We made it!

Rising at 3 AM we headed to the airport with anticipation. At last we will be back on our favorite island - St John. We did have a long layover in Charlotte Airport, but it allowed for Janet to enjoy a massage. Nothing better than to get your lower back rubbed into competition condition. Towel boy guarded the luggage while gently moving back and forth in one of the world famous white rocking chairs that CLT airport offers to their travelers. I sure wish women's clothing and shoe stores would offer rocking chairs.

Our plane landed 20 minutes early!  Our seats were next to the door on a 757-200, and with only carry-on luggage we breezed through the airport and were off to the Red Hook Ferry in a flash!  The 4 PM ferry pulled into Cruz Bay and we found our friends waiting for us with a smile, sign and a painkiller.  It really does not get much better for a day of travel.  Good Seats, Rocking Chairs, Massages, No Hassles, with Friends and Painkillers awaiting your arrival.  If there was a downside to the day it would be that in my hurry to exit the plane,  I left my book for the next customer in seat 4F.

We decided to head straight to Coral Bay vice lingering in in Cruz Bay.  Before we left we had order a Polar Cooler.  The cooler advertised it could keep items frozen for an extended time in 100 degree heat.  So with meat, which is available on island but at a price, we decided it prudent to head directly to the other side - Coral Bay. 

 

Taking the North Shore Road, the long way, one could immediately feel the day of travel slip away.  There has been a lot of rain of late so the island is rich and green.  Of course we had to make the perfunctory stops at the overlooks.  To this day I remember this view the first time in 1979 and still today it is alway breathtaking - Trunk Bay Overlook.

 

 

Even using a phone to snap the shot, it sure is beautiful.   Continuing on to Coral Bay we pulled off again to snap a shot of our favorite beach on island, and the starting point for Janet's Saturday swim.  Once again with a phone, not a camera, the raw beauty of this place still evident.

 

 

Our friend's bungalow is just perfect for a year sabbatical.  Overlooking the Bay with a large screen porch a peaceful night of laughing and catching up was enjoyed.  We did slip out to Shipwreck Landing for a nice dinner and a Presidente (that one was for you Beerman).  We called it a night to try to regain some of the sleep lost from the night before.

 

Oh yeah - Big Shout Out for Polar Coolers.  Everything arrived fine and had not even started to thaw.