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Trip Report 11/25-12/2/06 - Part 3
Trip Report 11/25-12/2/06 - Part 3
Monday, November, 27, 2006
Woke up today to this view:
and realized we still have 5 whole days left!
Today we decided to hike the lower Lind Point Trail to one of our favorite beaches, Salomon Bay. Breakfast eaten, bathing suits on, suntan lotion applied, masks defogged, snorkel gear, towels,and continuous spray Coppertone packed, cooler filled with drinks and ice packs, Swimways floats out, hats on, and 2 hours later, we are ready to go...
Down the hill we go, enjoying the view along the way
We head for Deli Grotto at Mongoose Junction for sandwiches to pack for lunch. This is a really great place, all kinds of sandwiches, bakery items, drinks, ice-cream, all at a reasonable price. Sandwiches ran from $7-9. Threw the food in the cooler and headed toward the start of the Lind Point trail. The trail officially starts right behind the National Park Visitors Center, but here's a tip. That beginning part there is very steep and slippy, especially when carrying all your gear. Instead, rather that walking down to the visitor center, head straight for some apartments there, there is a dirt road in front that leads around to an old sea plane ramp. Go up the hill of the dirt road and follow it to the trail. You will pass where the initial steep beginning of the trail actually connects to this dirt road. As we passed we saw two people at the bottom of the steep trail looking up like they were debating whether to go or not..been there done that. The rest of the trail is relatively easy, flat and well beaten, until you have to branch off down to Salomon. It's a bit tricky, especially for my sherpa, er, husband, but we emerge from the jungle, and out onto the sands of Salomon. WAIT A MINUTE, there are a million people on this little stretch of beach! OK, not a million, but more people than I have ever seen here before! Oh well, throw our stuff down under some palm and sea grape trees and immediately jump in the water after the hot hike. Ahhh, that feels good.
Water was not as calm as it usually is, not so relaxing on our new floats. Snorkeled around the point between Salomon and Honeymoon. Last year I noticed a lot of the coral was bleached. This year a lot of his has deteriorated. It's a shame, it was one of the best snorkel spots in St. John, in my opinion anyway.
Decide to head back around 3:30, maaan, it's hot walking back, even in the shade. On the way back we just had to stop at Our Market for the best tropical fruit smoothies. They really hit the spot.
Earlier when we went to Deli Grotto, or Grotto Deli, can't remember which it is, we checked out the menu for Paradiso, it looked good, and was fully ACed. Decided to try that for dinner this night and it was realllllly good, and not too exhorbitant. Excellent pasta dishes. 2 entrees, 1 shared appetizer, and 2 cokes, and the bill was $54 plus tip. Not bad by St. John standards.
After, walked back to Dolphin to pick up a 12 pack of Coke for $4.75 after we were soaked $9 for a 6 pack of Diet and a 6 pack of regular Coke at Gallows Gourmet (we were hoping not to have to carry it home, but Mark was out of his Coke!). Some scenes along the way:
Paradiso is at the top right in the above picture.
Later we had ice scream at the new place "I scream" located between the Beach Bar and Joe's Rum Hut at Wharfside. Either we were really desperate for something sweet and icy cool, or that was the best soft serve ice cream I ever had eaten while we strolled along the beach there - sure beats Kohl Bros on the Wildwood boardwalk that's for sure (what am I doing?! comparing something in Wildwood, NJ to St. John? I seriously digress)
Had to get back to watch Two and a Half Men, even that seemed funnier in paradise...
Woke up today to this view:
and realized we still have 5 whole days left!
Today we decided to hike the lower Lind Point Trail to one of our favorite beaches, Salomon Bay. Breakfast eaten, bathing suits on, suntan lotion applied, masks defogged, snorkel gear, towels,and continuous spray Coppertone packed, cooler filled with drinks and ice packs, Swimways floats out, hats on, and 2 hours later, we are ready to go...
Down the hill we go, enjoying the view along the way
We head for Deli Grotto at Mongoose Junction for sandwiches to pack for lunch. This is a really great place, all kinds of sandwiches, bakery items, drinks, ice-cream, all at a reasonable price. Sandwiches ran from $7-9. Threw the food in the cooler and headed toward the start of the Lind Point trail. The trail officially starts right behind the National Park Visitors Center, but here's a tip. That beginning part there is very steep and slippy, especially when carrying all your gear. Instead, rather that walking down to the visitor center, head straight for some apartments there, there is a dirt road in front that leads around to an old sea plane ramp. Go up the hill of the dirt road and follow it to the trail. You will pass where the initial steep beginning of the trail actually connects to this dirt road. As we passed we saw two people at the bottom of the steep trail looking up like they were debating whether to go or not..been there done that. The rest of the trail is relatively easy, flat and well beaten, until you have to branch off down to Salomon. It's a bit tricky, especially for my sherpa, er, husband, but we emerge from the jungle, and out onto the sands of Salomon. WAIT A MINUTE, there are a million people on this little stretch of beach! OK, not a million, but more people than I have ever seen here before! Oh well, throw our stuff down under some palm and sea grape trees and immediately jump in the water after the hot hike. Ahhh, that feels good.
Water was not as calm as it usually is, not so relaxing on our new floats. Snorkeled around the point between Salomon and Honeymoon. Last year I noticed a lot of the coral was bleached. This year a lot of his has deteriorated. It's a shame, it was one of the best snorkel spots in St. John, in my opinion anyway.
Decide to head back around 3:30, maaan, it's hot walking back, even in the shade. On the way back we just had to stop at Our Market for the best tropical fruit smoothies. They really hit the spot.
Earlier when we went to Deli Grotto, or Grotto Deli, can't remember which it is, we checked out the menu for Paradiso, it looked good, and was fully ACed. Decided to try that for dinner this night and it was realllllly good, and not too exhorbitant. Excellent pasta dishes. 2 entrees, 1 shared appetizer, and 2 cokes, and the bill was $54 plus tip. Not bad by St. John standards.
After, walked back to Dolphin to pick up a 12 pack of Coke for $4.75 after we were soaked $9 for a 6 pack of Diet and a 6 pack of regular Coke at Gallows Gourmet (we were hoping not to have to carry it home, but Mark was out of his Coke!). Some scenes along the way:
Paradiso is at the top right in the above picture.
Later we had ice scream at the new place "I scream" located between the Beach Bar and Joe's Rum Hut at Wharfside. Either we were really desperate for something sweet and icy cool, or that was the best soft serve ice cream I ever had eaten while we strolled along the beach there - sure beats Kohl Bros on the Wildwood boardwalk that's for sure (what am I doing?! comparing something in Wildwood, NJ to St. John? I seriously digress)
Had to get back to watch Two and a Half Men, even that seemed funnier in paradise...
-
California Girl
I am just LOVING your trip report! And even more I LOVE the pictures! The one of Cruz Bay with the boats and the ferry dock in the distance is an angle you don't get to see very often in peoples' pictures. And the shots around town (Lumberyard, Mongoose Junction) are just great! 
Last edited by California Girl on Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My camera is awesome, Canon Powershot A95, with all different kinds of shooting modes, just can't take a bad picture with this thing, it's amazing.