Full Moon Hike to Ram Head

This afternoon will be a great time to experience the spectacular view from Ram Head Point at Sunset. The sun will set in the west at 6:38 and the moon will rise shortly afterward at 6:43 PM. The moon should give plenty of light for the hike back, but nonetheless, be sure and bring a flashlight to safely negotiate tricky parts of the hike.

Another option for early birds would be the sunrise Ram Head hike. The moon will set in the west at 5:34 AM and the sun will rise at 5:55 AM tomorrow morning

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers
High of 84 degrees F
Winds from the ENE at 10 to 15 mph
Chance of rain 30%
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 86 degrees F
Sunset: 6:38 PM AST
Full Moon Rise: 6:43 PM AST

Virgin Islands News

Multiple Shootings Stop St. Thomas J’ouvert
By James Gardner and Bill Kossler — April 25, 2013

At least three people were shot during J’ouvert, shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday, as the procession moved by the ferry mooring on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront. The parade was halted at 9:05 a.m., the V.I. Police Department has confirmed.

No fatalities have been reported at present. The investigation is in its preliminary stages and little more can be confirmed at this time, according to police officials.

“Police are pursuing all leads in this case and it is an active investigation,” V.I. Police Department Public Information Officer Melody Rames said at 9:45 a.m…. read more

Governor: Violence Could Curtail Carnival
By Source staff — April 24, 2013

Continued outbreaks of violence could impact and even curtail Carnival last lap events, Gov. John deJongh Jr. and Police Commissioner-designate Rodney F. Querrard warned Wednesday.

Querrard briefed deJongh on a number of shootings and other incidents that have been reported on St. Thomas within the last several days, including the shooting early Tuesday morning of a 16-year-old who had been celebrating Carnival and was shot in the thigh near the entrance to Fort Christian east of Emancipation Garden.

St. John Live Music Schedule

Banana Deck
Steel Pan by Lemuel Samuels
6:00 – 9:00
693-5055

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Erin Hart
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Beach Bar
savitri
9:00
777-4220

Castaways
James
9:00
777-3316

Miss Lucy’s
Jazz with Rich and Greg
6:00 – 9:00

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

Ocean Grill
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
Erin Hart
7:00 – 10:00

Skinny Legs
Lauren Jones Magnie
6:00
779 4982

Spyglass
James Milne
5:00 – 8:00
776-1100

See Weekly Schedule

Barrel Cactus on the Ram Head Trail

St. John and Virgin Islands News

Ohio Man Drowns Off St. John
By Lynda Lohr — March 24, 2013

A man snorkeling Sunday afternoon off St. John drowned, V.I. Police Department spokesman Melody Rames said. Details remained sketchy Sunday night, but Rames the man was in his 50s and hailed from Ohio….

… V.I. National Park Chief Ranger Lloyd Morris said it happened at Whistling Cay, a small island located near Francis and Maho Bays and off St. John’s north coast…. Morris said the man was brought ashore at Maho Bay Camps.

The Police Department’s web blotter indicates St. John Emergency Medical Service got a call for a water rescue at 1:13 p.m. At 1:52 the web blotter noted that a person was deceased….

Regatta Comes Down to Final Races
By Source staff — March 25, 2013

It was make or break time on the third and final day of racing at the 40th International Rolex Regatta, with many of the classes coming down to the final race – some to the final leg of the final race.

“After three days and six races total, it came down to the last race on the last day to determine the winner in our class,” said Rick Wesslund, the Miami sailor who pocketed a precision Rolex timepiece for his class win in CSA Racing 1 aboard his J/120, El Ocaso. “In the last race, we were in a dead heat with Lazy Dog. Sometimes we were in the lead, and other times they were. It was a real emotional roller coaster, but we just hung in there. We stayed on it and we won.”… read more

St. John Weather

Clear with rain showers in the afternoon
High of 82 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the ESE at 15 to 20 mph
Chance of rain 20%
Sunset: 6:31 PM AST
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 86 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule

Aqua Bistro
Matt Mitruk
5:30 – 8:30
776-5336

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
T-Bird
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Castaways
Trivia Night
8:00
777-3316

Concordia
Open Mic with Ben Marr
3:30 – 5:30

Island Blues
Live Local Reggae – Bongin
4:30 – 7:30
776-6800

La Tapa
Sambacombo
6:30 – 9:30
693-8141

Maho Bay Camp
Bo & Lauren
8:00

Ocean Grill
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

See weekly schedule

The “Ghost From Jost” Enjoying the View of his Native British Virgin Islands from Ram Head Point, St. John USVI

