Thursday we plan on going out to Trunk Bay early since it was supposed to be a low cruise ship day. Stopped in Deli Grotto again for those blueberry scones and coffee on the beach. We get to Trunk before 9am and settle into the middle of the beach to enjoy the beautiful views, smooth sand, and to read and relax a bit before swimming/snorkeling.

Some semi-threatening rain clouds are skittering about making for interesting play of light and shadow on the water and greenery. Before long, it starts pouring – not rain, but hoards of people start streaming onto the beach. I thought there were only 2 ships in port that day – where were they all coming from?

We had set up blanket and chairs just in front of one of those little coves of sand at the edge of the tree line with a little room behind us so we could move back into the shade if need be.

All of a sudden, without a word, a woman steps around us like we are not even there and sits down on the sand maybe 3 ½ feet right behind us right at the tree line, followed minutes later by 2 more huffing and puffing super sized individuals just to our rear right.

Yikes. Talk about invasion of space. Now, being from New Jersey, we’ve seen our share of crowded beaches (but not anymore – we have our times and places to go where it’s not an issue), but even on the most crowded Jersey beach, people respect your space. So we packed up and left.

Recently, there was a helpful thread on line about accessing Gibney Beach. After passing the gate a few times, I figured out what was being referred to. The parking in front of the gates was full but across the road was a couple of jeeps parked behind a MEN WORKING sign and I tucked in behind them as much off the road as possible.

Night and day at beautiful Gibney from the scene at Trunk in terms of density and friendliness of the few people who strolled by, some who spotted my wife reading The DaVinci Code at waters edge and would stop to chat about it.

Brief rainstorm erupted and I went into the water – seemed to make sense. I wondered what all those people at Trunk were doing – running for the taxis?

After resting, wanted to fuel up for Waterlemon so headed back for a quick lunch. Was going to grab and go at Deli Grotto, but once we saw the specials at Sun Dog, we had to stop there again. It was worth it – turkey club wrap, pesto quesadilla, and white pizza with yummy toppings. Good service, quick food delivery.

IMHO, plan your shopping at Mongoose around lunch at this place. All seating is outdoors. Pleasant bar to hang at while waiting or while others in your party shop.

By now consistently bright and sunny and back out to Leinster for the hike to Waterlemon. See a donkey back in the trees and lots of mongoose.

As noted on board, good Tevas or equivalent necessary for this. Don’t let your teenager insist that those “slides” she wears to/from soccer are adequate for this like we did because you will have her fall and scrape herself up like she did and then you’ll have to do the parental I told you so’s like we did. Flesh wound #1.

Get out to near the point and stop at what looks like good entry spot and start gearing up. By the way, I had purchased those neoprene fin socks to use with my heel strap fins because I have sensitive feet and didn’t want to develop hot spots or blisters. The socks also provide more cushioning when negotiating rocky shores like these. Something to consider.

We ask folks walking past about conditions/currents. They also comment that swim over from another 25 yards up would be a bit more scenic. I’m not gonna take off what I already have on but my wife wants to go and I know enough not to stop her. We identify a buoy by the Cay as a rendezvous point.

My daughter and I swim across the channel and are almost to the buoy when my wife yells out from behind us from about midway out “Turtle!”. We double back and enjoy watching what looks to us like a pretty big one cruise the bottom and surface nearby.

Continue counterclockwise around the Cay, enjoy the high quality and variety of the underwater scenery. About halfway around, spot a baby turtle meandering around in the shallows. We just hang and float watching. Very cute. I am amazed at the brown and tan coloring of the juvenile in the excellent lighting of the swallows. Then he starts to turn towards me and I have to gently back up and let him past. A magic moment.

On the way out of the water, my wife shows me her hand which is a little swollen. Turns out she stumbled at that other entry point she insisted on trying and stuck her hand on a sea urchin. Yikes.

We do something we saw them do on Survivor while in the water and it actually helps with the stinging. She said it hurt like hell and bled a little when it happened but she didn’t want to abort this snorkel on her account. Besides, she says, “If I didn’t do that we wouldn’t have seen those turtles.”

Points out though importance of not going solo or even being split up by more than 50 feet or so. I have to dig out some splinter like spine pieces later with tweezer and needle.

She is tough - she has her own little phobias about certain other health stuff but anything else is “just a flesh wound” (sorry – another semi-obscure film reference) but we do recognize we were lucky she didn’t have a significant adverse reaction.

Big $ dinner #2 is at Ten Tables that night (Chilly Billy’s becomes Ten Tables at night). App of foccocia with crabmeat, then stuffed shrimp, steak, and salmon with sundried tomato. All quite excellent. Good choice/good value of wine by the glass with a generous pour (irks me when they fill halfway). Great service and being up from the road helps with noise levels (vs. Monday nite meal at Tage). Overall about an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Next up: Francis Bay, depart STJ, and Secret Harbour in St. Thomas exceeds expectations.