STJ 2008 - A Perfect Ten! (Part 3)
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:24 pm
Sunday, November 2
Readers Digest version: Hiked Ram Head and snorkeled on the way back at Blue Cobblestone. Spent the afternoon at Reef Madness before heading to the Beach Bar Forum Bash, which was fantastic! Survived the drive back to Coral Bay and fell asleep watching Sunday night football.
The gory details: We woke up early, and ended up getting out of bed some time between 5:00 and 5:30. I messed around with the computer a little bit, but still wasn't able to successfully connect to the wireless network. We had breakfast, and as the sun was coming up Leslie filled the bowl on the bird feeder with sugar and in no time there was a bananaquit party going on!
We had bananaquits and hummingbirds last year at Cielo Vista, but no more than one or two at a time. Here, the tree that the feeder is in took on a yellow glow as the hungry little buggers lined up for their fix. Leslie got to talking to them and fussing over them as if they were her adopted kids. She even threatened the brown bully that tried to muscle the yellow birds out of the feeder!
After breakfast we got our gear together and took off in the direction of Salt Pond Bay. We hiked down to the beach, and right as we got to the end of the trail/start of the beach some movement just to our right caught our eyes, and this little guy came walking out into the open.
He stayed just long enough for me to squeeze off a couple of pictures before bolting into the woods - cool!
We walked to the left all the way down to the Ram Head trailhead. We had done this hike last year, but not until later in the day, and that took some of the enjoyment out of it for us. It wasn't until after we'd returned home from that trip that I even heard of Blue Cobblestone beach, much less that it was a good snorkel spot and that we had walked right past it!
We took our time walking the trail and enjoying the assortment of terrain types encountered along the way - light brush, cobblestone, switchbacks, desert like areas complete with cacti, rocky hills, thick underbrush - you get quite the variety on this hike. It seemed more overgrown in spots than it had the last time, likely due to all of the rainfall experienced recently that not only promoted the vegetation growth, but kept the number of hikers beating the path down lower as well.
As you get out toward the point the views of the water crashing against the rocks on the east side of the point are breathtaking. And the blue, blue, blue water breaking over the cobblestones on the opposite side are just as beautiful, although completely different.
On the way back we stopped at Blue Cobblestone Beach and found some rocks and trees to use as a base camp, then got in the water and explored. I can see why some folks rave about this site - very colorful and healthy coral, and a good variety of marine life. And we had the whole place to ourselves!
After we had snorkeled to our heart's content we went back to base camp and just hung out there a while, taking in the scenery, and just fully enjoying being where we were at.
It wasn't until our bellies began to growl that we decided to finish the hike back to Salt Pond Bay, and back to the parking lot and our waiting jeep.
A scenic ride later we were back at Reef Madness where we did the rinse and repeat cycle with the gear and ourselves, took the obligatory dip in the pool, then feasted on leftovers for lunch. Then we treated ourselves to something that is almost strictly a vacation event - an afternoon nap! Something about having snorkeled, rinsed off, with a full belly, then sitting (ok - laying) down on a couch in a cool air conditioned room that was just SO conducive to grabbing a few winks....
When we finished recharging our batteries with our naps, it was time to get ready for the social event of the year - the Mega Beach Bar Forum Bash! We took Centerline across the island, made a couple of passes around town looking for a free parking spot, then got impatient and gave up and went with Slimman's. Got ready to get out of the jeep, looked in the console and - DOH! - I must have left the camera at Reef Madness! Oh well, surely there would be others with cameras there to chronicle the fun. (Fortunately, there were,so you will be able to see some pictures from this happening in others reports).
As we approached the beach area adjacent to the bar we saw that a table had been set up and there were people making name tags. In short order we met Pia and shopper3, who made sure that we were properly labeled (forum and "real" names) and had a glo-stick bracelet so that we could find each other in the dark.
