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Iowaguy's Trip Report---Part I
Iowaguy's Trip Report---Part I
We had a wonderful trip to St. John in mid-March and I have been extremely delinquent in reporting back to the Forum. As a few of you may recall we had a large crew---20 in all---4 families spread among 3 houses in the Great Cruz Bay area. There were 8 adults and 12 kids---all college or high school age. At our house, my wife Janie and I had our two daughters---a college junior and a high school senior-- and four other college girls. It was an incredibly fun trip, although it was not entirely the serene and relaxing experience that some of you may have on this beautiful island:) I know not everyone would enjoy this large a group, but we are good friends from way back and it worked well for us. We mixed things up with some things we all did together, but also each family did some things together on their own.
This was our 8th trip to St. John. For another couple, it was their 5th trip. Our two daughters had also been to St. John twice previously, but the other 14 were newbies. I don't think I can recount the day-by-day goings ons of this motley assemblage, so I think I'll just give you some of the highlights in terms of beaches, activities, restaurants, villas, and a few other items.
Beaches/Hikes/Snorkels. I tried to do a few "new" things in all categories---beaches, restaurants, bars, even drinks---to keep the love alive, so to speak. Much to my embarrassment, I had NEVER been to Salomon Beach before, so that was our first outing on the very first day. We walked over from Gallows Point where we were staying for 2 nights before most of the rest of the crew arrived. All I can say is---wow---what a mistake I made in not visiting Salomon in the other 7 trips. It was an easy walk, although I would not have wanted to carry beach chairs as some were doing.
We continued on to Honeymoon Beach, where there was a much larger crowd, then to Caneel and cabbed it back into town. It was a perfect day---one of the few days where we had that intoxicating mixture of bright sunshine and calm blue water (and a rum punch at the Caneel Beach Bar) ---the northerly swells would come soon thereafter.
Another fun outing, later in the week, and after the swells had arrived, was a visit to Denis Bay. I would not have ventured out on this excursion but for the incredibly detailed picture Liamsaunt provided on where to catch the trail. Turns out, thats the only tricky part----the trail itself is incredibly short and easy, even overweight, out-of shape dad like me. And the treat at the end of the trail is pretty amazing---a really gorgeous, deserted beach. And its fun to imagine a young Melanie Griffith frolicking on that beautiful stretch of sand. Of course it might have been deserted that day because the waves were really crashing. I tried to imagine how it would look with tranquil water.
The height of the swells came on Thursday, March 20. Someone in our group picked that day to visit Trunk Bay since we hadn't done that yet--they thought it might be fun to ride the waves.
It was interesting, to be sure. There was essentially no beach left, and they were warning everyone not to go in the water. We did hear an ambulace whiz by---apparently rushing to Cinnamon Bay where someone suffered a minor injury from the high surf. It drove Janie crazy to be in charge of all those girls who clearly wanted to test the waves.
We were supposed to meet the rest of our entourage at Trunk but they had apparently left for Salt Pond just before we arrived. They later reported that Salt Pond Beach looked like Coney Island that day---apparently everyone had the same idea. My group wasn't up for the drive to Salt Pond--- we thought Caneel's main beach might be more protected so we headed there, but they weren't allowing any guests onto the beach due to the swells. We headed back to the Westin for a little time on a protected beach and some Pina Coladas. I had told the college girls to be sure not to use the beach chairs since we weren't staying there. The young beach attendant saw the girls laying on the sand and insisted they use the beach chairs, even after the girls told them they weren't staying there. No such offers were made to the middle-aged parents.
Some of our group was a late-rising crowd. I would sometimes do a short nearby excursion in the morning with a few of the other early risers like myself. One morning we went to the rocky beach at Klein Bay for a snorkel. We snorkeled around the point to the right, over in front of Monte Bay (where we stayed on our last trip). Pretty decent snorkeling----one of the college girls, who had never snorkeled before, followed a turtle around for quite a while. You'll have to take my word for it---unfortunately I have no underwater photos:)
Another morning we went to Ditleff Point Beach. I had no idea this was a controversial issue---we just drove down the private drive and walked a short path down to the beach. I later read on the forum they were trying to keep people out of this area. I talked to a guy on the beach who said he was a construction manager for the Ditleff project---he was there walking his dog---he told me to close the gate on the way out. We couldnt remember where the best snorkeling was---we went along the rocks to the right as you face the water---it might have been better left toward the point. The kids later read in a book that snorkeling at Ditleff Point was considered somewhat dangerous due to the many reef sharks in the area. They all got a charge out of this---actually, I think the reef sharks may be more prevalent on the Fish Bay side, but I let the kids think they were flirting with danger (and maybe they were---I don't know). It was a cloudy day and Rendezvous Bay didn't have its usual sparkle.
