Friday:
I got to Orlando on time only to find that U Save parking had gone out of business without notifying anyone who had a reservation. How nice! Especially as they owe me 9 free days of parking. No problem. There's a lot of off site parking at MCO.
Flight to MBJ was uneventful and I passed the time chatting with a Jamaican nurse heading home for a visit.
Linston picked me up at the airport with his shiny new red plate!
Got to Seastar. Hugs and kisses. Unpack. Have a draw and head off the 3 dives to see Paula and Lloydie. Big crowd from a destination wedding there. (about 25 or so)
Back to SS for a bit of white rum and hanging out with Chris, Rob, Lisa etc.
Saturday:
Up early for breakfast. Hang out until 12:30 when I'm picked up by a Brother (who manages a hotel you all know) to get to the Lodge in Sav . It was a great event and the new head of the Lodge is also the GM at the biggest hotel on the beach and will make a fine leader for his year. Great buffet and cocktails before Lodge and five course diner after. Only thing was that my tux is winter weight and after seven hours it kinda got to be a bit uncomfortable.
Driver got me back to Seastar by 9:00. Had a drink and then literally peeled that tux off and got into proper attire for the rest of the show. Said hi to Rob and Lisa and proceeded to get seriously wrecked until about 1:00 AM or so (I think)
Sunday:
Woke up early with a masterful hang over. Mommy drove in from Kingston with Ricardo so we had a nice family diner at the yard.
Right after diner it started to rain as only it does in the tropics. Straight down and heavy. I'm posting a link to an album on Photo bucket of the day. I'm also post a link to several short video clips I took during the rain. After it had been raining for a bit I laid down on the couch and of course like any country Jamaican I dropped asleep. When I awoke Linston was still curled up in a ball so Mommy carried me back to Seastar.
I was so beat I ordered a plate of Poutine and a beer and carried it to the room. Fell asleep at 9:00PM and slept for nine hours!
Monday:
Linston was going to pick me up and go to the beach with me. When he showed up he looked pretty sick. He had gotten wet in the rain caught a chill which is why he was sleeping so long the day before.
I kicked his butt out and told him to go home and sleep. Then I called Mommy and told her to stay with Ricardo. I HAD ESCAPED THE KIDS!! My kids think I need to be watched over in Jamaica because I'm a dottering old man who might get in trouble if not escorted. It's very flattering and all but GIVE ME BREAK!
Got a ride from a guest at Seastar to the beach and stopped to say hello to Barry at Miss Gloria's yard. I walked the beach up past Sea Splash with the sole intention of finding the exact spot where Sands Club was and where I kept my Hobie Cats.
I was approached by several vendors of various products including an offer by a lovely young girl to be my private tour guide. Had a great time chatting with all of them all the while asking if they knew anyone who had been on the beach since 1975. I was passing a little shop just before Sea Splash and I see this older Bungo sitting in front of the place. I walked past but something caused me to turn around and approach him. I asked if he had been in Negril a long time and he said "since 1965". Well here's my guy! First of all I quizzed hin to see if he was telling the truth. I asked things like "who was the fisherman that kept the canoe in front of Elenor's or what was the name of the guy who had the patty shop on the capture land next door" and he knew every name. I'VE FOUND MY MAN!
We got a couple of beers and walked up to the exact spot where I spent so many days. Very emotional. 'Nuff said
Hailed a route cab and offered an extra 200 to carry me up to Ragabone. During the ride he noticed my ring and wanted to know about what he called the "Lodge Church" so I explained a bit of Masonry to him. He told me that he always heard that only a "big man" could go to "Lodge Church" and that we did Voodoo! Where the heck do I start with that one?
Anyway got a 1/4 lb of jerk pork and one of the ice cold beers that they keep. Route cab back to Seastar in time to have diner with Mommy and Ricardo after which I had the privilege watching the EAGLES implode yet again. It ain't easy being green for 50 years!
Tuesday:
Linston carried me to Mobay. Stopped in Lucea to get a backpack full of patties to carry home for Miss G and I. Flight was delayed two hours so it was almost 10:00 PM by the time I got back to St. Augustine.
All in all it was a very rewarding and productive weekend. As usual Chris, Francine and the staff at Seastar made my home base just great.
Miss G and I are now looking forward to the Christmas vacation. YES I said VACATION! First one in Jamaica for 25 years or so and first one in Negril. When we lived there we went to Ochi or Town for vacation.
Here's the link the picture album and videos. Take care all.
http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/k...view=slideshow
https://vimeo.com/53021342
https://vimeo.com/53021344
https://vimeo.com/53021341
https://vimeo.com/53021345
https://vimeo.com/53021347
