usvi-on-line
Chapter 4 "Days 4 & 5"
Chapter 4 "Days 4 & 5"
Day 4, 12/3/06
The night before, we had stopped in to Everyting (the store at Gallows). We had talked to the guys at the store about a BVI Charter. We told him that we were mostly interested in snorkeling, but a stop at the Soggy Dollar or Foxys wouldn’t hurt our feelings. After going through several options, he booked us on “No Shooz” with Josh.
Once again as we woke up, the skies were blue, and it looked to be yet another perfect day in paradise. We were supposed to meet Josh on the beach just a little ways down from the Beach Bar at 9:30 for a full day sail. He came into the beach on a dinghy, and motored us out to his catamaran. He had a beautiful 36’ cat, that was in great shape. We figured there would be a few others, but were very pleasantly surprised when he told us we were the only ones that day. I know it’s tough to take, but someone had to do it!! Tracie & I were totally psched to have our own private charter for the day…who wouldn’t? There was one small snag though. Somewhere along the line, there was a mis-communication, as Josh informed us that we were not going to the BVIs, and were staying local. We were under the impression from the guy at the Gallows store that we were booking a BVI trip, but this wasn’t the case. We were a little bummed, but at the same time, when you have a 36’ cat to yourselves, there’s hardly room for complaints. So we just told him that we wanted to see his “best snorkel spots”. And off we went.
The wind was still blowing pretty good, and the water was on the rough side. We all agreed that a BVI trip would of beat us up pretty bad. That catamaran sailed like a champ, and even with somewhat bumpy seas, it was quite smooth. We sailed the out skirts of STJ, and the views were to die for. Josh was very informative, and had a lot of stories to tell about each island out there. He ended up behind Little St James island for our first stop. The water was incredible. I have truly never seen so many different shades of turquoise in my life….simply breath taking. We tied off to a mooring bouy, and got our snorkel gear ready. Josh said he’d have lunch waiting when we were done snorkeling.
Little St James is a privately owned island by some rich investor from Wall Street if I remember the story correctly. His spread was awesome, from several boats, to a house that just boggled the mind. Some people just have WAY too much $$!!!!!
The reef was just a 30-40 yard swim away from the boat, and it was gorgeous. The colors were very bright, and the marine life was moving about everywhere you looked. This was some of the healthiest coral we had seen yet. All the regular fish were present such as Parrotfish, Tangs, etc. As we swam along in pure amazement at the outstanding coral reefs, we happened upon a big ole Barracuda. This was a fat 4 footer, that just looked very impressive. Knowing that Cudas can be attracted to flashy objects, I noticed that I forgot to remove my wedding band. It probably wouldn’t of mattered, but I wanted to play it safe, and get my ring off. I slipped it off, with intentions of tying it to my bathing suit strings. Well, somehow it slipped off the strings, and sank into about 15 feet of water. And with great luck, it happened to literally fall completely underneath a big sea urchin. I was very bummed, as I thought this thing is as good as gone. Really not a whole lot I could do, so we continued with our snorkel. After spending quite a bit of time on the reef, we very slowly made our way back across a huge grass bed outside the reef. Josh had told us this would be a good spot to see rays or turtles, but go very slow and watch closely. The water was deep, maybe 20-25 feet deep, but you could still see the bottom with good visibility. Josh’s advice paid off, as we saw a couple sting rays, and a couple turtles. We also saw a few big reef snappers as well. It was a fantastic snorkel.
We finally made it back to the boat, and as promised, Josh had a great lunch waiting for us. It included spinach & artichoke spread, garlic humus, broccoli salad, potato salad, turkey sandwiches, and a few other things I’m sure. It was quite a feast. Tracie & I just sat back, and ate like kings. I was very impressed with the spread Josh put out for us. It was first class all the way. Snorkeling definitely makes you hungry, and it showed. We did some serious damage on this mountain of food. The whole time we ate, Josh played some great CD’s. A mixture of reggae, and even some Jimmy Buffet which of course is right up our alley.
