Coki Beach for the day

Coki Beach for the day, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We decided to hit Coki beach for the day. I thought it might be crowded since its a holiday weekend. But its not bad at all. I really like this beach but the road and the parking are pretty bad. This is Robbie and Lawanna's last full day. We went diving with Admiralty yesterday so we need to post some pics from that.

Deja Vu For The Big Easy

Well this could be another bad one for New Orleans. My brother lives in the Garden District, he emailed us a couple of days ago to let us know that he was going to Houston to visit some friends for a few days. The same friends that put them up during and after Katrina. There is also another storm out there, Hanna north of Puerto Rico and looking allot like it is going to hit Cuba then who knows were it goes from there. I am glad neither of them were a factor here but it will be tough blow when they both make land fall within a week or so of each other. We are keeping an eye on a system just off of Africa that looks like it is going to develop as well. So September is coming in with a bang.

Jay

Friday Beach Pic

Friday Beach Pic, originally uploaded by captainjay.

I totally forgot today was Friday. I've been off most this week so I have my days mixed up. Here's a pick of Jost we took this week while we were running around. Have a great holiday weekend!!

Island Fun from Innovative Cable

Well a while back Innovative decided that to continue to get expanded basic cable you will need to rent a box and buy a remote or no CNN for you. They now require the box for expanded basic but they don't have any boxes. You have to call in the morning ask about the boxes then drive to Tutu and wait in line and hope they don't run out. They get them in when people cancel their cable and or occasionaly a new shipment arrives. They apparently don't have a budget to add additional boxes even though they are now required.
So yesterday morning around 9:00 Deb calls and low and behold they have some boxes. So I went in to get one. I was greeted at the door, well the desk inside the door by a less than enthusiastic West Indian lad. I gave him my best good morning explained that I needed a cable box and he pointed me into an office behind him to the left. I enter the room, read the directions for signing in. Even though the only two people in the room are me and the receptionist. I take my seat as instructed, she reads my name and again asks me what I need. I explain that I am there to upgrade to expanded basic and need a cable box. She goes in the back checks to see if anyone is available to help me. Comes back and takes me to cubicle number four. I again use my best good morning and get a grumble back. Then I hand the email from my landlord, my account number, ID etc to the lady. She looks at me over her glasses, pulls up the account on the screen, sighs and says, you need an original notarized letter from your landlord to get the new box. I kindly explain that my landlord is in North Carolina for the whole summer, she has called in and authorized the addition of the box and gave the customer service rep my name and information to allow me to pay for the box and the remote. She sighs again, yes I have the information on my computer that she has authorized the addition but your landlord was told to send a notarized letter authorizing you to pick up the box. "Only the supervisor can override the requirement for a notarized original letter. The supervisor is in a meeting, leave me a copy of your ID, your social security number and the email letter and I will see if they will override the requirement and call you back." So I am assuming they have requested an FBI background check, and will likely be calling to set up a home visit to assure that we have a suitable household to adopt a cable box. We still have no box. So we can watch the Chicago news, the New York News, QVC channel, tourist TV, Telemondo, and four different preachers, and occasionally the VI legislature at any given time.
Jay

East End Cafe

East End Cafe, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well Bill and Carol are flying out today so we all had lunch at the East End Cafe in Red Hook. Italian food and air conditioned to boot.
Jay

Well It Was A Good Day

We had a great time on the boat today. Deb, myself and Bill and Carol rented a boat and went to Jost, Sandy Spit, and White Bay. On the way over we cut between Lovango and Congo to show the guests a little different scenery. Then we ran by Christmas Cove at Great St James on the way back, after clearing in at Cruz Bay, St John.

Jay

Christmas Cove

Christmas Cove, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well we checked back into customs on St. John and still had some time so we are just trolling around Christmas cove at Great St. James until time to take the boat back. The weather turned out to be a beautiful day. I hate for it to end.

Soggy Dollar

Soggy Dollar, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Soggy Dollar here we come.....

