It was so nice being rocked to sleep last night, but boy did 6:30am come quickly. We grabbed a quick breakfast and were out the door by about 8:10 to catch our shuttle to Big Beard’s across the island. Initially we had tried to schedule a half day excursion but somehow (we still don’t know how) it turned into a full day excursion. Our only hesitation in booking the full day to begin with was getting back in time for the ship. In the end it worked out and we had plenty of people coming back late with us.
Our first stop was Turtle Beach where the newbie snorkelers were given a quick lesson and a place to practice. We didn’t even pull our gear out and just floated instead. It was a nice beach and the water was perfect.
About an hour later we headed to the reef around the other side of the island. Conditions were totally different with wind, swells and strong current. We weren’t in the water but a few minutes when Bob decided he’d had enough (the life vests we had to wear were uncomfortable as hell) and it just wasn’t worth the work so we got back on the boat. Everyone else was back on the boat in thirty minutes or less, looking pretty whipped, but said they saw lots of stuff. Our next and last stop was a private beach (Secret Beach someone said) for a cookout. They had a grill and picnic area set up back behind the tree line that was pretty cool. Before long hot dogs, burgers and mahi mahi was filling plates and the rum punch continued to flow (we didn’t have any – been there, done that). We didn’t swim much either because of all the seaweed.
We visited with a lady whose sister lives in the “Norfolk/Va. Beach area” LOL – and a lady who currently lives in Smithfield but selling her house to move to West Virginia. Small, small world. The hermit crabs kept us entertained along with the mongoose on the island. I don’t think I’ve actually ever seen a mongoose before – some were calling them Caribbean squirrels. That was pretty accurate. Cute little critters.
On the way back to the dock Mike (our captain) put the sails up and the engines went silent. It was a wonderful peaceful ride. Except for the fact that Bob and I were both sweating getting back to the ship in time. We thought we were the only ones on the boat from the Summit. We didn’t find out until we were getting off there was also another couple. Then when getting into the shuttle there was a whole bunch from the afternoon sailing going back to the ship. Needless to say we made it and all was well.
Bob and I had already decided we were slumming tonight when we got back. We knew we weren’t going to feel like dressing up for dinner so we just put shorts and t-shirts on and ate at the buffet then headed to the theater for the evening entertainment, Michael Wilson (comedian and impressionist). He was really good. Very talented guy.
After the show we made our way to the Mast Deck to watch the remainder of the Seattle/Rams game on the big screen and then wait for the Cowboys/Eagles game that came on around 9:00. The Seattle game was on and we got the see the end of it but then the screen went blank and played that obnoxious tone you hear when there is nothing on the channel. We waited it out for about ten minutes hoping the channel would click in but that tone got to be too much for both of us so we left. By the time another half hour went by we’re both done and decided to just watch it in our cabin. There weren’t that many people up there to watch it anyway. Football is always more fun to watch in a group but I guess the day just caught up with us. So that’s where we are. Bob’s already out. And it won’t be too long before I’m gone too.
Tomorrow will come soon too. We have another early, long day tomorrow in St. Maarten. It should be a relaxing day once we get there though. So that’s it for today!
It's a Wonderful Life! 