All things must pass...

So now the blog must come to an end.  This has been a story of beautiful lady who wanted to do a swim race in the Blue Water, and the wonderful folks who supported her.

A week in our favorite place, St John, came to an end much too quickly, but not a single complaint will be uttered.  For each minute on island we embraced and enjoyed everything around us. The place, the people, the water, and of course - Island Life.  

What can we say but the week was just awesome!

   - Janet swam great and truly enjoyed the journey  

   - Your support was recognized by the Friends of the Park and is so badly needed
   - The weather was perfect everyday
    - Our cottage was in a great location with spectacular views

Villa Rendezvous Pool and View

 

    - Met some great people along the way
    - We had incredible meals both at the cottage and dining out
    - And the snorkeling was just over the top (more on that in a little bit)

Cruz Bay, St John

I cannot end the blog before I share some photos of what we saw under the sea.  We have been snorkeling in the Caribbean for over thirty years and never have we seen so much – so clearly.  Take a moment and enjoy the beauty of YOUR National Park.  I thing the photos will speak for themselves.  And our hope is these shots will entice you to come visit this special place also. (Click on any picture to see full size)

Group of Babies out on their first swim

The world below us

But you got to have Friends.... (see the flounder by the tail)

Everybody loves a turtle!

Not really that scary - it is a nurse shark but anything 5 or 6 feet long underwater warrants attention in my book

Good Morning Mr Squid

Dance like there is no tomorrow

It is a tough world when you not full of color

Look at Me - Let me turn on my good side for your shot

-----------------------------------------------

The cute, the scary, and the colorful all find a home beneath the sea.

Before I close this blog the swimmer, my sweetie, would like to add a few words...

Thank you SWIM Janet SWIM supporters!  What a great thing each of you did to help us try to preserve the beautiful park of St. John.  St. John is a special place that Tom and I have shared for years and our hope is that it continues to stay as beautiful as it is today.  For the last few months, I have trained in the pool hoping to be ready for what the open waters had in store for me.  But this past Sunday, after an earthquake that shook the island and which I slept quietly through it, I entered the waters of Maho with the “green caps” – the ones who were going the distance.  We were the crazies that put our goggles on and set out for a quick 3.5 mile swim.  As I swam out of Maho Bay, I passed over rays and starfish leading us out into the deep water.  I found peace in the beautiful blue water and followed the advice of my swim coach, Brandon, who told me “Enjoy Your Journey”.  I traveled most of the trip with a group that naturally formed after passing the first mile and we pulled each other through by drafting off of each other, taking turns pulling the group.  Not sure who they were but we did find comfort in numbers as we swam the two open ocean crossings.

Again, I thank each of you for your support and comments.  It was comforting to know I had friends pulling for me as I stroked from bay to bay.  Many thanks go out to Towel Boy who is the love of my life, but I must tell you he did transform into Monster Man later in the week as he roared waving his hands chasing some very young local boys up and down the beach. 

Janet

So now it is time for the sunset picture to close the blog

Thanks again for your support, emails, and notes

You Come Along Way Baby - Congratulations

Ta Ta for Now...

Towel Boy

Race Day in Photos

Rash Guard On, iPod programmed, and goggles cleaned - Let's Do It.

The starting line... Janet is Ready

And there off!  If you look closely in the bottom of the pic you can see a turtle - I am sure the little green turtle was saying, What the hell is going on!

Janet swims in the last 20 yards

Towel boy keeps his promise!

Her medal for 1:47.08 of effort moving water

Cooling Down

What does one do after swimming 3.5 miles in the ocean?

I let her sleep for 1:47.08 - then I woke her up saying lets celebrate!

She done good!

Waiting for the ferry home - more in the coming days with a Photo Wrap-Up

Special Bulletin Dos.....

 Ok you figured me out - if it says Special Bulletin there are no pitures below....

Hopefully later tonight I will be able to upload Race Day Pictures.  However, I wanted to pass on to our team, Swim Janet Swim, today's results.

On an absolutely beautiful Virgin Island day, the race started promtly at 8 am on Maho Beach, St John.  At 9:47:08 Janet walked under the finish banner on Hawknest Beach.  In 1:47.08 she had swam/swum (never get that one right) 3.5 miles in the ocean.  She finished 3rd in her age group of 50+ females.  Go Janet!  BTW - Towel boy was right there and I got a picture to prove it.

As predicted the water was very choppy in front of Denis Bay.  Rays and Starfish were sighted along the way by Janet, but no turtles.  Ironically as she rounded the point to swim into Cinnamon Bay her iPod began to play Kenny Chesney's song "Old Blue Chair".  The song written on and about Cinnamon Bay St John.  The playlist worked for those who sent in songs.  She only swam/swum with one bud in her ear so she could hear safety officials if she strayed off course.

THE BIG NEWS!
Team Swim Janet Swim got a major shout out!  Why you ask... It was for being the #1 fundraising effort this year!

Because of each of you and your willingness to support Janet and the Virgin Island National Park, Janet and I will get to have dinner with Kenny Chesney at his house on Peter Bay tomorrow night!

Well... not really, but we did get a couple neat hats and book and DVD about the park.  Most importantly a real big thank you from the friends of the park.  Thanks to ALL of you for your support.

