Melon? Lemon? What?
Monday, June 04, 2007
May 26th, Saturday
We started the day on Saturday by picking up our rental car. Again, the artistic renters made a last minute change and didn’t tell us. That rental agreement we signed was apparently an island agreement, like island time. So we got a behemoth vehicle, a Montero with third row seating – just what we needed. It drove fine, a little big for the island curves and hills, but I adapted. For instance, we learned to turn the AC off to help get up the hills, use 4WD, and accept the squealing tires (just on those nasty curves). Overall, Monty (I’ve just named her now) did us well, she was a nice, green, gal (do I need a comma there? I missed the start of comma rules week, and I still need to learn them – ugh).
After the car, we returned to the scene of the crime – the Caneel lunch buffet. We wanted it; we needed it. It was worth it. We got there early when everything was fresh. We were the first to hit the cheese, the first to the fruit soup – so yummy. I know I’ve left you all hanging – what was the snafu? I just can’t address it here, in the blog. Some of you have asked, and I’ve spilled, but public embarrassment? Yeah, I’ve had enough.
Next was Waterlemon – yes WaterLEMON; it’s the best snorkeling I’ve ever seen around St. John. Not to say there isn’t better out there, I just haven’t graduated to it yet. In fact, each time I’ve been to the cay, I consider it a success to get around it. There’s a strong current that runs between the cay and the main island, and that current continues around the island, though it lessens on the western side.
Last trip, we snorkeled off a dingy we moored near the cay. This time we snorkeled directly from Leinster Beach, which is significantly farther away. It was great. I didn’t see the carpet of s
eastars everyone saw in 2004, but I did see a handful of them. They’re enormous, I’m thinking at least 10” in diameter, possibly more. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always though seastars were more the size of your palm.
Last year we saw two spotted eagle rays here and two turtles. We got to follow the turtles for quite some time, even as they surfaced. This trip we saw more rays, but not eagle rays. We saw turtles again too. One was eating, I never knew they used their front appendages like hands to hold the food – make sense though.
There are substantially more fish around Waterlemon than any of the other places we snorkeled, combined. The coral is healthier also. This year in addition to the turtles, rays, and myriad of fish, we also saw live conch moving along the bottom, and a huge tarpon swam by us. It was well worth the longer swim from the beach.
After the majority of the day spent at Leinster and Waterlemon, we drove to Maho Bay Camps with 15 minutes to spare before the pre-race meeting. We quickly found a bathhouse, showered, changed and ran up to the meeting. Perfect timing. Tammie was signed up to do the Beach to Beach Power Swim the next day, and this meeting was to explain the course, rules, etc. We waited nearly an hour. The Deet was flowing, but the mosquitoes didn’t appear to notice. I had decided to volunteer. Since Tammie was swimming, I might as well make myself useful and get a t-shirt in the process.
We skipped dinner (mosquitoes) and headed back to the villa. End of day three.
posted by Shannon @ 4.6.07,
