Having motored from
Saba in light winds we were reluctant to make another crossing in the
same conditions so based on the weather forecast for increasing
trade-winds from the east starting on Monday, we decided to spend
another day on St. Croix.
One of the main
attractions at St. Croix is actually off at Buck Island, part of the
Marine Park and home of exceptional snorkeling in a reef-fringed
lagoon. However, when we looked into getting the cruising permit to
go out to Buck Island, it is required that you fill out a
carbon-duplicate form and submit it at least five days prior to your
intended visit to see if you might be permitted to head out there.
Based on the premise that a car rental wouldn't cost us much more
than the fuel if we tried to head off early, and the fact that we
were able to find a small car available at Budget on a Sunday
morning, we indulged ourselves in a day on the island instead.
This island is so
diverse in its climate and therefore the ecology – dry and parched
in the east, wet and luxurious in the north-west, spectacular beaches
and reefs all around. By the end of the day when (in our minds) a
torrential rain-fall filled the streets with gushing run-off, we were
thankful that we visited the rainforest in the morning when it was
still sunny and dry. The Mahogany Road must be quite a sight with
the run-off and there are multiple places where 'dish-drains'
criss-cross the road channelling water down to the Creque Dam.
We found a road-side
stand, the winner of the annual Cruzian wing contest not once but
twice, for lunch and Henry reports that the wings were quite good.
By mid-afternoon the rain was tipping down just about everywhere
except at Point Udall at the east end of the island. On a whim we
decided to go see The Hunger Games and with a Sunday matinee price of
$5.00 each, that's the cheapest movie we've been to in years. Having
just finished the book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and Henry seemed to
as well.
Back to Mowzer for the
evening with plans to head up to St. John in the morning – crossing
our fingers for a bit more wind.
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