gettin my groove on "TRIP report" boardie bash style--april21-may11,2013

Hey Groove thanks for the TR, it's like being there again. Man I miss Negril...

Terry ....... missing you and Janet like crazy. Reading your report makes me happy, but sad at the same time!
Love reading your report, takes me right back. TTYL ...... Rina

Rina, hadn't heard from u lately, thought u had moved or something....u got to know that we are missing u and larry as well....so much so that we are having talks like "well if they stay at catcha gardens, we may do a couple days there, or we can stay at negril escape or xtabi, and still have access to sea... if they stay at coco, well....." ...just things like that....lol........

meinvancouver......well u and dolly also are in our "planning" talks...it goes something like this..."if they stay at catcha, maybe we will be at the gardens or neg esp...If they stay at white sands, well, we'll see them down the beach somewhere....hehehe....

These 2 posters are the reason I come back to this board......I started coming to get info as a newbie to Negril, (and still ask a few questions prior ro my trips)...but now I come back because of folks like these...I met on of these couples on my 2nd trip in 2010 and the other on the 3rd trip 2012....reunited with both on this trip...(along with several others)...and I think I can call these people friends for life....... and there are 100's of these type of folks that post on this board....all with a love for Negril and looking for a good vibe....but the other common bond is this board....

the trip continued...

we get up and eat our breakfast at shields...Janet stays and suns while I walk to times square to look for a memory card for our camera...Not at times square, but i am told to go to the digicel store at the roundabout...so I walk downtown...Digicel sent me to the coral seas shop across the street above the cambio....Bingo...they are a thrift type store and have a little of everything....I need to exchange money...everytime I exchange money, I am approached by the guys wanted me to use them to change my money...I always jst point at the cambio and say, yeah, you can change money right there...no mon, I give u a great rate, and he pulls a wad out of his pocket....and I say, yeah, mon, they change money right there, come on, I show you, and laugh as I walk into the cambio....

a few pics downtown
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One love drive sign

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still salvaging the boat we saw earlier in the week

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the china man store where I found cheap supplies
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a look up the road

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the corner bar

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parasailing

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I get back to shields and take a dip in the pool
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we walk to yellowbird for a drink...we like yelllowbird, if u can't tell...

as we are having a drink, we see some people that we recognize

it is pineapple and sophie....they are staying at the yellowbird for like the 15th time or something and take us for a little tour and introduce us to the workers
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As we are sitting at the bar, a little boy appears...Janet gets busy and starts digging in her bag...she finds a couple of water guns
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the boy and mom
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helping fill the gun
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and a gunfight breaks out at the yellow bird
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we had a great time..he finally got the best of me and won the battle...we were told the next day that all day long he played with his toys we gave him, would not let them go....

Time to eat and sophie showed us this place right around the corner for the box lunches i like....i like the food, but love the price....anyway, leaving yellowbird, head towards alfreds, I think merrills is next and then the path to the road....up this path is two places for box lunch..the one stop store is at the roadside
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back at shields, we chill in the pool until it is time to go to Canoe for the Thursday night webcast and sunset....we have a couple of friends meeting us there...I call our driver, Jack, to pick us up...Jack was a security guard at Bourbon Beach on our last reach...He is now a driver...said his sister loaned him the car to get started...has a red plate and all...so we use him as our new driver for this trip
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we arrive at the canoe and there are many people we know...we all share appetizers, have drinks, and the stories and the smiles and the laughter and the chatter never stops....some of the great folks
Big Roy
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the band plays on at canoe bar
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indy bob
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more pics from canoe bar...

lisa, dawn, cindy
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some folks at canoe
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a dog gets fed
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a mom and her 2 little boys...we give
bubbles, candy, and a couple toys

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the red stripe
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rob, cindy...and katieAttachment 28343Attachment 28344

flip, meinvancouver, and dolly
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we get some great sunsets at canoe

flip
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we were invited to a little after party wife Indy Bob and cindy, and katie...at crystal waters villas....we get a taxi back to shields...there is a little boy, about 8, in the taxi, so of course Janet gives him a few things...we dont have much left with us....after we get to shields, as we were getting our money, the driver was looking at the boys stuff....I heard him say, u dont need that, u are too old for that, I need that for my son....this boy was his nephew....I tell him, no, we gave that to him, he said he wanted it, so it is his...before janet could dig in the bag to see what else we had for his kid, he took off....

rob and lisa pick us up, and we go to the party at crytal waters...Indy Bob, cindy, and Katies place.....we have a few drinks, as cindy is a great host..we had homemade dirty bananas, beer, and whatever else u could want....had a great time just telling tales of jamaica....1st time i had ever been here, as we dont get down to this end of the beach....it is great....

