Webcam wastes away hours for fans

When St. John Spice installed a new Webcam pointed at the ferry dock, owners Ruth Ernst and Ron Piccinin had no way of knowing how hugely popular it would become.

Check out these numbers. The camera gets an average of 2,100 unique visitors a day, who spend (are you ready for this?) an average of 59 minutes per visit. Good golly, there are very few Websites in the world that keep people around for an hour at a time.

Viewers are heavily concentrated in the Northeast, followed by Florida and there is even a handful every day of folks right on St. John looking.

More stats: Tuesday and Wednesday are the busiest days. 10 am and 4 pm are the busiest hours. There are 581,000 images viewed per week. That’s incredible. This camera is seriously eroding worker productivity in America.

“Travelers to St. John are not your average tourists,” says Ben Chill who installed the equipment for St. John Spice. “They devour anything St. John and Ruth is delivering a live piece of Cruz Bay to get them through the times they have to sit at a desk and dream.”

The StJohnSpiceCam also made EarthCam’s Top 10 list this week.

“At least a half dozen people a day come into the store and tell us how much they enjoy the Webcam, and we get several emails a day,” says Ruth.

This is an upgrade from the previous ferry dock Webcam, which was also installed on the St. John Spice building but not controlled by Ruth and Ron. The greatly improved image also refreshes much more frequently, every 20 seconds.

“You get to see all sorts on that camera,” says Ruth. “Brides and grooms, tourists waving to their families, and my favorite, a guy one day that just decided the dock was a good place for a nap.”

50 Responses to “Webcam wastes away hours for fans”

  1. Ed Selby
    January 23rd, 2009 00:55
    1

    I would love to see some of the “greatest hits” from the webcam – the funny, the silly, the weird, the sad, the WTF? shots….

  2. Rob7
    January 23rd, 2009 06:48
    2

    And a big thanks to Ruth and Ron for that cam and lots of enjoyable time wishin I was there

  3. Adela
    January 23rd, 2009 07:13
    3

    I am one that every minute I have free,I’m in by the dock,makes my day very pleasant,until my next trip…Thank you guys for this treat

  4. Debbie
    January 23rd, 2009 07:28
    4

    Ruth -
    What an inspiration! There is nothing better than to wake up and view what we are missing. Unfortunately, we won’t be visiting St. John this year – first time in 21 years. I blog almost every morning before work. A great way to start the day!

    Thanks!

  5. Lori Jo
    January 23rd, 2009 07:29
    5

    I am here in cold snowy Illinois and I check it out several times every single day!!! I dont know what I would do without it! THANKS RON AND RUTH!!

  6. Carolee
    January 23rd, 2009 07:30
    6

    I am so happy to see this webcam! Every day I log in from Maine to check out On St. John and I used to go to GoToStJohn for that webcam – which has been out of commission for several months.

    With the below freezing temps we’ve been having, it’s a treat to see blue sky & blue water and know it’s just a plane ride away….

  7. Panky
    January 23rd, 2009 07:31
    7

    22,184 visitors as of 7:22 AM EST. Boston is having a slight warm-up today but this camera brings me to where I long to be. Ruth, THANK-YOU for this wonderful service and your Cruz Bay Grill Rub. See you in March.

    PS: I am afraid to tell you how long I view each day…..

  8. kygirl
    January 23rd, 2009 07:36
    8

    I love that webcam! Great job Ruth and Ron!

  9. quenton
    January 23rd, 2009 07:43
    9

    good morning
    happy friday
    i love the fdw. its in hd. people write in the sand.
    i visit every morning a 730am for about a few minutes
    to start my day.
    its a wonderful thing.

  10. mbw
    January 23rd, 2009 07:50
    10

    I love the web cam! If only the refresh time could be improved ;) Thank you Ruth and Ron and of course Ben Chill for the installation!

  11. rob
    January 23rd, 2009 07:53
    11

    When Ben gave the interview, can we confirm that he had on the snorkel mask?

  12. island lover
    January 23rd, 2009 08:07
    12

    I LOVE this webcam – it is the first website I go to when I get on my computer (at work no doubt – this is the second website I check) in the morning and I check it all day long – wishin I was one of the people getting off of the ferry! When it is 0* here in Illinois, I look at the dock and get warmed instantly – if only in my mind.

    How about is they put another webcam on the other side of the building looking into the park – that could be fun!!!!!

    You guys are doing great – keep up the good work

  13. Carol
    January 23rd, 2009 08:15
    13

    The webcam is part of my routine every morning when I get to work. Webcam first, then “On St. John.” Of course on really cold days (we haven’t been above freezing in over a week) and rainy or snowy days I check back to the webcam in the afternoon just to see some sunshine.

