The Sandy Point Reserve is now open for a short season on Saturdays and Sundays between 10:00am and 4:00pm. We recently took a tour of the beach, one of the most pristine areas on the island.

	Sandy Point is a protected area under the watchful eye of the U.S. National Park Service. Leatherback turtles use this beach as a nursery as they have for thousands of years. They are truly the first inhabitants of the island. Please, if you plan to visit, follow all of the rules so that we may all continue to enjoy the beach.

	The road to Sandy Point is long, narrow and dirt. The peninsula is planted in Seagrape trees, Coco Plum trees, Coconut trees and Tan tan bushes with a few small Tamarind trees here and there. These plants are salt tolerant whether it be from the ground, during high tide or in the air.

	Going down the road we take a digression to one of the side roads leading to the Southern beach. Along the way we pass some sea island cotton growing wild. The park ranger is on the beach patrolling and guiding guests. This beach faces South America. Few houses dot the coast and the waves are quite rough.

	Leaving this particular beach, we head further down the peninsula. We pass the salt pond to our North. The salt flats are probably the consistency of quicksand.

	Salt foam gathers with the lapping of the salt water in the pond. We continue down the road.

	This is a seagrape tree. A long time ago they were used as plates and also pans on which to bake titibread. They were also made into a cone - a convenient holder for the ripe berries. In season, there is a cluster of green grapes which turn purple and sweet when ripe. There is one large seed in the middle and the fruit is used to make jam. Here, we see the beginning of its flowering.

	As we get closer to the point, the road turns into sand - a clue that we are almost there.

	Lots more posted signs appear as we walk down the path leading to the beach.

	And onto the beach. Here is a successively panoramic view looking from left to right. South to North.

	These shots give you an idea of how the island is connected to this beach. We are looking North towards the town of Frederiksted. And then, we look out to sea. Yes, it really is that blue. We used NO filters on the cameras.

	So blue, so clean, so clear.

	The lapping waves. Soothing, not to mention, good for a head cold.

	Hypnotic.

	And now some signs of life. We look back inland and see the seagrape, the cheese and bread and the cocoplum shrubs looking like a hedged border.

	Cheese and Bread with its red curly pods and the crawling vine Nickel. A close up of its shiny leaves and its seed pod.

	To be alone with one's thoughts.
To be alone with one's thoughts.
To be alone with one's thoughts.

	The sand. Turtle tracks. This mother arrived last night and laid eggs in the berm which looks more like the remnants of a sand castle. She laid her eggs and then went back out to sea.

	Seeing the tracks and nest next to a human about 5ft 6in tall, you can see how huge the turtle is. Leatherbacks have been arriving and laying eggs for thousands of years and so we respect their landing rights to this beach while we enjoy this same place. Please be careful and do not poach the eggs.

	Tracks of a different kind. The park ranger's dune buggy. And as the leatherback turtle went back out to sea, so do we.

	Boats with sunlovers pull up to just off the beach. Crab holes dotting some areas of the beach.

	We walk further down the beach peninsula, heading South. The waves become stronger and rougher on the tip of the island.

	The waves and the sand. It reminds me of the scene at Yarmouth, from David Copperfield, for some reason.

	Driftwood and drift coconuts, sea shells, sailors and strollers on the beach.

	More things seen on the way back up the beach. And then a few shots from in the water. The turtle's eye view.

	Oh look! It's a foot fish!

	And now, as we leave this side of the beach, we notice the cocoplums ripening. We are on our way to see one more beach on the peninsula.

	The cocoplums are growing and will soon ripen. Also called 'Pork Fat' because the flesh is white and dense like pork fat. The yellow spaghetti is Dodder, a tenacious parasitic plant. It has very small flowers and grows on any living plant that is not lucky to get out of its way.

	Across a short bridge and onto the Nickel covered beach. The purple flower is fleshy to withstand the harsh environment.

	Another turtle has nested on this beach which faces South to South America.

	Waves crash here constantly. The waves climb the sand banks at high tide.

	We look at the last waves and then we are ready to leave the beach.

	On our way out, we noticed something wonderful. Ground orchids in bloom. Spectacular!

	The size of the blooms is evident here. The ant came along for the ride. Seeing beauty in every living thing, even a dead casha tree has sculptural beauty! We hope you enjoyed your day at the beach, we did.