Dinghy Day!!

Wake up and check the weather. Light breeze and gentle seas appear from our perch high above Chocolate Hole. It looks like we are good to go. I get the coffee going, make a little noise with the frying pan and turn up Tradewinds Radio to get the crew up and motivated. We are supposed to meet at the Beach Bar beach at 8:30. L.B. is one of the first up, very unusual, but it is his trip day! He will captain us around to some spots we’ve never been to previously.

We get packed and head to town. A quick dump of the crew and I park the truck. After my short walk back to the beach, I find my crew watching the informational video from Noah’s Little Arks. After establishing our boundaries and reviewing operation of the vessel in the video we are ready to go. We just had to wait for the couple in front of to get underway……15 minutes later we are still waiting. Hmmmm.

Finally, we are ready to go. We receive a navigation map and instructions to keep in the channels approaching the beaches. Off we go! We motor out, make the turn toward Lind Point and L.B. opens it up across the gentle swells. The 16’ center console dinghy had room for our snorkel gear and cooler. We head to Waterlemon Bay. We haven’t been there in a couple years and we wanted to see the starfish again that covered the bay floor.



First navigator Lorne (see map in hand)





We arrive at Waterlemon Cay first and hook up to the dinghy line and then snorkel over to the cay. No one but us when we arrive, but soon the dinghy fleet arrives. We spend some time exploring around the cay. Not a lot of life, but plenty of spiny sea urchins. I wanted to show Lorne the starfish in the bay, so we unclipped and headed over. Plenty of balls available, so we grabbed one and headed in. The bay floor was empty. No sign of any starfish, not sure why, but disappointing. Still a very beautiful place.



Quick lunch while we are still on the ball, then L.B. turns the dinghy back toward Cruz Bay. We have plenty of time left on our ½ day adventure. Because of the wait at check-in, we were given until 2 pm, and we intended to take advantage and hit as many little spots as we could.
Next the little stone house. We’ve seen this little building numerous times and we decided to stop for bit before the next beach.





L.B. stayed with the boat, while we explored the rocky beach. I don’t know the story about this little ruin, but I’m sure there is one. Time to move on…..we stopped in Francis Bay, then to Jumbie Bay where we had it all to ourselves. After exploring both sides of the bay, we moved closer to home with stops at Salomon and Honeymoon.





L.B. finalizing the last leg home.





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We arrive back in Cruz Bay at the Beach Bar beach after a great day on the water again. The half day option was great. Parker and I left the crew to check in and we walked over the hill to get the truck. When we get back, the group is talking with the Park Service Police. Evidently the couple that left out before us, didn’t understand they were supposed to return the dinghy. They couldn’t get it cranked when they stopped at Cinnamon Bay, so they just left it on the beach and got a taxi. The dinghy wasn’t secure and eventually floated off of the beach with the tide and into the rocks. Crazy that people just don’t think.

Well, we are back with a good portion of the afternoon intact, so someone has the great idea to get a jump on dinner, let’s head to Skinny Legs!! So after a quick stop at the villa for showers, it’s off to Coral Bay and the best cheeseburger on St. John.

A little wildlife on the drive into Coral Bay…

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Once again, nothing beats the laid back atmosphere of Skinny Legs, a true cheeseburger in paradise.

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Parker has really changed since the first time she appeared in the sign. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
The early dinner is perfect for everyone after another day on the water and then it’s back to the villa for one final evening and sunset. It’s been another great week on STJ, but tomorrow we must leave. We have the late flight out of STT, so at least we can take our time getting moving in the morning, but tonight we relax one more time.

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