STJ Pictures from June 2007 Trip

Bob & Anita · Post by **Bob & Anita** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:32 pm

Here are our pictures from our STJ June 2007 Trip:
http://www.pbase.com/robertablake/stj2007

We did not have time to completely organize and name all the pictures, or write an extensive trip report. We have had a busy summer, including going to France only after a week of getting back from STJ and then seeing our oldest son off to start college.

Here is our short trip report:

This was our 3rd year in a row going to STJ; all 3 times in June. This was the second year we brought our two boys, 15 & 18. In fact, our oldest son turned 18 the day we arrived so he got to enjoy the free "Welcome to USVI" rum punch:

and a great birthday diner at the Blue Moon Cafe at Secret Harbour, STT:

One of the highlights of our STJ trip this year was Bob and the boys getting certified in scuba diving with Colette of 6pag Scuba: http://www.6paqscuba.com/

Another highlight was a Forum Gathering at the Beach Bar for the Sunday Jazz. We had a short previous write-up of it here: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=

We got to meet many wonderful Formites at the beach bar. In particular it was fun meeting Tracy & Juice:

This was because we ended up running into Tracy and Juice several more times. They stayed at Secret Harbour after STJ like us; so we saw them on the beach of Secret Harbour beach, then we sat few tables away from them for the Blue Moon Celebration BBQ at the Blue Moon Cafe. Then we run into them again the next day during checkout, again when we were having lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant and then finally at STT airport when we were catching our respective flights home. It was all quite coincidental and fun. They probably felt like we were following them around STT.

We also got to meet Ruth and Ron of St John Spice, two wonderful people with a great shop.

We stayed at the Bay View again where we always enjoy its comfortable relaxing feel and its gorgeous views:

We ate dinner more at the villa this year, which allowed us to enjoy the sunsets views that it has to offer:

We went to 3 new beaches this year, which where were:

Francis Bay: A very nice long beach with lots of room and very good snorkeling.

Jumbie Bay: a smaller picturesque beach with good snorkeling, and

Little Lameshur Bay:: a very uncrowed beach:

with great sea life; we saw several Spotted Eagle Rays:

We also had our usual excellent snorkeling experiences at Waterlemon:

and Salt Pond:

This year we stayed at Secret Harbour, STT, for one night before STJ and for one night after STJ. We really enjoyed this since it extended our USVI vacation by two days and removed any time stress by separating the car barge travel days from the air flight travel days. We got the same 2 bedroom beach front suite that has steps right down to the beach:

.

Secret Harbor is a very relaxing place to hang for a day or two:

We had a several hours after checking out of Secret Harbour and before our plane flight home so we had a chance to drive around STT and explore. In our explorations we stumbled across Udder Delight, which has fantastic milkshakes:

After 3 years in a row going to STJ we may not go in 2008. 2007 was a banner travel year for us with not only our STJ trip but a fantastic family trip in April to the Grand Canyon/Arizona (Pictures: http://www.pbase.com/robertablake/grand_canyon) that feature a two day mule ride in and out of the Grand Canyon

And a special trip to France (Pictures: http://www.pbase.com/robertablake/france2007) where we got to spend 3 romantic days by ourselves in St Tropez on the French Riveria...

...and then see our oldest son perform with his high school jazz band in 3 diffent jazz venues in France:

We are now trying to save our pennies for a 2009 STJ trip, but who knows, we just might say, "to the heck with it, let go in '08."

Jan&MikeVa · Post by **Jan&MikeVa** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:31 pm

WOW..............I was just thinking about you guys the other day (just cruising down the highway), and wondered if I had missed your Trip Report. Didn't you guys go straight to France after STJ?? And hope your son enjoyed the tour over there.

Great pics, missed seeing pics of Bob's "Beach Soldiers"

It sounds like you guys had a good time.

Thanks for reporting in, somehow I suspect you'll be booking another trip for next year!

.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:54 pm

Great pic's guy's - see you in 2008

Pia

Ksea · Post by **Ksea** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 2:57 pm

Wow, you had a great summer! Missed seeing you on STJ. Your underwater pics are great!!

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:04 pm

Awesome!! Thanks for sharing your STJ pics and your son's time in France. I'm glad it all worked out for all of you, I remember the tough decisions you had to make!!

StJohnRuth · Post by **StJohnRuth** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:59 pm

Here's a couple of cool dudes:

cat · Post by **cat** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:06 pm

Fantastic pics! It does sound like you guys have had a wonderful year!!!!

Bob & Anita · Post by **Bob & Anita** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 11:34 am

StJohnRuth wrote:Here's a couple of cool dudes:

Ruth, Excellent picture, thanks for posting.

sapphirecat · Post by **sapphirecat** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:05 pm

Wow, loved your vacation! You were really lucky with the eagle rays. I get around one spotting every other year, and have no camera.

Did you use one of those disposable water-proof cameras or something more sophisticated?

Thanks!

Cat

gobucs · Post by **gobucs** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:07 pm

Great Pics you two!
Hopefully youll make it back next year as well
Every year we go down, we get home and say"Wont be back next year but the year after" BUT we always end up going the next summer anyway-

Just cant help ourselfs

Welcome Home

Bob & Anita · Post by **Bob & Anita** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:49 pm

sapphirecat wrote:Did you use one of those disposable water-proof cameras or something more sophisticated?

Cat

We have Canon with an underwater case.

babydocwhit · Post by **babydocwhit** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 2:34 pm

I was going to ask the same thing, what camera?!?!? We're headed out in three weeks, and that's one thing I had forgotten to ask about.

Dave-a-roni · Post by **Dave-a-roni** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 10:16 pm

Nice pics, thanks for sharing.

Those spotted eagle rays are awesome... WOW!

Have a good one!

SuefromMA · Post by **SuefromMA** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 11:29 pm

Thank you for the great report & the awesome photos!

Always wonderful to see our much loved Secret Harbour. Nice to see the view from your room. We have never stayed in building 4 - but, it looked great!

How in the world do you do it? If I remember correctly you got an awesome spotted eagle ray shot on your last trip. That double spotted eagle ray shot was absolutely unbelievable. You do an amazing job of getting "that shot"!! You are, I am sure, among a very few that have been lucky enough to see that & to catch it so perfectly - good for you! And lucky for us that you get to share it with us.

Didn't like that shot of the stingray whipping his tail. Made me a little nervous & I am not even in the water with him. Great shot, too, of the turtle going one way & the stingray going another. Again, you always have the most amazing underwater shots. Absolutely LOVE them.

Am I right? You saw the spotted eagle rays at Little Lampshur? If so, that will definitely be on the list for our next trip (probably in 2009).

Also, can't believe that this was your first trip to Francis. Isn't it gorgeous! Love that beach.

Also, wished that you could have brought me back a "shake" from Udder DeLite - what a wonderful find that is on St. Thomas.

Again, thank you so much for sharing. I always look forward to your reports and photos!

Sue

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 8:16 am

Hey Sue,

FYI, the only time I have seen Spotted Ray's have been at Maho - hopefully they will be around for your next trip

Pia

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