About 6 of the kids went sailing with Sail Safaris. These are smaller 18-foot catamarans so you get wet and really feel the water. On each boat there was one of the captains and 3 kids. Han and Nils were the captains. They took a half-day sail, and snorkeled at Congo Cay. Very good reports on the outing all around, but not as much detail as I would have liked (and unfortunately no pictures).
We had planned, as our biggest group outing, taking two of the 10 passenger Ocean Runner boats to the BVI on Wednesday March 19 to hit the Willy T, the Indians and White Bay. Two of the guys own similarly sized power boats at home and we were planning to captain the boats ourselves---our group would just fit the two boats. We really enjoy the boating and on prior trips we have scheduled two Ocean Runner days. Pete from O.R. called us on Tuesday to say the swells were coming in and we might want to reschedule our boat trip. We rescheduled for later in the week---Friday, March 21. The swells were still pretty high and they were not letting boats out without an Ocean Runner captain. They also werent advising travel along the north shore of St. John, which essentially ruled out the BVI. We also realized that since it was Good Friday, the Willie T and the Soggy Dollar would be "dry" which put a bit of a different spin on things. . We decided to just take one 10 passenger boat out and stay along the south shore of St. John. We took one group out in the morning and a different group out in the afternoon. I was in the morning shift and it was a very nice morning. It was really rough until we rounded the corner to the south shore---then it became really smooth. I had never seen Reef Bay so it was fun to ride along that coastline. We also enjoyed looking at some of the villas we keep thinking about from the water.
We were planning to snorkel at Salt Pond but all the moorings were occupied so we headed to Kiddel Bay. This is a very nice spot, and the water was calm and crystal-clear. I would like to come back here again by land. In the afternoon the kids went to the St. James islands. We had a nice visit with Larry, our Ocean Runner captain, and quizzed him about a lot of local goings on and living in the islands. This was a good day.
We also made beach visits to Caneel and Honeymoon (on the same day)---also snorkeled that day from Caneel to Honeymoon and back. Really nice snorkel. And Honeymoon, along with Salomon, must be my favorite beach. We tried a number of rum drinks from the Caneel beach bar, as part of my effort to try a few new drinks---the plantation punch was a winner. Another day we visited Hawksnest---not timed well--it started raining as soon as we arrived. The kids swam over to Gibney and back, which looked very easy when they did it. Another group made it out to Vie's---I missed that outing this time---they were amused by a yacht moored just slightly off of Vie's beach with a helicopter that would take off, fly around for a few minutes, land, then do the same thing over again. They thought it was quite an interesting juxtaposition to the old-time feel of Vie's beach.
Next Up: Restaurants, Villas, Nightlife (yes--on St. John), the Forum Gathering, and a little bit about a lot of things.
This was our 8th trip to St. John. For another couple, it was their 5th trip. Our two daughters had also been to St. John twice previously, but the other 14 were newbies. I don't think I can recount the day-by-day goings ons of this motley assemblage, so I think I'll just give you some of the highlights in terms of beaches, activities, restaurants, villas, and a few other items.
Beaches/Hikes/Snorkels. I tried to do a few "new" things in all categories---beaches, restaurants, bars, even drinks---to keep the love alive, so to speak. Much to my embarrassment, I had NEVER been to Salomon Beach before, so that was our first outing on the very first day. We walked over from Gallows Point where we were staying for 2 nights before most of the rest of the crew arrived. All I can say is---wow---what a mistake I made in not visiting Salomon in the other 7 trips. It was an easy walk, although I would not have wanted to carry beach chairs as some were doing.
We continued on to Honeymoon Beach, where there was a much larger crowd, then to Caneel and cabbed it back into town. It was a perfect day---one of the few days where we had that intoxicating mixture of bright sunshine and calm blue water (and a rum punch at the Caneel Beach Bar) ---the northerly swells would come soon thereafter.
