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

OK, let's get right to it. Here is the continuation from the TOA report, where we went from warm to medium, and now we're going to HOT HOT HOT.

The first Trail of Ashes tour starts here:

http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...urns-to-Negril

And thus, we're up to date.

It was Monday morning, my first morning in Negril. Boardie sighting. Tawnee, the beautiful tattoed lady from Canada, is getting some early rays by the pool. We spent a lot of time together the past two or three reaches, and it was nice to see her again. I sliced a bagel, toasted it up, positioned my orange juice in front of me, and together we caught up on all things good.

I took a ride down the hill. One of the first ones I bumped into was an elderly man named David, a local I've known for years. I think most of the negril.com readers know my feelings about folks begging for money -- I hate it -- but David is elderly and of ill health. Every reach, he gets a little thinner and frail, a little more tired, a little more rundown. Poor soul, he also apparently is suffering from mental-health issues, and I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS give him a couple of dollars. He recognized my face, didn't remember my name, but he stuck his hand out as I turned around on the scooter to greet him, and I kicked him down somethin' ....

I made my way to Seasplash, my official beach home. It was sunny and beautiful, and I thought about my father, who had died a month earlier from a rare disease that took away his breathing capacity (he never smoked or drink a thing in his whole life and had treated everyone he had ever known with warmth and kindness).

My, how my father would have loved Negril. He loved the ocean, particularly deep-sea fishing, and like you-know-who he also loved hotels and being pampered.

I had my spear gun, and the first fish I caught would be in my father's honor.

Alicia was bartending early at Sea Splash, having remembered the video we did together last time of her blending the fruit drink, step by step. Rasta Dave appeared, happy and joyful as ever though he no longer works at the hotel in an official capacity -- instead he voluntarily helps the tourists, having fallen in love with Seasplash's little spot on the beach, and it appears Rasta Dave has no desire to leave no matter the circumstances. He's a good man.

Roger pulled up in Vincent's snorkel boat -- the Famous one has the day off today, Roger said -- so I gulped down my smoothie and hopped on board. The sun was shining, the breeze was providing some cool comfort, and the ocean was like glass. Ya mon, it's going to be a good first day in Negril

Here are some pics (top to bottom):

1, Mobay VIP service, Welcome to Jamaica, ya mon

2, Nice to see my fav Negril dog, Boy, when he and Seastar worker Garrett visited my room

3, Sea Splash Rasta Dave, one of the first familiar faces this reach ....

I was going to ask if you were going to do some spear fishing this reach. That would be a great skill to learn and enjoy! What do you do with your catch? I assume knowing you that you make sure everyone around you enjoys the catch of the day! I figure you have a favorite chef that does it up right....enjoy this reach to the max (like always)

This is going to be a good trip here!!~Enjoy gerryg!!

Hey Gerry enjoy the reach, not like there was ever a question! Your saying in the new rooms at Seastar right? At least I think that's what you posted a while back. I am in room 17 in Early January and would love a sneak peak of the room and the view if you can :). Looking forward to your updates, it will help pass my 18 day countdown ;).

Have a great holiday!
Cheers
W99

nice meeting Gerry123 this week and him loves his Jamaican food............yah mon

Cool Runnings, Marko

Walleye D, you're welcome in my Room 19 twenty-four hours a day, my friend. You can even sleep on the floor.

Quite an adventurous spear-fishing day today, but I'm in real-time now -- it's lunch time Wednesday at the Seastar Inn and I've managed to convince Barbara to serve me spaghetti as a side order with my lobster -- and soon we'll get to that spear-fish part when I catch up.

I will say this: I am having an incredible time, having totally surrendered myself to the sun, and I have not broken a single law all day.

Ya mon. Marko, see you at Bentley's tonight ....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gerryg123

and I have not broken a single law all day.
...

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Gerry , it is still early!

Enjoy,

VVHT

Gerry,

See you at Seastar tomorrow afternoon!

Right on!

MC you should just move to Negril...

See you in a few days my friend.

From Gerryg's trip reports, we tried bentleys when we were in negril over thanksgiving... It was our thanksgiving dinner in fact. The man had a great laugh, and spoke highly of Gerry... I think you are givi him a following.

We also met Barbara at seastar (although we stay at tensing pen) this last trip. She saved a table at the buffet for us, and even shooed some folks off that had the audacity to take our spot.

It amazes me how much Gerry's crazy reports (donkey pony is a personal favorite) and others brought our lat trip to life In spite of 13 previous trips to the island.

Gerry, I want to make sure to give you a personal thanks for this early in what will most likely become a long thread, and hope to meet you there one day. A thanks also goes to everyone else, but this is the gerryg123 thread... Ya mon. Nice donkeypony.

What's this final chapter bull,you know something about Friday the rest of us don't?:)

Keep it coming! I'm glad to see the adventure continue.

I shared a few Redstripes with Rasta Dave at Bourbon Beach a few weeks back, great guy!
Hope to run into you on the 31st if your still there Gerry.

The Mighty Californian's return? Really, Ger?

I love it!

The Jamaica ocean was just as beautiful as I had remembered. The sun rays were glistening off the glassy sea, and a few other snorkelers had joined in as we laughed and smiled our way to the reef.

I jumped in and was immediately surrounding by beautiful fish of all colors, plus eels and rays and squid and Jack fish and even a sea turtle. Seems I lost my shooting touch and did not hit much, but I had just as much fun snorkeling and splashing around and trying to keep up with Vincent and the rest of the group.

I love being underwater looking at the sea life and the beautiful corral. The water was warm and calm, and everyone had a great time.

