Haircut in Paradise

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Today was a most wonderful day!!  I drove back from Cruz Bay and experienced driving in St John … FINALLY!  I did just fine and realized how much I mss having wheels!  Remember when you got your license and what it meant?  I am sure that you do.  Remember that feeling of ultimate freedom with those keys in your hand?  They were the keys to the proverbial palace for sure. Well I felt real euphoria set in this morning just takin’ my time roundin’ those hairpin turns and ridin’ those hills. like they were ocean waves!  Just great. 

It was just the right timing too because I hit a little low point yesterday even though it was my one month anniversary!   The food supplies are dwindling a little bit here on survivor island.  Since there are only four of us here a big food order makes little sense.  Yesterday I thawed some steak that may have been thawed and frozen more than once (which I think has happened a lot here in the past two months).  I tried to tenderize it and then I made a steak and cheese sub with it that left a lot to be desired.  I told Randy that I just may have to become a vegetarian while I am here, to which he replied  jokingly, “that is the plan”! 

 I have put a lot of hours in and now I am trying to decide how to “spend some”.  Funds are not unlimited which does pose a challenge because even though I am seeking off season rates at some of the smaller places, it can still add up quickly. 

Last Thursday, we had a guest couple coming in to camp.  Randy went off to get Jamie at the airport and Zoe went off to go drumming so I was “on duty” to welcome the guests.  I was a little concerned as to how they would receive the place but was bound to do my best to make them comfortable.  They arrived and the woman told me she had been here years ago and this was a walk down memory lane for her.  Whew… I was very relieved.  They were from Mount Pleasant, S.C..  and both work in real estate now.  Troy and Debra enjoyed their twenty four hour stay… explored the property, the beaches and chatted about old times here and the possibility of coming down again to volunteer.  They were most friendly and it was a pleasure to have some guests!

Friday, I met Jamie, the previous manager.  He slept in very late as he had a long day of travel the day before.  He is in his early thirties.  He is from Laconia, NH and he went to Colby Sawyer and Antioch for degrees related to the environment.  He plans to go to Key West to a community college for diving so that he can have a dive business and he also wants to adjunct as an instructor if possible.  The most amazing thing is that he actually went to River Valley Community College, Claremont,  in 2003 for Adventure Recreation for one semester.  He was trying to take electives that would transfer.  The fact is that we were obviously both there… that small world came to life!  He is here for his last couple of months have invested four years of his life as the manager of Viers… I think he is having very mixed emotions about leaving and so his mood is variable.  He met Randy in Costa Rica and promoted him for the manager position and so they are still kind of getting to know each other and the process of handing things so the transition is influencing the camp atmosphere somewhat.

On Friday, Randy also decided to take in a volunteer for a couple of days…. Anita.  She was on the island and decided she would like to see Viers and volunteer.  This is kind of unusual.  She arrived and was a whirlwind.  She was excited and nervous… who would not be never having been here and not knowing anything about it.  I tried to help her acclimate as she was to be “my assistant”  the next two days!  Long story short it was a  bit of a strange day on Saturday … she was very opposed to using bleach at it is very harmful to the environment!  Her point was well take but when at Viers… The great bonus was that  one of Anita’s skills was cutting hair and I took a risk and was very glad that I did.  Great haircut!!  She went out briefly with Randy, Zoe and Jamie on Saturday night and had already decided that she had to leave with Randy at 6am so that she could go kayaking with some of her friends....

I am working Wednesday and Thursday and then hiking the Johnny Horn trail from Coral Bay to Maho Bay to spend a couple of days.  Plan to beach it and kick back and get some much needed R&R.. time to intertwine some fun with all this work !

Keeping you posted!

Some Island Time....

Thursday 10/20/2011

Up early on Tuesday, packed my knapsack with as little as possible and it was still heavier than I wanted it to be. My destination:  the Serendip Condos in Cruz Bay on St John.  I found it on the web and it had great reviews.

I left Viers on foot to walk the mile and a half to Salt Pond where the stop for the Vtran Bus is located.  This is a local bus route from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay that is supposed to run on the hour but often just skips an hour, or two or breaks down or whatever.  It is totally on island time.  It costs one dollar to ride and it takes about fifty minutes to an hour to get from the beginning to the end.  Stops are vague but where there are people gathered looking for a ride, it usually does.

The mile and a half hike to the bus is a doozy and with my pack even doozier.  Appalachian Mountain Trail,  here I come… or at least the Long Trail.  The terrain here is just constant steep hills and hairpin turns and often these two things are combined.  My walk included one climb that resulted in losing at least a pint of bodily fluid I am sure.   I managed to make it in about 30/35 minutes and so next time I will be able to plan better and take it a little slower.  I was so early that I had to wait about a half hour and in that time I met Courtney, a native, who worked for WAPA (Water and Power Authority) for twenty years and retired last year at the age of 4o something.  Now he dives…. and collects food (Whelk and Conch)from the ocean floor.  He built his home on the water years ago and a buddy of his wants him to move to Atlanta and drive tractor trailer trucks.  He is thinking about it.  He ended up getting a lift in the back of a pick-up truck which is common here, before the bus actually arrived.  Just about everybody who drives a truck picks people up who are standing on the side of the road trying to get somewhere, St John’s version of hitch hiking. 

