St. Croix

  We sailed to St. Croix last week to see my daughter Brandy and her boyfriend Aaron, who were vacationing in a beautiful villa on the east end of the island.  We had a great time, spending a few days with them and two nights ashore at the villa.  We toured the Cruzan rum distillery, getting up close and personal with large open vats of thick, bubbling, fermenting molasses (it doesn't smell sweet - by the time we got to the last vat, I was ready to retch).  The whole process was quite interesting, though.  And, of course, we received our free drink at the end of the tour.  A real highlight for me was playing nine holes of golf with Aaron at the Buccaneer, a beautiful resort.  We had the course to ourselves and there was no problem playing barefoot.  We also sailed out to Buck Island for a day, and spent another day on an almost deserted beach on the east end of the island, which was accessible by a half mile hike.  Thanks again, Aaron and Brandy!

Aaron tees off on this Pebble Beach like hole. 

He put it within three feet for a birdie!

While Aaron and I were golfing, the girls were lounging on this beach, sipping Mojitos.

View from the Villa

At the beach near the east end.

On the hike to the beach.

This sun dial like monument is on the extreme eastern end of the island (which is all parkland), and supposedly is at the eastern most spot in the USA.