Day 2 In Which A Ballyhoo Gives DJ The Evil Eye

Day 2 actually started around Midnight on Day 1 when SOMEWHERE there was a house party with rasta music blaring. I’m not complaining because it WAS Saturday night and islanders can do whatever they want and . . . the music was not BAD, and it was just loud. We couldn't decide if this was irritating or exciting. About 1:30 I got up to find the culprits. Never found the house and it stopped about 2:30. No big deal Mon!

I woke up when a rooster crowed about ½ hour before sunrise. I looked out the window and saw scattered clouds that would make a great shot. I jumped up, ran to the balcony as the sky started to turn red. I grabbed my trusty tripod (which cost me an extra $35 in overweight baggage fare), and quickly and firmly extended the leg which quickly and firmly came all the way out of it’s socket and six little ball bearings and random pieces of metal falling on the floor. I was stunned. I stood there with my new bipod and a new leg of my new monopod. Is this how new tripods are born, like starfish? Was this part of the island magic? Time would tell as I set them aside.

Racing the clock I start snapping photos when I realized that the photo I took 15 seconds earlier look PRETTY much like the one I just took. I decided to only take one every THIRTY seconds.

By that time DJ was up and we were making some real bad Oatmeal which we tossed out. Must find market today! We had a ton of Beef Jerky (very healthy for you). I STRONGLY suggest you should have bags with you as a power boost where ever you go. This is a tip I have heard many times and it is true.

Oddly, we were both . . . nervous. It was like we were afraid to start the day. What if we fail to have fun!!!

Salt Pond – 1^st destination. We decided to go slow and just have a look, let's not lock ourselves into anything YET. Halfway down the trail (more like a rocky driveway) we were hot and changed our plans. The cottage was 30 seconds up the road – swim suits and snorkel gear were in order. FULL STEAM AHEAD!! We left the empty parking lot and zoomed (15mph) back the the cottage.

As we drive back we round the corner and spot 5 jeeps AND as we were wondering how so many jeeps could have gotten there so quick a BUS pulls in with 20 screaming 20 year olds (not that that is a bad thing but it was SO peaceful).

It was a windy day (as AccuWeather promised) and I think all snorkelers on St.J were migrating to OUR beach! This is what happens we fond out later.

We dabbled and hung out and THEN – did the snorkel thing. Well, we both had problems with water in the mask and one fish (a Ballyhoo) looked at DJ the wrong way and she freaked a little and got out. I had minor probs but knew I could fix them but did not want to leave DJ on shore fighting her inner demons of tropical fish becoming amphibious (as part of the magic of the islands), flopping to shore and biting her feet off so I got out and relaxed and ate some Jerky.

The clouds started building so we decided to shower up and head to the World Famous (at least in St. John) Skinny’s. We looked at the shops in front and entered into the well-known burger hall of fame restaurant for our very 1^st St.John eating experience.

Remember – we’re not BIG fish eating people and are not fond of sea bugs (lobster, crabs – all related to cockroach. . . . so maybe they deserve to be eaten) and don’t like eating animals that communicate feelings and save humans from sharks (dolphins). NOTE - I later find out that Mahi Mahi is Dolphin FISH!! Not Dolphin MAMMAL

The special drink for the day was a Rum Swizzle (Sprite, a BIG helping of Cruzen Pineapple Rum and a squirt of lime), we inhaled two and had what I consider one of the top 5 burgers I have ever had in my life. Total bill for 2 Cheeseburgers and chips and 2 Rum Swizzles - $25+ $5 tip. $30, sounds expensive but IT WAS DELICIOUS!!! I had no problems at all paying $30. In fact almost EVERY meal the two of us had ended up costing $30. Coral Bay is 33% cheaper then the other side of the island. SunTan lotion was $6 here and $9 in Cruz Bay.

Side Note - DJ took a photo of the Cheesburger but we think some drool hit the lens and it was fuzzy (the photo, not the burger)

Our next quest was water, milk, and so forth. There are two mini marts and going into both is like trying to drive a large truck around Chaos Bay oops Cruz Bay. They can pack a lot into those little stores. Both mini-markets - this one and the other one up the road going to Salt Pond had ABOUT the same things. Prices were not as bad as I thought they would be, we spent $11 on 1/2 gal milk, 2 gal of water, a big jar of Dry Roasted Peanuts and a loaf of bread.

At the mini mart we had our 1^st close encounter with THE DONKEYS!! who are very sweet. I have been told that they will bite but I'm pretty sure it would not be in anger, there just looking for a sandwich to nibble on.

We went home to plan the next move as it looked like the sun might reappear, to bad the wind was strengthening.

Day2b involves birds, crabs, little boys with rocks, 4 wheeling, an awesome lookout and DJ fighting off a flock of butterflies successfully.