Another fun outing, later in the week, and after the swells had arrived, was a visit to Denis Bay. I would not have ventured out on this excursion but for the incredibly detailed picture Liamsaunt provided on where to catch the trail. Turns out, thats the only tricky part----the trail itself is incredibly short and easy, even overweight, out-of shape dad like me. And the treat at the end of the trail is pretty amazing---a really gorgeous, deserted beach. And its fun to imagine a young Melanie Griffith frolicking on that beautiful stretch of sand. Of course it might have been deserted that day because the waves were really crashing. I tried to imagine how it would look with tranquil water.
The height of the swells came on Thursday, March 20. Someone in our group picked that day to visit Trunk Bay since we hadn't done that yet--they thought it might be fun to ride the waves.
It was interesting, to be sure. There was essentially no beach left, and they were warning everyone not to go in the water. We did hear an ambulace whiz by---apparently rushing to Cinnamon Bay where someone suffered a minor injury from the high surf. It drove Janie crazy to be in charge of all those girls who clearly wanted to test the waves.
We were supposed to meet the rest of our entourage at Trunk but they had apparently left for Salt Pond just before we arrived. They later reported that Salt Pond Beach looked like Coney Island that day---apparently everyone had the same idea. My group wasn't up for the drive to Salt Pond--- we thought Caneel's main beach might be more protected so we headed there, but they weren't allowing any guests onto the beach due to the swells. We headed back to the Westin for a little time on a protected beach and some Pina Coladas. I had told the college girls to be sure not to use the beach chairs since we weren't staying there. The young beach attendant saw the girls laying on the sand and insisted they use the beach chairs, even after the girls told them they weren't staying there. No such offers were made to the middle-aged parents.
Some of our group was a late-rising crowd. I would sometimes do a short nearby excursion in the morning with a few of the other early risers like myself. One morning we went to the rocky beach at Klein Bay for a snorkel. We snorkeled around the point to the right, over in front of Monte Bay (where we stayed on our last trip). Pretty decent snorkeling----one of the college girls, who had never snorkeled before, followed a turtle around for quite a while. You'll have to take my word for it---unfortunately I have no underwater photos:)
Another morning we went to Ditleff Point Beach. I had no idea this was a controversial issue---we just drove down the private drive and walked a short path down to the beach. I later read on the forum they were trying to keep people out of this area. I talked to a guy on the beach who said he was a construction manager for the Ditleff project---he was there walking his dog---he told me to close the gate on the way out. We couldnt remember where the best snorkeling was---we went along the rocks to the right as you face the water---it might have been better left toward the point. The kids later read in a book that snorkeling at Ditleff Point was considered somewhat dangerous due to the many reef sharks in the area. They all got a charge out of this---actually, I think the reef sharks may be more prevalent on the Fish Bay side, but I let the kids think they were flirting with danger (and maybe they were---I don't know). It was a cloudy day and Rendezvous Bay didn't have its usual sparkle.
About 6 of the kids went sailing with Sail Safaris. These are smaller 18-foot catamarans so you get wet and really feel the water. On each boat there was one of the captains and 3 kids. Han and Nils were the captains. They took a half-day sail, and snorkeled at Congo Cay. Very good reports on the outing all around, but not as much detail as I would have liked (and unfortunately no pictures).
We had planned, as our biggest group outing, taking two of the 10 passenger Ocean Runner boats to the BVI on Wednesday March 19 to hit the Willy T, the Indians and White Bay. Two of the guys own similarly sized power boats at home and we were planning to captain the boats ourselves---our group would just fit the two boats. We really enjoy the boating and on prior trips we have scheduled two Ocean Runner days. Pete from O.R. called us on Tuesday to say the swells were coming in and we might want to reschedule our boat trip. We rescheduled for later in the week---Friday, March 21. The swells were still pretty high and they were not letting boats out without an Ocean Runner captain. They also werent advising travel along the north shore of St. John, which essentially ruled out the BVI. We also realized that since it was Good Friday, the Willie T and the Soggy Dollar would be "dry" which put a bit of a different spin on things. . We decided to just take one 10 passenger boat out and stay along the south shore of St. John. We took one group out in the morning and a different group out in the afternoon. I was in the morning shift and it was a very nice morning. It was really rough until we rounded the corner to the south shore---then it became really smooth. I had never seen Reef Bay so it was fun to ride along that coastline. We also enjoyed looking at some of the villas we keep thinking about from the water.