My trip is slowly coming to an end....

2 Full days left.

Who takes a toy from a child. What a mean Uncle.
Beautiful sunset pics Groove.

Ok Groove, this just keeps getting better. When you guys were at CWV with the Herrings and Katie did you hear all that loud snoring? Thats because WE WERE IN THE VERY NEXT VILLA!!! In fact those guys were the ones who talked us into going on the pub crawl in the first place. They really are great people and we were glad we got to see them again this trip. They tried to get us to come along on the boat trip to Canoe that day but it was our last night there and we try to take it easy the night before we travel.

So.....not only did we NOT meet on the crawl we also didn't meet when we were AT THE SAME RESORT! (my wife says you're gonna think I'm a stalker or something but I don't care...I had to tell you that) What do you mean you don't get "that far down the beach"? Keep the great pics coming man!

Big Shiny, that is so funny....the herrings were great....and either cindy or katie walked me down to the beach, looked like a big party in the 1st room down by the beach...

Im sure we will meet next time, if we are at the same time.....and i like stalkers, lol...feel free to stalk away....hehehe

back to the trip....this is Friday may 3rd...we have no plans...no web casts, just a day of lounging, swimming, and beach encounters...

we eat breakfast, and enjoy Shields...

a look at the water from breakfast
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beach musician

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Janet

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Fruit vendor came by every day

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Jennies, one of our old friends, she is the head of the kitchen, but is also one of the managers at the hotel...
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view from the dining area

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our bartender at shields, Maureen..we have known her for several years

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We decided to go for a beach walk....we almost booked Travelers, so we checked it out...looks ok to us ....a very nice pool area...
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Janet walking down the beach
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Pitch a tent sign, at the sea grape
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another beach shot
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we walk back and hang by the pool at shields again...

a look at our balcony and me in the pool
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Cant wait to stay at Travellers!

We eat snacks for lunch in the room....Then Janet wants to lay by the pool...I go for a walk...

As I get to Alfreds, I decide to walk to Trreehouse, I really just wanted to check out Crystal Water in the daylight...It was avery nice place in the daylight as well, hehehe...

a few pics
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beach dog
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sunnyside...check out the hat
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booby cay, at shot of yellowbird, and the red stripe...
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It was raining off and on during my walk...i stop for a drink, and when it lets up, I walk some more...as I sit at yellowbird, it starts raining hard and steady..I have a couple of 2 for 1's and then just go for it....I get back the shields, dry off a bbit, and go to the room...bbbrrrr, it is cold in there....we have a very good a/c and I was cold...lol....well the rain has set in....

U take some great pics Man...., thanks for sharing.

Keep it coming Groove!! We visited Travelers a couple of years ago during our November stay and thought it was a beautiful place,only thing missing was people.One person in the pool and 5 or 6 out back,other than that it was deserted.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by booger

U take some great pics Man...., thanks for sharing.

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thanks boog.....you da man, in my book, my friend....

The rain came down pretty hard for 3-4 hours...1st time in 2 weeks we had any rain to speak of....after seeing no end in site, and getting bored, we decided to call Lenbert to see if he is doing a pub crawl in this rain...of course, mon, we are hitting the places with big shelters and staying longer...so we call our driver, and he takes us to find the bus...

we drive up one love drive, looking for the party bus....pass xtabi, no bus....coming on Negril Escape, there it is, says my driver, but looks like he is leaving...ok, just follow him to the next stop, I tell the driver...He asked me if I wanted on now, and I said yes, and he just pulls in front of the bus and blocks it in....we get out of the taxi, and load up on the bus....Lenbert is surprised, and all the guests were really curious who we are....I tell them we love this bus....this bus is full of all inclusive guests....and Lenbert put on some oldies but goodies music...I ask him whats up,and he said he has tried all types of music, and this is the only thing they responded to...

we head to seastar...it is still raining....seastar has a big covered area, so it is good for the rain...