This evening was a LOT of fun. Up to this point I had only met St. John Ruth (and Ron), sea-nile, Wounder Woman, MrB, and MrsB in person, but before long (and to those that I leave out of this surely incomplete list I apologize in advance and blame the rum!) I would be able to put faces to the names of Nascarfan59 (and Becky), jayseadee, Jorge, RickG, NoTanLines, papabou, Puddlejumper, SaltyDog (and Mr. SaltyDog), the super surprise guest Bug (and Mr. Bug), Larry (Mr. shopper3), Kirk, CaptainJay, MrsCaptainJay, "Lurker"(Eileen),Boats_R_Us and others...
When I introduced Leslie to Pia I told her that Pia would be the one that would sell us our house when we moved to St. John. Pia said that her husband, Les, would actually be the one as he was the bonafide realtor in the household. I knew that Les looked familiar, but that comment made it click - he was the go-getter/slacker we had seen in the real estate office next to the Sun Dog Cafe!
It wasn't too long before Leslie told me that "evil people" kept buying her drinks so she'd need to get some food in her or else???
So I made my way to the bar and ordered dinner and was told to head back to the beach and they'd bring it to us when it was ready. Before long I thought I was hearing the voices in my head again, but it was just the server trying to find out who he was supposed to be bringing the food to. I had the famous Tuna Down Now and Leslie had most of a cheeseburger - since I'm a faster eater, when my food was gone I started "helping her" finish hers.
Eventually folks began drifting off - some to dinner, some to other venues, (probably at least one or two to bed!) and we ended up at the bar. We had a nice conversation with Jorge, then finally bid adieu to the folks around us or between us and the exit (Rick, Christine, Ed/Mr. Bug), then back to the jeep for the drive back to Coral Bay. Oh yeah, when I opened the console to put something in there for the ride back, guess what was in there? That's right, the camera...and I hadn't been even been drinking yet when I didn't see it - wow - I guess I need a vacation!
We made it safely all the way to Coral Bay via Centerline and up Seagrape Hill to Reef Madness, then, after a quick dip in the pool, it was off to bed for a great night's sleep!
Readers Digest version: Hiked Ram Head and snorkeled on the way back at Blue Cobblestone. Spent the afternoon at Reef Madness before heading to the Beach Bar Forum Bash, which was fantastic! Survived the drive back to Coral Bay and fell asleep watching Sunday night football.
The gory details: We woke up early, and ended up getting out of bed some time between 5:00 and 5:30. I messed around with the computer a little bit, but still wasn't able to successfully connect to the wireless network. We had breakfast, and as the sun was coming up Leslie filled the bowl on the bird feeder with sugar and in no time there was a bananaquit party going on!
We had bananaquits and hummingbirds last year at Cielo Vista, but no more than one or two at a time. Here, the tree that the feeder is in took on a yellow glow as the hungry little buggers lined up for their fix. Leslie got to talking to them and fussing over them as if they were her adopted kids. She even threatened the brown bully that tried to muscle the yellow birds out of the feeder!
After breakfast we got our gear together and took off in the direction of Salt Pond Bay. We hiked down to the beach, and right as we got to the end of the trail/start of the beach some movement just to our right caught our eyes, and this little guy came walking out into the open.
He stayed just long enough for me to squeeze off a couple of pictures before bolting into the woods - cool!
We walked to the left all the way down to the Ram Head trailhead. We had done this hike last year, but not until later in the day, and that took some of the enjoyment out of it for us. It wasn't until after we'd returned home from that trip that I even heard of Blue Cobblestone beach, much less that it was a good snorkel spot and that we had walked right past it!
We took our time walking the trail and enjoying the assortment of terrain types encountered along the way - light brush, cobblestone, switchbacks, desert like areas complete with cacti, rocky hills, thick underbrush - you get quite the variety on this hike. It seemed more overgrown in spots than it had the last time, likely due to all of the rainfall experienced recently that not only promoted the vegetation growth, but kept the number of hikers beating the path down lower as well.
