TRAIL OF ASHES TOUR: The adventure continues as Gerry G returns to Negril

Wow, it sure is nice to be back at Seastar Inn. Got in late last night, partied it up (details forthcoming), and now it's just past 8 a.m. (6 a.m. Los Angeles time), and I'm adjusting. My green raft is still here! Chris, you're a saint. BRB.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gerryg123

Wow, it sure is nice to be back at Seastar Inn. Got in late last night, partied it up (details forthcoming), and now it's just past 8 a.m. (6 a.m. Los Angeles time), and I'm adjusting. My green raft is still here! Chris, you're a saint. BRB.

---

Welcome back home mi friend and have fun riding around on dat Scooter.....

Cool Runnings, Marko

Welcome back to Negril, GerryG123, ya mon.

(Up and focus...push da button..)

"It's a great day here on negril.com; you're here with gerryg123 and taking a quick look around at the fantastic sights and sounds of Negril. And when I say quick I mean really quick."

(Blurring, bobbing, now steady...hold that shot..)

"Everybody you see here, wanted to be in my trip report.....Yaaa, Mon."

(Cut)

Just a tribute to you, da bomb of Negril and a likkle bit of trip vid humor to start your day.

Now, where did I put my scooter helmet? I know I'm going to need it for this report. Alright, GerryG123, rock it!

Can't wait for the reports. You gotta love it. As soon as one trip report is done he's baaacckkk to do it again! Nice Gerryg!

. . .and the adventure continues! We arrive tomorrow, will give you a call.

The sun is shining and the weather is sweet this morning in Negril! Looking forward to last night's report!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bjritz

Alright, GerryG123, rock it!

---

You are hilarious but thanks so much, my friend. I will do my best! Negril is incredible. If there are any of you out there wondering if it's worth it, PUSH THE BUTTON!!!!

I've put together some extensive notes. Stand by .....

It's real time, Saturday night at Seastar Inn. Steven West and others pumped out a great set of classics, and the Seastar drummers are pounding away for all their worth, and the accompanying dancers are dancin' like no one's watchin.

I was sitting with Rob just a moment ago, toasting the good times. The weather is perfect, Seastar Inn is hopin', and all is right in the world because I have nice full belly and I'm working on my third overproof rum punch.

I arrived late Friday night. There was a bunch of airline/airport stuff that was part of 16-hour commute door to door from home in Los Angeles to the airport to Miami to Montego Bay to the waiting arms of Clives transport.

Terry was the name of the driver who picked me up, and he performed brilliantly.

It's always fun to see the crabs scurrying across the road during the summer months, as we made our way out of Montego Bay through Lucea and Green Island and finally Negril

It was just past 10 p.m. as we turned the corner at Seastar Lane and headed to my favorite hotel in the world -- not a bad arrival time considering we landed at about 8 p.m. -- and it was nice to see the familiar faces.

I turned up the AC in my room way high, combined with the ceiling fan at rocket speed, and it felt like I was home again. I was thinkin' of just crashing out after such a long travel day, but of course Seastar Inn host Chris was havin' none of it -- the party meister already was in his element, so we made our way to the bar ....

Nice chatting you up with Rob and gang at Seastar, almost like being there. Enjoy the dirty bananas and hasta luego, ya mon.

It was nice to have a blended fruit punch again at Seastar Inn. I wasn't drinking alcohol -- yet -- because the Seastar had a arranged to have a scooter there waiting for me, and sure enough Garrett handed me the keys, and there was a full tank of gas.

I drove down the hill past the roundabout just for fun, and it was there that I ran into an old friend, Andrew, whom I had met near Tedd's a few trips back, and we always say HI when we bump into one another. He was riding a scooter, too, and he was like, "Ya mon, what's up?"

It was near that little stretch of straightaway between the roundabout and Sunset on Beach, and I said, "Let's race!"

He said he races for money, but I just took off, and with no other option, pride was on the line for this young local. I pulled ahead, but he caught me, and we had a good laugh. He asked if he could "hang out" with me (translation: me buy him a beer or whatever), but I said I was busy cause I just got in and wanted to say HI to Shayne near Legends. He's a cabbie and a long-time friend.