Janet and a child at the seastar
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new waterfall at seastar

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me and Beachgirl

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me, the bag, and the bus

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me and Lenbert

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these people on this crawl were funny to me....this was the first time most had been off the resorts...I got stopped by a table of folks and they asked me a few questions, like, "where did u come from? you just took a taxi? were u scared? where do u stay?....not all inclusive...where do u eat...u don't get sick...do u drink the water?.....there were so many questions, they were so brain washed.....

flip and jackie just walked into the seastar from catcha....i think they got surrounded by some of the other folks and asked the same questions...u walked down that lane? it is off the path, were u not scared....lol

we load the bus and head to the the next stop....

next stop is sir d's
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we were outside of sir d's and this little boy came up to us...I remember you from yesterday, from the cab...It is the little boy that was in the cab...and no, his uncle did not take his stuff...

Janet ande the boy
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me at sir d's
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Attachment 28490Attachment 28491Attachment 28492Attachment 28493Attachment 28494Attachment 28495I love the sunset a sir d's....i also like to do sunsets through the trees...here are sunset pics and the water view all at sir d's
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after we finished at sir d's, the pub crawl is over...flip and Jackie order pizza from seastar and it looks good, so on the way back to our hotel, we decide we want pizza tonight...we decide it is jamaica tamboo, cuz we had it before and liked it, or chances, cuz we heard good thing about it....after a bit of discussion, we decide on chances...Lenbert drops us off at chances and we ate the pizza...it was very good


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after our pizza, we go to alfreds ocean palace and dance the night away with live reggae music...gary cooper, and then swallow entertain us until late into the night...
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Let me guess Groove, in the Alfred's pic you start flailing your arms around and yelling "danger will robinson danger" like the robot on lost in space?

Just kiddin my friend, live the pic and this report rocks, more, more, more.

Jamb

Blue looks good on janet!!

I had a few people ask me why I never stay AI...dont need to, because I like to explore!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kaycee

Blue looks good on janet!!

I had a few people ask me why I never stay AI...dont need to, because I like to explore!

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Janet says Thanks, Kaycee, and says to ask when ur next adventure is? maybe we will meet there one day...

we stayed AI at legends because of the deal last trip, but u feel u have to stay close to eat and drink to get the $$$ worth, we love to explore...we come and go as we want to, eat reasonable priced food, we may set up at a different location every day, I just take care of security along the way....Janet loves to sit at the bar and socialize, and she is SO sweet, everyone loves her...I like to walk and enteract, take pics, do whatever happens to cross my path that day....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jambarney

Let me guess Groove, in the Alfred's pic you start flailing your arms around and yelling "danger will robinson danger" like the robot on lost in space?

Just kiddin my friend, live the pic and this report rocks, more, more, more.

Jamb

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Jamb.....That's funny....I was hammered at this point and was in the zone...Janet DOESN'T dance, she just want do it, so I dance around the table all night...hehehe...

if u know the song "tempted to touch" this was the point where it goes from mello to a little harder...

the trip report continued...

Saturday 5/4/13....This is our last day on the beach...we move to Catcha to rejoin our friends Larry Rick Carolyn and Rina tomorrow...the sea is a little rough today...

we eat breakfast at shields...

coco, shields beach dog, and the view from our breakfast table
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Janet had met a lady from Canada named Grace. She was staying at Bar B Barn, and today was her last day...We decide to pack a beach bag and cooler and hang at BarbBarn today....we also briefly meet a wonderful couple that live a coupe hours from us here in Georgia...Bettye and John...more with them later....

BarBBarn has a nice bar area, and I found Mike, the security guard, arranged to look after our things and Janet if I went on my walk...A small tip with the right person usually gets me what I want....
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My friend Mike, BarBBarn securityAttachment 28549

Pinkys gift shop at Bar B Barn...

Earlier I had taken over one of Janets bag....she found one in Pinkys shop...well, I do the bargain game, and although it is a easier to bargain on the beach, the prices start higher and I have found the best way to get a deal is to look at multiple products...so I end up with some swim trunks, 2 bags, a towel, a hat, I think there was another item or 2, I got a great deal, I think, but like always, got more stuff than I needed...lol...so who got the best deal, me or Pinky? I guess we both won... Attachment 28550Attachment 28551