    Mr. Chill is right. I can’t get enough of St John. I measure time by how long it is until I return. It’s been 213 days since I left St John and 133 days until I’ll be back

    Thank you for helping me get through these Pittsburgh Winters and the rest of the year for that matter.

  14. RickG
    January 23rd, 2009 08:16
    14

    Tasty hi-rez viewing pleasure. It’s Ruth-o-tronic!

    Cheers, RickG

  15. SteveV
    January 23rd, 2009 08:20
    15

    There used to be a streaming webcam on the top of the La Concha Hotel in Key West, at my previous employer, I would have that page running while I worked…so I would ask…why ONLY 59 minutes???! I see tropical webcams as productivity “increasers” work harder, make a little more money, get to St. John a little sooner!!!!

    That dock just looked so much more comfortable compared to that soft beach sand I couldn’t resist…oh wait, that guy has hair and is in shape…so that must not be me…..

  16. Pete (Mr. Marcia)
    January 23rd, 2009 08:22
    16

    You forgot to mention the time honored tradition of “Sandscrit”…writing a message in the sand for webcam viewers to see. There have been some good ones over the years.

  17. Colleen
    January 23rd, 2009 08:32
    17

    “. . .Ruth is delivering a live piece of Cruz Bay to get them through the times they have to sit at a desk and dream. . .”

    So true! I’ll be dreaming every day until October!

  18. Dave M
    January 23rd, 2009 08:34
    18

    I didn’t even know the new camera was up. The old one was always up on my work pc, and now this one will be up permanently.

    I check St. John and Lake Tahoe webcams every day. Those are two of may favorite places on earth, so far :)

  19. Pat l..
    January 23rd, 2009 08:55
    19

    I am guilty multiple times a day.

    “Eroding worker productivity”? No way, just the opposite, I would be useless WITHOUT the STJ fix to start my day.

  20. jigzmom
    January 23rd, 2009 09:08
    20

    Guilty! I check the webcam several times a day. Now I can say, “Tomorrow I’ll be there!!” Thank you for the daily slice of paradise, Ruth!

  21. TomB
    January 23rd, 2009 09:13
    21

    Now if you could play a little Marley, Bankie Banx,and have a mic recording surf noise between tracks – No work would get done on the East Coast.

  22. Lesley
    January 23rd, 2009 09:29
    22

    “…an average of 59 minutes per visit.”

    Ahh, so this is what it’s like to be above average.

  23. Jason
    January 23rd, 2009 09:55
    23

    I found a tip from a previous story poster; right click and set as background on your desktop. I get several interested people inquiring, “where is that?”

    Of course, then they wish they never asked because I spend the next several minutes talking about SJ.

  24. Canucknyc
    January 23rd, 2009 09:57
    24

    I do loves me some STJ Spice webcam.

  25. Kelli
    January 23rd, 2009 10:12
    25

    I’m not gonna lie, I spend so much time watching this webcam. I’m getting ready for my trip to St. John and I have told all my friends to go on this website when I get off the ferry. I check it out everyday after I check out this blog, it just gets me even more excited :)

  26. Laurie
    January 23rd, 2009 10:57
    26

    I absolutely love this web cam and go to it several times per day – I guess I am addicted to it and apparently I am not alone. The new camera is amazing! – one of the best quality cams out there I think. Thanks so much Ruth and Ron!!

  27. Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
    January 23rd, 2009 11:51
    27

    If only you could get sound with the web cam. Now that would be perfect!

  28. Bill in KY
    January 23rd, 2009 14:35
    28

    Thanks to Ruth and Ron I get a chance to check in with STJ everyday. Unfortuantely, I do not stay for 59 minutes when I come by, but then I come by more than once everyday. Thatks again to Ruth and Ron (and Benchill also).

  29. Karlee
    January 23rd, 2009 17:08
    29

    We watched the web cam everyday before our October 2008 visit. Now we watch it everyday and wish we were still there. Glad to see it’s back. It was stuck on the day we lef!

  30. Capt. John
    January 23rd, 2009 17:09
    30

    My wife, Sue loves it. She can see when I’m back from a boat trip. She even asked Ruth if she could turn it a little towards the Beach Bar just to see who’s there. Hmmmmmm.

  31. Pianogrl
    January 23rd, 2009 17:31
    31

    Thanks & gratitude to Ruth & Ron & Ben. It’s my window to my STJ world….everyday!

  32. NANCY
    January 23rd, 2009 17:58
    32

    AGREE WITH EVERYONE ELSE…. TOTALLY ADDICTED TO THE CAM !! FIRST PLACE I GO IN THE MORNING, THEN MANY TIMES THRU OUT THE DAY. NEW CAMERA IS GREAT !! THANKS RUTH :)
    SEE YOU IN MAY

  33. Chicago Steve
    January 23rd, 2009 18:47
    33

    Yep, it’s the best. The new cam is a huge improvement! Thanks Ruth. For me the entire internet has been distilled to these two websites… I rarely go elsewhere. Sad but true… (and many thanks to Jeff + Russ as well).

