Gerry G's TRAIL OF ASHES TOUR Final Chapter -- The Mighty Californian's return

3 legends on one page... Marko, Bentley and gerryg123.... Yea for making my mouth water in Dallas!

I hear ya Bentley,lol... Sometimes it takes two plates of yummy, buttery, succulent, deliciousness!

It's been so long since I've been a fan of something(Heck, I have fans,lol) and Gerry, you've made me a fan of Bentleys...

I had to highlight this on my Facebook page and call Bentley, who'd just finished cooking for the evening...

We now have an official invite to dine nightly,lol... Good times are coming, babay, baaaaby!

Happy Travels

Skb

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Originally Posted by Smokin Kevan

3 legends on one page... Marko, Bentley and gerryg123.... Yea for making my mouth water in Dallas!
Skb

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lol.........legends eh........lol

Cool Runnings, Marko

I'm so sorry about your dad, Jerry. Went to Negril after losing my mother and it was exactly what I needed. Enjoying your trip report!

Going to the ATM at the Scotia bank at the roundabout is always an adventure. The place is surrounded by locals begging for money, some of them aggressive, and I always get a bit nervous and apprehensive pulling out $300 USD. I've said many times before how I loathe beggars, though that does not mean I don't sometimes fork over a few bucks. The bank is a good place to do this. The nearest guy gets 100j or so, and I am out of there.

Everyone has their little pitch. One told me: "I'm an old lady. Can I have 100j?" Seemed fair enough to me.

I stopped by the Chinaman shop for supplies, specifically overproof rum and fruit punch. On the way up the hill, I waved at Sexy Rexy.

Shayne, my long-time cabbie and errand person, came and visited at Seastar Inn. We shared a pizza together and got caught up on all things good.

The Jungle party is tonight, so I took a nap to get ready for the evening festivities.

It's the afternoon now, and I'm sitting with Francine, the co-owner of Seastar Inn. I'm not sure the news has broken on negril.com, but Francine is six months pregnant with a baby daughter expected this coming spring, and she says it's OK to let the whole world know. She is beaming and proud, as she should be. In fact, Chris should be proud, too, considering Francine is roundly regarded as the most beautiful woman in Negril, and I'm sure it will be a very exciting time when the baby is born.

Like I said, I had ordered a pizza, one of the best deals in town. It's a big pizza with great cheese and crust -- hard to find in Negril -- and it's big enough for two to three nice meals. I enjoy a few slices and put the rest in the my fridge. The whole room smells like a Subway restaurant, wink wink. I'm having a very good time, very loose.

Originally, it was going to be just me and Chris going to the Jungle together -- a boys' night out -- but there were others that wanted to go, so there were two van trips -- an early one at 10:30 p.m., then another at midnight. Henry drove, and I jumped on the early ride.

Being a single male tourist at the Jungle can be a real trip sometimes. You have to be in the mood for it, or the whole experience can be a bit too much on the senses. I figured what the heck, you only live once, so I handed the bartender a $100 bill USD, pointed out my sliver cross to remember who I was, and told him to feed me two rum punches at a time until I hit 80 dollars, then you can have the rest. It seemed like a pretty fair deal for both of us.

So that's what happened, and by the time the second van load from Seastar was ready to arrive, the whole thing was pretty much a blur. When I woke up the next morning, everyone told me I had a great time, so I took their word for it!

This is going to be a wild one tonite gerry!!!-be safe-I guess we will hear from ya around noon tomorrow

Gerryg , slow down don't buy up all the rizzlas before i get there. Limo Mon Soon Come

On Friday, I came to, shook off the cobwebs and toted one of my green rafts to Xtabi, where I camped out for the morning. It was nice to be back there, as Xtabi is among my favorite places to hang in Negril. I floated around and enjoyed the shade of the Cliffs in the morning. I toweled off and had breakfast, then later in the morning I made my way to Westender Inn and said hi to some of the workers there whom I've come to know through the years, specifically Kelvin and Jermaine (great guys).

After returning to Seastar Inn for a bit, I picked up a long-time friend, Nicky, and together we headed to Blue Cave Castle, where I bumped into fellow boardie Vinny Bogan, who is an excellent writer and publisher of Negril Notes, a fun Blog about Negril. Blue Cave Castle cook Teddy showed his face, and Nicky and I enjoyed a meal overlooking the ocean.

I was so blown away with the good food and great scenery that, in a daze, I forgot to pay the bill! Never did that one before!!!

I was all the way up the hill at Seastar by the time I realized it, so I nervously called to apologize and to let them know I'd be back soon to pay the bill and to please don't call the police! It was a fax machine or no answer in the office for a bit, and that got me more nervous, but eventually Petrona, Blue Cave's well-liked manager, picked up the phone and gave me a soothing "no problem, mon."

