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Power Out Territory-Wide, Ports Closed, Airport Closed, Limbs Down

Jenn Manes 2 Comments
Chocolate Hole Wednesday morning

Aug. 15, 8:30 a.m. update

Power is back on!

The ports remain closed.

Aug. 14, 2:30 p.m. update

  • Power has been restored on a section of feeder 7e from Frank Bay to Mongoose Junction.

Aug. 14, 1:30 p.m. update

  • The airport is open. Flights are arriving, but many are delayed.
  • The seaports remain closed. There are numerous reports of lost and sunken boats. The Coast Guard needs to inspect everything before it can safely open the ports. Ferry and barge service remains suspended.
  • St. John is still without power. Portions of St. Thomas are back online.

Aug. 14, 2024, 1030 a.m. update

  • The airport will open today at noon.
  • The seaports remain closed. The Coast Guard is currently assessing the waters.

Aug. 14, 2024, 9 a.m. update

The worst of the winds have passed through St. John, although rain and wind will continue throughout the day today. The rain is coming down extremely hard at the moment (8:45 a.m.).

Wind gusts officially peaked around 70 miles per hour last night, although some of my friends who are on island believe the gusts were higher than that. At least three-and-a-half inches of rain fell in St. John so far.

Power is currently out territory-wide. St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix are all 100 percent without power.

All ports remain closed. There is no ferry or barge service currently. There airport remains closed. The Governor is expected to provide an update on the status of the airports and seaports today at 10 a.m.

Tree limbs and power lines are down around the island. There is at least one boat sinking in Chocolate Hole. At least four boats in Coral Bay are aground or ashore. Big limbs fell on a few of my friend’s cars, but everyone is ok. Areas of North Shore Road are pretty much impassable due to downed trees. There is a lot of very deep standing water in front of Starfish Market and the tennis courts. This is an area known to flood.

Several boats are aground or ashore in Coral Bay. Image credit: Flyaway Charters
Some limbs are down at our house, but everything is ok.

If you have a flight scheduled for today, check out FlightAware.com. Type in your flight number. Then click Track Inbound Flight. If that flight is not en route, your flight is not leaving today. That’s the easiest way to check.

Today is clearly not a beach day, but tomorrow may be. If you are on vacation and plan to go to the beach, be aware that there may be a good amount of runoff flowing into the beaches. It is not advisable to go in the water when there is runoff.

That’s all I have of now. I will post more later today. Thanks all! -Jenn

Want to learn more about St. John? Looking to take an island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

 

Hurricane Watch, Ports are Closing, and More

Jenn Manes 2 Comments
My house is ready for Ernesto, thankfully.

Hi everyone, quick update…

Tropical Storm Ernesto has strengthened a bit more than I anticipated. As of 2 p.m., the maximum sustained winds are 60 miles per hour. The Virgin Islands are under a hurricane watch, which means that hurricane force winds are possible in the next 12 hours. All of that being said, the island is preparing.

  • The St. Thomas airport closed at 4 p.m.
  • Ports will close at 6 p.m. The last ferry from Cruz Bay will depart at 5 p.m. The last ferry from St. Thomas will depart at 5:30 p.m.
  • Lots of businesses in Cruz Bay, including numerous restaurants, are closing early today or have closed. Safety first!

I am currently in Connecticut for a mini vacation with Dalton, and thankfully, our little Fish Bay house is boarded up. A BIG thank you to Scott Taylor for getting that done for us! Many of you probably know Scott’s wife Kim, who bartends over at Beach Bar. So much love to you both!

I know many of you love St. John as much as I do, and want to keep an eye on this storm and what’s happening on island. Here are several important links:

Port Closures

Weather

    • Windy app – Download the Windy app to see how strong the winds will be in St. John.
    • Living Earth app – See the weather around the world in real time.
    • Spaghettimodels.com – This is a great site with various weather reports.

Webcams

Feel free to email me at jenn@explorestj.com if you have any questions.

One final thought: I actually write my posts. No AI here. 🙂

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

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Tropical Storm Warning Issued for St. John

Jenn Manes 1 Comment

Monday, August 12 – 11 a.m. Update 

Check out our webcams to see what’s happening in Cruz Bay.

It’s that time of year, folks! St. John is currently under a tropical storm warning.

There is currently a tropical system to the east of St. John. It is not very organized at the moment, but it is forecasted to strengthen a bit before arriving in St. John and the Virgin Islands sometime tomorrow. The system will affect the Territory through Wednesday before moving out of the region.

