Feature

Rare Air Episode 56


Before I publish the 57th episode in this series, Beth and I are once again set to experience Saint John in person. It is very safe to say we are eagerly anticipating our visit to a new (to us) East End accommodation, during August’s second week.

As you can see at the bottom of this post, I’ve been using footage gathered during our 2019 trip to create all the Rare Air episodes published over the past two years. My journal entry from July 8 of that year was typed out quickly, at the point where I knew I needed to pack up and go. Here’s what I wrote.

I am so lucky that this adventure, and virtually all others since 1989, have involved Beth. We drew ourselves together even more closely on this trip, and set our team goals for the immediate future, and down the road a bit. We idly tossed out the idea of being back here in five years… I doubt we’ll stay away that long. 2020 may feature a trip to Europe. If so, 2021 will probably find us back here.

So, we hoped to return in 5 years, and that plan is right on track. While COVID nixed European travel for us, my partner and I snuck in two returns to St. John (August 2020 and June 2022) – and we had an incredible trip to St. Croix with the kids in June/July of 2021.

Among other things, that means I have a lot more footage to share in this series.

Here’s wishing you all a wonderful summer to come. I hope you’ll return soon for more Rare Air.

Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands, July, 2019
Rare Air Episode 47, Part 1: Third Time’s the Charm
Rare Air Episode 48, Part 2: Ancient Eruption
Rare Air Episode 49, Part 3: Omniscience, Part One
Rare Air Episode 50, Part 4: Omniscience, Part Two
Rare Air Episode 51, Part 5: Heaven on Earth
Rare Air Episode 52, Part 6: Return Trip to Waterlemon
Rare Air Episode 53, Part 7: Underwater at Waterlemon Cay
Rare Air Episode 54, Part 8: Fish life on the cay
Rare Air Episode 55, Part 9: Snorkeling Hansen Bay
Rare Air Episode 56, Part 10: School of bar jacks

Author, communications consultant, publisher, and career guide Roger Darnell is principal of creative-industry PR firm, The Darnell Works Agency.