  34. Tami (luvinsun)
    January 24th, 2009 06:04
    34

    Love love love the webcam! I am another one of the addicts. I check a few times a day. One day a while back, a group of us on another forum were watching a gentleman who appeared to be passed out in the sand, we were trying to figure out if he was okay or not, but eventually we saw he was okay, he had a flask in his backpack that he occasionally swigged from! :) Thanks again Ruth, Ron and Ben!
    Ruth – can’t wait to meet you in 14 days (although I feel like I already know you!)!

  35. Polly
    January 24th, 2009 06:55
    35

    I also love the web cam, I have been able to see people I know on STJ and talk to them on the phone while watching them on the web cam and have them wave at me. It’s great and brings me back to STJ whenever I want, and to the place I hope to live one of these days! Thank you Ruth, Ron, Jeff & Russ.

  36. Lynn Blaisdell
    January 24th, 2009 08:54
    36

    Love the cam I only wish it was a live feed/stream….

  37. martha
    January 24th, 2009 09:23
    37

    We entire through the car ferry, but I have the best July 4th memory of kids jumping off the pier into the water….I went to StJ on one of the first PanAm flights.

  38. zen
    January 24th, 2009 11:41
    38

    Are you kidding me?! Its my home page at work!
    Its on all day long, without a hitch.
    I gaze at it whenever I ask myself that daily question…why am I here in this below zero temp place AT work!
    ahhhh….web cam you are my sanctuary. My beloved St John, till we meet again, in 154 days….19 minutes and seconds….whos counting?

  39. Kristi
    January 25th, 2009 00:36
    39

    I’m with Captain Brandi’s wife – turn it toward Beach Bar! That is a genious idea.

  40. Bigcheeze
    January 25th, 2009 22:24
    40

    Thanks alot…that’s all I need more addiction and distraction from work. April 2 we soon come…7 years in a row

    Dave

  41. Wes
    February 2nd, 2009 13:57
    41

    This web is one of the greatest “public” services ever performed on STJ for people who aren’t on STJ! Thanks Ron and Ruth for the kindness. I visit every day!

  42. Barb Y
    February 3rd, 2009 08:31
    42

    I don’t know what I would do without it! I would probably go through some severe withdrawals. Thanks Ruth and Ron!

  43. Cas
    February 5th, 2009 16:10
    43

    Yes- I track webcam regularly also. Love it!

    By the way…is the “Cold in USA. Come to St. John.” written in the sand on the webcam today part of the new tourism campaign? That’s motivating me more than the one on the updated website.

  44. Carrianne
    February 6th, 2009 09:01
    44

    78 days to go!

    I was watching the webcam on inauguration day and someone wrote OBAMA in the sand. It is now my desktop picture. It is really cool, Obama in paradise, one of those once in a lifetime pictures!

  45. teefal
    February 27th, 2009 22:36
    45

    My wife took a screenshot of the old cam just before Jan Kinder, Bill Stelzer and I went to St Thomas to meet with the education commissioner. Those are OLPC laptops we’re holding.

    Regarding the stats, the page auto-loads, so it’ll register as a page view even if no one’s at the computer. My guess is that many people leave it for days, driving the average up.

    Also, all AOL users are “from” Vienna Virginia from a stats point of view.

  46. Tracy
    October 14th, 2009 10:43
    46

    One cold rainy Seattle Monday in January I was looking on line & found this great web cam. I walked out of my office & told my husband, “we haven’t been to the Caribbean for 6 years & we need to go this year”, he saw the site & said “sign me up”.

    The site inspired us to book a cruise & we will be visiting you there sometime in November. Thank you for the sunshine & the messages that people write in the sand.
    Tracy

  47. Larry & Bobbie
    January 2nd, 2010 18:05
    47

    We were married on St.John 8 years ago & will be on this dock next week. Thanks for the pre-view & the reminder of beauty & warmth.

  48. Roy & LuAnn
    January 7th, 2010 11:12
    48

    Thanks to Ruth & Ron’s Web Cam because we frequently check out our favorite part of the world, St. John. LuAnn and I were married by Captain Phil, The Wayward Sailor, 11/7/09 on Peace Hill. Ruth & Ron were our witnesses. Thanks again to everyone for making 10 days of heaven on St. John so memorable!

  49. Pat
    February 21st, 2010 14:49
    49

    Thanks for your webcam! It was especially needed this year as we weren’t able to come to St.John for a visit. It has gotten me through many a snowy day!

  50. Kim Wilson
    March 30th, 2010 09:58
    50

    I LOVE this webcam. I check it several times a day. My husband and I were visited St John last year and vow that it will be our retirement home. Can’t make it down this year but we are already planning next year’s trip.

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