Once Janet is set up, I get bored as usual, so I walk to my usual spot, the yellowbird....a few pics along the way...a volleyball game on the beach and these guys are serious
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view of the sea and me by the lunch menu...
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cotton candy vendor on the beach...if u sit in your chair long enuff, u can get a good variety of stuff to by...best window shopping ever...
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views down the beach,
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The sea are gettting rough.....
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sea grapes
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Angelas Italian Restaurant upstairs
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a party boat goes by
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Janet makes another child happy
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and our friend Grace....
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and now the dogs...as you can tell by now, we love the dogs...since I've move to this end of the beach, I have a dog that goes on all of my beach walks, I am told his name is hotdog....he follows me to yellowbird, I tell him to get back as I go to the bar, and he goes and finds him somewhere to stay, and as soon as I start to go back, out of nowhere, he joins me...when i tell him back, he stops following me....

anyway we bring food for the cats and dogs as well as the kids stuff...

this first dog is new to me...
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this is stella...I have pics of stella in front of BarBBarn in my trip report of our 1st trip to Jamaica in 2009..
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and the yellow dog is hot dog
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and a new dog
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and the horses on the beach
not sure if that is good or not
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Time for seastar saturday night party...no explanation necessary at this point, the 2nd time here this trip...

as we are waiting to get picked up, there is a big party beginning to get started across the street from NBCC behind the little shops right there...the music was already playing very loud and the people were gathering and partying...I get into is a little as we wait to be picked up...Jennies and the others in the front desk at shields come out to watch me as usually this late in the day I am feeling pretty good and doesnt take much for me to get silly....so I am dancing and waving my hands in the air "if u love jamaica put ur hands up"...hehehe
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the seastar band
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Rasta Stan, one of our own boardies, joins the band for a few tunes...great voice and entertainer...
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the fireman
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this was a great time as always, but a look around at the crowd also made it a little bitter sweet...we are here partying with a few friends, but a lot of our friends either left today or were leaving soon, which made us realize we were leaving soon, too....tonights party included Larry and RIna, 2Nutz4travel, Rob, (even lisa skipped the party)
and Tawnee...im sure i missed someone, but that was about it for the boardie bash crowd...the may roll call crowd had taken over...lol....tonight was flip last night so we shared a few laughs and said our goodbyes...he is staying at catcha in the same room that me and janet are moving into tomorrow....he told me he might leave me a gift under the bed if it didnt fit in the bags, so to be sure to check if we got there before the maids did...

Back at shields, the big party is really cranking....people and cars are lined from shields all the way as far as i could see....the DJ that i mentioned in my last trip report that played the loud booming music at jamaica tamboo, well this was him.,, he does a lot of screaming, yelling, and the music is really loud, but it is good music tonight so I hang out in the shields parking lot, observing, with the security guard, python, "everybody strike yur lighters".....lol

You didn't even let our lounge chairs cool off till you moved in! We left Grace the day before, been with her a few different trips, she sure can talk! See you were at Coconuts, recognize the paint, we have to hook up next year, you know all our friends too, BBB's our home base, love the drinks at Yellow Bird, you have Ann in your pictures too, fine Jamaican lady and business woman.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lulu and Al

You didn't even let our lounge chairs cool off till you moved in! We left Grace the day before, been with her a few different trips, she sure can talk! See you were at Coconuts, recognize the paint, we have to hook up next year, you know all our friends too, BBB's our home base, love the drinks at Yellow Bird, you have Ann in your pictures too, fine Jamaican lady and business woman.

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Grace was a talker...we have her email and plan to hang with her and yall in april...yeah we like sheldon at coconuts, and we love Ann....

Today was moving day, our last day on the beach for our flight...we are moving to Catcha Falling Star for two days of relaxing before heading home...

The seas are rough again today...Ben told me yesterday that they had closed the water entrance at catcha, ltu and others due to the high seas..we were having so much fun on the beach, and can't get into the sea up at catcha..., that I tried to cancel my reservations at catcha and stay on the beach...Request denied, of course....so we make plans forthe last few hours on the beach...we decide to go to BarBBarn, we had a great time yesterday, and would say good bye to grace....
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this is bettye, her husband John, and herself live a couple hours from us in Georgia...much more on her later


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signs on beach
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horse on the beach

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moms place

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sea weed from the rough seas
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the seas were rough today, my friend...

we got hot, and got in to cool off a bit...normally u can walk out forever, but today we have a few waves..I enjoyed playing in the waves for a little, but there is nothing relaxing about the swim...it is a constant bombardment of waves...now this is what we get on the atlantic ocean, but normally here in negril...Janet gets knocked down and goes under, much to her displeasure..she hates getting her head wet, never swims underwater, etc...this ends her swimming until the seas calm down..

a few pics before we head back to shields to pack..
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