel coordinator for the group. , I usually make a list of places to go – many familiar places and then I always like to add a few new ones to the mix. This year the wind (rough water) kept us from some of our favorites, but that forced us to other places we probably wouldn’t have visited and surprisingly enough, some of those are now on our “favorite” list
.
Day 1 – Rained hard at times during the night, but this morning it looks pretty clear. First on our agenda is to try one of our favorite snorkels – Haulover North. After the short hike to Haulover we see that it is pretty rough and choppy and decide that’s probably not a good choice for our first snorkel of the year. So, on down the road to Hansen Bay and Pelican Rock. No one else is here and water is nice and calm. Jim started out by swimming right over the top of a small eagle ray. I'm disapointed that I didn't see it since an eagle ray pretty much "makes my day". Oh well, this is our fist snorkel, so we're bound to see more, right? Swim on down along the rocks a ways and John spots a lion fish. We don't have markers with us, so vow to get some and come back later and mark this bad boy
. None of us had seen a lion fish up close and personal before. They are certainly unique, but for obvious reasons, we weren't excited to find them. Not sure how it happened, but John got into some fire coral. He is a bit uncomfortable so we are headed back to the villa for some medication, lunch and a little downtime.
Day 1 PM Waterlemon is on the agenda for this afternoon. We usually start our snorkel in Leinster Bay (since we've stirred up an Eagle Ray or two there in previous years). However, it wasn't to be today. Also, on the lookout for the Sea stars, but only found a couple of them out in deep water. We did spot several flounder and the usual assortment of fish.
Rained a bit during our afternoon snorkel - it's always interesting to feel rain on your back while you are snorkeling!
We needed to do some grocery shopping so make the trek across the island.
Since it's still early in the evening, we go the JJ's Texas Coast and have some of their happy hour specials. The Chicken wrap on the happy hour menu has to be one of the best surprises on the island! Back to the villa and early to bed tonight - still recovering from a long travel day.
Still struggling a bit posting pictures, so be patient with me!
Tomorrow - heading to South shore beaches
Cast of characters – Me, my 2 sisters (Twyla and Marcia), my husband (Jim), and a family friend (John). So, 5 in all. Most of us in our 50’s. We’re not “ sit on the beach all day” kind of people, so we like a very active type of trip (it's all about the snorkeling) and usually need a “vacation from our vacation” by the time we get home. This year was no exception.
- I got all my sisters and me...
Got our rental car from Penn and packed 5 people and all their luggage (After 8 years of this, we still take WAY too much) into our Jeep Wrangler and then made a quick stop at Dolphin Market to pick up just a few essentials for breakfast in the morning). Packed like sardines into the Jeep and make our way to Coral Bay. We had brought a bunch of frozen food with us so unpacked it, and relaxed for an hour or two before heading to bed.
By default, I’m the travel coordinator for the group. , I usually make a list of places to go – many familiar places and then I always like to add a few new ones to the mix. This year the wind (rough water) kept us from some of our favorites, but that forced us to other places we probably wouldn’t have visited and surprisingly enough, some of those are now on our “favorite” list
. Day 1 – Rained hard at times during the night, but this morning it looks pretty clear. First on our agenda is to try one of our favorite snorkels – Haulover North. After the short hike to Haulover we see that it is pretty rough and choppy and decide that’s probably not a good choice for our first snorkel of the year. So, on down the road to Hansen Bay and Pelican Rock. No one else is here and water is nice and calm. Jim started out by swimming right over the top of a small eagle ray. I'm disapointed that I didn't see it since an eagle ray pretty much "makes my day". Oh well, this is our fist snorkel, so we're bound to see more, right? Swim on down along the rocks a ways and John spots a lion fish. We don't have markers with us, so vow to get some and come back later and mark this bad boy
. None of us had seen a lion fish up close and personal before. They are certainly unique, but for obvious reasons, we weren't excited to find them. Not sure how it happened, but John got into some fire coral. He is a bit uncomfortable so we are headed back to the villa for some medication, lunch and a little downtime. Day 1 PM Waterlemon is on the agenda for this afternoon. We usually start our snorkel in Leinster Bay (since we've stirred up an Eagle Ray or two there in previous years). However, it wasn't to be today. Also, on the lookout for the Sea stars, but only found a couple of them out in deep water. We did spot several flounder and the usual assortment of fish.
- Snorkeling in the rain
We needed to do some grocery shopping so make the trek across the island.
Since it's still early in the evening, we go the JJ's Texas Coast and have some of their happy hour specials. The Chicken wrap on the happy hour menu has to be one of the best surprises on the island! Back to the villa and early to bed tonight - still recovering from a long travel day.
Still struggling a bit posting pictures, so be patient with me!
Tomorrow - heading to South shore beaches
