Day 4: Baby, you can drive my car
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:28 pm
Yes, a STJ first, I drove the car!
Monday 11/26/07. As I told Pia at the Beach Bar today this would be the day where I felt like I could really just exhale. We liked Gallows and those few days in town but as I said to Charlie during the week I'm not 100% sold on the 2 different locations in one trip. I don't really feel I'm on vacation until I'm settled in the villa. Living out of a bag drives me crazy!
This morning was leisurely with coffee and cereal on the deck. Really, is there a better way to start the day?
I managed to pull myself away from the deck eventually and got ready to head out on the roads. We had never been out beyond Island Blues before so today we decided to head out to Salt Pond. Jorge keeps saying how horrible it is there but I figure what does a boy from Blacksburg, Va. know anyway? I'm going to go see for myself
Really had no idea where we were going - sure I had the guide books but those were in the villa and I was in the jeep now! We passed a lot of things along the way I hadn't seen before - there's Aqua Bistro and Sweet Plantains and Miss Lucy's and Concordia. Ok, where the heck is Salt Pond. Here are some cars in a lot, Charlie pull in! No sign on the road but I see the trail down and a sign that says "do not leave valuables in vehicles" and I figure yup, this has got to be it! There is sign but you have to go down the trail to see it - if it wasn't Salt Pond you were looking for that's a long walk back!
We parked ourselves not far from the trail and hit the water. There were maybe 5 people scattered across that long beach. After a while we took the walk across to head over to Drunk Bay. This is the look back across the beach from farthest away from the trail
This way to Drunk
I really enjoyed this walk. And it's a walk it is not a hike by any means. More my speed than Ram Head
And it is a very interesting place to check out. A whole different landscape then other places I have seen on island. I don't know if it is always the case but it was SUPER windy on Drunk - my hat went flying at one point but I was able to chase it down. The wind made for some cool waves crashing on the rocks.
Along the trail
We're here
We checked out the different rock formations for a while, took a gajillion pictures and then headed back to Salt where we continued to froclick in the water.
I should have warned you in the beginning but there will be no underwater photos in this report! Sorry folks. I think I discovered on this trip that I'm just not a snorkeler. Charlie's not a good swimmer and doesn't really have the confidence to try it and I don't blame him for it at all. He gave us both a good scare in Maine a few years back so I don't push him. He's not a great swimmer, I'm not a great hiker, we know our limitiations
If he did the snorkle thing I'm sure I would get in to it but I'm not going it alone out there. I'm ok with that.
So, back to my story. We eventually packed things up and headed back up the trail. Hmm...MUCH easier going down hill! LOL but not too bad. Up in the parking lot there was a gang ready to head down the hill and one guy was trying to convince another not to take the cooler down. Well, he would not hear off it so off he went carrying his cooler. I hope for his sake it was empty on the way up
We liked Salt Pond a lot. I knew Jorge didn't know what he was talking about
I volunteered to drive from Salt Pond. I started out with the white knuckle grip but I relaxed after a few minutes. Easy to relax when there is NO ONE on the road! We decided to take a look around the plaza where Aqua Bistro is - can't recall the name now. I forgot that Misquito Bites changed names so we stopped in Big Belly Deli for some sandwiches to take back to the villa and we hit Lily's Market for a few things we forgot at Starfish. Lily's is really a very nice place if you haven't checked it out before.
Lunch. Charlie had the belly buster (every Italian meat and cheese known to man) and I ordered the Basil, tomato and fresh mozzarella. Oops, JUST ran out of basil on the last sandwich. That's ok just give me cheese and tomato and oh heck throw on some salami. Very good!
I continued driving all the way back to the villa. I did pretty good and Pia would be proud as I pulled over somewhere on Centerline to let a patient local pass me
Back at the villa we had lunch and spent the afternoon playing in the pool. Charlie decided to fire up the blender for a few rounds of "Charlie's 3 Rum Banana Coconut Surprise". The surprise part hits you after the first 2 or 3
Fun with fountains
We were in the pool until sunset.
The "surprise" cocktails made for an interesting ride to the Caneel Grand Buffet! We probably should have planned that better but oh well... too late now! One curb and a bit of dyslexia on our lefts and rights we were at Caneel.
I really love this property. Everyone has their opinions on it but that's mine. I love it. I don't want to spend my whole time there I don't think but I would like to stay there again and I know I will visit every time I'm on the island.
The buffet was lovely but it is pricey and not for everyone at $69.00 a person. We enjoyed the experience. Can't say I would do it every time but we were glad we did. There was a steel drum player which was very enjoyable for dinner and the atmosphere and the service made for a great evening.
Bananas Foster
Oh and here's a picture I forgot to include in day 3. Our fridge stocked up at the villa. Does anything seem out of balance here?????