Tracie had told Josh about the ring incident, and said she thought she could find the ring. At this point I was wondering what Josh put in our lunch to make my wife so delusional. I said to Tracie, “There is absolutely no way you’ll find that ring honey”. It would be like finding a needle in a haystack, and then some. She stood her ground, and insisted that she knew right where it was. I just thought to myself, okay….whatever. Josh told Tracie if she wanted to look, he’s hop in and take a swim with her, so off they went. I thought she had gone mad at this point, and retired on the trampoline in the front of the boat, and started to take a nap in the sun….life was REAL good right about now. Talk about peaceful….I now was all alone on a sailboat, napping very comfortably in one of the most beautiful settings you have ever seen. I can handle this!!
About a half hour later, I hear Tracie & Josh climbing back into the boat. I was so ready to give my best “I Told You So”. Tracie walks up to the front of the boat, and before I could say a word, she shows me my ring!! I could not believe it. She actually spotted this thing 15 feet down under the surface, in the middle of a reef that must have had 500 urchins. How she found it I’ll never know, but I’m convinced she some special powers I don’t know about. I guess she spotted it, and Josh moved the urchin out of the way with a pole he brought from the boat. He then just dove down and grabbed it. Amazing, simply amazing. No matter what was said, I was just glad to have my ring back, and if I was home, I’d be buying lottery tickets that day.
We packed it up, and headed across the bay over to Great St James island. At least I believe that was the name. It was just a couple minute boat ride over. Once again, protected from the wind, it looked to be a great snorkel area. We got our gear together, and got ready to hop in. As I’m on the ladder, I look down, and see two big Spotted Eagle rays swimming under the boat. Now I’m pumped beyond belief to get in the water. By the time I took the plunge, unfortunately the Eagle rays had swam off. I headed over to a point of rocks that had a decent reef on it. The current was very strong here as it was basically the end of the island. The first thing I saw was yet another large Barracuda. Yes, my ring was safely tied to my suit! I picked my head up to see where Tracie was, but she was about 50 yards away. When I put my face back under water, I found myself now surrounded by 6 big cudas. It was intense to say the least. I’ve seen plenty of Barracudas in my day, but never so many, and never all around me. Some were within 10 feet, all just curious I guess, and checking me out. I’m confident that I’m not in any danger, but it will still make your heart skip a few beats.
The Tracie had joined me by now, and she got see several of the cudas. Being that the current was so strong, we decided to swim against it, and duck further behind the island along some rocky ledges. It was a good choice, as the current got considerably weaker as we swam further behind the island. We swam at least 100-150 yards, and at one point, it appeared as if it there wasn’t much else to see. Eventually, we started seeing some good coral growth among the rocks, and a little further down, we discovered some huge coral heads that were fabulous. Again, great colors, and each coral head had fish all around it. We were able to spot two huge puffer fish, the biggest I’ve ever seen. They were somewhat curious, and swam within about 15 feet of us. Then out of nowhere, here come a sea turtle to check us out. He swam right up close, and we were only 10 feet away at most. He didn’t appear scared at all, and just glided slowly around us letting us stare at him in awe. After swimming with the turtle for a bit, the next specimen that came through was a 5 foot nurse shark. This snorkel just kept getting better. The visibility was excellent, and we were once again in heaven.
We lifted our heads out of the water, and found ourselves over 200 yards from the boat. At this point we decided to start the long swim back. Just like the last stop, there was grass growing out deeper from the rocks & reefs. We slowly scoured over the grass oon our way back in hopes of finding those Spotted Eagle Rays. When we were within 50 yards or so of the boat, it looked as if we weren’t going to see much else. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw some movement, and low and behold, here come those huge Eagle Rays. These things are amazing to see. For those that haven’t seen one, they are BIG. My guess is that the wing span is easily 7 feet across, and from head to tail, they must stretch 10-12 feet. Their markings are incredible, and they glide with such ease. We could see them sucking food from the grass & sand. Smaller fish were darting about them picking up any scraps they could get a hold of. It’s hard to come up with the perfect adjective to describe this beauty. Purely thrilling is an understatement.
