Trip report Nov 25 to Dec 9...Part 2
Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:59 pm
Ok its been almost a week since our return and I have seen my tan slowly go down the drain with each shower. Should have had a sealer applied like my drive way! I'll look at Home Depot tonight.
Back to the report. The first evening was spent unloading the clothes/food in the cooler. Yep we brought a full size cooler of frozen meats/egg beaters/coffee beans/Sandie's super white basalmic vingerette dressing and a big bag of spring mix laid on top of the meats. Found the TSA inspection card in every piece of luggage. Had to draw straws for the rooms. It worked out great for every one. We would be staying a week longer than most so we would be in the master suite after they left. Surveyed what was at the villa in the way of spices/sugar/booze/soft drinks/water and then invaded Star Fish. It is amazing how some villas are stocked to the gills with stuff and others are bare bones. Lesson is to see what you have before donating to the grocery stores if its convenient to do so.
We all kicked in to fund a "food kitty" which made it easier. When she got low then we all added.
Ate at the villa the first night. Gave the newbies a lesson in pain killer making and consuming. Those Arizona folks did just fine. We had one more set of grands coming in the next day. We were waiting on the dock when two familar faces from Virginia came off the boat. Hug time for Mike and Jan of this very forum. They were on the same boat as the Nebraska grands. While we were waiting I called my buddy back home and told him to log on and check out the web cam. Got to wave to the camera and he did a print screen. Not sure if he waved back at me or not...if you know what I mean.
Now the whole team was on island. Rick and Diane are Lanie's folks and have been to St John with us 4 times before. Back to the villa and get unloaded and into bathing suites. Again ate at the villa that night. Enjoyed getting reconnected with every one. We had been out to Cal to see the kids and Calvin in Sept. Got to play golf with Bill down in Montery. That place has eye candy too. The baby had grown alright and was a lot more mobile. Donald Schnell had a guy come by and install an extra bar all the way across the deck just in case. Really made the deck almost kid proof. Is anything kid proof? A very nice jesture to make us feel a little more at ease.
Monday was Maho Beach day for the whole team. Load up the Durango and the Jeep and hit the road. The Jeep had 223 miles on it. Can we say brand new? The Durango about 8000. Everthing worked. Have never had an issue with Bougainvellia, only help when we needed it and fast friendly service. They give a repeat renter a discount I might add. The beach was perfect. So neat to see Calvin walking and dragging his sand toys on the beach. Yes I will be posting pictures of the whole deal on webshots. We love Maho because it is so close to the road with a killer sandy beach and great snorkeling on the right side. Lots of fish. Caught an octopus hanging out along with a BIG tarpon. On the swim back from the far point I ran into a little turtle. Battery was dead on the camera so all I have is in my mind. Most of us did the snorkel. The Arizona grands loved it. We stopped by the Beach Bar and enjoyed the happy hour and then back to the villa to get cleaned up for dinner the the Balcony.....sorry I have to cut this one a little short but duty calls. Frank Barnako did a podcast trip report with me this morning. I'll let you know when it is up on his site.God bless.....Bill
Back to the report. The first evening was spent unloading the clothes/food in the cooler. Yep we brought a full size cooler of frozen meats/egg beaters/coffee beans/Sandie's super white basalmic vingerette dressing and a big bag of spring mix laid on top of the meats. Found the TSA inspection card in every piece of luggage. Had to draw straws for the rooms. It worked out great for every one. We would be staying a week longer than most so we would be in the master suite after they left. Surveyed what was at the villa in the way of spices/sugar/booze/soft drinks/water and then invaded Star Fish. It is amazing how some villas are stocked to the gills with stuff and others are bare bones. Lesson is to see what you have before donating to the grocery stores if its convenient to do so.
We all kicked in to fund a "food kitty" which made it easier. When she got low then we all added.
Ate at the villa the first night. Gave the newbies a lesson in pain killer making and consuming. Those Arizona folks did just fine. We had one more set of grands coming in the next day. We were waiting on the dock when two familar faces from Virginia came off the boat. Hug time for Mike and Jan of this very forum. They were on the same boat as the Nebraska grands. While we were waiting I called my buddy back home and told him to log on and check out the web cam. Got to wave to the camera and he did a print screen. Not sure if he waved back at me or not...if you know what I mean.
Now the whole team was on island. Rick and Diane are Lanie's folks and have been to St John with us 4 times before. Back to the villa and get unloaded and into bathing suites. Again ate at the villa that night. Enjoyed getting reconnected with every one. We had been out to Cal to see the kids and Calvin in Sept. Got to play golf with Bill down in Montery. That place has eye candy too. The baby had grown alright and was a lot more mobile. Donald Schnell had a guy come by and install an extra bar all the way across the deck just in case. Really made the deck almost kid proof. Is anything kid proof? A very nice jesture to make us feel a little more at ease.
Monday was Maho Beach day for the whole team. Load up the Durango and the Jeep and hit the road. The Jeep had 223 miles on it. Can we say brand new? The Durango about 8000. Everthing worked. Have never had an issue with Bougainvellia, only help when we needed it and fast friendly service. They give a repeat renter a discount I might add. The beach was perfect. So neat to see Calvin walking and dragging his sand toys on the beach. Yes I will be posting pictures of the whole deal on webshots. We love Maho because it is so close to the road with a killer sandy beach and great snorkeling on the right side. Lots of fish. Caught an octopus hanging out along with a BIG tarpon. On the swim back from the far point I ran into a little turtle. Battery was dead on the camera so all I have is in my mind. Most of us did the snorkel. The Arizona grands loved it. We stopped by the Beach Bar and enjoyed the happy hour and then back to the villa to get cleaned up for dinner the the Balcony.....sorry I have to cut this one a little short but duty calls. Frank Barnako did a podcast trip report with me this morning. I'll let you know when it is up on his site.God bless.....Bill