Made it to Cruz Bay and walked around town.  It was nice to be on my own.  Had lunch at Ocean Grill  in Mongoose Junction.  I had Thai mussels that were outstanding and of course a  “Put the Lime in the Coconut” for a beverage (my favorite). Relaxed and wrote some cards and just hung out.   Walked to the Marketplace which is a newer complex going out of town towards the Weston Resort.  It is very attractive and houses a grocery store that borders on gourmet, a liquor store, a bookstore, various little restaurants, a mailing business that provides mailboxes, shipping, faxing, a notary and business services.  There is also a bank, some real estate offices and a couple of electronics stores.  It is certainly the place for upscale visitors like myself! haha

I bought a beef kabob, a couple of shrimp, cole slaw and a potato and some red wine because Ashley, the manager, had told me I had a full kitchen.  Ashley had also offered to pick me up which she does not usually do but since I was “a woman traveling alone” she would make an exception.  Nice that she did because there was another wicked steep hill climb to the Serendip but if you want a view this is the cost!  

My little studio was just beautiful, with a king size very comfy bed that I was thrilled to sleep on after the cot I have been sleeping on in the Hermitage. It was a pleasure.  It was tastefully decorated and the kitchen was extremely well stocked complete with herbs and a variety of cookware.  There was just everything anyone would need including frozen bottles of water in the freezer,  brand new beach toys, sun tan lotions….. The only thing that I would add is that if you are a coffee lover… get some good coffee and milk to bring in with you.  I would have loved that this morning. 

I was going to cook out on the grill by the very cute little pool but, honestly, I was kind of enjoying being inside!  Everything is relative for sure.  So much outdoors had me wanting some indoors.  It also had a flat screen tv and I overdosed on that!  AND  I managed to spill red wine on the beautiful bedspread that was big and heavy… I almost had a stroke.   I washed it out but then the problem was it was soaking wet and heavier… It took all day today to try and dry it out and it was still damp when I left.  I did not have to check out at ten, the usual time, since no one was coming in and Ashley said I could stay as long as I wanted and enjoy the place.  I told her of my wine mishap and her response was “that must have been an Oh Shit moment!)…. she was glad I told her… and said that the woman that owns the condo loves her red wine… and would quite understand should she hear about it.

I walked to town and back for breakfast and was floating on this cool flotation thing in the little pool by ten.  It was heavenly.  Left about two and Ashley offered to give me a ride down to the ferry dock. 

Planned on catching the three something Vtran but it did not show.  I grabbed a bite to eat while waiting for the next one.   Luckily the four something one came and I back at Viers just at dusk.

I was met with and enthusiastic hello from Randy and Zoe.  They were going to make me dinner which was sweet but I gracefully declined since I had eaten just before I got on the bus.  I think they were making tofu, so I may have dodged a bullet!  They had told me the other night they would make it for me… Yipee.  This is a bit of a problem because the dinner menu has gone veggie on me.  I need to assert my taste for meat on occasion, I think.   Well, the manager, Jamie, is coming tomorrow… I believe he is a meat eater and a wine drinker… so hopefully balance will be restored!

A little weary tonight… Who knew a holiday would take so much energy.  Well I am back to painting tomorrow and to  planning my next getaway. 

Keeping you posted!

The Hermitage

Friday was my first actual day off.  Lori and Roy were flying home on Saturday, so we took the opportunity to explore St John.  We went to Waterlemon Cay, which, if you are here, everyone will tell you that you should snorkel there.  It is a nice little hike, then you swim across and around a little island.  You get to see some nice coral and an assortment of fish as usual but they they are usually bigger.  The first thing we saw was the spotted stingray you see on the right column of the blog.  It was great.  Lori saw some big barcuda, we all saw sea turtles and after we had circled the island we saw LOTS of starfish.  I had seen this one other time... they were scattered all over the ocean floor.  Lori described it as if you were looking at the night sky only you were looking down under water! 

We had packed a picnic lunch and we went up to Maho to sit in the pavillion with its great vew and had lunch.  We also stopped at Cinnamon Bay Campground, part of the National Park.  I have stayed there a couple of times camping... brought all my gear with me.  It is very reasonable if you are a camper.  Lori and Roy liked the idea of going back there to camp.

Later in the day we came back to Viers... cleaned up and then I took Lori and Roy out to dinner. 
Saturday Lori and Roy left and Randy and Zoe ended up going to St Thomas to a drumming event.  So, I spent quite a long day at camp.  Did my usual work projects, and in the evening I managed to get a movie on Netflix in the dining hall complete with popcorn... It was quite a treat!!