At this point, we were both a couple of soggy prunes, and it was time to call it quits. We climbed back in the boat, and got ready to head back. The sail was incredibly tranquil, as we skated across the water towards STJ. What a perfect day….we really had some of the best snorkeling yet. Again, Josh was a great guy, and we’d hire his services again without any hesitation. I believe the entire day was $240 bucks for the both of us, and I handed Josh an extra $50 as a tip. We pulled into Cruz Bay, and our smiles were ear to ear.
It was about 4pm, and we were to meet the forum members at the Beach Bar, so we hoofed it back up to Gallows to shower up, and get ready to meet the crew. We were all cleaned up and ready to go in about 30 minutes, so we headed right back down town, and hit the Beach Bar. The group was already there waiting for us. What a pleasure it was to put some faces with the names. We met Jan & Mike, Eric/NJ with his wife, and Minnesota Mike? Ruth & Ron were there, along with Sharon & Bob, and of course our fearless leader Bill in VA!! Everyone was an absolute pleasure to talk with. Just a great group of people, whom we now consider friends. The forum gathering was a great time, and we really enjoyed each & everyone that we chatted with. Sipping beers/cocktails with great people at the Beach Bar…..here we go again in heaven!!
We probably hung out for at least 2 hours or so, and had that popular “Dinner Glow” rolling strong. We decided to try the Fish Trap tonight. The service was very friendly, but definitely slow. They were also out of several things on the menu that we would of ordered. The apps came out fast, but the entrees took quite while. They were busy, and we had cocktails in hand, so it didn’t phase us one bit. I do remember I had a steak that was pretty good, but the rest of the meal is a blur…sorry, just can’t remember. I do remember overall we’d give the Fish Trap a C+. It was decent, but nothing out of this world.
Day 5, 12/4/06
Today, we woke up to yet another beautiful day….big surprise eh? We had really been on the go so far this week, so today we wanted to just chill out & relax. We were out of eggs, so bagels and fruit was our breakfast out on our patio. Never in a million years could I ever get sick of that view in the morning.
At the forum gathering, Jan & Mike had extended an invitation to come up to their villa so we could see our first villa from the inside out. After a lazy breakfast, we got in the jeep, and headed out past the Westin, and up to their villa. The roads were steep and curvy, but at this point, it didn’t even strike a nerve anymore. It’s hard to imagine, but I’m now getting used to these crazy roads of STJ. We found the villa without much problem at all. It was a beautiful place. The view was stunning, as were the huge array of flowers around the house. We took several photos, some of which came out great of the flowers. Jan & Mike were packing as they were headed home today, so we didn’t stay long. Thank you so much guys for inviting us up to see the villa, we really appreciate it.
Hopefully we’ll be able to spend more time on our next visit.
On the way back, we stopped into the Westin to check it out, and look into some parasailing, and some massages. We were told that due to rough seas, parasailing was out. No problem….show us the massage packages!! We booked massages for both od us at 2pm that day. We did walk around the grounds of the Westin, which was really nice. The grounds were immaculate, and they really kept everything looking great. It’s a pretty big resort, and we both felt although very nice, it just wasn’t our cup of tea. So onward back to Gallows.
We spent several of the next hours doing absolutely nothing besides lounging around the pool & swimming. The sun was blistering hot today, and after laying out, we found ourselves cooling off in the pool every 10-15 minutes. It sure was nice to switch gears and just be lazy for a little while. We had been on the run all week, and a little R&R was just what the doctor ordered. We really love the pool area at Gallows. There are a multitude of decks on different levels, with plenty of chairs/loungers, and very few people. It’s perched right above the ocean, and the views are spectacular. I could get used to this really quick!! After broiling our bodies for a few hours, we did a simple lunch in the condo with some cold cuts & chips. My God that AC feels good at certain times of the day…..
We later headed back to the Westin in the afternoon for our 2pm massages. I have been battling a very sore lower back all week, and I was ready beyond belief for some TLC. The massages were both top notch. I just about melted into the table. My massage therapist really knew what she was doing, and loosened up my back quite a bit. Come to find out, she told me a lot of pain was coming from my hip, which was extremely tight. She showed a few stretches to try, and they really helped a lot through out the rest of my week. After the massages, we oozed back to the jeep, and headed back to the condo. We were both so relaxed, and both fell asleep when we got back. A perfect lazy day so far.