Pictures at 11.

We now return you to your normal web surfing venue.

This has been a Special Bulletin Dos....

This is a Special Bulletin.....

Not a blog but as the title states a Special Bulletin. We are 12 hours from SHOWTIME!

 What a crazy day. Started out normal and we were even a little slow getting out the door. There were no Cruise Ships docked today at St Thomas so we decided to go to Trunk Bay. Trunk is absolutely beautiful and in fact most publications rate it the best beach in the Caribbean. I will not argue the point except.... It has too many damn people fore me, but that is because of cruise ship excursions.

 We had a wonderful morning at Trunk in the shade reading. At lunchtime I went to Connections, the local internet cafe to upload pictures, but they were closed for the Memorial Day Holiday - They reopen on Tuesday.

 So at this point I have to give a shout out to Low Key Water Sports that allowed me to use a laptop and get some shots uploaded.

 As we were headed to the pre-race meeting my phone rang. Not a good sign... it was the owner of the cottage. Tom he said, we have a problem, but it has bad news and good news. He is upgrading the pool area with solar panels to provide warm water to his house, the rental villa, and the cottage. He accidentaly drilled a hole into the pool deck for a support beam and hit the cottage's water supply line. We had to move, but.... We movin' on up to the east side to an apartment... (if you are over 40 you know where I got that) The rental villa is sweettttttttttt. We loved the cottage, but the villa is very nice and our view improved if you can believe that. 

So it is bedtime. Alarm going off at 0500 - Hoping conditions will be good for my sweetie. Hope you enjoyed the pics and will try to get more uploaded soon.

Picture Time

Friday was a day of discovery, light swimming, and just another day in paradise.

We got up and headed for Denis Bay.  A beach we have never been to in all of our years visiting STJ.  It is a short hike all downhill from Peace Hill.  Maybe .2 miles through the woods and brush.  Well marked and easy walk - even back uphill - and a beach to die for.  When we first arrived it was our beach except for a gentleman who lives in the old slave quarters of the Plantation home that I think is no longer there.  Will have to research that one.  This beach was important for us to investigate because around its point is the finish line for Janet tomorrow.  It also has some of the roughest waters she will experience.

We snorkeled for awhile and got a feel for the currents.  Saw a 3' baracuda that seemed a little upset I was crowding his universe.  Also saw a bunch of angel fish.  The one in the picture was about the size of hand.  We really enjoyed the snorkeling, but not necessarily a place for beginners.

After spending the morning at Denis we headed back into Cruz Bay for a quick lunch, and then returned to Hawknest which is the official finish line.   Janet did do some swimming, but after a great lunch, I do not think her heart was in it.  There was a lady sitting next to us that appeared our age (maybe a little older) that has done the race 4 times.  Janet got some great hints on what to expect.  It was a pretty chill day all in all.

Dinner was back at the cottage.  Fresh Mahi on the grill and life is good.  Another beautiful sunset from our the pool deck of the cottage, and once again it is easy to say - "Life is Good"

Oh yeah the other exciting thing that happened while Janet was swimming at Hawknest, I got a text that "the boy" was getting ready to be interviewed on CNN.  We missed it, but his grandmother saw him and by all reports he looked good.

So here is the deal

Update:  The great folks at Low Key Water Sports allowed me a minute or two on there REAL Laptop

 Today was a serious training day. Janet swam Maho Bay and Cinnamon Bay. Tom played lifeguard on the beach, which means I sat in my chair and lost her as she stroked away.

 On her swim she saw turtles, rays, and starfish. The day's weather was amazing.

 We did come the conclusion that Janet needs more sunscreen on the back of her legs. Tom towel boy has volunteered for that job and Janet knows he will take his job seriously.

 Back to our cottage for lounging around the pool and a late lunch. Dinner tonight was at Tapas - always good. food. However we made the mistake of ordering a nice Gavi to go with our dinner and it was corked. Switched to a Vouray and it too was a little iffy, but we just could not send the second bottle back. Food was 10+, but next time we will skip the wine. So we have return to the cottage and all is good.

We Made It!

Update:   yeah pics are here!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Everything went like clock work this morning. Up at 4 and out the door at 4:45! We were checked in at DCA by 6 and that was So Sweet. Our flights were on time and in fact wev arrived St Thomas early. We sat in row 6 of a 757-200 so the exit door was right by our seat. The door opened we were the first off and with just carry-ons we were in the cab and across the island in time to catch the 4 PM ferry. 1 hour ahead of schedule. It was definitely an Amazing Race power move. Oh yeah I forgot that the Virgin Islands do not use daylight savings time so we are at the same time as the East Coast.

James, the owner of our cottage, picked us up at the ferry and gave us the once around our place for the week. It is like living in a big screen porch. Cozy, but just perfect for our stay. Great views and the tree frogs are singing up a storm

After dropping our bags we headed back to Cruz Bay in time for Woody's Happy Hour as planned! Chad greeted us and we melted back into the STJ frame of mind.

After chillin' we slipped over to the Beach Bar for Janet to get a Bushwhacker and dinner

We enjoyed a fresh Mahi sandwich as the sun called it a day... and so did we. Back to the cottage with a stop at the market to load up on supplies. Tomorrow starts the official training schedule and a good night's rest is in order.