Sun, Sand and Snorkeling - a week on the island of St. John Virgin Islands (March 11-17, 2015)

Wednesday 

Arriving at the airport in St. Thomas!  We had an early start, Greg and I from Boston and Logan from NYC.  We met up at JFK and flew to St. Thomas- glad to be here away from the snow, cold and ice!  

We picked up a van taxi at the airport packed in with a large crowd and headed across the island to the Red Hook ferry- so many new sites and sounds.  

On our way to St. John now last leg of the trip!   Car-Plane-Taxi-Ferry

Stephen and Anna met us at the dock in Cruz Bay and we picked up our little blue jeep for the week squeezed in with all our luggage and headed up the hill to our rental condo. 

We were so lucky to find this place- just over the trees from Stephen and Anna's apartment.  We can look right into their back yard  from our deck. 

First evening out in Cruz Bay

Steve and Anna happy to have some family come for a visit ...

Greg and I happy to be out of the frozen tundra...

and Logan so happy to be away from law school and studying!

Thursday 

Stephen took us to one of the National Park beaches Trunk Bay- only the most beautiful beach I've ever seen!  

This was the first time that Greg and I had been real snorkeling and we were hooked! (no pun intended)   Stephen, Logan, Greg and I swam out to a small island just off the shore where  the water was filled with fish of beautiful colors and all shapes and sizes.  I could have stayed out there forever!   

This day set the theme for the vacation- everything we do leads to snorkeling!

Of course the Dalton men had to have a ball game going and couldn't get enough of "skippy ball"










Heading back to the condo we passed Anna in the van and stopped to make the next plan- swimming pool rinse back at home base.










After the rinse we headed out to explore another part of the island.  Anna took us to one of the sites she had worked on and we explored the ruins.

 

 
Followed by a drive over the island to Coral Bay and a cute little place where we got t-shirts and lemonades.  

               
Friday morning we took off early and headed over to the Westin Resort to meet up with our cruise from Cruz Bay Water Sports where Stephen works.   Our trip was to British Virgin Gorda and it was not a short trip.  On the way through the islands we sat up on the bow and enjoyed the sun and water.  When it started to rain heavily we moved back inside.  







After arriving in the bay we were met by a truck taxi that took us over to the Bath's the pictures will do all the talking here....    magnificent rock formations!

After making our way through the maze of rocks and water we opened out onto Devil's Cay a beautiful little beach where we took a swim and some pictures.

                       On the way back Stephen and Logan ditched Greg and I for the adventure path.

Back at the entrance ... lunch on the deck overlooking all this beauty! 

and this beauty

Back on the boat we headed toward St. John but on the way stopped at the Robert Louis Stevenson Treasure Island based Norman Island  for some snorkeling.

Shortly after leaving this area and heading out away from the island we began to smell smoke and were soon engulfed in big black puffs of smoke coming from down below.   We stayed out on the bow as the boat limped along toward port.  Several boats came by to help and eventually we tied up at Boobie Rock (the Boobie Bird) and waited for the support teams from Cruz Bay Water Sports.  They zipped up in two little zodiac's and assessed our situation.  Luckily, they determined that we could keep on going (quite slowly) but it was a lovely cruise past the side of the island we hadn't seen before so we did enjoy the experience after all.  

  Back in Cruz Bay we enjoyed music on the beach from a favorite local band. 

                

On Saturday morning Anna had planned a wonderful bird walk, ruins explore, hike and snorkel for us.  We started off on the bird walk where I was able to add several amazing "life birds" to my list.  Here's one of my favorites from the trip The Mango Cuckoo!  He flew down to us and perched in this tree where he visited with us while we took his picture. 

                               

After the bird walk we headed up to the Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins- so cool and Anna gave us a great historical talk about the life and work of the slaves who lived out their lives in the heat of the sugar factory.

From here we hiked over to Waterlemon Key and walked the well cared for trail and up to the ruins of the estate where we had our picnic.  Amazing views!!

...and it was then time for snorkeling!!   Here fishy fishy- Sea turtle and Eagle Ray!

Logan you really can't catch one you know!

After this amazing day out in the beautiful National Park we spent the evening at Stephen and Anna's friend's house ( The Lacy's)  They have a beautiful condo way up on the hill with an amazing view and we enjoyed lots of laughs and amazing Puerto Rican food!  Great evening!!

This is a good time to include some pictures to highlight how much I enjoyed our condo deck, especially early each morning when I would come out to read and watch birds flit though the trees.  Breakfast on the deck also a highlight of our stay!

 The view of our condo from Stephen and Anna's yard.



Sunday morning we got Logan packed up early and went over to the Beach Church service that the Lacy's host each Sunday in the park.  (Stephen had to work so wasn't with us today) The worshipers gathered on benches set to overlook the beautiful surf.   The service opened by singing "How Great Thou Art" so appropriate for this setting to think of the magnificent creations of God.   There was a lot of music and good talks by David and Tyler.  We had to catch the ferry for St. Thomas at 10:00 so no time to linger.

On our way to St. Thomas

 

Logan took a taxi to the airport and Anna, Greg and I took one to the LDS Branch meeting house.
What a sweet little branch.   We met one of Stephen's co-workers Mary and her family there.  We enjoyed some of sacrament meeting and then both the other meetings.  So wonderful to meet the local people.   We were even returned to the ferry by a member who used to live in Maine (Stephen Richards) who lived in the Cornish Ward and knew many of the same people we know.

Monday morning we had another cruise day this time on a massive catamaran.   Waiting for the ship to sail we hung out on the Westin Hotel beach.

 We sailed over to a small island and were again let loose for some snorkeling.  We immediately headed over to a long dock where the bigger fish like to hang out.  The first thing I noticed was Anna heading in the opposite direction so if she was scared of something I wasn't about to stick around to see what it was.  A 4 foot Baracuda - Greg and Stephen followed it around for awhile.  I stayed clear.    After the first snorkeling stop we ended up on Honeymooners beach for some beach time and of course snorkeling. This stop included a longer than usual swim back and forth to the beach so lots of fish and some good exercise.

When we returned to the Westin we rinsed off in the largest swimming pool I've ever been in which included an iguana perched over the pool in a palm tree... and of course a game of skippy ball and some time in the hot tub! 

Tuesday The time has gone too fast- I'm not ready to leave this beautiful place.  One last drive and visit to a beach (just down a short trail from Peace Hill)  

We loved our little blue jeep!! 

After returning our jeep we went to lunch at one of the beach restaurants and waited for our ferry.  Sad to leave but grateful for this wonderful experience!

Good-bye St. John- until we meet again!