Rainbow over red Hook

I can't decide which Photo I like better...

Where I Walk - Part 5 - "Red Hook"

Town... although not really a town.  Just a small group of businesses centered around a marina.

The big yellow building is one of two High Schools on the island.  You can see that the first couple of mile walk with all the wonderful scenery, views of the ocean and creatures great and small are all over.  Red Hook has it's charm, but it is always under construction, and not the easiest place to walk.

Fix a little - tear up a little...
Tear up what you've already fixed, fix it again...
And the work project just never seems to get finished.

But no rush, after all...

Your recovery tax dollars are at work, keeping this crew of 10 working for months on end with little or no progress.  Who could imagine a better use for your dollars.



But I digress...

Like I said, Red Hook is a group of businesses mostly catering to the needs of boaters.  There are several terrific restaurants.  They all have convenient access from the bay.

Jackie and I patronize Duffy's Love Shack... The best bar built in a parking lot you will ever find!

Jackie and I on the left, Every guest we have ever had on the island seats to the right.

Duffy's is just getting ready for the day, so not open for a strawberry daiquiri served in a parrot glass... Later tonight though.

On the street across from the marina is another small shopping center.  They have a pharmacy, hardware store, Doctor's office, a few other sundry shops and...

our "post office".  Almost no home delivery on the isles.  Most people have a mail box service.  Safe and dry delivery... who could ask for more...

This was a good day... 4 packages.  But it also means I carry them back to our condo away from home.

And since I am carrying anyway... Here's the real reason for my walk.  I shop everyday.  Mostly because the produce is not as fresh as we would like.  Once you buy, you should use as soon as possible...

Considering everything has to be flown in to reach the shelves, it is very well stocked.  Just plan ahead.  And get used to the idea that if you need 10 items, only 9 will be in stock.

And, that's the end of my walk... 2 and a half miles, about 5,000 steps and except for the last little bit, very pretty.

Oh, except...

I have to walk back.

Seems longer when you are loaded down.  just as pretty, but longer...

Work moves at Lightning Speed... Somedays

Roads are terrible here.  More potholes than you can imagine.  But when they decide to fix something, the jobs get done fast.  They are building a much needed sidewalk through our little town of red Hook.  In only a couple weeks, they have added several hundred yards of sidewalk, and more added every day.  Hard working crew.

But when they do not decide to work, it moves slowly... in fact, I saw this much needed piece of machinery first day I moved to my new condo a few weeks ago... has not moved since, and appears to have not moved for months.

Plenty of work for ya, Harley!

Happy Hour at Duffy's

Bottle of beer - $1.50
and the pepper poppers are terrific - $3.75

I need a mechanical shark for my soon to exist bar in Kansas City.

Duffy's Love Shack in St Thomas

This week we are entertaining our first guests.  My wife's favorite aunt and her cousin (David and Becky shown above) are giving us locals a chance to be tourists for the week.  Taking the organized island tours, watching them haggle with the vendors (and then we swoop in and get a local's discount for them), snorkeling and sunning have been on my agenda all week... 

BUT, no trip to our corner of paradise would be complete without a stop at my favorite dive bar and grill... Duffy's Love Shack!


Literally, it is a shack located in the middle of a parking lot  in the Red Hook area of St Thomas (closest "town" to us).  It is our go to bar for a fun time.

Of course the foodie in me loves the food...


Blackened chicken nachos (above)... A little of everything (including a few SURPRISE hot peppers)!

Some kind of crappy health food salad that my cousin-in-law loved (how healthy can it be with a half cup of sour cream and a cup of guacamole on it???)

Personally... Their Blue Cheese burgers are the best on the island!  A little bacon (of course bacon!) just to set the mood!

But I guess when you get down to it... This is what really sets the mood...


The infamous DUFFY's SHARK TANK... 64 ounces of Booze (and a little fruit juice)!   Served in a fish bowl with straws for everybody!

And just in case there was not enough booze in the Fish Tank, Jackie wanted her signature, Lime in the Coconut (which I have spent many nights trying to replicate, but always seem to be just a shade short)...

Have you ever been charged $9 for a strawberry daiquiri?  At least when you order a $9 daiquiri at Duffy's, they let you keep the parrot glass (Jackie's Cousin's Daughter not included)...

Even the favorite aunt gets to go home with a logo beer mug "free" souvenir when she ordered a virgin daiquiri...

Yes, they made fun of me for a bit for photographing the food... Then the fancy glasses arrived and everyone was photographing the food...


Even people from other tables were photographing our shark tank...

That is a shark inside our drink...

When in St Thomas, don't miss Duffy's Love Shack... Best dive bar set up in a parking lot I have ever been to!

Red Hook Boondoggle...

BOONDOGGLE... term for a scheme that wastes time and money.


Take a close look at the "town" of Red Hook.  From this photo, can you guess where the center of town would be... Where the action is???

Did you guess the set of brightly colored buildings looking all European and interesting???

You would be wrong... Built several years ago, and occupied by two banks... that's it.  probably 30 store fronts, plenty of two and three story spaces for offices and storage...

Beautiful tiles, landscaped and in perfect condition...


And why shouldn't it be... No one is allowed on the premises.


I would guess that the developers were hoping to attract the high end storefronts that you can find in Charlotte Amalie.  Red Hook does not attract the cruise ship crowd...

Duffy's Love Shack... maybe seating for 25, but a GREAT burger, and a fun cocktail list.  Perfect service every time (the staff hustles to get your food and drink), reasonable prices and entertainment...


Just a little building thrown up on the edge of a parking lot.  Nothing fancy...


But, Duffy's is the center of town!

In Everyone's Life, Some Rain Must Fall

New diggs - HOORAY

We are in our new permanent temporary home for the next 6 months (at least).

Haven't done a picture tour yet, because the weather sucks.  Doesn't seem fair to me that Jackie only gets two days a week off, and then it rains on BOTH of those days.

But, here's what it looks like when it rains in paradise (out our NEW Deck... Imagine the view in nice weather)

6 AM (the view was the same the night before)

8 AM (the view is going to be the same all day)

But the good news, the day before, we went exploring and found a great new hangout for us...

Duffy's Love Shack, Red Hook, St Thomas!

Absolutely the best burger we have found on the island... and funky drinks in funky glasses

You will be hearing a lot about Duffy's