USVI-On-Line

Yo troops. I saw the " where is everybody" post so I thought I had better check in...We arrived yesterday, no drama even 30 minutes early. Picked up our ride from Dependable and went to Cost you Less. Well $200 later it seems that it didn't cost ME less. Hey we be here for 17 days this tour so why not load up. Hit the car ferry hut and paid the $4 port charge and went forward to the gate with STOP on it and waited for the folks to come over as they were loading the ferry and there was plenty of room. Your humble servant got out and moseyed over to the gate and politely said "Good afternoon how are you? Person with badge came over and told me I had to wait and I asked why and he told me that there had been a big meeting and the gate would be closed at a certain time and no other cars would be let on regardless of the room left on the ferry. Full discloser time. YHS begged. Yep hands together begged. Badgeman said no again. I sulked back to the jeep in full defeat in front of my bride. Her man had let her down was what I saw in those beautiful eyes. Not really. But I think there has to be some conversation about this. I can see if someone is screaming up as the boat just as it is pulling away but this was not the case. NO problem we be on island time, next barge was right along. It took 45 minutes to make the trip to STJ by the way. $50 for a round trip ticket. Mark Shekleton of http://www.seaviewhomes. met us and took us to our villa Paradisiello over looking Great Cruz Bay. First time in this one but we like it and will stay here again.
Today we had breakfast at Jakes. They were repainting the parking lot lines so you will see bright yellow lines waiting for you. Had eggs and hash. Loved it. Went over to Haulover Beach as the north shore beaches were getting nailed by the waves. Had a fantastic snorkel with my sweetie. Saw tons of fish and 3 octopi and a 5 foot nurse shark. My Sandie's first up close shark ever. She did great. Most of the folks there were locals. This is a great beach and we go there a lot. Saw the new black little donkey. We may need a new "name the donkey contest" after little Pilgrim was anointed.
Oh we saw Ziggy the pig right near the ferry dock. He/she is huge. We saw it as a piglet swimming at Haulover a couple of years ago.
Came back to the villa and chilled in the pool and someone took a nap and then we had dinner and watched a short rain shower and .......hey we be on vacation. More to come God bless...Bill

Great report.

TM

Yep that is the new car ferry rule - really annoying at times

Pia

Wow, I didn't realize there was a new car barge rule! Can you please elaborate? Heading back on Dec. 7th and will be taking the car barge over that afternoon. In the past, have often "just made the ferry"..... i.e. last car on before pulling away. Do they now close this gate a certain time before scheduled departures? Thanks.

Ferries were "hanging around" for the want of a better term after their scheduled departure time - think of the ferry that was due to leave at 2:30pm still accepting cars (because they were cars constantly arriving) at 2:40pm+ so the 3pm ferry was now loosing business because if the 2:30pm had left on time those cars would have been on the 3pm (obviously) therefore now what they do is once 2:30pm rolls around the gate is closed and the ferry leaves therefore if you pull up at 2:30pm they will not let you on no matter what - even if that ferry is only 1/4 full - you will have to wait for the next one at 3pm

Pia

Thanks Pia for the explanation- now I understand. Come to think of it, over the years, I was often one of those cars pulling up at like 2:32pm and just made it on. I guess it makes sense (I'm saying that now, but will feel differently in a couple of weeks if I just miss it by a few minutes and the ferry not full)!
Thanks again.

Thanks for the update, Bill!