Our plans that night were to hit the huge buffet at Caneel with Sharon & Bob. There was to be “All You Can Eat” lobster, and I wasn’t about to miss out on that!! We met Sharon & Bob out in front of Gallows, and all took our jeep over to Caneel. It was our first visit to Caneel, and it was a very nice experience. It was dark when we arrived, but they tiki torches leading the way through the grounds to the restaurant. We were sat immediately, and it didn’t take but a minute or two before we were up and headed towards the buffet. This was one heck of a spread. From the raw bar table which had giant piles of shrimp, stone crab, Alaskan king crab legs, and oysters, to the plethora of salads, breads, and other incredible offerings. So far so good, I was in food heaven. Okay, enough fooling around, where’s that lobster? So for round two, we hit the hot food side of the buffet. They had everything from veal, duck, snapper, prime rib, and of course grilled lobster. So much food….and most of it was mouth watering good. It was a bit pricey at $69 per person, but I definitely did some damage with several lobster tails. I was seriously full. I can usually eat a lot anyway, but I really strapped on the feedbag here. Oh, and almost forgot to mention the dessert table. Just a mountain of goodies that would make you faint. This meal receives two thumbs up….WAY up. Don’t miss this.
After such a great meal, with great company, we headed back to Gallows. We jumped in that very inviting Jacuzzi, and just marveled at the twinkling lights of STT. With all that food in me, good thing I wasn’t snorkeling, I would have sank like a brick. Another perfect ending to a great day. Cuddling in the Jacuzzi with the girl of my dreams, I’m not sure it gets much better. As it seems to be the theme on STJ, sleep came incredibly easy that night……
One more chapter after this….and we’ll sum it all up. Stay tuned……..
The night before, we had stopped in to Everyting (the store at Gallows). We had talked to the guys at the store about a BVI Charter. We told him that we were mostly interested in snorkeling, but a stop at the Soggy Dollar or Foxys wouldn’t hurt our feelings. After going through several options, he booked us on “No Shooz” with Josh.
Once again as we woke up, the skies were blue, and it looked to be yet another perfect day in paradise. We were supposed to meet Josh on the beach just a little ways down from the Beach Bar at 9:30 for a full day sail. He came into the beach on a dinghy, and motored us out to his catamaran. He had a beautiful 36’ cat, that was in great shape. We figured there would be a few others, but were very pleasantly surprised when he told us we were the only ones that day. I know it’s tough to take, but someone had to do it!! Tracie & I were totally psched to have our own private charter for the day…who wouldn’t? There was one small snag though. Somewhere along the line, there was a mis-communication, as Josh informed us that we were not going to the BVIs, and were staying local. We were under the impression from the guy at the Gallows store that we were booking a BVI trip, but this wasn’t the case. We were a little bummed, but at the same time, when you have a 36’ cat to yourselves, there’s hardly room for complaints. So we just told him that we wanted to see his “best snorkel spots”. And off we went.
The wind was still blowing pretty good, and the water was on the rough side. We all agreed that a BVI trip would of beat us up pretty bad. That catamaran sailed like a champ, and even with somewhat bumpy seas, it was quite smooth. We sailed the out skirts of STJ, and the views were to die for. Josh was very informative, and had a lot of stories to tell about each island out there. He ended up behind Little St James island for our first stop. The water was incredible. I have truly never seen so many different shades of turquoise in my life….simply breath taking. We tied off to a mooring bouy, and got our snorkel gear ready. Josh said he’d have lunch waiting when we were done snorkeling.
Little St James is a privately owned island by some rich investor from Wall Street if I remember the story correctly. His spread was awesome, from several boats, to a house that just boggled the mind. Some people just have WAY too much $$!!!!!
