2014 Winter Getaway - Day Two

One of the charming features of the Virgin Islands is the little flocks of chickens: mother hens shooing chicks across streets or herding them into safe spots while the crazy traffic (open air taxis and rented four-wheelers) whirls around them.  And the roosters, many of them, who feel challenged to greet the approaching dawn more loudly than the other.  It`s a great way to start the day.

Not that we started Day Two with the roosters.  Sleeping in is a good thing to do on vacation, especially since we had stayed up a little later to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Our B&B has a rudimentary kitchen and a few staples.  Yesterday we added English muffins and bananas from the local mini-mart, so coffee, orange sections with bananas and the muffins got us started.  Then it was time for the big outing.

Starting again at the US Park Service headquarters with string backpacks filled with towels, snorkel gear and electronics, we hiked the lower Lind Point Trail back to Honeymoon Bay.  After a swim to test the water (beautifully warm) and Jan's hip for swimming (no problem), we donned our masks for a go at snorkeling.  The photo is taken at Honeymoon Bay

It's always exciting to see what's underwater, but this outing was better than usual.  First we encountered a turtle, probably 30 inches from nose to tail, munching along in the sea grass, paying no mind to us hovering above.  Then, looming into view just ahead was a good-sized fish, maybe 2 feet long.  (Checking the guide to tropical fish when we got back, we found that we had encountered a Great Barracuda.) Happily, after looking us over, he moved on.

After that excitement, we continued on and saw more of the usual -- brilliantly colored fish, brain coral, sea fans and long-spined urchins.  Then we made the hike back to the Hillcrest Guest House for lunch and a quiet afternoon.

More tomorrow.