Screenshot from Living Earth app

As of now (8 a.m. Monday morning), it looks like the highest wind gusts will stay under 45 miles per hour. The strongest winds will be Wednesday morning as of now, but that can change. There will be a significant amount of rain with this system, potentially between four and six inches for the USVI and BVI.

Screenshot from Windy app
From National Hurricane Center

If you would like to see the current conditions on St. John, please check out Explore STJ’s webcam page at www.explorestj.com/webcams. You can see live views from Cruz Bay, Coral Bay, the ferry dock, The Windmill Bar, The Beach Bar, and more.

Want to know the best websites and apps to check out when keeping an eye on St. John’s weather? Click here to read a recent article I posted. 

That’s it for now. I will keep you all posted on this!

Want to learn more about St. John? Looking to take an island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

Eco Resort, Bakery & More For Sale

Jenn Manes 0 Comments
Concordia overlooks Ram Head

Hello everyone, and happy Friday! I am currently on vacation in cold, rainy and wet Connecticut, which makes me think about the time when I used to dream of moving to St. John. I know many of you feel the same way, so I thought I would share some business opportunities that are currently available on St. John. You never know, you could be my neighbor soon!

Concordia Eco Resort

The restaurant at Concordia has an amazing view!

Let’s start with a big one. Concordia Eco Resort is for sale! For those of you who are unfamiliar with Concordia, it is an adorable 35-room eco resort that’s located on a picturesque 20-acre waterfront property near Coral Bay. According to the listing, the owners are looking to sell to a seasoned hospitality group who can breathe new life into this beloved rustic retreat. Concordia has a pool and a restaurant onsite, in addition to its incredible views. From the property, you can see Salt Pond, Ram Head, the British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Sea and even St. Croix on a clear day. Concordia is listed for $7.5 million by Islandia Real Estate.

St. John Provisions

St. John Provisions is listed for $525,000.

St. John Provisions is a successful bakery and coffee shop that’s located right in the heart of Cruz Bay. It serves breakfast and lunch six days a week, and there is lots of room for expansion. The sale comes with a long-term assignable lease, recipes, LLC, and more. St. John Provisions is listed for $525,000 by Holiday Homes of St. John.

St. John & St. Thomas Maps & Guidebook

This business just had a nice price reduction!

If you have visited St. John, chances are that you’ve picked up our super popular St. John map and guidebook. I use it every single day during my Explore STJ Island Tours. It’s a very useful tool, and it just had a nice little price reduction!

The St. John and St. Thomas map and guidebook business has been helping visitors navigate and familiarize themselves with the islands for the past 40 years. This business began back in 1984 when a local artist decided to use her talents to help visitors and merchants connect. Now, 40 years later, it includes three maps and a wildly popular guidebook.

This sale includes all of the original artwork, plus digital productions which will allow the new owner to create each year’s publication very easily. It even includes artwork for St. Croix in case you’d like to add that island to the mix. The business comes with a large customer list and immense goodwill. This is the go-to map for St. John. The St. John and St. Thomas map and guidebook is listed for $200,000 by 340 Real Estate Co.

If you are looking for more information on any of these businesses, or perhaps you are interested in purchasing a home, condo or land on St. John, please give me a call or text at 203-376-3786 or email me at jenn@explorestj.com. I am a licensed realtor with 340 Real Estate Co.

Want to learn more about St. John? Looking to take an island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

 

 

Pelican Post Replaces Connections in Cruz Bay

Jenn Manes 1 Comment
Pelican Post opened in the former Connections location.

Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday! I have great news to share with you all today! A new business called Pelican Post opened last week, and it will fulfill a much-needed service for both residents and tourists alike!

Pelican Post is a new communications center of sorts. It opened in the same locations where Connections operated for more than 40 years. (Click here to read more about Connections.) The business is similar to Connections in that it offers mail services, luggage storage, and a variety of business services, including copying, scanning and faxing. There is a bulletin board for postings, so hopefully it will become a go-to spot for people looking for housing, vehicles and employment, just like Connections was. Pelican Post is also offering business services for residents like bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll, and more.

For those of you looking to store luggage at Pelican Post, the cost to store a small bag or backpack is $5. The cost to store a large bag is $10.

Pelican Post opened last Thursday.
How cute is this logo??!!

Pelican Post is owned and operated by Crystal George and Krista Kremer, two women who were born and raised in St. John. Krista has been a massage therapist on St. John for years, while Crystal oversees finance at the Cinnamon Bay Campground. I don’t know about you, but I love to see more women-owned businesses popping up on island! Congrats ladies!

Pelican Post is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ladies plan to open on Saturdays beginning next month. Looking for more information? You can reach them by phone at 340-693-4535 or by email at thepelicanpostvi@gmail.com. You can also follow them on Facebook here.