The reef was just a 30-40 yard swim away from the boat, and it was gorgeous. The colors were very bright, and the marine life was moving about everywhere you looked. This was some of the healthiest coral we had seen yet. All the regular fish were present such as Parrotfish, Tangs, etc. As we swam along in pure amazement at the outstanding coral reefs, we happened upon a big ole Barracuda. This was a fat 4 footer, that just looked very impressive. Knowing that Cudas can be attracted to flashy objects, I noticed that I forgot to remove my wedding band. It probably wouldn’t of mattered, but I wanted to play it safe, and get my ring off. I slipped it off, with intentions of tying it to my bathing suit strings. Well, somehow it slipped off the strings, and sank into about 15 feet of water. And with great luck, it happened to literally fall completely underneath a big sea urchin. I was very bummed, as I thought this thing is as good as gone. Really not a whole lot I could do, so we continued with our snorkel. After spending quite a bit of time on the reef, we very slowly made our way back across a huge grass bed outside the reef. Josh had told us this would be a good spot to see rays or turtles, but go very slow and watch closely. The water was deep, maybe 20-25 feet deep, but you could still see the bottom with good visibility. Josh’s advice paid off, as we saw a couple sting rays, and a couple turtles. We also saw a few big reef snappers as well. It was a fantastic snorkel.
We finally made it back to the boat, and as promised, Josh had a great lunch waiting for us. It included spinach & artichoke spread, garlic humus, broccoli salad, potato salad, turkey sandwiches, and a few other things I’m sure. It was quite a feast. Tracie & I just sat back, and ate like kings. I was very impressed with the spread Josh put out for us. It was first class all the way. Snorkeling definitely makes you hungry, and it showed. We did some serious damage on this mountain of food. The whole time we ate, Josh played some great CD’s. A mixture of reggae, and even some Jimmy Buffet which of course is right up our alley.
Tracie had told Josh about the ring incident, and said she thought she could find the ring. At this point I was wondering what Josh put in our lunch to make my wife so delusional. I said to Tracie, “There is absolutely no way you’ll find that ring honey”. It would be like finding a needle in a haystack, and then some. She stood her ground, and insisted that she knew right where it was. I just thought to myself, okay….whatever. Josh told Tracie if she wanted to look, he’s hop in and take a swim with her, so off they went. I thought she had gone mad at this point, and retired on the trampoline in the front of the boat, and started to take a nap in the sun….life was REAL good right about now. Talk about peaceful….I now was all alone on a sailboat, napping very comfortably in one of the most beautiful settings you have ever seen. I can handle this!!
About a half hour later, I hear Tracie & Josh climbing back into the boat. I was so ready to give my best “I Told You So”. Tracie walks up to the front of the boat, and before I could say a word, she shows me my ring!! I could not believe it. She actually spotted this thing 15 feet down under the surface, in the middle of a reef that must have had 500 urchins. How she found it I’ll never know, but I’m convinced she some special powers I don’t know about. I guess she spotted it, and Josh moved the urchin out of the way with a pole he brought from the boat. He then just dove down and grabbed it. Amazing, simply amazing. No matter what was said, I was just glad to have my ring back, and if I was home, I’d be buying lottery tickets that day.
We packed it up, and headed across the bay over to Great St James island. At least I believe that was the name. It was just a couple minute boat ride over. Once again, protected from the wind, it looked to be a great snorkel area. We got our gear together, and got ready to hop in. As I’m on the ladder, I look down, and see two big Spotted Eagle rays swimming under the boat. Now I’m pumped beyond belief to get in the water. By the time I took the plunge, unfortunately the Eagle rays had swam off. I headed over to a point of rocks that had a decent reef on it. The current was very strong here as it was basically the end of the island. The first thing I saw was yet another large Barracuda. Yes, my ring was safely tied to my suit! I picked my head up to see where Tracie was, but she was about 50 yards away. When I put my face back under water, I found myself now surrounded by 6 big cudas. It was intense to say the least. I’ve seen plenty of Barracudas in my day, but never so many, and never all around me. Some were within 10 feet, all just curious I guess, and checking me out. I’m confident that I’m not in any danger, but it will still make your heart skip a few beats.
