Slept through the tropical storm last night. No rain where we are, just lots of wind & crashing waves. Received confirmation from our reserved kayak trip for today that the trip is still on. It was doubtful we'd still get to do it as the water could've been too rough after the storm. Enjoyed breakfast at a local coffee shop with a very cranky barista. LOL! Local life, they aren't thriving on the same highs we tourists are. Just another day in their lives. She did wish us a very nice day on the way out. We next met our tour guide, Spencer, born and raised on St Thomas. Attends Vanderbuilt business school in TN and returns home to VI for summers. He guided us and another couple in our three kayaks across the bay to Hassel Island. We hiked the island, touring old Danish ruins. Spencer shared memories of he and young friends hiking behind their dads as they cleared the path with machetes. He also remembers school field tips to the ruins before it was ever a national park. We are a lucky generation of exploring it with this Eco Tour company before it becomes more commercialized and inundated by cruise tourists daily. We hopped back in our kayaks and paddled around the point to snorkel. Unfortunately, the recent storm had churned the water and made it too murky to visualize much. We retuned to shore and combed the beech a little while. We soon returned to the harbor, proud we had fought post-storm Caribbean waves without rolling our kayak!
Next was lunch at the Pie Whole. Great brick oven pizza and your choice of beers from all over the world. Delightful if you're a beer snob, and we are! Exhausted (ha, ha, ha) we returned to resort pool side for a nap. Later, cleaned up for dinner, we headed to The Old Stone Barnhouse. A different, but very classy, restaurant experience. We toured the kitchen and listened to the chef's spill on the night's meat selection.. lamb, ostrich, tuna, shrimp, scallops, chicken, filet and mahi. Returned to the table, we placed our order. Shortly we enjoyed tuna, scallops and a wonderful dessert that can be described as an Almond Joy that knocked our socks off. Mmm, mmm, good! Ready for a good night's sleep!