Monday 11/26/07. As I told Pia at the Beach Bar today this would be the day where I felt like I could really just exhale. We liked Gallows and those few days in town but as I said to Charlie during the week I'm not 100% sold on the 2 different locations in one trip. I don't really feel I'm on vacation until I'm settled in the villa. Living out of a bag drives me crazy!
This morning was leisurely with coffee and cereal on the deck. Really, is there a better way to start the day?
I managed to pull myself away from the deck eventually and got ready to head out on the roads. We had never been out beyond Island Blues before so today we decided to head out to Salt Pond. Jorge keeps saying how horrible it is there but I figure what does a boy from Blacksburg, Va. know anyway? I'm going to go see for myself
Really had no idea where we were going - sure I had the guide books but those were in the villa and I was in the jeep now! We passed a lot of things along the way I hadn't seen before - there's Aqua Bistro and Sweet Plantains and Miss Lucy's and Concordia. Ok, where the heck is Salt Pond. Here are some cars in a lot, Charlie pull in! No sign on the road but I see the trail down and a sign that says "do not leave valuables in vehicles" and I figure yup, this has got to be it! There is sign but you have to go down the trail to see it - if it wasn't Salt Pond you were looking for that's a long walk back!
We parked ourselves not far from the trail and hit the water. There were maybe 5 people scattered across that long beach. After a while we took the walk across to head over to Drunk Bay. This is the look back across the beach from farthest away from the trail
This way to Drunk
I really enjoyed this walk. And it's a walk it is not a hike by any means. More my speed than Ram Head
And it is a very interesting place to check out. A whole different landscape then other places I have seen on island. I don't know if it is always the case but it was SUPER windy on Drunk - my hat went flying at one point but I was able to chase it down. The wind made for some cool waves crashing on the rocks.
Along the trail
We're here
We checked out the different rock formations for a while, took a gajillion pictures and then headed back to Salt where we continued to froclick in the water.
I should have warned you in the beginning but there will be no underwater photos in this report! Sorry folks. I think I discovered on this trip that I'm just not a snorkeler. Charlie's not a good swimmer and doesn't really have the confidence to try it and I don't blame him for it at all. He gave us both a good scare in Maine a few years back so I don't push him. He's not a great swimmer, I'm not a great hiker, we know our limitiations
If he did the snorkle thing I'm sure I would get in to it but I'm not going it alone out there. I'm ok with that.
So, back to my story. We eventually packed things up and headed back up the trail. Hmm...MUCH easier going down hill! LOL but not too bad. Up in the parking lot there was a gang ready to head down the hill and one guy was trying to convince another not to take the cooler down. Well, he would not hear off it so off he went carrying his cooler. I hope for his sake it was empty on the way up
We liked Salt Pond a lot. I knew Jorge didn't know what he was talking about
I volunteered to drive from Salt Pond. I started out with the white knuckle grip but I relaxed after a few minutes. Easy to relax when there is NO ONE on the road! We decided to take a look around the plaza where Aqua Bistro is - can't recall the name now. I forgot that Misquito Bites changed names so we stopped in Big Belly Deli for some sandwiches to take back to the villa and we hit Lily's Market for a few things we forgot at Starfish. Lily's is really a very nice place if you haven't checked it out before.
Lunch. Charlie had the belly buster (every Italian meat and cheese known to man) and I ordered the Basil, tomato and fresh mozzarella. Oops, JUST ran out of basil on the last sandwich. That's ok just give me cheese and tomato and oh heck throw on some salami. Very good!
I continued driving all the way back to the villa. I did pretty good and Pia would be proud as I pulled over somewhere on Centerline to let a patient local pass me
Back at the villa we had lunch and spent the afternoon playing in the pool. Charlie decided to fire up the blender for a few rounds of "Charlie's 3 Rum Banana Coconut Surprise". The surprise part hits you after the first 2 or 3
Fun with fountains
We were in the pool until sunset.
The "surprise" cocktails made for an interesting ride to the Caneel Grand Buffet!
We probably should have planned that better but oh well... too late now! One curb and a bit of dyslexia on our lefts and rights we were at Caneel. I really love this property. Everyone has their opinions on it but that's mine. I love it. I don't want to spend my whole time there I don't think but I would like to stay there again and I know I will visit every time I'm on the island.
The buffet was lovely but it is pricey and not for everyone at $69.00 a person. We enjoyed the experience. Can't say I would do it every time but we were glad we did. There was a steel drum player which was very enjoyable for dinner and the atmosphere and the service made for a great evening.
Bananas Foster
Oh and here's a picture I forgot to include in day 3. Our fridge stocked up at the villa. Does anything seem out of balance here?????