The Tracie had joined me by now, and she got see several of the cudas. Being that the current was so strong, we decided to swim against it, and duck further behind the island along some rocky ledges. It was a good choice, as the current got considerably weaker as we swam further behind the island. We swam at least 100-150 yards, and at one point, it appeared as if it there wasn’t much else to see. Eventually, we started seeing some good coral growth among the rocks, and a little further down, we discovered some huge coral heads that were fabulous. Again, great colors, and each coral head had fish all around it. We were able to spot two huge puffer fish, the biggest I’ve ever seen. They were somewhat curious, and swam within about 15 feet of us. Then out of nowhere, here come a sea turtle to check us out. He swam right up close, and we were only 10 feet away at most. He didn’t appear scared at all, and just glided slowly around us letting us stare at him in awe. After swimming with the turtle for a bit, the next specimen that came through was a 5 foot nurse shark. This snorkel just kept getting better. The visibility was excellent, and we were once again in heaven.
We lifted our heads out of the water, and found ourselves over 200 yards from the boat. At this point we decided to start the long swim back. Just like the last stop, there was grass growing out deeper from the rocks & reefs. We slowly scoured over the grass oon our way back in hopes of finding those Spotted Eagle Rays. When we were within 50 yards or so of the boat, it looked as if we weren’t going to see much else. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw some movement, and low and behold, here come those huge Eagle Rays. These things are amazing to see. For those that haven’t seen one, they are BIG. My guess is that the wing span is easily 7 feet across, and from head to tail, they must stretch 10-12 feet. Their markings are incredible, and they glide with such ease. We could see them sucking food from the grass & sand. Smaller fish were darting about them picking up any scraps they could get a hold of. It’s hard to come up with the perfect adjective to describe this beauty. Purely thrilling is an understatement.
At this point, we were both a couple of soggy prunes, and it was time to call it quits. We climbed back in the boat, and got ready to head back. The sail was incredibly tranquil, as we skated across the water towards STJ. What a perfect day….we really had some of the best snorkeling yet. Again, Josh was a great guy, and we’d hire his services again without any hesitation. I believe the entire day was $240 bucks for the both of us, and I handed Josh an extra $50 as a tip. We pulled into Cruz Bay, and our smiles were ear to ear.
It was about 4pm, and we were to meet the forum members at the Beach Bar, so we hoofed it back up to Gallows to shower up, and get ready to meet the crew. We were all cleaned up and ready to go in about 30 minutes, so we headed right back down town, and hit the Beach Bar. The group was already there waiting for us. What a pleasure it was to put some faces with the names. We met Jan & Mike, Eric/NJ with his wife, and Minnesota Mike? Ruth & Ron were there, along with Sharon & Bob, and of course our fearless leader Bill in VA!! Everyone was an absolute pleasure to talk with. Just a great group of people, whom we now consider friends. The forum gathering was a great time, and we really enjoyed each & everyone that we chatted with. Sipping beers/cocktails with great people at the Beach Bar…..here we go again in heaven!!
We probably hung out for at least 2 hours or so, and had that popular “Dinner Glow” rolling strong. We decided to try the Fish Trap tonight. The service was very friendly, but definitely slow. They were also out of several things on the menu that we would of ordered. The apps came out fast, but the entrees took quite while. They were busy, and we had cocktails in hand, so it didn’t phase us one bit. I do remember I had a steak that was pretty good, but the rest of the meal is a blur…sorry, just can’t remember. I do remember overall we’d give the Fish Trap a C+. It was decent, but nothing out of this world.
Day 5, 12/4/06
Today, we woke up to yet another beautiful day….big surprise eh? We had really been on the go so far this week, so today we wanted to just chill out & relax. We were out of eggs, so bagels and fruit was our breakfast out on our patio. Never in a million years could I ever get sick of that view in the morning.
At the forum gathering, Jan & Mike had extended an invitation to come up to their villa so we could see our first villa from the inside out. After a lazy breakfast, we got in the jeep, and headed out past the Westin, and up to their villa. The roads were steep and curvy, but at this point, it didn’t even strike a nerve anymore. It’s hard to imagine, but I’m now getting used to these crazy roads of STJ. We found the villa without much problem at all. It was a beautiful place. The view was stunning, as were the huge array of flowers around the house. We took several photos, some of which came out great of the flowers. Jan & Mike were packing as they were headed home today, so we didn’t stay long. Thank you so much guys for inviting us up to see the villa, we really appreciate it.
Hopefully we’ll be able to spend more time on our next visit.