As things turned out, I did not see Shayne (he later said his cab was in the repair shop), but I did run into CHICKEN BLUE, a top jerk-barrel guy near Alfreds. It was pretty quiet for a Friday night on the strip.

I figured I would cruise back up the hill: Next stop, De Bars.

Hey man I think I saw you scootering down the road yesterday but it didn't click into my head until you had passed already...you were heading up west end rd and I was walking down

Sorry, sometimes I have blinders on -- if I slow down too much, I end up buying trinkets, lol ....

Back to Friday night, it was slow at Debars, too. But I didn't care. It was nice to see Eddie and Trevor and rest of the gang. BTW, I notice Sunset on the Cliffs no longer has the security chain in front of the driveway -- a surprise considering the security issues two reaches ago.

There wasn't much action going on, except for when I locked myself out of my room within an hour of my arrival, and Chris just shook his head .... Plus, my new baseball cap (Chicago White Sox) flew off while I was riding up the hill, and the car behind me ran it over.

Back at the Seastar Inn, I finished the evening with several strong drinks. We had vague plans to go to Scrub a Dub with Chris, but when I left for a short time to cruise around, we ended up getting separated and Chris went home early -- that's acceptable considering Scrub a Dub doesn't even start until 2 a.m. or something; I didn't want to go without Chris -- understandable because I got pick-pocketed for 20 dollars a couple of reaches ago -- through Chris said Garrett wanted to go ... Instead, I went to sleep -- my first night in Negril, and I had a big smile on my face as I dosed off.

So, glad you can recapture that feeling again for all of us! The sounds, the smell, ahhhhhhh. Love, love how you have kept this tread going. Have a wonderful time & be safe GerryG123

Have you had a chance to stop off at some other places for snacks, lunch or dinner? Is Coral Seas still doing the live music on Monday nights?

Have a fun time mi friend......mi know you will.......lol.......tell all mi friends mi soon come.........

Cool Runnings, Marko

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marko

Have a fun time mi friend......mi know you will.......lol.......tell all mi friends mi soon come.........

Cool Runnings, Marko

---

Been spendin' a lot of time with the big B ....

Where are you, Rastagal? We are at the Seastar. Will be at the webcast at Funholiday today! Hope to see you there. I cannot believe I am up this early and raring to go!!!! Must be talking in person to our Gerryg that gets us wanting to go where he's been and do what he's done .... well, probably not EVERYTHING he's done ..... :)

Saturday morning. My first full day in Negril. I woke up, went down to breakfast, made a few hellos. I was switching to room 6 today, my favorite room -- No. 4 is actually closer, but I was obsessed with returning to room 6 -- and Seastar Inn worker Crash helped pack and move me as I prepared sub sandwiches.

Crash is a back-scene type of worker at Seastar Inn, a do-it-all type, but he doesn't have the opportunity to make tips like some of the others, so we have a little arrangement where he helps with luggage and I kick him down a piece of somthin' proper.

I hopped on the motor bike and headed down the hill. I met Bobo at his little ship across from Rockhouse -- he's a great guy -- and we chatted for a bit on how things are going. He's good friends with boardie fav Negriloholic, but having lost his phone, he was hoping I could contact her for him. We stood in front of his shop and Bobo left a message.

Then I popped in to say hello to Bentley from Bentley's Crab House -- good guy, great cook -- and also making a visit was David, a oldtimer from up the hill whose brother used to be the guitar player in the Seastar Inn house band. He's old and struggling, so I always give him a little money or buy him a meal. He lives near Banton's and Keith.

I'm trying to find Jodie, my Negril girlfriend. She moved from up the road to Red Ground, and I was only there one time and with so many little turns I forget her exact street. She has no phone and no email, but it was never a problem before cause she worked at Banton's. I went to Banton's but he was not there. Her old landlord at the building across from Sir D Lookout said last reach he knew her house, but I could not find that guy, either.

Canoe was calling. That same old man that's there 90 percent of the time was chillin' -- we always say hi but I never did get his name -- and I brought my raft and floated around in front of the restaurant. The water was nice. THIS is what I pay all the money for for airline tix and hotels, etc. -- to lie on my raft in the warm ocean and float with my thoughts.

