An Unexpected Adventure

When my dear friend Holly called and asked if the Murphy’s would like to join them in St. Thomas and St. John on their 45-foot Catamaran, The Orion, in April, I was quiet. This was nothing I had ever dreamt of doing. And as amazing as this sounded, my brain immediately went to motion sickness and claustrophobia. Holly assured me that “all would be OK”. And after 50 years of friendship, I wholeheartedly believed her and started to get excited about this unexpected adventure.

A week before leaving, we had just relocated my 93-year old mom, Charlotte, from Bridgeport, CT to Charleston, SC, where my sister and her family live. My mom really needed a change, and within 3 weeks we made it happen – from concept to completion! It was a huge push for us all, and a very big lifestyle change as well. So little did we know in the beginning of March, that all this would take place, and a much needed vacation would follow.

Upon return from South Carolina, we had less than a week to prep for our getaway. Rick, Conor and I are fully vaccinated, but still needed to take quick turn-around Covid tests right before flying, and needed to fill out an online verification form for St. Thomas in order to enter. As we disembarked the plane in St. Thomas, American soldiers were waiting for us all to show ID, proof of the online form, and took our temps. We were cleared, and happy to know that our fellow passengers were also!

Holly and Bruce, along with Jim and Julie (another couple from home), waited for us on the boat in the harbour. The next morning we would set sail for St. John! 7 days on a boat was a first for all of us Murphy’s…and we lived in the moment, relishing everything. Captain Bruce sailed us to beautiful bays, and moored us in a new spot every other day. We snorkeled and discovered all varieties of coral, sea fans, fish, sting rays, barracuda, fabulous sea turtles, an octopus, and 3′-4′ Tarpon settled under our boat. Each and every sunset was stunning, and we ladies all slept outside on deck under zillions of stars every night (so what if there was a shower or two?). It was divine. The boat is named ‘The Orion’, so we would scope out that constellation as a nightly ritual.

Of course this is the Cliff Notes version of our fabulous get away. After a year of hunkering down, and not traveling any distance, this was an amazing gift for our little family to spend such quality time together, with our dear friends, and make 2 new friends…an incredible week that we will never forget. And because I know we have all been stuck in the “same boat” due to Covid-19, I wanted to share a little beauty from the outside world…a place quite a ways from my beloved home of Connecticut. Many thanks to our son Conor who may have packed more camera equipment than clothes, I think. His underwater photos, as well as some amazing shots from his drone truly inspire. (The boy’s got an eye!)

Please enjoy Conor’s view of St. John, USVI!

Much love, Nora

(P.S. This Saturday’s new Hunt Club Collection is totally inspired by our trip!)