USVI-On-Line

Day 9

First things first....I had to call St. John Car Rental and tell them that we lost our jeep key while snorkeling. I was worried about how they'd react, but they were so nice about it, and said they'd run another key right over. I got the impression that we were definitely not the first goofy tourists to leave a key underwater! After admiring the view from our deck for a while:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1819400702/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2326/181 ... 0d7f89.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="view from our deck"></a>

we had breakfast at the Caneel terrace (included in our room rate), then headed into town to return the jeep-no hassles at all. Back to Caneel and onto Scott Beach. These steps led right from our deck to the beach:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818966378/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/181 ... 5d6e6f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="cottage seven steps to scott"></a>

Scott Beach:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818549205/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2132/181 ... b22cb6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="scott beach"></a>

We snorkled out from the center of the beach and out to Turtle Point. We found tang, a mutton snapper, jacks:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818034143/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2420/181 ... 2b0bac.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="scott jack"></a>

a harlequin bass, squid:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818915750/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2125/181 ... c3194a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="scott squid"></a>

and out by the boat buoys we find excellent coral, including the biggest elkhorn I have ever seen!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818029083/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2271/181 ... 93491b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="scott giant elkhorn"></a>

It's hard to see the perspective here, but it was taller than John, and he is 6 feet.

Lots of rays on the way back in, including the tailless ray I find here every year:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818917848/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2029/181 ... 47bca7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="scott tailless ray 2"></a>

and a big barracuda that had been hooked with a fishing line.

Later, after some book time on the beach, and a pleasantly cold beer (thanks for the coozy, Ruth!):

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818853702/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2020/181 ... 4baa4a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="scott beer"></a>

we headed back into the water and found rays everywhere-at least seven of them. We also found a baby turtle on the way over to Paradise Beach. John made an excellent spotting-a French angelfish accompanied by a juvenile one.:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1817993397/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/181 ... b92b34.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="cottage point french angelfish with juvie"></a>

Other sightings were mostly of the usual, already seen suspects, including a flounder:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1817984631/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2377/181 ... 7f2ba3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="caneel flounder"></a>

We ended up snorkeling around Cottage Point and all the way to Caneel beach, and then walking back to Scott to pick up our stuff.

Back to our deck for some wine:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818150043/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/181 ... eeb5a3.jpg" width="432" height="500" alt="caneel bay wine at sunset"></a>

And the view of the sunset sail getting ready to start:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818536943/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2356/181 ... 8dc069.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="caneel afternoon sail"></a>

Then over to watch our last sunset before heading to dinner:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818989650/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2319/181 ... 021586.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="caneel bay last sunset"></a>

Dinner tonight was at the Stone Terrace. It was their first night open after their vacation, and they have an entirely new menu. I started with the country salad-which was a standard frisee aux lardons, but it was what I was in the mood for. John started with a braised pork belly served with "apple essence" fruit mustard, and a celeriac slaw. He ate every bit of it!

For entrees, I tried the new tuna dish-seared tuna with "riviera salad." It was basically a mixed greens salad with radishes, harcort verts, olives, tomatoes, etc. The flavors were fine, but the dish lacked something-it just was not very exciting. John fared better with his dish of lobster three ways: butter poached tail, foam "cappuccino" soup, and new-potato-lobster galette. He pronounced it very rich and very delicious! We also had a great wine with this dinner-Turley White Coat. Yum!

We ended the evening back at Caneel, watching the stars from our deck, and plotting the next trip...

Day 9 bug bite tally: 10


Day 10

We slept in today, knowing it was going to be a long day. We decided to go for a last short snorkel at Scott Beach:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818011265/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/181 ... 52b670.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="scott beach to the right"></a>

and immediately found a turtle with two attached remora:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818552537/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/181 ... c72b4e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="scott turtle diving"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1819391026/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/181 ... 37cf18.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="scott turtle at surface"></a>

We floated with him for about 20 minutes and then headed in to shower and pack. One last breakfast on the Caneel terrace, and then we checked out ("See you next year", they said. "Yup!" we replied. "You will."), boarded the ferry, and headed towards home.

I love how they come out to wave goodbye:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1819378486/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/181 ... 6b2805.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="caneel goodbye 2"></a>

Goodbye St. John!:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1818542271/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2315/181 ... 835ba5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="goodbye st john"></a>

The flight home was turbulent, but we made it, and even got home in time to see the Red Sox win game 6! It was another great vacation on St. John, just like always. It seems like no matter how long we stay, it's never long enough. From the very first visit, there was just something about St. John that got inside us took over a little piece of our soul.

October Favorites:

Beach: Scott
Snorkel: Blue Cobblestone
Restaurant, lunch: Aqua Bistro
Restaurant, dinner: La Tapa
Accommodations: Caneel Cottage 7!

If you would like to see all of my public photos from this trip, click on this link:

http://www.flickr.com/gp/28539958@N00/sC03s7

Until the next trip...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1791926171/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/179 ... eb5d7f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="hawksnest gs"></a>

Becky and John

What a great report, and as usual, your pictures are fantastic!

Sorry we didn't run into you (Ruth said that we JUST missed you one day) maybe next year!

Thanks for the great travelogue!

AW, what a great ending!
I was so sad moving away from Caneel on that ferry!

We plan to hit Caneel early on this trip and do so much time and then have breakfast there. We really like it.

Thanks, Becky, for the great reports and photos.

I agree with Mary Beth. It looked like such an amazing week, I was sad to see the shot of the Caneel Dock fading away. As usual, a great report with beautiful pictures. Thanks

Thoroughly enjoyed your pictures and trip reports! So do you think you'll head back the same time again next year? We have friends already saying they're going back (it will be their second time) next October and I am all set to book the same week again.

Thanks again for the pictures. Next year I will have to look for the Red Sox baseball cap to recognize you!

Great reports and excellent photos!

btw - Just last week, we lost our car key on the last day and had to also call St John Car rental - they nicely brought a new key to all the way to Cinnamon Tarn for us!

What a great trip report!

I think losing keys is pretty common. Don lost the keys to a rental while swimming in Florida. This was before we were married - but the first time he met my parents. If you think calling the car rental company to tell them what happened is uncomfortable, try it on your future father-in-law

Glad you were "shipping it up to Boston" in time for Games 6&7; and 1,2,3,4!!

Hi Becky---Really enjoyed your entire report and wonderful photos (love the great food shots). I especially wanted to comment, though, on what a darling shot that was of you and John at the end of your report---you both look so natural, relaxed and happy. You can't fake that look---thats what a great vacation will do for you.

I have been hooked on your trip reports! Loved the pics, what are you using for your underwater camera?

I am sad that your TR is over..........but I loved it......I wish I had stayed at Caneel when I worked for them.........lol

I loved your reports!

Your pictures are so vivid!!

I am now officially obsessed with Caneel Cottage #7. I love that short walk down to the beach!!

The smile on your faces says it all! Glad you had a wonderful trip and absolutely loved the trip reports and the photos! Still love that snapper photo looking directly at you! It was my fav! Also, the killer view from your patio at Caneel-WOW! Looking forward to your trip report next year!

Wow!! Really awesome trip report, start to finish. Your pics are simply to die for! Love the ending one with the happy couple - - you two are just too sweet! And to have a mutual love for STJ to boot - - perfect!

Thanks for taking the time to write!

You write one hell of a report. I love all the detail and the pictures. I am glad that you love STJ so much and travel there often. That way I know that I can look forward to another report