Day 7 - The Ram Head Debacle

Quick note - you might have noticed the change in photo styles - I'm in the process of updated everythign and thought the photos were less important the the words - they will be fixed soon.
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Friday started like all the rest except with the realization that this would be our last REAL day on the island. We would have to pack in a lot of relaxation in today starting with Trunk Bay AGAIN. Yes - it is that beautiful

We pack as normal and headed to Trunk. Upon arriving we park in the UPPER lot to stay away from the taxi's. Smoothing out an area we put the blanket down and took a walk as we actually WERE the only ones on the beach (it was 9:30ish). We meet a real nice couple of volunteers in the information shop and talked to them about fish and all sorts of stuff.

They are retired and spend 4 months a year on St. John as volunteers in the Park. DJ bought an inexpensive recipe book that we have actually used (unlike other recipe books) and I bought yet another fish book that contain all the fish I never see and none of the fish I DO see.

Trunk fills up but I'm told Fridays are slower days because of the lack Cruise ships . It's not crowded at all. I take a snorkel and view a few fish but just being in the water is fun.

FIRST TIME SNORKLERS - do not fear the water. I'm not a great swimmer and there was never a time I was worried. You do not need any floatation device unless you need it for your soul. You are not going to sink. The fins are actually your floatation devise. If you get water in your mask, pull your legs up to your chest and then push down. It only takes very minor toe twitching to keep your head above water. Another thing is getting INTO the water. I saw many ways to do it and everybody has their own technique. I found that sitting in a foot of water and putting on the fins worked. Also, when you are getting OUT of the water keep the snorkel in your mouth until you are sure no wave will dunk you. Your sort of at the mercy of wave action.

DJ and I people watch as AGAIN the beach is full of smiles and happy people. Young and old. We see an elderly couple in there 80s holding hands with huge smiles on their faces. It's all good.

About 11ish we eat some jerky and sandwiches and decide to make a rum drink. WE FORGOT THE RUM!! What was I thinking. What can we do! We walk up to the snack area and low and behold, there are two long tables filled with bottles and blenders and so forth with a pretty islander standing there. Walking up we ask if this is only for cruise ships or normal people also. She says it's for everybody and we ask if it's possible to get ONLY some 7Up and rum, nothing fancy. SURE! No Vanilla or Coconut rum is available (all sold out) so I get an Orange Cruzen Rum and 7 and DJ gets Pineapple (I think) and 7. She puts a couple ice cubes in the plastic cup and fills the rest with rum and a splash of 7Up on top for good measure! YIPES! Only $3 apiece. Smiling we walk back with our drinks and start lim'in.

About 2:00 we feel tired and a TINY tad reddish so we shower up and decide to look into Annaberg Ruins.

Climbing up the wooden stairs we don't have any idea what is coming next. It's pretty interesting but what catch's my eye is the view of Tortola. Outstanding beauty! The ruins are striking and the stories about the slaves are amazing. I can not fathom how hot this must have been for the slaves working beside the ovens. We wander around and this is the one time in the entire trip that I kick myself for missing a shot. I had a beauty set up and I was waiting for a group to pass buy, the sun was not being friendly (contrast) and I took 3 or 4 shots. All I could see was the histogram on my camera (this is a very very important function on digital camera on the islands) that LOOKED like I got it. BUT, alas it is gone. it was the perfect set up grrrrrrrrr!

We really liked Annaberg and people should check this place out. While wandering I saw a nice photo op and wish I would have gotten this woman's name, I bet she would like a copy.

Having explored THAT area it was now time for Rams Head Trail. The trail to salt Pond is HOT. As we're walking down, a woman is coming towards us carrying a lot of beach equipment. She stops us and asks if we can do her a favor, "there are two guys behind me, tell them they are both "J A's" and she smiles. OK, we meet two loudish guys, each carrying drinks and tell them that the woman ahead of them called them "J A's". They scream and laugh like we just made their day!

Arriving HOT at Salt Pond we wade in the water and a couple asks us the time and we find that they are also leaving on Saturday. It seems Friday is a sad day for many people. We walk the "so called" trail and it just keeps getting hotter and hotter, we have water and take a break now and then but we're baking. The views are great but it's longer them you think it is and it's over 215 degrees.

There are some outstanding lookouts/resting places as DJ is lagging behind. hmmmm, wonder why, no real lunch after strong drinks and swimming in intense heat in the late afternoon. Excellent planning LOL.

About 2/3s of the way we meet a couple on the way back. They had turned back after hitting a beautiful coral beach, it was to hot for them also. DJ and I decide that it's too far and hang out at the mentioned beach and look at the billions of pieces of coral. We leave Rams Head for another trip.

The water at Salt Pond is wonderful on our feet and this is where I take a starfish photo.

THAT is our adventure to Rams Head.

Side note - Chacos are GREAT sandals. You can take any trail on St. John in them, they never slip or slide and are very comfortable . . . .after the 1st day.

We get back to the cottage and rest before we go out to Island Blues for our final dinner.

OF COURSE - this is not without a story :-)

It's Friday night and the locals are out. There are a couple of drunken happy yokel locals at the bar and they are a riot. They talk drunken pirate talk and think GREEN DAY IS AWESOME DUDE! and are generally good natured, even though they had to have their ash trays taken away after one broke and flew across the room.

There is a band that night and a couple of well dressed guys (looked like pro golfers) are putting the stage together and are followed by a male groupie that looks like he's dressed up in 60's garb with a beer gut. He follows the band guys around and brings them drinks and food and just hangs out smoking cig's and looking . . . . .dumb.

We eat and laugh and watch the dogs beg for food at the tables and look at the weather channel in horror and take in the night. The band gears up and MY GOODNESS the groupie is the MAIN GUY in the band. LOL He sings and plays the bongo and the band is pretty good. What a scream. More locals arrive and the place is hoppin with happy people. But, alas, we're cooked and it's going to be an early morning.

Ziggy Marlay plays on stereo one last time as we sadly head to bed Time to bag it.

Note - As I reread this 1 year later I feel sad. I NEED to go back - it was a dream.

Next report - The line of woe, bags on the wrong ferry, bumpy excitement to San Juan, lost in Chicago, snow storms and real hallucinations. WOW!