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.

Day 1 In Which We Get Lost in O’Hare

Where does one begin.

Because we had an early flight to St.Thomas, DJ and I stayed at a Park&Fly in Chicago. Arriving early, we were bored so we decided to take a look at O’Hare to see what we were going to have to go through the next morning.

So far – no problems. Looking at the crowds we decided to catch the shuttle back to our hotel. HOWEVER – we quickly realized that the departure and the pick-up were in totally different zip codes and the fastest way to get from one to the other was to go through security.

THAT AIN’T GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO – we did the smart thing and asked for help.

EASY - take that escalator over there, go down the hall, stay to your left, get on the elevator and go down two more levels staying on the right and go across the parking lot, then go though the double doors - and follow the orange buttons it'll be straight ahead.

RIGHT!

I thought to myself "I hope DJ got all that". We quickly got lost. One half hour later we stumbled into the right shuttle area, boarded the shuttle and were happy - UNTIL, DJ spotted a Krispy Creme sign. We escaped the shuttle, bought some donuts and got on the second shuttle and were relaxed . . . . . UNTIL, we had to stop to pick up 14 shivering vacationers that had been standing outside for 30 minutes. They looked at us like we were just going on a joy ride and taking up room (yea - sort of). They actually made some snide remarks about taking up space. I forgave them as they were getting back from Mexico. blah

Take off day!

Everything goes smoothly for the flight to St.Thomas – we land and step out of the plane to glorious, sunny, warm, humid air and we are all smiles. Filing our way down to the ground we walk past “the loser line” of an outgoing aircraft. boo hoo! You have to walk totally around to the other side of the airport to get your bags.

As we enter the baggage area we have our 1st taste of Cruzen Rum and it is fantastic AND has a small kick!!! The bags come and we head towards THE CABS!

WOW – it’s very crowded and we are herded into areas of destination. I yell Red Hook and we are on the Red Hook wall. Then we’re told THIS is the taxi to Red Hook (we had no choice) and 12 of us pile into a taxi. DJ is in the back with 3 other people stuffed and I am in the front next to the driver. No choice.

Then the crazies start, a woman starts asking inane questions. How far are we from Cuba and can we get a ferry to Cuba, how far are we from Cancun, has anybody ever gotten sick in your cab, is it always this hot, if this is Charlotte Amelia where is St. Thomas and so forth. The cabby just takes it in stride.

We FINALLY get to Red Hook (about 45 minutes) which looks more like 3 ice fishing shanties and 2 guys help us with our bags to catch the ferry that is JUST getting ready to leave. As we approach the ferry a ferry guy is screaming at us saying “DON’T TIP HIM, DON’T TIP HIM, THEY DON’T PUT YOUR BAGS ON THE BOAT” stunned I tip the guy $3 (hey – they helped us).

We climb up to the top of the ferry and it seems like only a 5 minute ride to St.John. DJ is nothing but smiles. It is WAY WAY TOO wonderful to get seasick.

As we near St.John our jaws drop at the beauty, We THOUGHT St. Thomas was pretty but St.John has the other island beat hands down. No comparison.

NOW – the adventure begins. With bags in tow, two carry-on's over the shoulder, and each hand has a bag, we start to look for Penn’s Jeep rental. Cruz Bay is utter chaos. No urban planning in THIS town!! And no sidewalks where you think there should be. I know Penn’s is near the Lumber Yard and is on the left so I say TRUST ME and we move forward.

Through a small park we wander and then through an even smaller park until we get to a post office and, THANK GOD, an information booth. Well, the kid has never heard of Penn’s, I say it’s near the Lumber Yard, he points to the Lumber Yard and we gaze UP a hill. We will have to climb UP a VERY busy street and there are no sidewalks on either side.

We grab our bags and start trudging up the hill, DJ makes it 97% of the way but can not make the final hill into the parking lot, she lets out a yell and I can tell she is about to turn teary. I am in the middle of the climb and there is no level place to set my bags down. Long story short – we survive. But – STILL, no Penn’s! I get directions from a shop owner and leaving DJ I go looking, after 2 blocks I ask again (I’m now at Mongoose Junction, 3 blocks away from DJ in a strange and bizarre town) and a jeweler tells me to look for a building under construction. I know THAT building, it’s the OTHER SIDE of the street from where we were. I get the jeep, rescue DJ, and our 1st instinct is to GET OUT OF THE CRUZ BAY CHAOS.

Driving on the left is easy as long as there are no intersections and thank goodness, there are none on the way out of town. The roads are exactly like a Formula 1 Computer Racing Game that I spent a good deal of my life playing, up, down, break, accelerate, turn while heavy breaking, turn while going straight up, it was a blast.

We make our way across the island, DJ is rubber necking while my eyes are glued to the ever-changing road. FINALLY we get to the TradeWinds cottage, open the door and gasp – it’s beautiful. I run to the porch and am floored by the view. We made it. That night we see the Milky Way, listen to music, relax, smile a lot and go to bed very very happy.

Views from our balcony. The first one looks east, the large hill is the island of Tortola and just in front of it is the "east End" of St. John.

The second photo is of what seemed to be the typical sunrise looking more southerly towards Norman and Peter Islands.

Join us tomorrow for Day 2 of DJ and Grinder's St.John adventure featuring Salt Pond, Bananaquits, Antillian Crested Hummingbirds Skinnys an Awesome lookout and a crazy steep road..