Another boardie, Seveen, was visiting Seastar at the time and was smiling at my dilemma when I explained what was happening.

Anyway, I did soon return and paid Teddy with a good tip as an apology, then the busy day found me back all the way up the hill, first to visit Banton's, a little bar near Moondance Cliffs, and then back to Westender Inn, my home away from home away from home. I had a smoothie and enjoyed the rock pool, then went back to Seastar Inn for lobster and to tip the maids 1000j to wash my beach towel for me and to compensate for the big mess in Room 19 every day so far including the following mishaps -- broken glass with rum punch in it, big spill in the fridge, seeds and stems all over the floor, etc.

Today is Friday, and I'm excited. Brasi, my bestest boardie friend, is arriving this afternoon with his two kids, 17 and 18. I was eager to see the stocky New Yorker again and to meet his adolescent offspring.

Here is a little video on the ocean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzvtK...ature=youtu.be

I want to hang around with you for just 1 day, anymore and i don't think I could keep up! Have fun and hi to Brasi

Here are some more pics (top to bottom):

1, Last call? Are you kidding me???

2, Nicholette, the great server at Catcha

3, The beautiful Westernder Inn

4, Yeah mon

Yup! Marko, lets call this The "New" Boardie Legends of Negril!

Kinda has a ring!

Happy Travels

Skb

Here are some more pics (top to bottom):

1, Clarol, the great server for Seastar Inn

2, gerryg123 out on the open seas

3, Alicia from Seasplash: 'This smoothie is for you'

The boardie population at Seastar Inn is building up. Cabbie Shayne arrived with Brasi and his two teen kids today, joining the likes of myself, Juli, CaptainD and a couple of others.

Brasi is staying in room 7 for one night, then switching to No. 20 tomorrow next door to my room.

I went to Catcha Falling Star for sunset, and the rest of the evening was filled with good food, overproof rum and a German sax player providing entertainment at Seastar Inn.

I crashed hard and slept well. The plan is to go spearfishing early tomorrow beginning at 7 a.m.

<3 Clarol! She was so sweet to us in October.

Sorry for your loss, GG. Sounds like you are having a super chill time.

Yes, Clarol is very attentive and always in a great mood. She is one of the top workers at Seastar Inn, and I probably drove her crazy with all my little special requests, but she was always all smiles.

Sound's like things are starting to hop now.
I was wondering what happened to Brasi. I haven't seen him on here in a loooong time.

Here's some pics from the country ....

GerryG, lovin it as always - really appreciate the pictures. I am howling at the Last Call picture - it is my favorite so far.Perfect expression, I feel your pain!

It's early Saturday morning in Negril, and the wind has picked up a bit -- that's bad news because it's too choppy to snorkel/spearfish, so I have to figure out another way to occupy myself.

Since I was awake and ready to do something, I decided to start up the motor bike and cruise down the hill, past Rockhouse and the little shops across the way, past Canoe (I waved to Kirby, who was making coffee), past the strip of hotels on seven mile, past Long Bay, all the way to the RIUs -- that's where I first started in Negril about 12 years ago. I like to tell folks I graduated from the RIU!

I returned to Seastar Inn and hung with Brasi and few others for a bit, then made my way to Westender to visit with Negril Bill, who works there. There were four expat ladies from the USA hangin' out at Westender Inn, and it was fascinating getting to know them. All of them had fallen in love with young Rasta men, and wow did they have some stories, mostly good but a few bad ones, too. One of them was single, a nice lady from New Hampshire named Margi (wants to be in report), and we made loose plans to maybe hook up later. She is blonde with dreadlocks, and her beautiful hair intrigued me.

Back at Seastar Inn again, Juli was hangin' out. She's a beautiful boardie with a great spirit, and she, Brasi, CaptainD and myself have been spending a lot of time together. In the afternoon, I made my way towards Rick's Cafe, not to check out the divers and tourists but to buy a nice plate of roadside Jerk from Season to the Bone, a young local who cooks a mean chicken.

I took a little rest, preparing for the big Saturday night party at Seastar Inn. I have a feeling it's going to be a great night.

Here are some more pics (top to bottom):

1, the back cabins at Westender Inn

2, Blue Cave Castle fries

3, Lots of goats in Negril on West End

4, Nicky at Blue Cave Castle

Thanks for the report. Didn't know they had cabins in the cliff side at Westender. Kool! If you see Bill again tell him Husker is ready for JIGGY BEERS!

ps Can't wait to get back to the Castle!

Sounds like a lovely trip!

The Seastar Inn party on Saturday was off the charts. It was great to see Steven West and the rest of the band do their thing, though this was the first time I saw the drummers without the great Francine. Also, there is a new young lady who sings a short set of originals plus some covers, highlighted by Whitney's "Somebody to Love," and not only can this newbie sing but she's ultra hot, too!

