(See Trip Report Part 1) The Rhino Rider tour takes you out of Simpson Lagoon via the French drawbridge and stops, briefly, at the entrance to Marigolt"s Marina, Friar's Bay, Happy Bay, and along Grand Case before stopping at Creole Rock for snorkeling. (Did I mention we LOVE to snorkel). The highlight of this trip was seeing our first barracuda in SXM. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> During the ride out, the guide is very cautious with his group, but on the way back, he lets you get creative <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" />, ie, jump wakes, cut circles, make your own path, within reason of course. Rhino Riders is located at the end of the boardwalk where Peg Legs is. Say hello to Clint if you go. Rob is a great, fun guide, BTW. After the tour, we went back to Pelican, two minutes away, and swam in the pool and had a few drinks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" /> We decided to check out Hot Tomatoes. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> Brad has a great place and the free rum punches (Thanks TTOL) really started off a great evening. The Rest. is very open and the rain made for a comfortable night. One of our party order some type of seafood dish and the fish in it simply overpowered everything else. Brad was very accomodating and took it off the bill and even mentioned this item was coming off his menu as it was not getting a very good rating from anyone else, either. Hot Tomatoes is definitely on our list of favorite eateries as everything else, the service, and atmosphere is top-notch. Back to the Pelican, a little baseball playoffs, and a good night's sleep. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Wednesday Oct 8- Off to Friar's Bay, another good place for snorkeling, naturally. They have paved the main way in almost to the beach!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> We discovered the other way in, (turn left off the steep hill into Grand Case right in the curve coming from Marigolt. Look for Friar's Bay Beach Rest. sign, also). We like the second entrance better as you are closer to the path to Happy Bay, if you feel inclined to take the trek over the hill. There are plenty of fish here and the water is very calm. It does not like like it from above, but the water plunges 20-30 ft deep along the shore where the rocks are. Also, the rocks along the actual beach part have been covered by sand since last year and entering and leaving the water is a lot easier. We had a good late lunch at the newly opened Friar's Bay Beach Club Rest. GIANT burgers and great fries with Caribes, Pina Coladas, and GuaveBerry Coladas. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> If you eat there, the chairs and umbrellas are free!! Crazy thing happened while we were eating lunch. A boat load of locals (Rastafarians, we were later told), came ashore and kinda loitered around with no real aim. They were too close to our stuff and another couple's, so while waiting on food, we moved our stuff and the other's closer to rest. They were looking for easy pickings as four came ashore and one stayed in boat with motor running. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" /> Better safe than sorry. After eating, we went back snorkeling for a while and then packed up to go find Galion Bay as it is touted to have good snorkeling. We found it easily as it is on the same road to Club Orient, just keep going instead of turning left. We met the owner of the lone beach bar, Robert Turner- the Big Kahuna, and it turns out he graduated from high school the same year I did from a school in North Charleston near my old high school. WHAT A SMALL WORLD!!! He knew I was from SC due to my Gamecock hat and away we went. It was too late to do anything that day, but I told Robert we would be back. BTW, on the way in, you will pass a horse stable and you can go horse back riding in the surf. I understand it is a lot of fun, but we do not do horses. Headed back to Pelican and traffic was a mess. Ordered a pizza and ate in as we were pooped. More to come, later.