Foxys

Foxys, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Stopped at Foxys after checking into customs. We were the first customers of the day. Foxy was there telling jokes, pretty funny. Then it was off to Sandy Spit for a little swim. It rained a little but its clearing up now. Next, Soggy Dollar!!!!!

A Day on the water

A Day on the water, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Getting ready to pick up our boat with Nauti Nymph. Its just us and Bill and Carole. Robbie and Lawanna decided to hang at the house :-( The weather looks much better today. There is still a chance of rain but that's pretty much the forecast everyday. We plan on hitting Sandy Spit and Sandy Cay. Then over to Jost Van Dyke. Stay tuned for more .......

Little Lunch

Little Lunch, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Since its a rainy day we decided to do a little shopping. Of course since we're downtown we have to stop at the Greenhouse for some lunch and a cocktail.

Rain Delay

We were supposed to rent a boat today and go to Jost but with the rain today we decided to do a little shopping, a few errands and some limin' here at the house and postponed the boat trip until tomorrow.

Jay

Long day, time to go home

Long day, time to go home, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Its been a long day and its time to go home. Robbie is missing from this pic for a reason. It was a great day and tomorrow we're renting a boat from Naughti Nymph to go over to Jost Van Dyke. Stay tuned....

Stop at the Smoothie shop

Stop at the Smoothie shop, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We spent the morning at Cinnamon Bay and then decided it was time to head to Skinny Legs for lunch. We stopped at the Smoothie shop on the way. That was a quick $60! The Mosquitos are crazy right now. They are everywhere and out for blood!! We plan on eating some burgers at
Skinnys and then heading to Trunk Bay before hitting the Beach Bar.

J J Is Open

J J Is Open, originally uploaded by captainjay.

I can confirm that despite recent problems with certain government agencies they are open.
Jay

Redneck Caribbean Reunion

Redneck Caribbean Reunion, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well we are headed over to St. John for the day. This group is part of the Redneck in the Caribbean group (we're missing two other couples). "the weather is here, wish you were beautiful"

Stay tuned for more. .....

Bonus Beach Picture

Bonus Beach Picture, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Since we forgot the Friday Beach Pic we thought we would give you a bonus pic from Magens Bay. Its a beautiful day, plenty of painkillers and beers and the crowd has finally thinned out so we pretty much have the beach to ourselves.

Hangin' at Magen Bay

Hangin' at Magen Bay, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We are hangin' out at Magen's Bay with Bill and Carole with a batch of Painkillers. Yummy!! Robbie and Lawanna don't get in until 9:00pm tonight. Robbie emailed this morning and told us not to get too far ahead of them. Because they don't want to be the only sober ones at the party. Sorry about your luck!! :-)

The Friday Beach Pic on Saturday

Sorry as it was pointed out we forgot the Beach Picture yesterday. With company in town, the new car, fixing the pool and a few Internet problems at Deb's work it just slipped through. So better late than never. Sorry about the resolution, this picture came from our personal archives. It was taken of White Bay on Jost in 2002 on our first charter down here. We only had a two mega pixel camera back then, it actually cost as much a digital SLR now. :)

Jay

Happy Anniversary

Well, we went to Oceana last night for Bill and Carole's 38th anniversary. That place is very special and it will be our special occasion place for now on. We went there first for Shaunda's birthday, and now Bill and Carole's anniversary, a special place for special people, awe...

The food was very good, the Mojitos were excellent, but be prepared to drop some cashola. But I think the place is special enough that it is worth it.

Then we went to Crown Bay cruise ship dock to listen to Top Notch. The same band we've heard at Paradise Point. I love the music they play. Carole and I danced our hinies off and even got Bill up there for a song or two.

Happy Anniversary guys......love ya!!!!

Two Problems Solved

Well you saw Deb's short post about the car, and heard my whining about the pool. Well two of our four friends that are coming to visit showed up yesterday and in their baggage was the new impeller and seal that I needed for the pool pump. So as you can see from the picture after vacuuming the crud that had precipitated out over the last week, then topping off the water, adding a little shock and running the pump all night, it is as clear as it has been for a while.

