35 Sunsets Slices of Salt Life from the Capital of Cool

Late Wednesday afternoon I’ll be digging my toes into the warm sands of my favorite beach. I’ll probably hang out at White Sands for a while, then walk down to Sunnyside, say ‘Hi’ to Maureen and have a Stripe or two. Later, I’ll turn westward and watch the first of the 35 sunsets that I’ll be seeing this reach.

Yesterday, Bea and I arrived home from Panama City Beach, Florida, where we spent a month. It was nice. I love the Gulf Coast. The people there are genuine and very friendly. But now I am more than ready for Negril. This will be my second trip to Negril in three months; I spent 12 days there in early December. That was a solo trip; Bea was working and I just had to escape the winter-hell that is Ottawa. As I look out the window now, it’s snowing heavily – like it’s saying, “Welcome back, sucker.” So I’m rip-roarin’ ready to get the flock outa here.

We’ll be in Negril for 35 days. Like last year, there’s gonna be a constant stream of peeps coming and going during my stay – so I expect to be busy, but busy in a good way.

Lately my writing muse – her name is Calliope – has been begging for some attention; some nurturing, some exercise. It’s like having a big old dog that needs a daily walk, or an itch that needs scratching. So – thought I – why not scratch Calliope in the form of a good ole Negril.com trip report?

Then I thought – well, that could be a problem. You see, I don’t go to Negril to party, or to stay up late or to drink a lot, or to smoke my face off. Nothing wrong with that, it’s just not my style. I’m not saying that I don’t occasionally indulge in the aforementioned pass-times, I just don’t make any of them the object of my day. Most of my days in Negril are quiet, laid-back, contemplative and somewhat repetitive, so my trip report might be a bit boring for y’all. That’s why I usually don’t do trip reports; my life is predictable, repetitive and by most people’s standards - dull. But then I thought, what the hell, I’m gonna go for it, and if people find it boring, well . . .

So, for what it’s worth and whatever it may become, I humbly submit this opening piece of my 2013 Negril Trip Report.
Tomorrow I’ll go over the cast of characters that will be dropping in over the next six weeks. They are, after all, the meat in the bun of my moveable feast. But right now I’ve got to do some packing.

Ooooh....can't wait! And somehow I don't think anyone will find it boring!

Enjoy your trip!

Let the trip begin!

Can't wait!!!!! Thank you!

Looking forward to your posts. I'm sure we'll see you strolling down the beach..........Walk Good!

Alright, I have taken my seat and fastened my seat belt. Please continue before I have to get up and pee...

^^^ What pooper said. LOL

Bring it on, show us whatcha got! :cool::cool::cool:

I love PCB!!

Looking forward to your report very much!

Great news. Looking forward to your perspective of a laid back report. Just to add a wee bit of excitement to your trip why don't you come to Tayons on Feb 15 and cheer us Canadians on in the annual Canada vs Jamaica pool tournament. respect Boogzy

Nice met some of the cast last year. Hope to meet some more this year. Great people.

Thanks K3! This is like a special little treat just for loyal boardies.

Can't wait. Feels like winter will never end here in NY. The reports and pictures always help.

Excellent! I'm really looking forward to this! Have a great reach.

I don't think there ever is a "dull" moment in Negril, just relaxing & laid back, which is exactly what I enjoy too. Can't wait to read the rest of your story.

Ready for more, please.

Great start.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boogzy

Great news. Looking forward to your perspective of a laid back report. Just to add a wee bit of excitement to your trip why don't you come to Tayons on Feb 15 and cheer us Canadians on in the annual Canada vs Jamaica pool tournament. respect Boogzy

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That sounds like fun - I'll be there!


Unlike last year's report, with Fabs, this will definately be a tame report that Rob/Lisa won't have to redact. So I hope I haven't raised any expectations.

The Crew:
Like I said there is going to be a really big crew dropping in and out this reach. Somewhere around twenty-three, all told. Some of them old friends and acquaintances, some friends of friends, and some newbies.

But this year I’m really, really, super excited because my baby girl, Alex, will be coming!! Whoo Hoo! Well, she’s not really a baby anymore, she’s 28, but yah know, she’ll always be my baby girl. This will be Alex’s second trip to Negril. She came down in ’98 when Bea and I got married at Point Village. If you’ve read my travelogue, ‘Walk Good’, you might recognize Alex as ‘Hannah’. My wife Bea, incidentally, was ‘Amy’ in ‘Walk Good.’ Names were changed to protect the innocent. Alex and her beau Josh, arrive for eight days on Feb 16th.

