By this morning it appears that Hurricane Emily will pass well to the south of us. The rain bands Won't even reach us. Hippolotta still ain't unpackin' though! Today we go to Honeymoon beach at Caneel. I'm astounded that the mumber of times that I have stayed at Caneel I never visited this gem. But then again, when you have the sea fifteen yards from your door step, why hike a half a mile to go to a different beach. It isn't crowded at all and the snorkeling here is excellent! Pam Gaffin author of FF&FWD, mentions a discharge tube from Caneel's reverse osmosis system that makes the water warmer and raises the salinity. This attracts fish.

Dinner tonight is from Uncle Joe's BBQ.

Again I cannot believe I have been to STJ as many times as I have, and not found Uncle Joe's. In my defense it is easy to overlook. This night I ask a local lady who is SITTING at Uncle's Joe's "where Joe's is", she replies "Joe's Diner?" I say "yes", she says "turn right at Cap's Place (across the street from Joe's BBQ) it's the next building on your left." Here are Hippolyte's "Directions to Joe's BBQ for Dummies"! Stand in front of Cap's Place....cross the street and you're there! I have heard many posters report of long waits. Hint: order anytime they are open, tell them when you want to pick it up, and it will be ready! Hippolotta and I split a chicken/rib combination with rice and corn. What a deal. The kids have chicken fingers (their primary food source!) to go from Woody's (good value here too).

It has become obvious at this point in the trip, that I'm going to have to have A talk with Hippolita, maybe, yes, in fact with Hippolotta as well; but for slightly different reasons. Hippolittle is fine. You may recall, from an earlier trip report, that the greatest attraction of the islands, (for me) is the fact it is the only place that I can go and totally, completely relax! You may also recall, again from an earlier trip report, that my expectations regarding relaxation have been largely suspended, as we are taking kids with us. For Hippolittle, my son, everyday begins as a lizard safari. Judy, our greeter told us that the anoles/geckos really move around in the morning, and that if you catch a couple and rub their necks, they will open their mouths, and will hang on to one’s ears, for a minute or two. Nothing could be neater to him than this!

For Hippolita, and you will have to forgive me tonight,if I seem a bit nervous as she just got her driver’s licence today. (Blessing and a curse!) But she is a 16 yr. Old, who does not have the word “relax” in her lexicon. Her mother likes to say “we clash”, to which I completely disagree. She is extremely competitive, and is in the age period that rebellion is a state of mind. She is an athlete, plays classic soccer, at the premier level, (the highest competitive level a girl her age can play)Translation: It costs a lot and you travel a lot!! Don’t get me wrong, in my view she has great character, and I am very proud of her! However, her mind works like a sixteen year old. Example: “When are we going to do this....You said we are going to do that.......Can we do this?” All of this takes place in 7 ½ seconds, and is delivered in the same form that a pearly eyed thrasher would deliver it. So tonight I ask Hippolitta to sit down beside me for a few minutes, that I would like to talk to her. (I will paraphrase the conversation)

Her “Am I in trouble?”
Me: “No, I just wanted to talk to you for a second.”
Her: “What did I do?”
Me: “Nothing I just wanted to talk to you for a second.”
Her: “I am in trouble!”
Me: “No, you are not...there is just something about you, and me, we both need to understand.”
Her: “I am in really big trouble...aren’t I?”
Me: No! Now don’t interrupt again for at least 10 seconds, OK.”
Her: “OK”
Me: “The reason I love coming to the islands, is that it’s one of the few places I can go where I can relax. You are 16, you don’t even possess the ability to relax. I understand this...it’s OK. I also don’t expect you to understand my need to relax....I just need to tell you about it...OK?”
Her: OK...Are you sure I’m not in trouble?”
Me: “No”
Her “OK”

Hippolita practicing her straw swallowing technique at the Lime Inn!

Miraculously this fixes everything! Hippolotta is just a typical mother that wants everything “just right”, put another way...nirvana. I preparing for this trip, I do a lot of the heavy lifting, and she prepares for the process of actually going from here (home) to there. Imagine if you will a jet taxiing at on the runway, gaining speed, wheels up, and landing. The problem is that after we land she is still moving at the same speed as takeoff. I point this out and remind her that if she can’t relax, then we can’t relax. This works...

Hippolotta gets it!

Next...the kids go scuba diving!