Monday, June 19th, 2006

Before we begin, I'd like to state something of grave importance:

Still flyin the "Freak Flag" my peeps and she's a flappin proudly in the wind!

LOL, I loved that movie! Tuxedocat, thanks for the laugh. Too your a funny guy funny! Thanks also to everyone who has as much enjoyed being a part of our adventures as I have had reliving them.

The show must go on so yesterday in St. John land I neglected to tell everyone that on the way back to the villa from our dinghy disaster, we scouted out and found Donald Schnell's studio. Apparently he's just moved recently from his Mongoose Junction location and he's now on the side street by the Texaco comfortably ensconced on the second floor led to by the scary stairs up above the shop that sells clothes. I'm pretty sure that's the real address if your trying to find him. We flipped into a spot and Lizard Boy sprinted up the stairs only to find that the shop was closed for the Father's Day holiday! Just shoot me now. The little guy's lip was hangin so low, I thought he was going to trip over it. Gimmie Girl also chose this particular moment to start in on me about how "we haven't even been shopping yet. What fun. I crossed my heart and hoped to die that we would try again tomorrow upon the completion of our day trip to the BVI's.

The next morning we ate a pancake and eggs breakfast at the villa and yes, it's definitely becoming a pattern. Captain Jordan of Caribbean V.I.B.E advised us to meet him at the National Park dock at 8:30. We arrived a few minutes early, snached a parking place and lugged our gear over to the dock just as VIBE was driving up. Jordan was a twenty something nice but reserved young man with a very nice boat. He said it was an 05 catamaran but I've never been on a cat like that before. That thing could really move the hells on out. We had specific criteria that we wanted to meet with our charter and he was pretty accomodating. The only thing that I was slightly disappointed with was the fact that there was no first mate so when we wanted a snack or drink or something, we had to wait until he had an opportune moment and then ask. I don't know if this is the norm for him or if it just happend to be that day but it wasn't really that huge a deal.

Our first stop was Jost Van Dyke where we cleared customs and went for a walk-a-bout. We walked over to Foxy's where they were just setting up for the day and it's too bad too cause I think later on in the day it woulda been some seriously good times! Graduate Girl lounged in the hammock for a spell Lizard Boy just wanted to be friends with the designated island greeter, a black lab with sweet eyes. We walked down to the other side of the island stopping to chat with the friendlies along the way and that dog followed him everywhere we went. He so looked the quintessential surfer bum walking the shore with
his best buddy until they parted ways. I have to show you guys a picture, soooo cute!

Next we head over to White Bay and OMG! Can there be anything more visually satisfying! We tied on to one of those tie things, (Good Godfey, can someone please tell me what the tie things are called?) and I think I was the first one in. I was in my element as I immersed myself in the life altering waters and swam from one side of the beach to the other while Lizard Boy and Graduate Girl had some water play and Honey imbibed himself with some goodtimes tonic. Of course I walked the beach a couple times taking many, many pictures and by that time we were all ready to imbibe (except for Lizard Boy) so we finished off White Bay with a trip to the Soggy Dollar. Have I told you that the Graduate LIKES RUM! Well, the girl LIKES RUM! We polished off a few of those YUMMY Painkillers and then Graduate Girl and I had a look-see to see if we could find something to spend Honey's money on. You'll be happy to know that we most certainly did find quite a few things again with a healthy contribution to the local ecconomy. Honey decided to keep imbibing so that he wouldn't care what we were spending his money on. Can I get a hoo-ha? Let's hear it for the Painkillas! Yummy good times! Gorgeous place, perfect water, beautiful sand, and Painkillers! What more is there to say?