The pool saga has been going for a while. The motor was overheating on the pump and shutting down so it would only run for about twenty minutes. After doing some research on the pump it turns out the motor is a fairly simply thing to purchase, even on the island, and replace. Well the problem came with the impeller, when I tried to remove the old impeller from the motor shaft it had basically become one with the old motor and left the threads on the dead motor. So the pump motor was readily available on island so you would think the impeller would be as well? Of course not the Jumbie's won't let things be that simple in D'Islands. After two trips to Smith Bay on my lunch hour, in a car that only had two of the four gears it was supposed to have, no impeller. Another shop on island said they thought they could get one in a week maybe, so we googled the pool store in our home town, called them and gave them the part numbers that of course they had in stock, sent our friend Carol to pick them up and she flew them down in her luggage. Actually two employees in the pool shop said they would be glad to fly them down as well. One problem solved.

Problem number two, the car. Well Deb and I did a lot of research and planning prior to the move down. We debated the car issue and decided that selling our relatively new cars in the states, eliminating car payments, and paying cash for an island car was the best course. Well of all the decisions we made prior to moving this is the one I would change if I had it to do over. We paid to much for the Celica, then we continued to spend money on it. Brakes, wheel bearings, freon for the A/C, flush the radiator, new hoses, new battery, well you get the picture. It was actually costing us as much a month, even with me doing most of the work on the car, as a car payment on a modest new or newer car. So this week when the transmission started acting up and getting worse by the day that was the straw that broke the camel's back. We reversed our previous decision, did a little shopping and bought a new car with a lifetime warranty on the drive train.

So my work isn't quite done on the Celica. I am going to have to have a used transmission shipped to me from the states. Install it then sell the car as it basically has no value without the transmission working and we have to much money in it to let it slide. Wo HOO

Jay

New Island Car

New Island Car, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well we broke down (literaly) and bought a new car because our Celica wouldn't shift out of first gear. I love the car. Its a Dodge Caliber. Power everything, ipod jack, etc. WooHoo!

2000 Feet Above

2000 Feet Above, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Here is a nice shot of the Spanish Virgins
Jat

Big Sky

Big Sky, originally uploaded by captainjay.

15 miles of off Puerto Rico

Dolphins and Turtles

Dolphins and Turtles, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well about a half hour ago I saw a big turtle floating on the surface. Just now I had a pod of Dolphins come up and play in the bow wave. Tough duty?
Jay

"Time On The Water"

"Time On The Water", originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well as I sit here watching the horizon and the instruments on the boat, it reminds me of a line from a book written by Buffett about time on the water. It has been a frustrating few days, pool pump problems, a car that won't shift past second gear etc. It is funny how few hours on the water can change your perspective. The car is likely going away one way or the other. The pool is actualy pretty clear, considering it's been a few days since the pump ran, thanks to a little extra chlorine. We have friends coming Thursday and they are bringing the parts for the pool repair so all in all it's really not bad. Now if Deb were only on the boat with me that would just about fix it all.
Jay

Out To Sea Again

Out To Sea Again, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well I am on the way to Puerto Rico again. Currently 3 miles from Sail Rock
Jay

Liveaboard Boats Getting the Boot from St. Thomas Bays

I sure hope this isn't the begining of the kinds of restrictions that Florida has put on boats over the last twenty so years.

" Aug. 19, 2008 -- The Planning and Natural Resources Department plans big changes effective Oct. 1 at three St. Thomas bays, Christmas Cove, False Entrance and Secret Harbor, banning boats that people live on. "There will be no more liveaboards," said Roberto Tapia, assistant director of the Planning and Natural Resources Environmental Enforcement Division, on Monday. "

Comments like "There will be no more liveaboards" are really alarming. At the same time that the government is closing anchorages to long term use, they have also recently turned down permits for a renovation and expansion of one of the major "livaboard" marinas on the island. Neither of this decisions looks good for boaters in the long run. It appears that it is getting more difficult and in turn will get more expensive to keep a boat here. Although I have to say that I agree that Christmas Cove should be kept as a short term anchorage and moorings can be easier for and less disruptive to marine life than anchoring, I rarely believe that additional government regulation is a good thing.