Happy floating Gerry....hope you find Jodie well. Pretty sure you'll find her LOL

I headed back to Seastar Inn, jumped in the pool, then had some lunch -- a big plate of spaghetti with meat sauce.

I needed change, and Chris helped me out. Money exchange is a service Seastar Inn provides, too, and most don't realize how nice that is 'cause it's saves you a trip to the cambio and saves you the hassle of dealing with the hustlers out out front who offer to exchange at a better rate but end up short-changing you because their quick hands are like magicians'.

I saw Francine, Chris' beautiful wife and co-owner of Seastar Inn, and we said hello. She is very hands-on and was gardening at the time. Shayne came by and said hello 'cause I hadn't seen him yet. He's my regular cabbie, and we've been through all sorts of adventures together, seeing the good, bad and ugly side of Negril in the early morning hours through the years.

We said our good-byes -- a friend was waiting outside the gates because Shayne's car is in the repair shop, he said -- and afterward, I headed to Out of Town pastry for a little cherry juice and a massive stack of papers.

Just like last reach, I found myself needing shaving cream, having forget to pack it. And just like last reach, I went to bunch of the little stores on the Cliffs looking for shaving cream but could not find it -- how do the locals remain cleanshaven? -- but I reluctantly motored down the hill and got some at Sunshine Plaza at Hi Lo market.

I also bought the following items:

-- Four dragon stouts

-- large container of cherry juice

-- several little bottles of rum cream

-- and a bungee chord (just up the road at the hardware store)

The bungee chord has turned out to be a valuable item, as I tie down stuff on the scooter as I motor along. It was less than $2 USD, one of the best deals I've ever made!

I am actually under the weather....I haven't been sick in years and yesterday started getting all achy and now have a fever. Going to tough it out for another day and if no better I will have to head to the clinic....just what I wanted to deal with on vacation! Hopefully I will be out and about soon!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by M&G Montreal

Where are you, Rastagal? We are at the Seastar. Will be at the webcast at Funholiday today! Hope to see you there. I cannot believe I am up this early and raring to go!!!! Must be talking in person to our Gerryg that gets us wanting to go where he's been and do what he's done .... well, probably not EVERYTHING he's done ..... :)

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rastagal

I am actually under the weather....I haven't been sick in years and yesterday started getting all achy and now have a fever. Going to tough it out for another day and if no better I will have to head to the clinic....just what I wanted to deal with on vacation! Hopefully I will be out and about soon!

---

So sorry to hear this, get betta soon. (Didn't eat a lion fish, did ya? ...see otha thread)

wha gwan Gerry.........what did you have for supper tonight?
you going down to Wet N Wild at Bourbon Beach?
have fun mon

Cool Runnings, Marko

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marko

wha gwan Gerry.........what did you have for supper tonight?
you going down to Wet N Wild at Bourbon Beach?
have fun mon

Cool Runnings, Marko

---

Grand feast at Bentley's for party of 7 last nite -- the great chef outdid himself!

I also delivered a few little gifts that I had brought from USA to Bentley -- stuff he had specifically asked for like pens, razors, shampoo, plus a threw in some kitchen supplies, and he was very pleased.

I took a little nap to get ready for Seastar's weekly Saturday-night party.

Once things started rolling, I sat mostly with M & G Montreal -- a really fun couple whom I've known for a few reaches -- drinking rum punch and laughing it up. Rob and Lisa were there, too, of course.

Steven West was great at the roots vibration band leader, and the drummers were good, too. i didn't stay out too late. I crashed to get ready for Sunday. At least that's the story I'm going with, lol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gerryg123

I also delivered a few little gifts that I had brought from USA to Bentley -- stuff he had specifically asked for like pens, razors, shampoo, plus a threw in some kitchen supplies, and he was very pleased.
.

---

But no shaving cream!

:cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gerryg123

Grand feast at Bentley's for party of 7 last nite -- the great chef outdid himself!

---

cool.....what did everyone have?

Cool Runnings, Marko

Shaving cream is a pain to find, at least at the little stores. I found some in a squeeze tube at the little store a little North of Country Country on the morass side. I'm curious too what the locals use.

