View of Peter Bay from the Cinnamon Bay Trail Overlook 1965

View of Peter Bay from the Cinnamon Bay Trail Overlook 2012

The tract of land, which now serves as the exclusive gated development at Peter Bay was formerly owned by the Hall family. The land was offered to the Virgin Islands National Park at a price quite a bit less than the assessed value at the time. When the VINP refused the offer, the land was sold to developers.

St. John Events

8 Tuff Miles Results

The 17th Annual St.John 8 Tuff Miles Road Race
Saturday February 23rd 2013 – 7:15am
Course: Cruz Bay to Coral Bay, St. John USVI
Via Centerline Road Distance 8.375 miles

This course begins and ends at sea level. Along the way you will reach an elevation of 999 ft. There is approximately 1400 ft. of elevation gain in the first 5 1/2 miles and then it’s back to sea level. The course actually measures 8 3/8 miles. The temperature at the start of the race is usually in the low 80s

Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park 9th Annual Gala
An Evening to Remember! 25th Anniversary Gala, at Presidio Del Mar

St. John and Virgin Islands News

Dengue Still a Problem, Health Commissioner Tells Senate Committee
By Bill Kossler — February 21, 2013

Growing numbers of dengue cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands since November highlight the need to fight the mosquitoes that carry the illness by draining stagnant water and repairing screens, Health Commissioner Darice Plaskett told the Senate during committee hearings Thursday.

Plaskett testified to the Health, Hospital, Human Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committee on St. Thomas that there was “a noted increase” in the number of reported dengue cases in November, … read more

Former EDC Beneficiary Arrested On St. Thomas
By Source Staff — February 22, 2013

James Tagliaferri, who managed and controlled TAG Virgin Islands, an investment advice firm registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, was arrested in St. Thomas Friday for allegedly defrauding his clients, according to the U.S. Department of Justice…. read more

New Mamey Peak Dumpster on the Way, WMA Says
By Lynda Lohr — February 21, 2013

A new trash bin is on the way, but it won’t come soon enough for Coral Bay area residents who are tired of looking at the garbage flowing from the bottom of the rusted-out Dumpster located at Mamey Peak. The trash container is on Centerline Road, and the garbage from the Dumpster blows across the street and down the road for several hundred yards…. read more

See Full Events Schedule

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers in the morning, then clear with rain showers
High of 79 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the ENE at 10 to 20 mph
Chance of rain 20%
Sunrise: 6:41 AM AST – Sunset: 6:23 PM AST
Water Temperature: 82.9 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule

Castaways
Mikey P 9:00
Dance Party 11:00
777-3316

Cruz Bay Prime
Mike Wallace
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

Island Blues
Reverend Raven
6:00
776-6800

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Morgan’s Mango
Luba
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
Rascio on Steel Pan
6:00 – 9:30
693-3304

Rhumblines
Lauren
7:00 – 10:00

Skinny Legs
Hot Club of Coral Bay
6:00
779 4982

See Weekly Schedule

Rustenberg Horsemill Wall

Rustenberg Trail Map

Estate Rustenberg Ruins
For those of you who would like to experience a St. John Off the Beaten Track experience, but would rather not exert themselves too much, a visit to the Rustenberg ruins would be an ideal choice. It’s a short walk along a level trail shaded by aromatic bay rum trees. The ruins are extensive and beautiful in their natural surroundings.

To get there, park across from the Cinnamon Bay trailhead on Centerline Road and walk up the road west, towards Cruz Bay, where you should find the trailhead, which may be more or less obvious depending on climatic conditions. Another alternative is to enter the forest about 50 yards or so and walk uphill until you reach the trail on the ridge and go left on the trail until you get to the ruins.

See more Rustenberg photos

St. John Film Society Press Release

Queen of the Sun

What the Bees are Telling Us
Directed by Taggart Siegel:  83 minutes,  Documentary
Free Film, Presented by the St. John Film Societey

Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 7:30 pm
St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay

This full length feature documentary is a a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis. Taking us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive, this engaging and ultimately uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk and Vandana Shiva.

This film takes us on a pilgrimage around the world, 10,000 years of beekeeping is unveiled, highlighting how our historic and sacred relationship with bees has been lost due to highly mechanized industrial practices. The film goes on to reveal both the problems and the solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.

Join Mr. Smalls and other St. John bee keepers and learn about these wonderful insects that provide us with sweet honey and more.

Read more about the film on the website: http://www.queenofthesun.com

St. John Live Music Schedule Monday 4/30

High Tide – Mikey P- 8:00 – 11:00 – 714-6169
La Tapa – Samba Combo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Maho Bay Camp – Open Mic with Lauren – 6:30
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304

Weekly Schedule

St. John Photo of the Day

America Hill Great House

The America Hill Trail is a spur trail off the Cinnamon Bay Trail. It begins about 50 yards past the first gut crossing, marked by a steel post and leads to the ruins of the Estate House at America Hill.

Live Music on St. John Saturday, March 5

Castaways – Kenny Floyd – 8:00 – 11:00 – 777-3316
Larry’s Landing – Spiritual Rez – 10:00 – 1:00 – 693-8802
Morgan’s Mango – Luba – Piano & Vocals – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Rhumb Lines – Lauren -7:00 – 10:00
Skinnylegs - Hot Club of Coral Bay – 6:00 – 9:00 – 779-4982
Westin, Cruz Bay Prime – James Cobb – 6:30 – 10:00 – 693-8802

A word of caution to my visitors: I’m doing the best I can to present an accurate music schedule, but to be sure, it would be a great idea to call the restaurant or bar beforehand to confirm.

Weekly Music Schedule

View from new overlook on the Cinnamon Bay Trail

view to the east

There’s something new to view for hikers on the Cinnamon Bay Trail.

Jeff Chabot group leader and volunteers working with the Appalachian Mountain Club in a cooperative venture with the Virgin Islands National Park and Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park have cleared an overlook along the trail, with views extending from Jost Van Dyke to St. Thomas and the northwestern cays.

Some years ago there was an overlook higher up on the trail near the top, which has long since overgrown.

The trail crew did an excellent job creating this new overlook. The view is spectacular!

Other overlooks that have now been cleared are the Lind Point Battery Overlook,  at the bench almost to the top of Caneel Hill on the Caneel Hill Trail, one on the Bordeaux Mountain Trail and another on the Lameshur Bay Trail.

We’ll be posting photos of these overlooks shortly…

Soon come… one on the Reef Bay Trail, the Francis Bay Salt Pond and two on the Johnny Horn Trail….

As I’m now in the process of updating my best selling book, St. John Off the Beaten Track, I am revisiting the trails of St. John looking for any changes.

Reading Debbie Hime’s account of the America Hill Spur Trail in the St. John Sun Times, I find that the trail is no longer the struggle it used to be.

The main Cinnamon Bay Trail is pretty much unchanged since my last printing, except that the trees at the top of the trail have grown taller and the overlook near the Centerline trailhead is now obscured.

The America Hill Spur, which leads to the America Hill Estate House, on the other hand, has been significantly improved, thanks to the efforts of Friends of the Park trail volunteers. The scratchy sweet lime that lined the narrow path is no more and the bush at the top of the hill has been removed so that once again there is a spectacular view.

America Hill Estate House

View from the Sea	Old Photo by Dean Hulse	Ruins in Unstable Condition
South Corner	View to the West	Old Photo by Dean Hulse
Bake Oven	Sugar Boiling Pot	Terrace