Read the full story in the St. Thomas Source

Company Soon Come

Well Deb and I were both off yesterday, and since we have company coming later this week we spent the day cleaning and running errands. We gave all the decks and chairs a good rinsing and Deb mopped all the floors. We also bought a new TV stand and did a little redecorating. We have friends coming in from the states. Bill and Carol, in the second picture on Peter Island, are getting here Thursday afternoon. Friday is Bill's and Carol's wedding anniversary, I don't remember which one but suffice to say you would need to use your fingers and toes to count them. Robbie and Lawanna, in the first picture taken at Norman Island, are getting here on Saturday. So I am sure we will be posting a few touristy things in the upcoming days.

Jay

Smooth sailing....I mean motoring

Update from Jay. They are almost to Culebra. They are making good time....averaging 8 knts, with 10 knt wind and 2 ft seas. They were at Sail Rock at 8:30 and by 9:15 they were looking at Culebra. KNot bad (ha,ha). No signs of Tropical Storm Fay, which is awesome!

Tropical Storm Fay

Weather.com

www.weathercarib.com

Well the VI dodged seeing the full forse of Tropical Storm Fay, thank goodness. It basically started forming over us and once it moved on towards Hispaniola (Dominican Republic/Haiti) it bacame a full fledged tropical storm. We got lots of rain to fill the cistern and the pool which is good. BTW - We are located on the far right of the above picture, east of Puerto Rico.

So since the storm has moved on, Jay is back on schedule to take a boat over to Puerto Rico today. He and two other boats leave this morning. Hopefully it will be as uneventful as the last trip.


Story in St. Thomas Source

Friday beach pic

Friday beach pic, originally uploaded by captainjay.

With all the talk of storms I forgot it was Friday so I thought I would brighten up the posts with a lovely picture of Trunk Bay on St. John. This is the overlook that everyone has to stop at when they're driving around on the island. So beautiful. Big thanks to MaryBeth from the forum for letting me "borrow" all her wonderful pics from her St. John trip.

Enjoy!
Deb

BTW- it has stopped raining but now the power is off...fun,fun.

Weather Is Here

Well it started raining around 11:00pm last night and hasn't quit. I was supposed to deliver a boat to Peurto Rico this morning but I am assuming the trip has been canceled. The storm has actually strengthened overnight and grown in size. It is not yet a tropical depression but my guess would be that is soon will be.

Weather Update

Two weather systems are heading this way. We are keeping a close eye on them. Jay is supposed to make another run to Puerto Rico tomorrow. Hopefully they won't go if the weather is bad! We are located in the center of the above graphic.

Article in the VI Daily News

Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 900 AM AST THU AUG 14 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN JUAN HAS ISSUED A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 930 AM AST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES IN PUERTO RICO IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SAINT JOHN...SAINT THOMAS AND SAINT CROIX

...STRONG TROPICAL WAVE OVER THE NORTHERN LEEWARDS MOVING WESTWARD... TO MOVE ACROSS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...
A STRONG TROPICAL WAVE OVER THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE MOVING WESTWARD AT 10 TO 15 MPH. THIS SYSTEM IS SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF ORGANIZATION...AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION LATER TODAY OR ON FRIDAY. THEREFORE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR ITS PROGRESS.

...INLAND FLOODING... SOME OF THE OUTER RAINBANDS MOVING AHEAD OF THE WAVE ARE ALREADY AFFECTING THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE EASTERN HALF OF PUERTO RICO. CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE AS ADDITIONAL BANDS APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE NORTHEAST DURING THE DAY. BRIEF PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING IS POSSIBLE LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AS THE WAVE APPROACHES. RAINFALL TOTALS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE U. S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND AROUND THREE TO FIVE INCHES FOR PUERTO RICO...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS OF UP TO FIVE INCHES POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MAY BE ISSUED LATER TODAY FOR THE LOCAL AREA...TO BE IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.

