Yay!!! Today we go exploring a few of the various beaches along the north shore!
But first, let me tell you a little bit about St. John. I won’t go over the history lesson this blog but more about the topography of the island.
St. John is over 60% National Park which is why it is not overpopulated with homes or stores. 😁 It’s only a bit over 9 miles long and about 6 miles wide but to travel from end to end along all the curving and winding roads takes over 45 minutes by car at a speed of 20-25 mph. Can’t go any faster because of the sharp turns and watching out for sheep, goats, donkeys, cows, pigs, iguanas !!! No joke!
There are many great hiking trails to hike and historic ruins to see (again, that’s for another blog) but today is about the beaches!!😎
Since we have a car, we are going to go along the north shore road, Atlantic Ocean side. We stop at Hawksnest Beach. What a beautiful site! There are two small pavilions at the entrance area with picnic tables and grills, changing rooms and bathrooms. Michelle tells me this is one of the few beaches that have such amenities 😳
We jump in the water! So crystal blue and clear, I can see down as if I were in a swimming pool! And because it’s salt water, I can float like a champ! ( well, and percentage of body fat helps also😂). As I swim close to shore, something catches my eye…..it’s a stingray! I start freaking out as Michelle laughs and tells me it’s the resident stingray at Hawksnest and won’t bother me as long as I don’t bother it 😅
So after an hour or so, it’s time to move on to another beach. We take a short drive to Denis Bay/Peace Hill. It’s a short hike up to the top of Peace Hill, an early plantation windmill ruin (you can see it in my previous picture looking up from Hawksnest waterfront). Great view! Then hike down a very convoluted path to get down to Denis Bay. Much smaller, more private and lots of coral.
The water is a bit rougher here with a bit of a current. We will stay awhile since we made the hike and it IS such a sweet spot! Barely anyone is around!
After a swim and a picnic lunch, we start to head back up the trail. Someone is coming down, as I step aside I recognize my travel buddy from the airplane/taxi/ferry adventure!! He was right! I would see him around….
(To be continued next Tuesday for more beaches and fun!)
Traveling Rose in St. John 