Back on board we hit the water for the long trip to the Baths. I think Jordan would have preferred that we stay around Norman but I really wanted to take my peeps to see them at least once so on our way we went. I think it took like an hour but before long we arrived at the Baths at Virgin Gorda. The tie things were all taken but as luck would have it, a sail boat was leaving and graciously let us have their spot. It happend to be one of the closest to shore so we threw on our gear and jumped off the boat to snorkel in. Although not far, it's also not a hop, skip and a jump so we held hands and stayed together. The snorkel in wasn't great but it was cool and different. The Baths were an otherworldly experience. Lizard Boy, yeah couldn't keep track of the kid he LOVED it there. He LOVES caves and forts and stinky boy kinds of things so he was in the zone and loving life climbing around and finding all the secret grottos and hidden caves. If you asked him what his favorite thing was he'd say the Baths. We followed the trail to the beach, had a nice man take our picture, went for a swim then decided to head back to the entrance. Yeah sure, tell that to Lizard Boy. I practically had to drag him out of there by his shaggy head. Back at the beach the a$$ that use to be known as Honey left the three of us standing there trying to fix the valve on Nickie's snorkel vest and snorkeled alone back to the boat. I'm pretty sure it was one of those obnoxious mood can't handle my alcohol kinds of things. I'm willing to bet that being back on the boat will be as much fun as getting a tooth pulled. The Baths were cool and a definite must see if you've never been.

The girls and Nickie made it back to the boat with little help from Painkiller Man and we were on our way to our last stop the Treasure Caves. We were to go to the Indians also but Jordan advised against trying to fight the swells and current this day. I was sooooo bummed out about that but definitely safety is more important and hey, we have something to do next trip! Again we tied onto the tie thingies, whipped on our gear and off we went with Lizard Boy sportin a noodle. The snorkel in to the Caves was about the same distance as into the Baths but once we were there is was amazing. Some really nice coral and tons and tons of all different types of fish. We snorkeled for quite a while and checked out all three caves. You couldn't have drug Lizard Boy out if he was being pursued by Jaws and the three Jellies he was to transfixed. I just loved watching the facination show in his eyes and on his face. A snorkeling Mom's pride and joy. Ok, so I had another moment. Thanks for listening. Graduate Girl started getting a headache due to snorkel overdose and decided to head back to the boat. Much to Nickie's chagrin, we followed after a short while and started to make our way back to St. John. Snorkeling good times at the Treasure Caves!

Jordan cruised slowly past the beautiful North Shore cause in case you don't remember, I didn't get enough pics of the beaches from the water's perspective (musta been that damn dinghy adventure!). We arrived back at the National Park dock, cleared customs in like 3 minutes and then settled up with Jordan. It was a REALLY fun day and Jordan was cool and had a nice boat but maybe he was just a little too comatose for us. I really like other people to share and liven things up with so maybe next time we'll try a people boat or charter a bigger boat to take more of our peeps along with. Honey actually wants to charter a sailboat for the week next time. Iiiiiii have to think about that. Gotta love a villa!

So we left the dock and Lizard boy chimes in with "don't forget Donald Schnells." Ya think the kid'll forget that name? NOT! As promised we drove straight to Donalds, climbed the stair scaries and thank you Jesus, the door was OPEN! We walked right in to a tiny studio and EUREKA, I feel like I just won the Powerball. There before mine eyes were the mystical piles of the magic stones that Lizard Boy was already euphorically digging through. In case you don't know this, they are otherwise known as glued sand with blue aqua colored stained glass painted in the center. A bed of blue in a thumbprint of sand representing the beautiful St. John beaches. Ok, so I'm making these things up trying to make them sound like the priceless treasures they WERE to Lizard Boy who has since them thrown in the bottom of the pirate's tresure chest in his bedroom into oblivious obscurity. They were only like $3, $5, and $8 or something like that so it didn't break my heart too bad, but it did make me want to give him a swift kick in the...whatever!

Back at the villa we had China Shack takeout for dinner (Lizard Boy's request). It was a'ight. The fried rice was the best I think. It was $40 plus tip and well, at least we weren't hungry anymore (I promise I'm not that picky!). So we cleaned up to shut the Gimmie Girl up, we drove into town on our last night on the island for some retail therapy! I'm pretty sure that we hit just about every shop in Warfside, Mongoose and downtown. Graduate Girl made her shopping excursion count making up for some seriously lost time and Lizard Boy also stepped up to the plate. I ended up with a beautiful J-Hook from Freebird that I've been wearing everyday to make me smile everytime I look at it. Honey just followed us around while hittin the booze and popping a Xanax so he couldn't of cared less. Kidding, but only about the Xanax. It was serious shopping good times.

Back home we went to have a final swim, a final soak and one final broccoli binge on the beds while giving into some serious munchie attacks and watching movies. One last time falling asleep to the magical sounds of a night in St. John. Next up, St. Thomas and a beautiful trip draws to a close.