We were planning to snorkel at Salt Pond but all the moorings were occupied so we headed to Kiddel Bay. This is a very nice spot, and the water was calm and crystal-clear. I would like to come back here again by land. In the afternoon the kids went to the St. James islands. We had a nice visit with Larry, our Ocean Runner captain, and quizzed him about a lot of local goings on and living in the islands. This was a good day.
We also made beach visits to Caneel and Honeymoon (on the same day)---also snorkeled that day from Caneel to Honeymoon and back. Really nice snorkel. And Honeymoon, along with Salomon, must be my favorite beach. We tried a number of rum drinks from the Caneel beach bar, as part of my effort to try a few new drinks---the plantation punch was a winner. Another day we visited Hawksnest---not timed well--it started raining as soon as we arrived. The kids swam over to Gibney and back, which looked very easy when they did it. Another group made it out to Vie's---I missed that outing this time---they were amused by a yacht moored just slightly off of Vie's beach with a helicopter that would take off, fly around for a few minutes, land, then do the same thing over again. They thought it was quite an interesting juxtaposition to the old-time feel of Vie's beach.
Next Up: Restaurants, Villas, Nightlife (yes--on St. John), the Forum Gathering, and a little bit about a lot of things.
---Jim
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Tracy in WI
- Posts: 1624
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:39 am
- Location: Wisconsin
Thanks Iowa Guy - Great start and great pictures. I especially liked the one of the girls at the Trunk Bay overlook! I think everyone has the background picture (don't we??!!) - the girls jumping made it extra special for you.
We're taking two new families with us in June, so any tips you have would be appreciated.
Tracy
We're taking two new families with us in June, so any tips you have would be appreciated.
Tracy
Tracy, Seaside Properties at Grande Bay
Thanks for the report & pics!
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cypressgirl
- Posts: 2178
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: houston
Hey Jim, it was great meeting you and running into you and your wife and some of your entourage at the bars. Glad all your kids had such a great time. Thanks for the TR and pics. Looking forward to the next installment. Congrats on braving those swells; we did some sight seeing and hung out at the pool. Ali~
STJ - I "get it"
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Kentuckygirl
- Posts: 1903
- Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:17 am
- Location: Kentucky
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jaycimarie
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:38 am
- Location: Louisiana
How fun for those girls! I so wish my parents would have been island people. We did the beaches in Florida (which are lovely) but never something like STJ. Also those were the best pics of the swells I've seen. It was so hard to picture how big they were when you're so used to calm bays and those really put the height of the swells into perspective. 
Thanks for posting!
Thanks for posting!"Diamonds on the soles of her shoes..."
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Thanks for all the nice comments----I hope to finish it up this afternoon. ccasebolt---yes, I do miss it terribly. I find myself looking at various VI webcams constantly. Ali and Cypressgirl----it was lots of fun running in to both of you around town----how come we always seemed to see each other at the bars?
Thanks, all, for the nice comments on the photos. Actually, compared to the usual photos on this Board, mine are pretty pathetic----I did take a lot of them though (mostly people pics---not interesting to those outside our group). Fortunately, St. John is beautiful enough that if you just take a lot of photos a few will turn out!
Thanks, all, for the nice comments on the photos. Actually, compared to the usual photos on this Board, mine are pretty pathetic----I did take a lot of them though (mostly people pics---not interesting to those outside our group). Fortunately, St. John is beautiful enough that if you just take a lot of photos a few will turn out!
---Jim
Hi Jim~ Great start! The pictures are far from pathetic...I think you have some great shots! I LOVE the one of the girls jumping off the overlook!!! I am finally through 528 pictures from my point & shoot...narrowed down from over 800!!! What can I say!?!?! HA! I'll work on uploading them this week so I can share them here. I do have one of a bunch of us at Woody's...on one particular night... 
Great to meet you and your wife! Perhaps we'll run into each other again...if not on island...in Iowa!!!
Jen
Great to meet you and your wife! Perhaps we'll run into each other again...if not on island...in Iowa!!!Jen
"I didn't come here...and I ain't leavin'"