USVI-On-Line

Day 2 started with an early brunch at Chilly Billys that was great. I heard they were closing and this is sad!
We then walked the trail to Solomon, carrying a cooler from Coconut Coast. Never again, next time will pack insulated bags in my husbands manpurse or spring for a cooler backpack that I have read about on this site. Aslo, next time, will hike up the hill and down to get more of a workout (sans hard -sided cooler)

Solomon is beautiful. Only about 5 people on the whole beach including us, and by this time it was noon. Stayed there a while, then walked to Honeymoon. This beach was really crowded, much more narrow and inclined. I would probably like it better without the people, but hey, if you want it to yourself you have to buy it right?

Ended up at Caneel. Took a cab back to town then checked out Starfish. We walked around the store, becoming increasingly confused. I knew I wasn't going to survive the week on fine wines, expensive weird cheese and water crackers. The cashier couldn't talk for some reason. Where are the diet cokes, cereal and oreos? What's a southern girl to do? My husband said I can't make it without budweiser and fritos...So, we buy some wine, goat cheese, the new St. John magazine and leave, worried. Then, aha...we see the OTHER store across the hall. Thats more like it! Stocked up on all the basics.

Another couple is joining us today, so we meet them at the ferry. Later we officially introduce them to St. John on the porch of the Balcony. Not a great meal, but its a great place to take Newbies on their first night.
We talk to Chase the bartender.. have a BBC, couple of painkillers, go to the Beach Bar....same ol....


Day 3
Next day is dinghy rental day. We rented through Calypso. They have the somewhat larger dinghys that have a center console and a steering wheel. They also are ok for 4.

Ok-after very good instructions from the very nice and very patient dinghy lady, we head out. Very calm and peaceful...for about 15 minutes. Then , very rough water, especially around the points. We, from about 10 until 4, were screaming, laughing, cursing, you name it.


We made it around the first point and travelled beyond Solomon, Honeymoon, Caneel. It was the point after Caneel that did my friend in. Water over the bow, the whole enchilada. At any rate, we pulled into Scott ( I think?) and anchored. We discussed our options over some rum and Budweiser. My friend and I were going to swim to shore, somehow make it to Caneel bar and meet the guys ( who would go ahead without us), later taking a cab back.
About that time, a Caneel employee, who just did not understand our plight, yelled at us from the shore to leave. Truly embarassed in front of the 2 or 3 people on that beach (we have alot of pride), we left and made it around another point to I think Hawksnest and Gibney. We anchored at Gibney. This was nice and my friend calmed somewhat, after some more rum.

I snorkeled and walked on the beach. We then got up the courage to try to make it to Trunk. The anchor was stuck on an old mooring under the water. I tried to free dive to remove it, but I just couldn't quite stay underwater long enough to unlodge the anchor. We sat awhile, considering our options over some more rum and budweiser, when the dinghy gods came to our rescue and somehow unlodged the anchor. We might still be there....which would not be a bad thing, at least, in my view of the world.

We made it around the point to Trunk. This time, I thought my friend was going to jump just to avoid more waves. Didn't happen, so we tried to anchor in Trunk. Again, we were going to swim to shore and catch a cab and meet the guys in town. About that time, in front of hundreds of people on Trunk, we were yelled at by the park ranger to leave.

Since we always follow directions (other than from sweet dinghy ladies about where to anchor and where to moor), we prompt leave. My friend and I decide to stick it out with the guys (more brownie points, we figure) and hang in there. So, we made it back to Caneel, stopped and had lunch and more rum. Then we were able to get back to the park dock at 4.

A few points: the Christmas winds cause choppy water that time of the year. Its odd, but the water became a little calmer as the day wore on... or maybe it was the rum.

Also, this trip did not bother me even I am the lucky survivor of a serious boating accident on the Mississippi River. I tend to freak out in rough water..but I was not scared. My friend, however, was; hey, the way I look at it, we all have our jumbies, right?

I would do this again, but I would save it for a spring or summer trip when the Christmas winds are not ablowing!

Stopped at Morgans Mango-great frozen drinks. Later, light dinner at Beach Bar. Be sure and order a lime in da coconut.


Day 3-BVI Trip with Capt. John/Palm Tree Charters


This was the best. We started by being entertained by Capt. John with tales about St. John. Took a nice cruise around the north part of the island to Mary Point (looks different from a 26'catamarran!). Snorkeled there and saw a spotted eagle ray and a nurse shark on the bottom. Unbelievable!!!!

We then checked into the BVI in Tortola and headed to Smugglers Cove. Sayed there a while enjoying their painkillers, which somehow taste better when blended in a blender hooked up to a car battery....

Then, we took our time to Jost. Had lunch at Foxys Taboo, really good lunch.

Then headed over to see Foxy's bar. It was rather empty, but at least we saw it. Next, Soggy Dollar. Met one of the owners. Great guy!


Headed back to STJ-lots of fun and laughs with Capt. John. This was a very relaxing day. When we did this trip on our last trip, we tried to do too much..about 5 or 6 stops and the baths. This was much better.



Happy Hour at Woodys. I was standing across the street in front of Subways, when a local started singing..."I've got sunshine on a cloudy day...." MY FAVORITE..and he did it just right. We started singing it together...."I guess you say.... what can make me feel this way...my girl....." Serenaded on the street!!!!Only on St. John!

I have lots of "only on St. John's" and will include one in each part of my report.

Dinner at La Tapas... Absolutely one of the best meals I have ever had. Worth every penny.....all thousand or whatever of them, by now we have lost count!!!!


In sum: Calypso dinghys are great, because of the center console and steering wheel. Capt John trip to BVI-must do , but don't do too much. La Tapas is the best....
Finally...take it all in. Everybody has their own jumbies....Enjoy the little things that St. John brings your way....Sort of St. John Serendipity. Those are the best things!

Hey, thanks for sharing part 2 and being so honest. That's one of the great things about trip reports is that others can learn from your successes and failures, thanks. I'll make sure I get a good understanding of where we can "anchor" the boat and where we can't.

BTW, my wife and I are right there with you looking for the beer...Cheers!

...and Go Braves!

Loving your trip reports. Was very interested in your experiences with Calypso. We're renting from them in May so hopefully the weather/water will be more calm then.
Look forward to your next installment!

thanks for the report - I have a couple of questions: Who is Capt. John with? We have reservations w/ the Wayward sailor for a two snorkel trip (my son wants to get a lot of snorkeling in this trip) but I am thinking about doing a trip to Jost. Also - I was told you have to have boating experience to rent the dinghy from Calypso - do you know if this is true? I am not sure if I could squeeze some boating lessons in before our June trip. Thanks

Capt. John is with Palm Tree Charters. I believe his website is simply that palmtreecharters.com. He was the best (we did New Horizons 2 last year)....

For the dinghy, we do have boating experience and I do think boating experience was helpful for the dinghy rental, particularly since it was so rough.

I do not know if we will do this again if we are with a group, boating experience or not. The main reason is that you have to moor the boat to mooring balls that are really pretty far out. If you do not snorkel or swim, sitting in that little boat out in the middle of the water would get old. There were two beaches where you could anchor,...(I dont' remember which two).

My husband and I (avid snorkelers) probably would do it again if it were just the two of us, but only in the late spring early summer.

Finally, some people on this site cautioned that it was difficult to get in and out of the dinghy. I did not find that to be the case, as i simply put my foot on the propeller (it was quite stable...engine off, of course) and pulled myself up. No problem!


One more thing: if the water is rough (which it was in late December ) you can't really take a lunch or anything else in the boat. Water came over the front of the dinghy several times.