My good buddy Shrek (his beach name) will be down for 16 days starting on Feb 4th. He’s bringing his mother Flo, who lives in Newfoundland, and his cute little daughter Marley, who is 7, along with him for the first week. Then Shrek’s Significant Other, Katt, will be down for the last ten days. Shrek and I are stoked to going to the Bob Marley bashment at MXIII on the night he arrives. By the way, Shrek’s daughter Marley was named after Bob – but her beach name is ‘Ragga’ – which is short for Raggamuffin.

Okay – I won’t go on too much about The Crew, instead I’ll introduce them and provide photos as they arrive on scene. They are really quite the eclectic group – you’ll see. Just wait ‘till you meet JT.

I’m finished packing. I had to triage my big suitcase to get it below the 50lbs that Air Canada allows. The last thing that went in was my big, comfortable pillow. It’s heavy, it’s bulky, but Oh so necessary.

My flight leaves Ottawa at 07:00 tomorrow, via Toronto, arriving in MoBay at 13:15. So, if Clive is on-time, I should be on the beach by four o’clock. Yah, mon, very soon come.

I actually went and bought one of those comfy pillows after you previously mentioned it. Takes a day or two to adapt, but once you do you will be grateful you made the switch.

Yeah!! I am soooo looking forward to this! :D

See ya on the Beach K3!!!

I got yout book "walk good" for Christmas
We are on our flight now!!
We will be staying on the beach. I would like you to autograph my book if we pass by!

Looking forward to hearing all your fun stories.

i might move to mexico..great ad at bottom of page way cheaper than negril....

Nice ! Looking forward to your version since i have been going to Negril since '78 a lot of my wild days & nights are way back in the rear view mirror too ! I live vicariously thru our Countryman PGW - He is the King of Bop until you drop! Plus any of the wild days I had I need to get other people to confirm for me !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Creasemon

Nice ! Looking forward to your version since i have been going to Negril since '78 a lot of my wild days & nights are way back in the rear view mirror too ! I live vicariously thru our Countryman PGW - He is the King of Bop until you drop! Plus any of the wild days I had I need to get other people to confirm for me !

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I hear you Creasemon. But don't get me wrong, I still have a load of fun in Negril, my days just start earlier and end earlier. Thing is, I remember most of them pretty well, with only the occasional blank spot.


06:55am – Siting in seat 12F - Ottawa International Airport:

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We, ah, we have a little technical problem here, ah, our computer is giving us an error, ah, so we’re going to have maintenance take a look at it and, ah, we’ll get back to you on our status soon.”

Yeah. That was the start of it – you know how it goes. Long story short, I’m back at home now and re-booked for tomorrow morning.

So it’s now going to be 34 Sunsets, but that’s OK, I prefer even numbers.

Yes, I'm a bit pissed, having spent 2 hours on an airplane and not moved an inch. But, these things do happen and getting all cranky about it is pointless and a waste of energy. But I am going to miss walking the beach and swimming in the ocean tomorrow morning.

Laytah!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kahuna3

Long story short, I’m back at home now and re-booked for tomorrow morning.

So it’s now going to be 34 Sunsets, but that’s OK, I prefer even numbers.

Yes, I'm a bit pissed, having spent 2 hours on an airplane and not moved an inch. But, these things do happen and getting all cranky about it is pointless and a waste of energy. But I am going to miss walking the beach and swimming in the ocean tomorrow morning.

Laytah!!

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Wow, that would really suck! Bam....you just lost a day of your holiday! Not so bad when you're going for 35 days but how bad does that suck for the people who are going for just a week! I hope the airline compensated you for this!

Oh noooooo :confused:
Good thing you like even numbers. :p

Well that just sucks! At least it's warm here tonight! Safe trip tomorrow :)

Kahuna,

If it is any consolation.... I prefer they find the problems on the tarmac and not at 30,000 FT!!

Looking forward to the on-site reports!

VVHT

Hopefully you are on your way now

Made it!
Only took 36 hours, but I’m here.