On the way back, we stopped into the Westin to check it out, and look into some parasailing, and some massages. We were told that due to rough seas, parasailing was out. No problem….show us the massage packages!! We booked massages for both od us at 2pm that day. We did walk around the grounds of the Westin, which was really nice. The grounds were immaculate, and they really kept everything looking great. It’s a pretty big resort, and we both felt although very nice, it just wasn’t our cup of tea. So onward back to Gallows.
We spent several of the next hours doing absolutely nothing besides lounging around the pool & swimming. The sun was blistering hot today, and after laying out, we found ourselves cooling off in the pool every 10-15 minutes. It sure was nice to switch gears and just be lazy for a little while. We had been on the run all week, and a little R&R was just what the doctor ordered. We really love the pool area at Gallows. There are a multitude of decks on different levels, with plenty of chairs/loungers, and very few people. It’s perched right above the ocean, and the views are spectacular. I could get used to this really quick!! After broiling our bodies for a few hours, we did a simple lunch in the condo with some cold cuts & chips. My God that AC feels good at certain times of the day…..
We later headed back to the Westin in the afternoon for our 2pm massages. I have been battling a very sore lower back all week, and I was ready beyond belief for some TLC. The massages were both top notch. I just about melted into the table. My massage therapist really knew what she was doing, and loosened up my back quite a bit. Come to find out, she told me a lot of pain was coming from my hip, which was extremely tight. She showed a few stretches to try, and they really helped a lot through out the rest of my week. After the massages, we oozed back to the jeep, and headed back to the condo. We were both so relaxed, and both fell asleep when we got back. A perfect lazy day so far.
Our plans that night were to hit the huge buffet at Caneel with Sharon & Bob. There was to be “All You Can Eat” lobster, and I wasn’t about to miss out on that!! We met Sharon & Bob out in front of Gallows, and all took our jeep over to Caneel. It was our first visit to Caneel, and it was a very nice experience. It was dark when we arrived, but they tiki torches leading the way through the grounds to the restaurant. We were sat immediately, and it didn’t take but a minute or two before we were up and headed towards the buffet. This was one heck of a spread. From the raw bar table which had giant piles of shrimp, stone crab, Alaskan king crab legs, and oysters, to the plethora of salads, breads, and other incredible offerings. So far so good, I was in food heaven. Okay, enough fooling around, where’s that lobster? So for round two, we hit the hot food side of the buffet. They had everything from veal, duck, snapper, prime rib, and of course grilled lobster. So much food….and most of it was mouth watering good. It was a bit pricey at $69 per person, but I definitely did some damage with several lobster tails. I was seriously full. I can usually eat a lot anyway, but I really strapped on the feedbag here. Oh, and almost forgot to mention the dessert table. Just a mountain of goodies that would make you faint. This meal receives two thumbs up….WAY up. Don’t miss this.
After such a great meal, with great company, we headed back to Gallows. We jumped in that very inviting Jacuzzi, and just marveled at the twinkling lights of STT. With all that food in me, good thing I wasn’t snorkeling, I would have sank like a brick. Another perfect ending to a great day. Cuddling in the Jacuzzi with the girl of my dreams, I’m not sure it gets much better. As it seems to be the theme on STJ, sleep came incredibly easy that night……
One more chapter after this….and we’ll sum it all up. Stay tuned……..
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Jan&MikeVa
- Posts: 1084
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:32 pm
- Location: The Chesapeake Bay
Enjoying your trip report, so very happy that your day snorkeling turned out so good!! You're right about not being able to find words to describe such things. But how great that you two can share that moment!
You guys seem to be having the best time, glad you got a day of R & R!! Would you believe that you guys left our villa at 9:30, the cleaning lady showed up at 10:00, and we were out the door at 10:10!!! Not bad. We only move fast when we have to.
Keep em coming,
Jan (akaCharlie)
You guys seem to be having the best time, glad you got a day of R & R!! Would you believe that you guys left our villa at 9:30, the cleaning lady showed up at 10:00, and we were out the door at 10:10!!! Not bad. We only move fast when we have to.
