Hello Chris, thought about you a short while ago when reviewing the latest on Ike. Said a prayer for TX and for all those already affected by Ike and other storms this year.

--Islander

Good call Islander.
One tends to get central minded when it impacts them but this has been a tough year for a great many more before us. Some of my co-workers in Baton Rouge are still without power from Gustav and heaven knows the T&C and Cuba took a hit from Ike, not to mention the continuing disaster in Haiti. I often wonder if that poor island will ever recover.

Hi Chris, we are between Houston and Galveston in Friendswood. Where are you located? How did you far in the storm? We just had lots of limbs and trees down and ceiling collapsed in pool bathroom and small leak in closet. Hope you pulled through OK.

Hi Chris, Hi mimzyr,

We are in Seabrook. We have minor damage to the house, lots of trees down and no power but that's okay (I call it practicing for my move to the islands). I have friends on the water 2 blocks away whose house was devastated. Aren't those MREs

C Urchin 😀

That's good, no major damage. I feel so sorry for all whose homes were devastated. We have power but alot of our friends in Friendswood do not.

My husband and I are going to St. John for the first time in 3 wks. I guess you have been before, What do you like to do there, anything or any place that we should visit or do?? We are divers so we are planning on a couple of dives and we are going on the Bad Kitty for the day to the BVI. Let me know of anything else we should do?

Hope you recover OK.

5 years ago tonight - Isabel tore up where we live in VA. It was a direct hit.
We were on a sailboat in Greece...
Thanks to family and friends that cleaned up the outside the house and cleared out the frig. However it was December before we got a new roof.

The power of nature or God, depending on your beliefs, is a mighty force to be respected...

Thoughts and prayers to IKE folks and if I am not off the mark this is the same week Marylyn tore up STT
Lesson learned - Time solves most things.

C Urchin & mimzyr

Go figure, all this time I considered forum members to be far away (must be an Internet thing) and both of you are neighbors. I live in League City. We had roof and ceiling damage as well along with the inevitable downed fences. We consider ourselves blessed compared to Galveston and Bolivar. Bolivar looks like MS and parts of LA after Katrina.

C Urchin

You must be on the West side of Toddville as I understand they all got water. Friends of ours along Repsdorph are still without power.

mimzyr

Enjoy your trip and take time to forget about all things. Take in 'island time' and 'limin'. Feel the wind, listen to the waves and nature. Recharge your soul and enjoy one of God's wonderful gifts. STJ has changed a great deal over the past 20 years and it will probably change some more but there is still a great deal to take in.
Can't speak for diving but the snorkeling is fantastic. I prefer Francis, Waterlemon and Lameshure Bays in that order.

Chris,

What restaurants would you recommend?

TomB, you're correct about Marilyn who tore up STT bigtime on September 15 1995. We can't go anywhere, nowhere to evacuate, just have to hunker down and deal with it. As STX was hit several years earlier by Hugo with enormous devastation, thus hit Marilyn on STT. My house didn't have power for six months and it was a general melee for several weeks.

It's wired into my memory bank but very few people ask about it. When they do and I respond, I get goosebumps. It was a horrible time but the strong survived and those less strong took the first flights out. Cheers!

STT Resident

The sound of jet engines and the visual 'breathing' of the house for 8 hours straight will always be stuck in my head following Alicia in 83. When I described it to my daughter she decided Austin was preferable to staying home. I am thankful we had that opportunity this time. We only went 3 weeks without power after Alicia and even less this time around (one of the very lucky ones) so I can't imagine 6 months without power.
"Paradise" does have it's limits like anywhere else I suppose.

mimzyr

Biggest issue will be what's open this time of year as many shut down to provide some vacation time to staff, etc. during the off season. Go to Ruth's STJ Spice site to find latest listings. If you want more high end eating, try Asolare as they appear to be open. Don't miss Miss Lucy's Sunday brunch on the lower east end. Not sure where you are staying but it is well worth the trip and they seem to be open. JJ's Texas Cafe is good and don't forget to try local BBQ. Different from Texas fare but that's why you are going in the first place.

Have a wonderful time.

Great!! Thanks so much Chris. Good luck with all the clean up. I will let you know how our trip was when we return. We leave 2 wks from today, can't wait to get away from it all.

Thanks, Kim