For a day that started off clear enough to see the lights on Saba, it went through several rain showers, clouds and finally ended pretty nice.

Our day was spent here with the exception of my wife getting her nails done and a little shopping in the area. She said the place that did her nails did a great job at a reasonable price.

Leftovers for lunch, a lot of relaxing here between rain showers and watching the Golden Eagle tour from one of the 4 ships drop passengers in front of Azure Hotel. One of the heavy downpours hit shortly after they anchored, so I am sure there were some disappointed people. There was another smaller boat anchored in the area also. I am guessing with 4 ships in port, Mullet Bay was packed with other boats and that is why two came here and then later in the day the Boomerang made a swim stop here. I got in the water after the boats left, and pretty much had the beach to myself. There are still a lot of rock ledges exposed here in front of Horny Toad but I found a good point to enter the water and enjoy it.

It was an early dinner at The Greenhouse. They were doing a brisk business but in talking to Kyle, the assistant manager I met in March, he indicted business had been off. They were closed a few days earlier in the week for some restroom remodeling and only the women's restroom was functional but it looked to be updated and then men's was to be done next. The lower parking lot was full but the upper parking lot they control was totally empty. In talking to people staying here, a lot are unaware of their second parking option.

We walked down to Lee's as we may be having dinner there tonight and to check it out. One truck in the small lot next to the restaurant and the restaurant itself was about 3/4 full I did not see Lee there but it was good to see them doing a good business. I did notice "swai" fish on the menu and this is the second restaurant where I have noticed it. Swai is basically a farm raised fresh water catfish type of fish that seems to becoming popular here.

A quick stop at The Hideaway restaurant at La Vista to get some information from the bartender and a surprise as the restaurant had probably 14+ tables occupied. It was good to seem them doing the business versus what we saw on the two previous Fridays.

One observation from our time here is the number of working, cargo and container ships. There has been pretty constant traffic of them with two off Simpson Bay right now with a cruise ship coming in the background. pat mentioned in her report about the one ship that has been here in the bay for a week now. I guess this is nothing new and perhaps I just never noticed it before but it has been very noticeable this trip.

We will probably do breakfast out today and then hang here at Horny Toad. Tomorrow is departure day and back to the dogs, cat and much different weather.



J.D.