The MH

There are a handful of hiking trails within a short distance from Maho Bay Camps, the next one we'll suggest would be the Maria Hope trail. Those of us at Maho (and probably the rest of the island) lovingly just call it "the MH" - usually said with a slight groan of displeasure.

It should be noted that this is NOT an easy trail by any means, it is entirely up hill with no flat areas and a fairly steep grade. If this already sounds unappealing I'll have an alternative suggestion at the end. This trail can also be used as a means to get to the Reef Bay trail head on Centerline, which could lead to the trail to Lamsure, to Saltpond, to Coral Bay & back up the Johnny Horn trail from Coral Bay over to Annaberg then back up the driveway to Maho. If all of those trails are planned as one giant loop for the day then you're in for a challenge! Leave early and bring tons of water. We don't have a name for the entire loop yet, somehow.

You'll start the day by filling your water bottle at Registration or buying plenty of Gatorade at our Maho store, you'll need it! Next you'll walk down the Goat Trail next to Housekeeping and land yourself at Big Maho beach. Walking the beach or the road past the new National Park facilities at the West end of the beach will bring you to the start of the hill to Cinnamon Bay. Walking on the road to the first big hairpin turn to the right you'll see a cement wall in front of you with the letters "MH" spray painted in white. And so starts your uphill battle! Supposedly the trail is .8 miles long, though it will feel more like 8 miles. The best news of the entire hike is that there is an incredible viewing point, as seen below. The tiny white spots are Maho tents, along with Big Maho & Francis Bay. In the center picture you can see Sage Mountain and the West End of Tortola in the distance.

For further details or a little motivation to try this trail just stop by the kitchen and ask for Crispin, our Executive Chef. If he's not in the kitchen then you'll probably find him on the MH, he loves hiking it for exercise just about every morning.

*Alternative* Simply hike the opposite direction! Start at Centerline road and hike down to Maho Bay beach. Think about trying this if you're on the way back to Maho from Cruz Bay or Coral Bay and someone can just drop you at the trail head. That or kick your kids out of the Jeep and tell them to meet you back at Camp if they're being too rowdy in the car!

Whatever your intentions, please be sure to read a detailed history of the trail by Gerald Singer before setting out; it will give you quite a different perspective as you hike.

 The Night Before Christmas
By Inclement Seamore

'Twas the night before Christmas on land and on sea
Not a creature was stirring, not even the donkey.
The stockings were hung on the palm trees with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
With visions of coconuts dancing in their heads.
And Mama in her bandanna and I in my straw hat
Were sitting there wondering where Santa was at!
When down on the beach there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the sun deck I flew in a flash
Stepped on a hermit crab and came down in a crash!
The moon on the water it did glow
And gave the luster of midday to objects below.
And what to my wondering eyes I saw on a noose
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny mongoose!
With a little old driver so lively and quick

I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick!
More rapid than pelicans, his mongoose they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.
Now Rasta, now Pasta, now Pepper and Chili
On Plantain, on Guava, on Calabash and Willie.
To the top of the deck, to the top of the wall
Dow dash away, dash away, dash away all.
So up to the house top the mongoose they flew
With a sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas too.
He was dressed in a swim suit and Maui Jim glasses
And had a sunburn from his head to his.....rear end!
He spoke not a word but went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings and turned with a jerk.
And laying his hand on top of his head
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a yell
And away they all flew like a bat out of .......a cave!
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
Happy Christmas to Maho and to all a Good Night!


.........If you've been here for Christmas you know this rendition well, Captain Fred of The Pepper sailboat will be entertaining us tonight after dinner with this (his) version of The Night Before Christmas

searching for pots of gold

There is more than 1 pot of gold at the end of the rainbow pictured below. This picture was taken at Maho Bay Camps, and it seems to end right at Peter Bay on the North Shore of St. John. The house located at the end of this rainbow was originally listed at $32M and sold last year for $14M. While all other houses in Peter Bay are worth less, we're still talking about 10 or 12 properties currently worth between $3M - $9M; that's quite a few pots of gold, to say the least.