Everytime I hear someone say anything about shaving cream, it reminds me of Negril and this song. Tony plays it pretty regularly at the bar at White Sands, and between the song and Tony's performance, the bar's been pretty much on the floor laughing by the end of the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6LoVvhruvs

Thanks Kiknback - took me right back to the bar at White Sands with Tony :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by booger

Shaving cream is a pain to find, at least at the little stores. I found some in a squeeze tube at the little store a little North of Country Country on the morass side. I'm curious too what the locals use.

---

Quite a few JA men use magic powder (to avoid bumps/ingrown hairs) http://texasbeautysupplies.com/magfragshavp.html

Here are some pics, live and direct:

1, Seastar Inn bar staff (who can name every face?)

2, Nice day at beach

3, Mmmm, Bentley's meal

Randy My Man - Clarol - Alvin and Rochelle -
Can't wait to see them again along with Francine - Barbara - Samanatha - Akima and Garrett -and Delroy Chef

It's Sunday morning, and I'm eating a pop tart at breakfast at Seastar Inn.

I sat with M & G Montreal -- the Canadian couple is the nicest you'd ever care to meet -- and then I called Famous Vincent who arranged to meet at Rockhouse for snorkeling/spearfishing. I was alone, but I met a nice young couple from Atlanta and convinced them to come along. We caught lots of fish, then I headed to drop them off at Bentley's (see a pattern forming?).

Of course I later locked myself out of the room back at Seastar Inn (typical gerryg123). I wanted to check out Negril Spa Resort, have a drink there, perhaps steal a pool towel (just kidding!), but I guess I was not paying close enough attention and missed it. I kept motoring down the hill, past the roundabout to seven-mile.

The helmet Garrett had given me for the scooter was a little tight (I have a bigger head than O.J.), so I pulled into another scooter place, Prento's, and rented a helmet that fit me for $20 for the rest of my stay. Later, Garrett just shook his head: "Why you do that? Mi could have just cut some foam out of your helmet." Oh well.

Then I went to Treehouse and had a nice fruit drink. Patrick (or Pat, as he prefers) was bartending -- he's a great bartender.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gerryg123

I headed back to Seastar Inn, jumped in the pool, then had some lunch -- a big plate of spaghetti with meat sauce.

I needed change, and Chris helped me out. Money exchange is a service Seastar Inn provides, too, and most don't realize how nice that is 'cause it's saves you a trip to the cambio and saves you the hassle of dealing with the hustlers out out front who offer to exchange at a better rate but end up short-changing you because their quick hands are like magicians'.

I saw Francine, Chris' beautiful wife and co-owner of Seastar Inn, and we said hello. She is very hands-on and was gardening at the time. Shayne came by and said hello 'cause I hadn't seen him yet. He's my regular cabbie, and we've been through all sorts of adventures together, seeing the good, bad and ugly side of Negril in the early morning hours through the years.

We said our good-byes -- a friend was waiting outside the gates because Shayne's car is in the repair shop, he said -- and afterward, I headed to Out of Town pastry for a little cherry juice and a massive stack of papers.

Just like last reach, I found myself needing shaving cream, having forget to pack it. And just like last reach, I went to bunch of the little stores on the Cliffs looking for shaving cream but could not find it -- how do the locals remain cleanshaven? -- but I reluctantly motored down the hill and got some at Sunshine Plaza at Hi Lo market.

I also bought the following items:

-- Four dragon stouts

-- large container of cherry juice

-- several little bottles of rum cream

-- and a bungee chord (just up the road at the hardware store)

The bungee chord has turned out to be a valuable item, as I tie down stuff on the scooter as I motor along. It was less than $2 USD, one of the best deals I've ever made!

---

Dude! I am THE premiere Mom person - we got lots of shave cream. Girlie shave cream, and guy shave cream. Always ask the Mom before you go shopping. We also have razors, bandaids, polysporin .......

Here's some all-new, exclusive video of the Seastar Inn bar staff:

http://youtu.be/zi_8f941APY

Ya, mon, once again gerryg123 pushes da button and pulls us afresh into his (our) world! Thanks always fun.