As you get out toward the point the views of the water crashing against the rocks on the east side of the point are breathtaking. And the blue, blue, blue water breaking over the cobblestones on the opposite side are just as beautiful, although completely different.
On the way back we stopped at Blue Cobblestone Beach and found some rocks and trees to use as a base camp, then got in the water and explored. I can see why some folks rave about this site - very colorful and healthy coral, and a good variety of marine life. And we had the whole place to ourselves!
After we had snorkeled to our heart's content we went back to base camp and just hung out there a while, taking in the scenery, and just fully enjoying being where we were at.
It wasn't until our bellies began to growl that we decided to finish the hike back to Salt Pond Bay, and back to the parking lot and our waiting jeep.
A scenic ride later we were back at Reef Madness where we did the rinse and repeat cycle with the gear and ourselves, took the obligatory dip in the pool, then feasted on leftovers for lunch. Then we treated ourselves to something that is almost strictly a vacation event - an afternoon nap! Something about having snorkeled, rinsed off, with a full belly, then sitting (ok - laying) down on a couch in a cool air conditioned room that was just SO conducive to grabbing a few winks....
When we finished recharging our batteries with our naps, it was time to get ready for the social event of the year - the Mega Beach Bar Forum Bash! We took Centerline across the island, made a couple of passes around town looking for a free parking spot, then got impatient and gave up and went with Slimman's. Got ready to get out of the jeep, looked in the console and - DOH! - I must have left the camera at Reef Madness! Oh well, surely there would be others with cameras there to chronicle the fun. (Fortunately, there were,so you will be able to see some pictures from this happening in others reports).
As we approached the beach area adjacent to the bar we saw that a table had been set up and there were people making name tags. In short order we met Pia and shopper3, who made sure that we were properly labeled (forum and "real" names) and had a glo-stick bracelet so that we could find each other in the dark.
This evening was a LOT of fun. Up to this point I had only met St. John Ruth (and Ron), sea-nile, Wounder Woman, MrB, and MrsB in person, but before long (and to those that I leave out of this surely incomplete list I apologize in advance and blame the rum!) I would be able to put faces to the names of Nascarfan59 (and Becky), jayseadee, Jorge, RickG, NoTanLines, papabou, Puddlejumper, SaltyDog (and Mr. SaltyDog), the super surprise guest Bug (and Mr. Bug), Larry (Mr. shopper3), Kirk, CaptainJay, MrsCaptainJay, "Lurker"(Eileen),Boats_R_Us and others...
When I introduced Leslie to Pia I told her that Pia would be the one that would sell us our house when we moved to St. John. Pia said that her husband, Les, would actually be the one as he was the bonafide realtor in the household. I knew that Les looked familiar, but that comment made it click - he was the go-getter/slacker we had seen in the real estate office next to the Sun Dog Cafe!
It wasn't too long before Leslie told me that "evil people" kept buying her drinks so she'd need to get some food in her or else???
So I made my way to the bar and ordered dinner and was told to head back to the beach and they'd bring it to us when it was ready. Before long I thought I was hearing the voices in my head again, but it was just the server trying to find out who he was supposed to be bringing the food to. I had the famous Tuna Down Now and Leslie had most of a cheeseburger - since I'm a faster eater, when my food was gone I started "helping her" finish hers.
Eventually folks began drifting off - some to dinner, some to other venues, (probably at least one or two to bed!) and we ended up at the bar. We had a nice conversation with Jorge, then finally bid adieu to the folks around us or between us and the exit (Rick, Christine, Ed/Mr. Bug), then back to the jeep for the drive back to Coral Bay. Oh yeah, when I opened the console to put something in there for the ride back, guess what was in there? That's right, the camera...and I hadn't been even been drinking yet when I didn't see it - wow - I guess I need a vacation!
We made it safely all the way to Coral Bay via Centerline and up Seagrape Hill to Reef Madness, then, after a quick dip in the pool, it was off to bed for a great night's sleep!
