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

Here are a few more photos (top to bottom):

1, On the flight home .....

2, The ageless and beautiful Patty S.

3, Bentley ya mon

4, Feelin' very Metro at Half Moon Beach ....

Great pics Gerry!

A few more things I left out:

-- Like I said, this trip was a good chance to re-connect with a lot of familiar Negril faces that I had not seen in a long time. One was Karl Ricketts, an exceptional artist who has been around a long time and is kind of an icon in the neighborhood. Many moons ago, back when my now ex-wife could still stand me (lol), we had met Mr. Ricketts and bought a painting from him.

For once, it was refreshing for a local to be sincere about actually remembering me -- he did not, ha ha -- but it was still nice to see him because the reunion was one of the things that reminded me about how much I have always loved Negril. I'm assuming Ricketts will be around forever, and next time I see him, I want to buy another painting.

-- I did have a few tense moments, including a little "misunderstanding" between me and a young higgler on a motorcycle at the Shell station near the Roundabout. I'm still not sure if he was kidding or not, but when he begged for some of my gasoline and I turned him down, he said to me right in front of the station attendant: "What if I put a gun to your head and pull the trigger?"

I kind of laughed it off at the time and did not take it seriously because the attendant was right there, too, but no one had ever said anything like that to me before, and I was a bit relieved when he simply sped off with his friend riding piggy-back. I did not consider it a big deal.

-- I had one near-spill on the scooter with Suzie Q in tow when I wasn't paying close enough attention while maneuvering the little speed bumps on Seastar Lane, but otherwise it was smooth, danger-free 11 days riding through the hills and seven-mile beach. For the most part, the traffic was light.

-- I brought along a total of four inflatable rafts, and it was nice to spread them around. One was at Blue Cave Castle, one was at Seastar Inn, one was at Seasplash and one somehow popped at Blue Hole -- either a little hole in it or too much jerk chicken and too many fruity drinks, lol.

-- At Keith's house, he has a big TV that nearly covers a whole wall, and he set up a high-tech video game in which you race a sports car through an obstacle course with a steering wheel, gas pedal and break pedal. It was fun watching Keith's live-in assistant, Rasta, really get into it. The local loved to play that game, even though I'm quite sure he has never drove a real car in his life.

Gerry, Isn't it amazing what one can experience in Negril? You are going about his business at the gas station, and moments later a stranger is making a death threat. Why do we (or should we) put up with such behavior? If the person was so bold as to say that to you at a gas station in front of witnesses, I would shudder to think what might have transpired on a lonely road. Should it be taken seriously? Words are only wind, (or so I have been told in Jamaica), but for someone to say such a thing in response to being unsuccessful in begging, is very troubling. Back at home, and probably in Jamaica, a person might expect to land in jail for making such a statement.

I have a few more pics. Here is a SUZIE Q special:

Love the Foo foo drink Pic!

We're winding down. A few more pics (top to bottom):

1, Bustling day with school kids

2, Chillin' at Rhodes Resort

3, Gugirary gets Sweetie Pie in MARCO POLO

4, Panel of judges

5, Half Moon Beach

6, Nice dog at Seastar Inn

7, Little house in country

8, Negril has the best chicken in world. This is a plate from Half Moon Beach

Some more pics (top to bottom):

1, Chillin' with Bobo

2, Typical Negril scene out in the country

3, View from cab while driving past Sav

4, Rasta Stan's better half ....

Big Up BoBo
(thx Gerry and by the way I think its brilliant that you kept ONE thread for your report so its all in one place) Bless!

enjoyed this a lot Gerry and great to see so many old faces as well as new...........

luv the videos and pics of Bentley who is like a brother to this guy........
and if anyone ever has the chance to go up to say Hi to Bentley.....
mi promise you will walk away with a big smile on your face......

would have loved to be there this April like mi was two years ago........
but I had a chance to get to Negril in January of this year so I grabbed at the chance..........
maybe next year it will be April again.........you just never know.........

thanks again Gerry from da bottom of mi heart for the smiles and laughs your report brought to this guy.........
may wi meet someday pon da rock.........yah mon

Cool Runnings, Marko