Carolina Corral

Well, our dear friend, Tracey, has the flu. So. Har and I went to her shop, Awl Made Here, to put a 'closed' note on her door. As we were walking back to our Geo Tracker (or 'Chick Magnet', as Harry calls it), Dana rumbles by in her beat up, old pick up truck with her dog (Red Dog) in the bed and a donkey tied to the right side and a horse tied to the left side; both trotting like crazy trying to keep up. Yikes!


I was amazed. Although you never know what you are going to see on the road in Coral Bay. 'What are you doing Dana???! I bet you're wearing your seatbelt, right?'
I turn to Harry and he's just shaking his head in disbelief.
"Aww Harry, I miss Dana! Let's go see her!"
So Harry and I made the short trip over to Dana's Carolina Corral. (In Coral Bay, just past Skinny Legs and the mangroves.)


When we caught up with her, Dana explained that she, Red Dog, the horse, and donkey just came from Career Day at Guy Benjamin School. Wow. That must of been interesting for the kids; I wish I could have been there.
Dana is possibly the most amazing woman I've ever met. I believe that if Dana had time to hang out with poets as well as horses, there would be volumes of poems written about her.


(Dana checking out Winter's eye)

Everyday, twice a day and by herself, Dana feeds and waters 20 or so donkeys ,horses, several goats, sheep, deer, a dog, cats and more. In addition, she gives medicine, injections, does an occasional surgery and an occasional middle of the night sickness or birth. Then there are the administrative duties of running a business and, of course, her primary focus of saddling all the horses and taking dozens of tourists on three tuff mountain trail rides 6 days a week. AND she maintains the trails when they get washed out and does most repairs as needed at the Corral- all of this and I have never heard a swear come out of her mouth.
I helped her one season and collapsed from exhaustion and heat everyday after only a few hours and I gave up completely after a couple of weeks. By the way, she also has a limited amount of cistern water and only solar energy.
I highly recommend a visit to Carolina Corral. Dana's trail rides are special - you just don't get trail rides like these anymore. These are mountain trails and the horses are alert, not bored. And you won't be bored either; the views at the end of the trail are incredible. There's not another ride like it anywhere.
By the way, Dana rescues and brings back to health many St. John animals. Even if you are not taking a trail ride, you might enjoy visiting her corral and leaving a donation. Call 340 693 5778 to visit or arrange a trail ride.
Here are some of the characters you'll meet while you are there:


This is Rock Star; who, of course, stole attention


Andre



My favorite horse, Ivan



Sebastian




Fanny



Ginger - she wears special boots for the mountain trail



and Mindy



Love is........ :-)

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We Walk on the Wild Side

Handyman Harry and I walked the 5 minute hike to Drunk Bay from very tranquil Salt Pond Bay. It's a wild rocky place where you can see the 'ghosts of pirates' laying on the rocks. Drunk Bay is one of the ruffest, rockiest bays on St John and that's facinating because it is just a 5-10 minute easy walk from the most tranquil bay beach - Salt Pond Beach where we begin our walk.



Salt Pond Beach is beautiful and great for snorkeling. Crystal clear water, lots of fish, rays, octopus, and my favorite- turtles!


Near the end of Salt Pond Beach is the Drunk Bay Trail.





Turks Cap cactus


As you come around a bend there will be the dramatic rocky coast of Drunk Bay



Beachcombing is great here, but please don't try swimming or snorkeling. It's name is a corruption of the word 'drunken' which really means 'drowned ' in Dutch Creole. The waves here have travelled all the way from Africa with nothing to stop them. This wild area is famous for it's shipwrecks.







Over the years people have taken the coral and made their own art and messages on the rocks - there are a lot of pirates smoking and drinking.







Must we always anatomically exaggerate?



A Love City snowman



Drug Smugglers pass the Virgin Islands on their way to Florida so sometimes 'burlap seafood' washes in here. If you find one, your suppose to contact the authorities. Har says, "Are you sure we shouldn't suggest that they should test it first before bothering the very busy local establishment?"
"'Not me, Har, not on my blog."
"Geez, what happened to that wonderful sentiment 'Save the Bales'"



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Paradise for Handymen

We are off to the island's only lumber store because we already need to replace the rails on our deck. Harry drove and I was photographer and navigator ( yeah, can you believe that - I had TWO jobs! Harry knows how to get there; the 'navagation' is the occasional need to say 'keep left' - a life saving job.)
He hates to stop when he's driving so he swerves around dizzy tourists, goats, and donkeys. But you can't swerve around a cow!
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Crabby's

Harry and Doug (the Crab) gazing out at the boats and chatting about good books.
















Yesterday Handyman Harry and I spent some time hanging out with The Crab, at Crabby's. Meris, don't you think your Dad should get that 'Don't worry be Crabby' Tshirt? Harry isn't really crabby, but he has moments where he tries to show potential:-).
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Qoute from the wise picnic table

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The Perfect Day

During the night there was a loud storm with strong gusts of wild wind and sheets of rain that poured off the roof. At sunrise,though, a bright, warm, beautiful world opened up. Evidently It's Indian Summer and I am enjoying the perfect day.
Harry started our day right by making us a breakfast of omelets, then the Baa Brothers and I did a whole 15 minutes of fall clean up:

















Then, we went for a long walk:





(We are so grateful for our miles of conservation land just a short walk from Saturday Farm and this is such a gorgeous time of year. Sometimes we pack some wine and bread and cheese amd spend hours walking the trails. Harry never seems to mind all of the little stops I make to check things out or to take pictures.











(That's my buddy there, Handyman Harry.)





We didn't run across anyone on our walk except this artist working on the little wooden bridge.











(Our pc is broken, so I took all of these photos with my phone so I could upload them to this blog.)
Now, I'm on the couch writing to you and watching the game with Harry. Like I said -the perfect day. Tell me, what is your perfect day?
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Perkin's Cove

On a Harvest Moon weekend Harry and I met Harry's mom and his sisters at the Riverside Inn in Perkin's Cove. His mom stayed at Riverside 27 times with his stepdad, Zeus. Zeus has passed away, but Mama Lee continues to make the trip with her daughters (Kathie and Barb) to connect with him. This year Harry and I were invited and it was wonderful for me to see them all laughing and reminiscing. The picture above of the fishing boat 'Bittersweet' I took from the room that Zeus and Mama Lee used to stay in. Was it a coincidence that 'Bittersweet' was positioned for this photo from their room or is it proof of what Mama Lee has always believed - that Zeus is close to her in this magical place?

Kathie and Harry enjoying this special time together.

Riddle: He cooks, sews, he builds beautiful houses and loves little creatures.... who is it? ...

It's my dear companion, Handyman Harry!

(My brain has been too hot to write lately; it's a little warm and I'm feeling depleted. Thank you for sticking with me! I have ordered a pretty green wooden wagon for 'the boys' to pull. You will see them again soon. By the way, it takes longer than 2 weeks for a bad haircut to look good. :-) )