...HIGH SURF AND COASTAL FLOODING... MARINE CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE MAINLY IN THE ATLANTIC AND VIRGIN ISLAND TERRITORIAL WATERS...TONIGHT AND FRIDAY WITH THE APPROACH OF THE TROPICAL WAVE. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORM OF SQUALLS WILL BECOME MORE FREQUENT AS THE WAVE MOVES CLOSER. WATERSPOUTS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. LOCALLY HIGH WAVES CREATED BY THE SQUALLS WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT THE VIRGIN ISLAND WATERS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND PUERTO RICO TONIGHT. SEAS OF FOUR TO SIX FEET TODAY WILL INCREASE TO 6 TO 7 FEET BY FRIDAY MAINLY ALONG THE NORTH AND EAST COASTS OF THE ISLANDS. MODERATE SWELLS SHOULD AFFECT THE LOCAL ATLANTIC WATERS TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. MARINERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION TODAY...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES WILL BE IN EFFECT TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.

...WINDS... MOST OF THE WIND REPORTS RECEIVED FROM THE NORTHERN LEEWARDS INDICATED LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. HOWEVER...AS THE SQUALLS AHEAD OF THE WAVE PROPAGATE ACROSS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE NORTH AND EASTERN PUERTO RICO WATERS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS SHOULD BE EXPECTED AT TIMES GUSTING UP TO 40 MPH.

FOR THE LAND AREAS OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO... OCCASIONAL WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH REMAIN POSSIBLE TONIGHT AND FRIDAY... ESPECIALLY WITH PASSING SQUALLS...AND ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN.

Lion Fish Danger

An article in the VI Daily News reports that the Lion Fish could cause the coral reefs in the Virgin Islands to be at risk. While this is normally a Pacific coast fish, they have recently been spotted in the warmer Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. "... many of the reef fish that the lionfish preys upon are herbivorous animals that eat algae off of coral reefs. These fish complete a vital link in the coral life cycle, cleaning the corals so they are healthy and helping create an atmosphere to allow baby corals to thrive. " (Vi Daily News)

This sounds like a very scary fish and if seen, should be reported to the Fish and Wildlife agencies. We need to do our part to save the coral reefs. Although their venom is toxic, it cannot kill humans, but can be very painful, so be careful if you see one of these fish.

Here's the Wikipedia description, yikes!

St. John Roundabout "Soon Come"

I found this in the paper today. It looks like Island Roads Construction will or has started mashing things up in Cruz Bay. I sure hope they don't take crews from the Havensight Intersection Project on St. Thomas as it needs to finish up before the Cruise Ship Sheeple return in Mass for the fall and winter season. So I borrowed this picture of one in the states, anyone think the St John one will turn out like this?

Virgin Island Daily News

Jay

Back Safely

Back Safely, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Jay made it back to STT safely. They took a four seater twin engine private plane back. Smallest plane he's ever been on. It was a quick and easy ride. It took 6 hours to get there and only 20 minutes to get back. Welcome home.

Puerto Del Rey Marina

google map image

Well Jay made it to PR with out incident, yea!! They are at the marina in Fajardo. It took a little less than 6 hours under power (no sails). Now they just have to gas up the boats and get them secured. Then to the airport to fly back to St. Thomas, should be home in time for dinner. :-)

Puerto Rico soon come

photo.jpg, originally uploaded by captainjay.

1:00 pm update. Almost there.

Half Way there

Just got a text from Jay (he has my iPhone so that he can post) but there is no Edge network out in the open water so no 11:00 am update. He is almost half way, just west of Culebra, Vieques is on his port. 20 more miles to go, so another 3 hours or so.

Culebra

Culebra, originally uploaded by captainjay.

10:00 am Culebra is in sight.