I am feeling like I am settling in and settling down and starting to plan some things I want to do while I am here.  My first outing will be Tuesday and I will be going to town... Cruz Bay, which is only about 9 miles from here but takes forty minutes to drive.  There is a local bus called the Vtran... I have to walk a mile and a half to a bus stop.  The bus runs but it is irradic!  So, navigating that in itself should be an adventure.  I am staying at a Guest House called the Serendip Condos.  I will be creating two linked blogs in the next few days and one will be on accomodations that I am checking out for future reference and to review for others who might visit St John.  I am so looking forward to twenty four hours of down time!  I will let you know how it turns out.

Oh, one more thing.  My good friend, Kevin Comeau,  sent me a great email to day in which he talked about the writings of Thomas Merton.  He told me that he lived in a dwelling he called the Hermitage and suggested that is what I call my little cabin... so henceforth it will be known as such!  Thank you, Kevin... that is perfect.

Keeping you posted!





Hike to the Petroglyphs

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Hi from St John…

This week finds me getting into a routine.   Early rising… quick breakfast and then work projects.  Then a couple hours on the dock, swimming, snorkeling, just relaxing.  Then back to my cabin, a shower.  This is a time when I either work on my blog, write letters, write emails.  We have dinner at about six thirty until about eight thirty.  Then I head for my cabin and by that time I am ready to rest.  I do write a couple emails usually.  I do not have internet access in my cabin and so I have to write them and save them to send the next day but this is working fine.  Sometimes I watch a dvd on my computer just to let go of the day.  There is dvd collection, most of which I have seen,  I still enjoy as a bit of that kind of pastime. 

Zoe’s explorations of plants that are edible or have medicinal qualities brought three great finds this week.  We have a Bay Rum tree in the camp and surprisingly it is not used to make rum but used to make after shave.  It smells just great as you might imagine.  It also has medicinal qualities as many local plants do (in any region).  Bay rum plant is used to decrease tensions and relieve inflammation.  Another plant that grows in camp is called lovage and its medicinal qualities are for indigestion, bronchitis and it increases one’s appetite (no need for that here!) As with most plants used in medicinal application, you make teas and/or poultices.  So, Zoe combined the bay rum leaves with the lovage leaves and made a tea that was very tasty… the aroma alone was inviting. 

The other plant she found was the Maho plant… it has a heart shaped leave and I find this interesting because Maho Bay is my favorite place on St John.  As she was reading, she noted that it was good for removing warts.  I am testing this on my knee, which has two warts that I cannot get rid of for anything.   Roy tells me that the way to get rid of them is to take corn and rub it on them and then feed the corn to a chicken and you have to watch the chicken eat the corn and then your warts will be gone!  I told him if the Maho plant does not work out I will try his remedy and let him know the results.  Jen and Shelly Saylor… I may have to visit your chickens. 

We had a group visit camp this past weekend.  It was a Seventh Day Adventist church group.  Boys and girls between the ages of 8-15.  They cooked meals and did their own program, so we basically just assisted as needed.  The kids were good and it was nice having people around despite the fact that they blew a reveille wake up whistle at 6:30 am.    They cooked vegetarian meals and we got to try some of the fare.  They made particularly good loafs with pecans or cashews, oatmeal and a variety of other ingredients.  I tried plantain pancakes which were pretty tasty.  We also found a sugar apple on a tree in camp which when you open it has a gooey, very sweet substance inside.   They left us with a juice concoction that tasted much like what you make rum punch with and so, of course, we did. 

Lori and Roy are leaving this Saturday to head home to Tennessee.  So Friday we are going to tour the north shore beaches.  They have not seen much of the island and so for their last day it is only fitting that they should see some of this beautiful island and I will assume one of the roles I love… tour guide.

I’ll keep you posted….





A little more than a week has passed...

Hi from VIERS!


It is Wednesay and another beautiful day. I continue to work a little more than expected to try and get some excess hours banked. The group of folks I am with all work hard .... There are no slackers here!
We enjoy dinner together and have fun cooking in the big camp kitchen. Fish and Zoe went to a workshop on St Croix last weekend on permaculture. As I write the two of them are busy starting plants of all kinds. There is NO SOIL on St John... So they have purchased some to get things started. The compost pile will take quite some time to create soil... But eventually...
One of the two bays we are on is a good distance to start swimming "Laps". So yesterday I did. It was fine going across but went in close to the shore line on the way back. Was a little tired - better to be safe! I am pretty careful here...more than usual, but that is a good thing.
I did see two sea turtles and two stingray and a nurse shark...and of course, lots of little beautiful colorful fish that always hang out.
It is an experience being in a pretty closed environment with six new people. We seem to do well together. I am getting into a routine. I will be glad when I build up some endurance for the amount of physical work I am doing. I do like it and I think I all be in great shape in when I get home!
Miss family and friends... But trying to be in the present and take every detail in!
I just found out the solution to me not seeing my posts as I think you do.  The color of the text was black and for some reason it did not show up.  I changed it to blue and now I SEE IT!  Yipee!  I want to the center portion of the blog be for posts that are kind of like a journal of sorts.  Side bars for special things.  Don't know if I will ever get a picture on here but we shall see!
I'll keep you posted.