We are family - Day 7
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:02 pm
Well, we only got 1 snorkel in yesterday, so we need to make up for that today 
. We are out the door and at Waterlemon by 7:00AM! So much for sleeping-in on vacation! We barely get started when my sister spots a free swimming eel. It isn't real big and I'm not sure what kind it is (Golden?) , but they always remind me of a "sock puppet" (at least until they open their mouth and show their teeth). I think it has something to do with the eyes. They look like the kind you buy in a hobby store and glue on your craft project.
Later in the snorkel we find a couple more free-swimming eels. I wonder if it has something to do with the time of day we're out here. We also see all kinds of turtles, rays, and the usual suspects.
We snorkel for about 90 minutes and then decide that since we started so early we can get another snorkel in before lunch.
We want to take the guys to Maho since we had such a good time there yesterday (while they were in church). Lots of parking spots available so that's alway encouraging. All the big turtles are out again along with several remoras and the cutest little (2-3 inches) balloon fish you ever saw. He was sooooo tiny. We just hovered above and watch him for several minutes.
On the way home we stop at the smoothie Stand - this has to be the only sign of its kind in the whole world!
Back to the villa for lunch and downtime (i.e.nap) After we are sufficiently rested, we decide to try something new again - back to the South side - this time to Grootspan. It takes us a while to find this bay, but it is a very interesting snorkel. Lots of coral and shells on the beach make for some great beachcombing. One sister decides the water is a bit rough, so she is going to sit this one out. The rest of us enter the water and make our way out along the west side of the bay. We haven't gone to far when we realize this is going to be a rough one. Waves are huge, but we still feel comfortable enough that we're going to stay in the water awhile. There are lots of great places to explore and many things in deep water. Next time I might consider renting some equipment cause I think this place would make for some great SCUBA diving. When we get home, we hear there is a "small-craft warning" for the south side. I guess my sister looks like the smart one now for sitting this one out
We are hearing rumblings that tropical storm Chantal is going to impact the island. They are talking about heavy rain and stong winds. We decide to go out to eat tonight at Skinny Legs since we are afraid we might have to deal with power outages tomorrow. We always enjoy our night out at Skinny Legs and this was no exception. We do a little shopping while we wait for our food to arrive. The TV at the restaurant is tuned to the Weather Channel and everyone is quite attentive when they talk about Chantals path.
We head home hoping that tomorrow isn't a total wash-out.
Tomorrow: Chantal isn't as big of an event as anticipated.
. We are out the door and at Waterlemon by 7:00AM! So much for sleeping-in on vacation! We barely get started when my sister spots a free swimming eel. It isn't real big and I'm not sure what kind it is (Golden?) , but they always remind me of a "sock puppet" (at least until they open their mouth and show their teeth). I think it has something to do with the eyes. They look like the kind you buy in a hobby store and glue on your craft project. 
Later in the snorkel we find a couple more free-swimming eels. I wonder if it has something to do with the time of day we're out here. We also see all kinds of turtles, rays, and the usual suspects.
We snorkel for about 90 minutes and then decide that since we started so early we can get another snorkel in before lunch.
We want to take the guys to Maho since we had such a good time there yesterday (while they were in church). Lots of parking spots available so that's alway encouraging. All the big turtles are out again along with several remoras and the cutest little (2-3 inches) balloon fish you ever saw. He was sooooo tiny. We just hovered above and watch him for several minutes.
On the way home we stop at the smoothie Stand - this has to be the only sign of its kind in the whole world!
Back to the villa for lunch and downtime (i.e.nap) After we are sufficiently rested, we decide to try something new again - back to the South side - this time to Grootspan. It takes us a while to find this bay, but it is a very interesting snorkel. Lots of coral and shells on the beach make for some great beachcombing. One sister decides the water is a bit rough, so she is going to sit this one out. The rest of us enter the water and make our way out along the west side of the bay. We haven't gone to far when we realize this is going to be a rough one. Waves are huge, but we still feel comfortable enough that we're going to stay in the water awhile. There are lots of great places to explore and many things in deep water. Next time I might consider renting some equipment cause I think this place would make for some great SCUBA diving. When we get home, we hear there is a "small-craft warning" for the south side. I guess my sister looks like the smart one now for sitting this one out
We are hearing rumblings that tropical storm Chantal is going to impact the island. They are talking about heavy rain and stong winds. We decide to go out to eat tonight at Skinny Legs since we are afraid we might have to deal with power outages tomorrow. We always enjoy our night out at Skinny Legs and this was no exception. We do a little shopping while we wait for our food to arrive. The TV at the restaurant is tuned to the Weather Channel and everyone is quite attentive when they talk about Chantals path.
We head home hoping that tomorrow isn't a total wash-out.
Tomorrow: Chantal isn't as big of an event as anticipated.