Last part detailing our first time trip to STJ and STT from 3/27 to 4/4.

We took a ride from Secret Harbour on Sunday afternoon planning to snorkel Coki, go to Udder Delight for shakes, to the beach at Megans, and then Indigo for dinner.

You ride thru a somewhat dilapidated neighborhood to get to Coki. It was REALLY crowded. Apparently, lots of locals go to the beach on Sunday (and why wouldn’t they?) but we decided we weren’t in the mood for the crowd. Maybe better during the week, but then you probably have cruise ship/tourist spillover from Coral World (?).

Next stop Udder Delight for GREAT milkshakes then to Megans Bay Resort to check out Indigo for possible dinner after the beach. The view wasn’t as good as anticipated, and the menu had a few interesting things in addition to the usual suspects. OK we’ll see.

Then onto the beach at Megans. Again, very crowded, birthday parties, etc. everybody having a loud good time. The beach is long and pretty and you could easily find a spot if you wanted.

But you know what? We looked at each other and decided to punt – we had a very nice uncrowded beach, a very good restaurant with a great view right back at Secret Harbour. Analogy: sometimes you’re in the mood for the loud crowded party or club scene with the DJ, other times you want the folk singer in the coffeehouse.

No disrespect to these parts of St. Thomas – as noted in Part III, we also decided to leave Trunk Bay fter the invasion of The Large Rude White People over in St. John on Thursday.

So we took the ride up and over the Drakes seat overlook area and enjoyed the views down onto Megans and down onto the harbor on the other side.

Got back to SH, enjoyed the sunset on the beach with a few drinks and decided to go to dinner just down the road form SH at Bonnies on the Beach at the Elysian Resort. They have a buffet and live music on Sunday but the regular menu is also available.

We get there and guess who the live music is? Yes, it’s Andrew that plays at Secret Harbour. Pretty neat to listen to that fine music again and eat dinner with your feet in the sand. We very much enjoyed the salads with grilled Mahi and stuffed Grouper. Good Planters Punch too.

Monday morning of departure my daughter and I enjoy one last snorkel – the fish seem pretty active in the early AM.

Uneventful flight back. Into the car at JFK for drive back to Jersey. It takes about 6 seconds to get used to driving on the right again, although it feels like I’m doing 90 when I get up to highway speed.

Heading to back to work on Weds., spring has finally sprung. To avoid traffic, I veer off the main roads and take a narrow, winding road along the D&R canal to hook up with the interstate.

Nobody on this road, even at rush hour. I am listening to a CD with Marley, etc. that we listened to a lot during the trip and I am alternating between pleasant memories and bumming out about going back to work.

Then, as I meet up with the main road to join in the line of cars heading off to the adult day care centers, I see a guy in a Jeep Wrangler just like the rental we had on the islands. He turns onto that road less traveled and he had the windows zipped down and looked like he was thoroughly enjoying the first rush of spring.

I just bust out laughing and think yeah, now there’s a dude who would fit in quite nicely in St. John. It put me a good mood for the rest of the day.

Final thoughts: I don’t get it when people say they don’t have time to plan a trip like this. Research for a trip on boards like this is half the fun in my book. After work/homework/practice/dinner, gives me something relaxing and interesting to do at night instead of watching a dopey sitcom or reality show. MUCH THANKS to all who contribute.

I had high expectations for this trip and they were exceeded. I think we’ll have to come back here. Not usually our style to go back to the same places on fly vacations (too many places to see), but this place does indeed have a special vibe and we need more time to really get into it, get out to the East End of STJ, maybe hop over to JVD, etc. I don’t discount a few days again at Secret Harbour either coming or going – that’s how much we liked it.

We have #25 coming up in late Aug 06. Thinking maybe kicking that summer off in late June back to STJ/STT (I smell villa). Then, for the actual anniversary date, going to another island that requires a ferry to get to - Nantucket. We were to Martha’s Vineyard many moons ago, but never to Nantucket. Might be nice. Will just have to research it - there must be a forum on it somewhere!
JMQ