Ram Head
Enjoy the spectacular views from Ram Head Point! From the BVI to St. Croix to St. Thomas and beyond. Take the Ram Head Trail from Salt Pond Bay. For more information on St. John beaches, trails and points of interest check out St. John Off the Beaten Track

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers
High of 82 degrees F.
Breezy: Winds from the East at 20 to 25 mph.
Chance of rain 30%.
Sunrise: 6:52 AM AST – Sunset: 5:58 PM AST
Water Temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor) 82.9 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule – Monday January 7

Aqua Bistro
Matt Mitruk
5:30 – 8:30
776-5336

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
T-Bird
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Castaways
Trivia Night
8:00
777-3316

Concordia
Ben Marr – Open Mic
3:30 – 5:30

High Tide
Chris Carsel
6:00
714-6169

La Tapa
Sambacombo
6:30 – 9:30
693-8141

Maho Bay Camp
Bo & Lauren
8:00

Ocean Grill
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

St. John Sea Conditions: High Surf Advisory

“…HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AST THIS EVENING…” NOAA

Surf Breaks Over Johnson Reef

Waves breaking on the beach at Trunk Bay

The surf has been up on St. John’s north coast since Wednesday afternoon and is predicted to continue until this evening. On St. John the old timers call this condition “ground sea.”

The breaking surf comes from ocean swells in the North Atlantic generated by storms or low pressure systems. The waves arrive from the northeast and effect the northern coasts of the Virgin Islands as well as Puerto Rico and the rest of the Greater Antilles.

Because the Island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin islands is situated to the north of St. John, most of our island’s northern shoreline  John is not in the direct path of the northerly swell. Consequently the waves breaking on St. John are not as strong as the ones that arrive on Tortola and St. Thomas, which explains why surfers head over to these islands when the surf’s up. The two places on St. John that are relatively in the direct path of the swells are Johnson’s Reef and Cinnamon Bay.

Full Moon Tonight

The full moon will rise at 6:38 pm just four minutes after the sunsets. Should be a good one!

Bomba Shack

Stuff to do on the full moon:
For the physically active – Ram’s Head moonlight hike
For a wild and crazy party – Full Moon Party at Bomba Shack – Capoon Bay, Tortola – famous for psychedelic mushroom tea
For a more normal good time – Fireball Full Moon Party – Trellis Bay, Tortola – famous for fire sculptures and good music.

V.I. Good Friday Alcohol Ban in Effect
By Source Staff — April 5, 2012
Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Wayne L. Biggs Jr. reminds all bars, restaurants and establishments that serve alcohol of their obligation to comply with the V.I. Code, which prohibits liquor from being served on Good Friday.

“Full compliance and cooperation of all establishments that serve alcohol is mandatory,” Biggs said.

Distilled liquor and “drinks prepared therewith shall not be served in public places of refreshments” between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Good Friday” read article

No Blues Fest Blues Fest
Tomorrow Night – Coral Bay, St. John
The St. John Blues Festival will not be happening this year, but there will be the “No Blues Fest Blues Fest” instead, with local bands preforming at the Tall Ship and Shipwreck Landing parking lot on Saturday between 1:00 and 5:00 pm. A shuttle service will be available from the Coral Bay triangle.

St. John Live Music Schedule Friday April 6

Aqua Bistro – Steve Sloan – 5:30 – 8:30 – 776-5336
Castaways – Mikey P – 9:00 – 777-3316
Cinnamon Bay – Eddie Bruce Drum Circle – 6:30 – 8:00
Cruz Bay Prime – James Cobb – 7:00 – 10:00 – 693 -8000
Driftwood Dave’s – John W Lee – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
Island Blues – Slammin – 776 6800
Morgan’s Mango – Lauren – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – T-Bird – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304
Rhumblines – Erin Hart – 7:00 – 10:00
Spyglass – James – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100

See Weekly Schedule

St. John Weather

Today:Isolated showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East southeast wind between 9 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Water Temperature: 83 degrees, Sunset: 6:34 pm

Ram Head Point, St. John US Virgin Islands (USVI)

Ram Head

The above photo was shot yesterday at sunset rounding Ram Head Point.  Ram Head, on the southeast of St. John is always a dramatic place, but at sunset it is particularly beautiful.