If you're out here for dinner at Maho this season you'll have to take a moment to look through our art gallery, located directly off our dining pavilion. Currently on display (and for sale) are the three items below, pieces hand-made by the extremely talented visiting artist GBrian Juk

If you've missed seeing GBrian Juk at one of our free nightly demonstrations (Tuesday through Saturday night 6:30-9:30pm) then you'll get plenty of other opportunities throughout this season to see different visiting artists here at Maho.

Also on display is our new recycled glass & concrete counter top made by Dan Kreofsky. This counter top and all counter tops we make recycle 25-30 bottles per square foot!

Maho Bay Clayworks special announcement

Gail Van de Bogurt and Catherine Perry Welcome Seth Cardew- of The  English Family of Potters December 5th and 6th at Maho Bay Art Center

 

       Island Ceramic artists Gail Van de Bogurt  and Catherine Perry are  honored to announce a very special visiting artist Seth Cardew of Castellon, SPAIN.  He will be presenting a two part demonstration at the Maho Bay Clay Works Studio Wednesday and Thursday afternoons Dec 5th and 6th, 2-5 PM, wine and cheese following at the studio. Those who wish may gather for dinner at Maho Bay dining pavillion after. There will be a  Friday evening gathering at Catherine Perry’s house on Fortsberg, St. John. All  class participants are invited. A selection of Seth’s masterful work will be available for purchase at that time.

The cost of the full workshop is $95. But for those who cannot attend  the complete workshop, the fee is $75. for one day only. (Priority will be given to full workshop participants.)

Seth Cardew is an internationally known ceramic artist and teacher. Since 1983 he has undertaken lecture tours throughout the English-speaking world describing the early 20^th century pottery movement. He lives and works in Spain but travels extensively to lecture and sell his work to collectors worldwide.

Born in 1934 in Gloustershire, England, he is the son of the influential potter Michael Cardew.  Seth studied art and sculpture at the Chelsea School of Art in London and the Camberwell School of Art.  Afterwards, he spent fourteen years in the film industry making clay sets for studios at Borehamwood, Pinewood and Elstree. Sets for the multi-award-winning film Cleopatra are among his credits. In 1971 Cardew joined his father, Michael Cardew, at Wenford Bridge and started potting in earnest in 1974. By the time of  his father's death in 1983, Seth had established himself as an important potter in his own right and took over operation of Wenford Bridge Pottery.

        Because he worked with his father, Michael Cardew, Seth was able to witness the roots of today’s studio pottery movement as it was developing. His father Michael had studied under Bernard Leach when he was younger so the friendship continued over the years while Seth worked at Wenford. Many fine potters were students at Wenford Bridge including Svend Bayer, Clive Bowen, Michael O’ Brian and Danlami Aliyu among others. The energy that was generated there went on to influence a generation of young potters in the United States as well. Creating a wave of experimentation and discovery based on these traditional methods. 

Seth’s son is Ara Cardew, a third generation potter of the Cardew family of potters. He is now a permanent resident of New Hampshire. He has taught several great “Hands-On, Participation Workshops” at Maho Bay Clay Works and will be a visiting artist here in February. For that workshop participants will get a chance to get up to their elbows in mud! Ara will be on hand for his father’s workshop and we anticipate some fun collaborative moments.

We on St. John are honored to have Seth visit us this December. Seth’s pottery style is a slip technique with oxide and cobalt painted on the pottery piece once it has been bisque. Besides demonstrating this technique during his workshop at Maho Bay, he will also be discussing the art of shape making and why we make the forms we do from a function and aesthetic perspective.

Dates and times: Wednesday Dec.5^th   2-5pm   Thursday, Dec 6^th   2-5pm.

Cost: $95. for the 2 afternoon demonstrations

Register early, as space is limited!

For more information please contact: Gail Van de Bogurt

Maho Bay Clayworks      gail@mahobayclayworks.com   340-776-6226 ext. 226  or  340-514-6594