It has been nine months since the passing of Molly. I mention this because for the last five years of her precious life, Molly needed a lot of close personal care. This prevented us from taking any vacations where we had to leave her home.
Our little pup had many needs, and we didn't want to burden anyone with those issues. To be honest, we weren't sure when her time would come, and who wants to place that responsibility on someone else? So, we didn't take any vacations away from home or without her tagging along in the car.
Over the last five years .. We managed to save some money and finally planned a nice vacation to the tropical Caribbean island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands (USVI). St. John is accessible by ferry from St. Thomas, as it has no airports due to its small size and underdeveloped landscapes. This remote yet somewhat developed Caribbean getaway was perfect for us after a five-year wait.
Cruz Bay - St John USVI
Coral Bay - St John USVI
Getting to St. John was a bit of a hassle and required some planning .. But it was well worth it. The moment our ferry docked in the beautiful Cruz Bay Harbor, I knew we had made the right choice. This was going to be a good vacation. We unloaded our bags and headed to the rental Jeep company. We wanted to explore the island at our own pace, so we rented a two-door Jeep Wrangler for the week. Taxis are available for those just visiting for the day or who know exactly what they want to do during their stay.
Lavender Hill Suites - Cruz Bay
We rented a one bedroom condo for the week in the main town of Cruz Bay. The second-floor unit had an incredible view of the harbor. When we weren't exploring the island or town, we enjoyed the view from the condo's surrounding decks. Watching the boat and foot traffic in and around the busy port was fascinating. In the evenings, things calmed down, with only the occasional boat arriving or leaving.
That's when the town came alive with tourists, all ready for good food and frozen cocktails after a day on the beach...
Drinks...
More Drinks ...
The occasional meal to go with all those drinks...
While we enjoyed most of our meals, they weren't the best we've ever had. The drinks were good too, though I had hoped for more variety in the food choices and stronger drinks for the price. But hey, everything can't be perfect.
The highlight of our dining experience was The Windmill Bar.. Located a short, winding drive from Cruz Bay into the mountains, this place offered 360-degree views of the mountains and ocean. The drive up those tight, winding roads was worth it for the stunning view.
We stayed to watch the sunset .. And even though it wasn't the best sunset, it was still amazing. We met a few interesting people from other islands, which made the evening even more fun. We shut the place down and left, sad to go but needing rest for the days ahead.
We spent most of our time exploring the island's rich history and ruins or lounging on the pristine beaches.
We visited old, abandoned sugar mill plantations .. Where some parts of the buildings and windmills still stood, minus the wood elements and roofs. Walking around these sites felt like stepping back in time, and the views were breathtaking.
Amongst the ruins where wildlife, flora and fauna such as Palm trees, flowering Plumeria trees, other flowers, Goats, Donkeys and even the occasional Hermit Crab strolling the between the rocks and grass. Plenty of things to stimulate our visual curiosity.
Trunk Bay Beach
Ahhhh The Beaches.. Oh The Beaches.. Some of the most beautiful beaches we have visited and spent time on. To reach the beaches, we drove and hiked to many scattered around the island. Honeymoon Beach, Hawksnest Beach, Trunk Bay Beach, Cinnamon Bay Beach, Maho Bay Beach, and Salt Pond Beach were all unique and beautiful in their own ways.
Trunk Bay
Some had coarse sand and calm waters, while others had silky smooth sand and curling waves. We spent a lot of time snorkeling, even though the reef wasn't extensive. We saw cool fish, live coral, squid, and many sea turtles.
Watching sea turtles dive for sea grass was incredibly relaxing. I have to admit, I felt like I was swaying with the tide in the evenings after spending so much time in the water.
We also booked a full-day excursion to the nearby British island, Jost Van Dyke, which was pretty much a booze cruise. We booked it with a company called 'Stormy Pirates'. It was a great time! The captain T.C. and his first mate Kevin were awesome hosts, leading us in and out of the ports and recommending cool places to eat and drink while ashore.
They also took us to a floating bar on an old ship (The Infamous Willy T, BVI · Floating Bar & Grill), Where my wife bravely jumped off a high spot at the back of the boat. I opted to stay dry and film everyone instead, playing the role of videographer for the moment.
We spent the entire day boating and drinking, But it was spread out and no one in the group of 8 got out of hand. The excursion was a bit pricy, but worth it if you like boats, tropical bars and drinking.
Last but not least are the sunsets .. I wish I could say I was adventurous enough and willing to get up for the sunrises, but no such luck this trip. Although the weather was a little less than desirable most nights (clouds and sometimes a quick shower), we still managed to catch a few amazing sunsets.
Nothing like sending the day off and welcoming the night life in, with a proper display of color and calm across the bay..
We did think about Molly and even Pepper a few times while away .. But it didn't put a damper on our much deserved and much needed vacation. We had a great time exploring and relaxing, enjoying all the island had to offer.. I think our faces say it all. We had a GREAT time away.
Despite some delays and flight cancellations on the way home.. The vacation was amazing. We waited a long time to enjoy ourselves in a tropical paradise, and it was worth the wait. While I'd trade the trip to have Molly and Pepper back again, that wasn't an option and we can't feel guilty for that.
Yes and no. It's an expensive island, the food and drinks are okay.. but if you're a beach lover, go for it! You won't be disappointed.
“No man needs a vacation so much as the man who has just had one.”
― Elbert Hubbard
But I did pick these bad boys up several months ago before prices spiked into the high $20's.
20 mixed year Silver Eagles, all of them sealed in capsules. I grabbed them near spot at the time and was thrilled to add them to the collection when they arrived. Can't go wrong with the Silver Eagles!