Pelican Post is located in Cruz Bay, just one block up from the ferry dock. Click here to view its exact location on a map.

Want to learn more about St. John? Looking to take an island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

Looking to own a piece of paradise! I would love to help! Please contact me at jenn@explorestj.com for more information.

Discounted Boat Trips!

Jenn Manes 0 Comments

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… Boat days are the best days! Seriously, is there anything better than getting on the water and taking in those beautiful blues while exploring some fun out-of-the-way places? Well, today, I am excited to tell you that you can save money on your next boat trip – if you plan to travel during off-season.

Ok, I’ll be upfront here. Yes, there are some risks associated with off-season travel, but there are countless benefits too! The island is quiet in low season, so you should take advantage of the smaller crowds. The water is warm – you can walk right in! – and the seas are typically very calm. It looked like a lake between us and St. Croix the other day. The seas were FLAT! But the best part about off-season travel is that you can save money! Cheers to that!

Now let me start by saying, I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance when traveling during August, September and October. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Now, on to the deals!

Island Roots Boat Charters is Offering Discounted Off-Season Rates

Uninhabited island to yourself? Yes, please!

Our friends over at Island Roots Boat Charters are offering 10 percent off of all new bookings from August 18th through October 12th. If you book direct with them, you can save an additional 6 percent on taxes and booking fees. Not too shabby!

Island Roots is a family owned and operated business located right here in St. John. Captain Jason Siska knows the Virgin Islands and its waters well, as he was born and raised on St. John through his early childhood. He returned to the island after college and soon met his wife Jill, a 20+ year island resident. Together they run the company along with their five-year-old son Finn.

So you may be wondering what to do when you book an off-season boat trip? Sure, some places are closed, but there are so many that remain open. Here are some great options:

Virgin Gorda & The Baths

A grotto at The Baths

If there is ever a time to make the trek up to Virgin Gorda, it’s during off-season!

We often find some of the nicest and calmest sea conditions of the year for boating during August, September and October. It makes for great for snorkeling, cruising and checking out further away destinations like Virgin Gorda. Plus, visiting the Baths without the cruise ship crowds and large passenger boat excursions makes for a pretty cool experience! 

A private charter boat like Island Roots allows you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Take the time to wander the hidden trails through the enormous boulders. Sip a beverage at the Poor Man’s Bar down on the beach. Snorkel your way through the underwater caves. Indulge in a lunch at CocoMaya and visit the neighboring cay, Fallen Jerusalem, for the best snorkeling at the Baths. With a private boat, it’s all possible.

Island Roots Boat Charters is offering 10 percent off their BVI Extended Day (9.5hr) and BVI Full Day (8hr) charters from August 18th to October 12th. All trips are private and completely customized to the groups’ interests.

*Click Here to Book Now*

Most of Jost 😎

Sandy Spit

Although Soggy Dollar is closed this year for the month of September, there are still a lot of “mom and pop” shops available to visit in the BVI. You can even maximize your time on the water and save money by packing a picnic lunch for your boat trip. 

Just a quick boat ride Cruz Bay, Jost Van Dyke is renowned for its turquoise waters, white sand beaches and plentiful beach bars to relax the day away! Enjoying a Painkiller with your toes in the sand at any of the beach bars is sure to cure you of any temporary ailments! You can even cruise over to the deserted island of Sandy Spit for some secluded relaxation! 

Island Roots Boat Charters is offering a 10% off discount on their Most of Jost trip, a 6.25hr private charter (11:15am-5:30pm) that allows you to spend an intimate and relaxed day exploring the wonderful sights on and around Jost Van Dyke. 

*Click Here to Book Now*

USVI Full Day & Half Day Options

In addition to their regular USVI Full Day charter, during off-season only, Island Roots will be expanding their boating options to include a USVI Half Day (4hr) that’s perfect for the off-season, budget traveler.

The focus of the trip being snorkeling and exploring the outlying cays, bays and beaches you can only access by boat.

Whether you opt for the morning (8:30am-12:30pm) or the afternoon (1:00pm-5:00pm) session, you’ll have time to make 3-5 stops during the trip. Swim, snorkel, sightsee, cocktail, cruise and explore!

Both of the USVI trip options are discounted 10 percent.

*Click Here to Book Now*

And if that’s not reason enough to charter a boat during the off-season, know that when booking with Island Boat Roots Charters, you’re supporting a STJ resident-based business! Family owned and operated for over ten years, you can be assured you’re boating with folks that know the Virgin Island waters and are invested in the St. John community. Again, cheers to that!

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

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–> www.instagram.com/explorestj