I spent most of the night sitting on the patio near the pool with Brasi, his two sons (very well-behaved), Juli and boardie Brenjalee, who is staying at Fun Holiday on the beach. Brenjalee is from Los Angeles, and amazingly we're both good friends with the same person back home -- crazy considering we're sitting in Negril together, 4,000 miles from home.

Remember the one at Corner Bar a few nights back who looked like Jesus? He's here, too, along with a few other familiar faces. Towards the end of the night, I hung with Vinny B, and we had a good time comparing war stories and talking late into the evening about everything Negril. He's a great guy, but unfortunately he leaves tomorrow.

I had my own supply of rum punch in my room, and between the main bar and and the mini-bar in No. 19, I consumed many drinks this night. For some reason, I can drink a LOT in Negril while still remaining relatively lucid. By the end, I am not sure I could have walked a straight line, but sometimes a crooked line is even more difficult, and that I could do lol ....

Here's a nice little video with Marko in front of Bentley's ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2tLXPwCPOs&feature=youtu.be

^^^ Enjoyed that :)

^^^ me too

That was great. Now I can put a face and a voice with a few names.
Thanks.

Here are some pics (top to bottom):

1, Out of Town guy Colin

2, An expat lady makes these necklaces and sells 'em to Rastas for 200j, and they sell 'em to tourists for more ....

3, Rock pool at Westender. I need a raft at at least three properties to be happy in Negril!

4, Every time you turn your head in Negril, there is something beautiful to photograph

You really are a kind spirit. I enjoy all of your travels and insight ~ I love out of town bakery! Colin ... hes a class act.
When u say gerry g 123 yah mon in your videos, it cracks me up everytime. You should def look into getting a little place down there, you will never stop going so u might as well.
Thanks for sharing, your a funny man.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fun in the sun

You should def look into getting a little place down there, you will never stop going so u might as well.

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What about the title of this report???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fun in the sun

you really are a kind spirit. I enjoy all of your travels and insight ~ i love out of town bakery! Colin ... Hes a class act.
When u say gerry g 123 yah mon in your videos, it cracks me up everytime. You should def look into getting a little place down there, you will never stop going so u might as well.
Thanks for sharing, your a funny man.

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like

Dat mean you are going to live in Negril G123? No more ashes, the fire isn't going to go out, coz you are not leaving?

Guess we'll have to wait till end of report to find out!

:cool:

Here's a video of a nice day on the ocean, snorkeling with Vincent and Roger ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mNKT0mEyNU&feature=youtu.be

There is always another chapter ! I do not think that you could ever NOT go to jamaica! It is in your bones!! I do like how you say that we have to keep reading to find out.
I would like to be like you when I grow up! LOL
It will be very intresting to see how this trip ends!

Trip report ROCKS!!~Pics and videos to mix it up,YA MON!!!!

I am having a lot of fun. It's Sunday morning, and an early highlight was reheating my Jerk chicken from Season to the Bone from last night. Sweet, spicy food tastes really good after getting into meditation mode. I am down to my third raft (one is at Xtabi and another is at Seasplash, plus from friend from Kentucky, MaryJayne, left Seastar Inn the day before my arrival and had bequeathed to me a blue bonus raft), and I toted my raft to Westender Inn.

On the way to Westender, a cab had broken down because of a flat tire, and the interesting part was a British passenger was fixing the tire as the cabbie observed.

"It's all part of the experience," the tourist said.

What the heck, I even tried to help out, and I know nothing about fixing tires.

I returned just before 11 a.m., and a bunch of Seastar Inn guests were piling into the hotel van for the morning ride to the beach -- Brasi and his sons included. They were going to Bourbon Beach.

Juli missed the bus, so I volunteered to take her down on my motor scooter, and she surprisingly agreed! We headed to Bourbon Beach (the big football game was on the TV, and Brazzz is a big Redskins fan), and on the way down we bumped into Marko.

I met Kevin, the owner at Bourbon Beach, and he was a great guy, very accommodating. However, a big security guard named Shane, a really young guy, needs to improve. Between Brasi and I, we tipped him a total of 10 dollars to watch our stuff on the beach -- "My whole vacation is in that bag," Brasi said -- but the guard was kind of aloof and simply would not pay close enough attention.

Also, the jerk chicken was so-so and the pizza had the typically bad Jamaica crust, despite the fact I asked in advance if the pizza was typical Negril and they said no it's homemade. Not good. I am VERY picky about my pizza. Just my humble opinion, folks. I give almost everyone I meet a thumbs up, but I gotta keep it real.

Just then, my cell phone rings, and it's Margi, the expat I had met the day before at Westender who had gone out of her way to let me know she was single! She says she wants to come meet me. Ding ding ding!!!!

Gerry,

Very Very Good Stuff! Keep it coming!! Ding ding ding!! LMAO

Enjoy,

VVHT