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Just returned to our favorite Island #161110
05/18/2018 08:12 PM
05/18/2018 08:12 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
doctorj Offline OP
Traveler
doctorj  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
We landed today on Jet Blue . The terminal facility is not being used so we deplaned via a ramp and bussed to a tent/building to clear customs and claim our baggage. It all worked fine. We picked up our rental car and went to get some groceries at CareFour (sp) near Cupecoy. We then made the trek to Orient Bay to our rental. The apartment is very clean and efficient and is 60 meters from Orient Beach. Valerie and her husband greeted us. The Unit is called Birdie 2 and can be rented through VRBO. Prior to getting you our destination we recognized Mimi from the Club O Boutique walking. We stopped and had a nice conversation. We then toured the beach. It was after 4 pm so it was deserted. Until you reach the Club O property I would recommend sandals. Perhaps not if you are walking shoreline but if you are up above there is still debris including tile and glass pieces. The devastation to the Island cannot be underestimated. These people need help in restoration. If you have ever been to Orient Village the water surge went up to the second roundabout. We went to the unit that we normally stay in at Club O. It is a concrete building. It is still standing but nothing is left in the interior. Club O has a huge job to restore the entire property to the way we all knew it. We walked to the village from Club O and had a couple of beers and ordered pizza to go from Bo’s Pizza. Very Good and very reasonably priced. I will update more observations tomorrow once we have spent a full day.
My thought is if you can make the trip please do. They will only recover through tourism dollars and they so appreciate every patron who deplanes to visit the Island we all love.
The posted pictures are great but really don’t reflect the enormity of the devastation.
carib cheers from St. Martin
doctorj
Festivities in full swing by Sunday!


It's Five O'Clock Somewhere........
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Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: doctorj] #161114
05/18/2018 09:25 PM
05/18/2018 09:25 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Thanks for the report. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!!


Carol Hill
Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: doctorj] #161186
05/20/2018 07:33 AM
05/20/2018 07:33 AM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
doctorj Offline OP
Traveler
doctorj  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
Thank you,
It was very windy yesterday and a Carnival ship was in port. Several people visited Orient Beach. We had lunch at Perch Lite. We walked around a bit more and Club O has a massive undertaking to have rooms ready for winter.
It was nice to see familiar “May” faces on our favorite beach. Our flight was packed and our friends took a flight from Pensacola yesterday and that was completely booked. Let’s see what today brings.
carib cheers from Orient Bay
doctorj


It's Five O'Clock Somewhere........
Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: doctorj] #161209
05/20/2018 02:06 PM
05/20/2018 02:06 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
Traveler
GaKaye  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
Our experience earlier this month is that the airlines are downsizing the planes so that they are full. I can't say that I blame them, but it does make it more difficult for travelers.

Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: GaKaye] #161228
05/20/2018 06:44 PM
05/20/2018 06:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten Offline
Traveler
BeachKitten  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
Were you on 737's?

The cat carrier we have, we have been told is too large for that type of plane. frown


"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest" wink
Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: doctorj] #161238
05/20/2018 09:12 PM
05/20/2018 09:12 PM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 6
Wareham,MA
B
briandenise Offline
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briandenise  Offline
Traveler
B
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 6
Wareham,MA
Hello all,
Does anyone know if Francine's is in or out of business? Been renting cars from her from when she was a Budget office. If she is indeed out of business she will be missed.
Thanks!

Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: doctorj] #161239
05/20/2018 09:25 PM
05/20/2018 09:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 70
Cape Coral, FL
magpie Offline
Traveler
magpie  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 70
Cape Coral, FL
Jim,

Please have a cold one for me. I wish so much we could be there for a bead line & beach ball competition. Enjoy your time, Hopefully things will be better there soon & we can all talk about them good old days.

Cheers,
Mike & Sue

Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: magpie] #161244
05/20/2018 10:09 PM
05/20/2018 10:09 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
doctorj Offline OP
Traveler
doctorj  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
Mike,
The beadline and all signage were lost in the Hurricane. I brought 25 beach balls with me. We have the rum and are ready to race. The wind needs to calm down a bit. The Naked Lobsters Love Club O replacement sign traveled with us. That is the official notice we on the island. With no place to leave all the gear I had in storage it will take time to build up inventory after Club O returns. They will because they have the support of a dedicated following.
Can’t wait to reconnect with you guys.
carib cheers from Orient Village,
doctorj


It's Five O'Clock Somewhere........
Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: BeachKitten] #161253
05/21/2018 06:36 AM
05/21/2018 06:36 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
Traveler
GaKaye  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
Yes, we were on 737's. Very small planes.

Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: doctorj] #161254
05/21/2018 06:52 AM
05/21/2018 06:52 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 226
PnPinNC Offline
Traveler
PnPinNC  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 226
Amen Jim!!!!! Now all you need is the Lobster suit... :-)

Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: briandenise] #161276
05/21/2018 12:41 PM
05/21/2018 12:41 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,297
CT
pony600 Offline
Traveler
pony600  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,297
CT
briandenise,
I received an email from Tara, Francine's daughter in law, in September, saying that Francine was ok. In my reply, I asked her to let me know if and when the business would reopen, as we have been renting cars from her since 1999 when it was budget. I have not heard anything more. I'll try to reach out to her again.


[Linked Image]



If life hands you a lemon, just squeeze it on a lobster!
Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: doctorj] #161333
05/22/2018 09:12 AM
05/22/2018 09:12 AM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
doctorj Offline OP
Traveler
doctorj  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
Another fabulous day on Orient Beach. We ran into Patou and had a nice conversation with her.
There must have been 100 chairs filled yesterday. 1 cruise ship in with maybe a dozen people trekking to Orient.
Great dinner at Sao last night.
Bright Blue sky’s today and we are ready to see what the day brings.
carib cheers,
doctorj


It's Five O'Clock Somewhere........
Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: doctorj] #161335
05/22/2018 09:23 AM
05/22/2018 09:23 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Most all beaches were packed yesterday. French holiday.

Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: doctorj] #161622
05/25/2018 08:19 AM
05/25/2018 08:19 AM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
doctorj Offline OP
Traveler
doctorj  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
Fortunate enough to run int Carlos. We had a very nice conversation. We later said hello to Stephen who was looking at one of the Club O units with a vendor. We are so glad we made the trip back this year. It is heart breaking to see the devastation at Club O but the island needs our help and support.
We will stop at the Club O office today for a quick hello to Florence.
carib cheers,
doctorj


It's Five O'Clock Somewhere........
Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: doctorj] #161634
05/25/2018 09:28 AM
05/25/2018 09:28 AM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 13
M
MarkKhoury Offline
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MarkKhoury  Offline
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M
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 13
Originally Posted by doctorj
We will stop at the Club O office today for a quick hello to Florence.
carib cheers,
doctorj

We'll be there in eight days. Is the Club O office accessible? From the road or the beach? Would love to stop in if it's not an intrusion.

Re: Just returned to our favorite Island [Re: MarkKhoury] #161798
05/26/2018 05:30 PM
05/26/2018 05:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
doctorj Offline OP
Traveler
doctorj  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
Will let know about the office. We still haven’t been there. I think we were a little misdirected. They are now closed until Tuesday. We met some great people on the beach. Beach balls from Maine to California challenged the windy conditions today. It was a wet track with Snowballs winning the inaugural. A sixtieth celebration for the mare Cappy yielded rum shots for the entire field. Another fabulous day in St. Martin.
The odds are it will be a repeat tomorrow.
carib cheers,
doctorj


It's Five O'Clock Somewhere........

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