Met Mark and Cheryl (the 1st two of my peeps) at the departure gate in Toronto. I used to work with Mark in Vancouver when I was still in the aviation business. He and Cheryl are ‘Zoo People’. When I first met them and found out that they went to Hedo exclusively, I talked him into staying on the beach for a bit. Their first try, several years ago, they stayed three days at CoCo. They liked it. They’ve gradually upped their ‘non-Zoo’ stays and are freelancing for 11 days this year. They are up at Moonlight and I’m going to visit them tomorrow. BTW – Bea won’t be here until Saturday, so I’m batching it for a few days.

After a three beer drive with Clives from MoBay, we arrived in Negril at 4:00. I did a quick unpacking and hit the beach. I went up to Sunnyside and hugged Maureen, she said I looked ‘fresh’ – I guess that means I don’t look beachy. Next door, Myrna has built a new porch in front of her store, Nice, I stood there and drank my 4th beer as I watched the sunset, it was nice, One down, 33 to go. I walked up the beach to Merrills, got propositioned once along the way. Hey, Mon – I still got it! Ha!

Jumped a taxi into town and took a wad of Jam $$ from the Scotia bank machine. Walked up to Canoe, got a beer- there was a BIG crowd there and a steel pan band playing. Said Hi to Rob and Lisa. Hung for a bit, then walked back to the Corner bar and popped in for beer number 6. It was early so it was quiet.

Came back to White Sands and checked the beach from the sun deck. There was a huge bonfire at Sun Beach, it was a beautiful night.

I got up at 4:17 this morning, so I was too bushed to go up there and check it out.
Tomorrow I’m going to give the parrot toy that I brought down to Dude, Francis’s new baby Macaw.

Pictures and details tomorrow – or the next day.

:cool: Glad you made it!

Pon da rock.............let your journey begin. I'm looking forward to your updates. Soon come can't come soon enough.

Going to miss hangin with JT on the Seasplash deck and the other feb regulars this year, march seems so for away :(

Glad you made it safe and looking forward to your story. Don't panic when you hear me screaming as I get my nerve up to Parasail this year. Hope to run into you for a signature on your other book. Last year I caught you on the bus crawl.

I hope you enjoyed your morning swim!

My alarm went off this morning just as the first fingers of sunlight began to sneak their way stealthily around the edges of the window curtain. No, I don’t set an alarm. Every morning the night security guard, after his graveyard shift, starts his motor cycle not too far from my room, and revs it up. That’s when I wake up.

So, I popped out of bed and went for a walk north along the beach, as is my habit at least every second morning. I’m happy to report that there is lots of sand on the beach, even more than when I was here in December, and the beach up in front of Beaches lives up to its name, and then some. But the moon is in its waxing Gibbous phase, so one would expect the water to be down a little. So all the Apocalyptoes can chill out for a while, until the next storm comes and moves the sand around. Then the cries of ‘the sky is falling’ will once again be heard on this board.

The water was a bit rough for my morning swim, its windy today, but it was so nice to get into the water.

Today I stocked the larder. Went into town and visited my favorite market stand, just past the Devon Ice cream stand a likkle way up a road that leads up to RedGround. As I approached, I heard a lone male singing in a clear, modulated voice – a hymn praising the Lord. I kept walking, drawing closer;

“There’s not one broken vessel that God, can’t mend”

I spotted the man; he was dreadlocked, sitting over a small, smoking cook fire over which sat a steaming pot. He was slicing vegetables into the pot as he sang. He sang in a slow rhythm as he worked. I stopped at the beginning of the row of fruit and vegetable stands. It was quiet and tranquil. The sun dappled the ground around, smoke curled up from the cook fire. I looked around. A lady nearby was peeling ackee into a bucket between her knees, she sang quietly along with the man. Other ladies sat, some in quiet contemplation, some hummed. It was a far cry from the usual banter that one normally hears in the market. I felt as if I’d walked into a church service. The man’s voice washed soothingly over the small market.

I went to a stand and quietly did my shopping. As I paid the vendor for the coconuts I’d selected, she said, “God bless you.”

I walked out onto the road feeling blessed, the man’s voice followed me; the rhythm was calming, almost hypnotic. As I approached the Sav road I saw a man sitting, hunched over on a broken concrete wall. He looked downtrodden, homeless, derelict; not uncommon in Negril. At the sight of him my elevated mood collapsed. As I neared the traffic circle and entered the hustle and bustle of centre Negril, I was firmly back in reality.

This afternoon I'm off to Moonlight Villas to visit with Mark And Cheryl.
LayTah!

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Very, very nice...:)

New Book????????