All of us wanted the excursion to continue at Booby Cay, a small island about a mile off shore, and there we landed the boat and all picked out lobsters from my long-time friend Homie to cook. After the requisite arguing and bargaining about the size of the lobster and prices – just before we hit the shore, I volunteered my services to bargain for EVERYONE so we would get a group deal – and a few moments later for $20 each, there were sat, eating lobster and garlic bread, drinking stripes and enjoying watching the sting rays who would swim close to the shore, put on a little show, then disappear for a bit before an encore or two.

I didn’t want to leave, but I was eager to see Bentley, a local restauranteur with whom I get along really well. It’s a perfect relationship – he is fun and easygoing and serves large portions of the best food in Negril, and me, well I’m gerryg123.

Bentley has been calling me every few days in the USA for nearly six months – sometimes up to twice a day – because he’s been so eager for me to return. When I motored up the hill, made a left about halfway up on a small street called Ella Lane and parked in front of his crab shack, Bentley hugged me so tight it was like I was returning from the army.

God I love Negril.

My morning ritual, hot cup of coffee, read Gerry's latest adventure...

Good stuff,

Keep it coming :)

VVHT

Quote:

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Originally Posted by VVHT

My morning ritual, hot cup of coffee, read Gerry's latest adventure...

Good stuff,

Keep it coming :)

VVHT

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Ditto!

I'm stoked to see this....

but really Gerry? The "final" chapter???

I doubt that. ;)

Loving the relationship you have with Bentley...very genuine:)

looking forward to finally meeting brasi.....yah mon

it's Happy Hour here at da Canoe.......Kirby's 7 Rum Punch rocks.......
Gerry123 just drove by on his scooter........maybe him will join us.......yah mon

Cool Runnings, Marko

Yo Hippolyte,

Start posting some tales from the wicked west end!

Please give my best to Patty and Kirby.

Enjoy,

VVHT

lol......tales eh.......lol........special cake tales..........lol

will say hi to kirby and pattie for you mon.....

Cool Runnings, Marko

I feel a good canoe web cast soon!!!!!!!

I rolled my way up the hill to Seastar Inn, took a little rest, then headed to Out of Town pastry, a little store on top of the hill that is a combo bakery/general store (great coco bread and patties and great toothbrushes with tough brissles.)

There was an 82 year old man there, a German tourist who’s been living in Negril for 20 years, and the nice man behind the counter had found the old fella’s wallet and was returning it to him – so there is proof that not everyone is a hustler in this town.

I have met the old German before, and the whole scene warmed my heart.

I stopped by Banton’s, a little bar up past Moondance Cliffs towards Westender Inn. Banton was not there, and I knew our friend from across the street, Keith from Philly, was gone, too, because a rasta named Delmar who knows both of us had told me Keith left a little while ago and was back in the USA.

I bought my usually cherry juice – good for the joints, I hear – then found my way to Catcha Falling Star for sunset. Then, just as the sun was on the horizon, I hit Bentley’s for a little snack (two pound lobster with five things on plate), then I ran into Rob and Bnewb of all folks back at Seastar Inn, and all of us spent a couple of hours enjoying rum punch and beers. It was fun.

After a drink or two, the blood started flowin’ and the g-rated entertainment was not gonna do it for me anymore. I called a party girl whom I’ve known from past trips and said, “Ya mon, it’s gerryg123.” Forty-five minutes later, she was at the front door.

LMAO, even though I have not met you live in person, I can picture the scene like I was there!

hahaha!

Alright! Just like Grand Funk Railroad... "Some Kinda Wonderful"!

Wheeeee!

:cool:
Happy Travels...

Skb!

Love reading your reports gerry. Nobody does Negril quite like you! I agree with the others about the "Final Chapter" title. Something along the lines of Episode I, II, III, IV etc.. ALA Star Wars would be more appropriate.
Live, Enjoy, Share

Back to real time, I'm tore up from Thursday night at the Jungle and all the ensuing pursuits, but here are some photos (top to bottom):

1, Bentley in a good mood

2, Nice day on the ocean

3, Let the good times roll

4, nice smile

5, the first in a long series of smoothies

answer your cellie Gerry........lol........busy........ busy........busy.........lol

Cool Runnings, Marko

NICE..........................

Thank you,

VVHT

:cool:

Hey GG123 was the wata pic from a floatie or boat? Just a great shot. Makes me feel warm as I glance at the snow covered yard out my office window.

Ahhhhh... gerryg123, The great States of Colorado and Washington give much respect to a brotha, hehehe!!!


Skb!

I went out again with Famous Vincent on Tuesday morning, and the ocean was spectacular.

I had a little work to do, and then among the highlights of the day was a return visit to DeBars, a great chicken place on the Cliffs across from Sunset on the Cliffs (still no guard or gate in front of the hotel -- a BIG security risk).

At the corner bar later that evening, I made friends with a quartet of tourists who were kind of the white, tie-dye, Grateful Dead-followin' type of folks, one of whom was tall with a little beard and long hair, about 30, and he looked like Jesus. All the locals were trippin' on this guy, calling him Jesus over and over again. He liked it!

At one point, a local was pushing too far on the begging, and another local, a big guy, came to the rescue and shoe'd him away. I had rarely seen such a thing in Negril. I was half-expecting the big guy working unofficial security to then ask for a tip himself, but he did not. He simply performed a good deed.

It was another good day in Negril. I am having an amazingly good time. I have left my troubles in the USA, and I've been wearing a big smile since my arrival on the island. Yeah mon.

PS: I have some great videos!!!

Here are some pics (top to bottom):

1, Next stop, Booby Cay island

2, Marko chillin at Bentleys

3, Nice plate of food at Bentleys

Attachment 20905

Attachment 20906

Attachment 20907

Here are some pics (top to bottom):

The elusive Marko!

The plate and tablecloth in the food pic have a great 60s vibe.

That food looks good!