Keep em coming,
Jan (akaCharlie)
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Bill in Va
- Posts: 442
- Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 3:56 pm
- Location: Lake Gaston, Va
Making the varsity trip report team on your first try
Hey there. Doing one fine job my man. Sandie and I delivered the package to Tony, Mo's wife. Mo was sick as a dog that day. She said it should perk him up. So glad our paths crossed. Know there are more times to come with you guys, either on St John or at the lake! God bless....Bill
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
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Bob & Anita
- Posts: 611
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:20 pm
- Location: Charlotte, NC
What a great report! That snorkeling trip sounded amazing! I have always wondered what the deal is with that big house on Little St. James--every time we are on island with a view over there nobody seems to be home.
I have to go back and find the rest of your report. Looking forward to reading it!
I have to go back and find the rest of your report. Looking forward to reading it!
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
Hey Scott – you doing a fine job on these reports, but I can resist a commentary:
“Romancing the Island”
Our romantic couple (Scott & Tracie) continues their romantic interlude on St. John by hiring a boat to go to the BVI’s. To their surprise, the boat turns out to be a 36’ catamaran and they’re the only one’s on it. Scott’s romantic brain is churning to make the most of this opportunity with his “Love of his Life” when Capt. Josh interrupts his thoughts by stating that they will not be going to the BVI.
Disappointed, our couple decides to make the best of it and put their fate into Capt. Josh’s hands and they sail off to Little St. James.
<Commercial>
My wife and I went to Little St. James on a scuba dive with 6-paq and the place was phenomenal. Glad you had a good time too.
<Back>
As Scott & Tracie are snorkeling – Scott spots “Ole Iron Teeth”, a 4’ barracuda. Knowing that they are attracted to shiny objects, Scott tries to save his finger by tying his wedding ring to his bathing suit. The ring slips from his suit and falls into the abyss.
Does this change our couple’s vacation from “Romance in the Caribbean” to “Marriage on Little St. James Rocks”?
Tracie then grabs Capt. Josh and using her 6th sense, locates the ring in Poseidon’s domain. All is well with our happy couple.
Stay tune to “Romancing the Island”
Scott – I am really enjoying reading your reports. I know if I had lost my wedding ring – it would have bum’ed me out for the entire vacation. Can’t wait for the next chapter.
“Romancing the Island”
Our romantic couple (Scott & Tracie) continues their romantic interlude on St. John by hiring a boat to go to the BVI’s. To their surprise, the boat turns out to be a 36’ catamaran and they’re the only one’s on it. Scott’s romantic brain is churning to make the most of this opportunity with his “Love of his Life” when Capt. Josh interrupts his thoughts by stating that they will not be going to the BVI.
Disappointed, our couple decides to make the best of it and put their fate into Capt. Josh’s hands and they sail off to Little St. James.
<Commercial>
My wife and I went to Little St. James on a scuba dive with 6-paq and the place was phenomenal. Glad you had a good time too.
<Back>
As Scott & Tracie are snorkeling – Scott spots “Ole Iron Teeth”, a 4’ barracuda. Knowing that they are attracted to shiny objects, Scott tries to save his finger by tying his wedding ring to his bathing suit. The ring slips from his suit and falls into the abyss.
Does this change our couple’s vacation from “Romance in the Caribbean” to “Marriage on Little St. James Rocks”?
Tracie then grabs Capt. Josh and using her 6th sense, locates the ring in Poseidon’s domain. All is well with our happy couple.
Stay tune to “Romancing the Island”
Scott – I am really enjoying reading your reports. I know if I had lost my wedding ring – it would have bum’ed me out for the entire vacation. Can’t wait for the next chapter.
FlaGeorge
"Swim Against The Current - Even a Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow"
"Swim Against The Current - Even a Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow"
Actually, it's our fourth stay in 9A. Mentioned you name to Richard yesterday on the phone and he didn't say anything bad. So obviously, you must have left the furniture at least decent.
I'm only concerned that the remote is there,
I'm only concerned that the remote is there,
ScottB wrote:Promo,
You guys will love 9A for sure. And nope, didn't clean a damned thing!! LOL. As long as the Gallows cleaning folks aren't on strike, you stand a good chance of it being sanitary. My apologies for the broken bed, lamp, and patio furniture.