St John Limin’

Friday Evening & Saturday
May 21 - 22

There is no secret among friends and family that St John is one of our favorite places on the earth. Albeit our visit this trip was reduced to a couple dinners and one great day of snorkeling. After a traditional happy hour gathering at Woody’s we headed to Rhumb Lines for dinner. The eclectic Asian fare left everyone was very pleased with their dinners, and then it was the walk back to Villa Papaya above Cruz Bay.

Located around the corner from Gallows Point and up, Villa Papaya, consists of two buildings Papaya I and II. Papaya II has two bedrooms and the other unit had one, which was perfect for the blue water gang. Both had kitchens, but the only thing cooked was coffee in the morning. The units can be rented separately or together. We were able to talk the owners out of the three day minimum required, if we paid the cleaning charges. The units were clean, comfortable, and most importantly we could walk to town eliminating a need for a vehicle on our short stop over. Bob and Marlene, the owners, were off island, but they had made arrangements for a smiling face to meet us and take our luggage up the hill in a vehicle. There is also a watchful eye overseeing the safety of the units.

Saturday we caught a taxi to Hawknest and had a wonderful snorkel all the way past Gibney, Oppenheimer, Very Little Hawknest and out to the rocks on the point. A good size turtle three rays, and procession of squids were our nature sighting for the day.

Janet and I were excited when about half way out to the point we raised our heads and saw an old friend, Capt Mike. Mike runs a day charter, Fury, out of Frenchman’s Reef on St Thomas. So we took a break from the snorkel to tread water for a while and catch up. If you are headed to St Thomas give Mike a try - Really Good Folks! http://www.usvisailing.com/

A 3 ½ hour snorkel day one was probably not a good idea, but it was so beautiful day an after a the swim we had worked up an appetite… for a bushwacker or… two and a mahi sandwich.

Me, I am a Dark and tonic kinda guy, but these ice cream drinks are very pleasing to the eye.

On the way to be Beach Bar we walked into town, and it was a buzz. Saturday was water safety day in STJ! The Coast Guard was there in force. There were also folks handing out all sorts of stuff, tours of the 87’ CGC, and an air demo. All the kids got free life jackets and it seemed everyone was wearing a green T-Shirt proclaiming water safety in St John. Yep, the Blue Water gang all got T-Shirts.

It was lots of fun to sit watch all the happenings beach side, but even better when it was over relaxing and taking in the empty harbor.

Janet and I slipped off to Mass and then rendezvoused with the rest of the gang at The Lime Inn. I know we go this restaurant almost every time we visit the island, but on such short visit we were taking no chances with one of the many new places. Not a rut - Just a sure bet on the Lime Inn.

Slept pretty good that night I must admit.