Cruz Bay to Coral Bay

Roger here; Lene shopping (for provisions)! I'm at the same internet cafe; our communications back to the US have not been as good as we had hoped/expected.
We tried to take a round trip public bus tour to Coral Bay and back, yesterday, but we heard three different opinions as to schedule and missed the bus, which frustrated Lene (see I'm puting her emotions in for her!). So we hiked back to the beach, with a detour to the scenic lookout (climbing) and found our dinghy, talked to tourists, got back aboard ate lunch and sailed half way around the island, counterclockwise, eastbound along the south shore, to Coral Bay. On the south side we were indeed in the Caribbean Sea at last. It was a beat and we had up the small jib and single reefed main. The big ocean swells slowed us to about 5 knots on the eastern tacks but we made over seven when we headed north and put the swells at our side. We passed inside a charted but unmarked reef (I would not do this without chart plotter) and then tacked outside an island. Coral Bay is supposed to be a artists and hippies center, though we have seen little of that. It is a big beautiful bay with many boats anchored, all at safe distances from each other. We are anchored in about 25 feet of water with snubber and during the night some breeze came up which gave us some roll, but it was smoother than at Caneel Bay. This is because the winds are not due east yet, but more northeast, providing better shelter in the south facing bays. And our rent last night was free. We dinked ashore and met some former US people and expats who meet at a Moravian church and then went for the famous burgers at Skinny Legs, a bar with lots of caribbean character, but the burgers were not as good as advertized.
This morning we took the public bus ride from Coral to Cruz and will go back soon. Some breathtaking views on the water facing side, but much view obscured by brush. This island is steep, I don't think the bus gets out of second gear. The bus stopped at a further point which is a snorkeling favorite and at the hospital on the way here to Cruz Bay. We see tropical vegetation and cacti; I need a botanist to explauin that one. and goats roam free many places.
When we get back to Coral, we hope to complete the circumnavigation of St. John, stopping in Maho Bay for the next couple of nights I have been there before and want lene to experience it. There is a point for the pickup of volunteers who want to help the Natl. Park Svc. maintain the hiking trails (which we hope was identified accurately for us) then the next day, snorkeling and hiking. We expect to have no internet access until Saturday or Sunday.