Here we are, sitting at Ric's checking mail and reading Traveltalk. It's a day off from the beach to let skin recover and save money on sunscreen <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Devil.gif" alt="" />

Here's episode #3

2006 Trip Report – Part 3

Sunday, July 2, was moving day. We packed what little we had unpacked, visited the beach and checked out of Club O. After a large dinner Saturday night, we were not hungry and skipped breakfast on Sunday. The 11 o’clock checkout combined with a 4 o’clock check in time at Pelican left us with some time to kill. We stopped in the Simpson Bay Marina shopping area to get some things at the Pharmacy but found they are open 5-7 on Sunday.

We took advantage of the stop to go into Zee Best, only to find that they were pretty well sold out of pastries but that the breakfast menu was still available. Gretchen had the Egg white Omelet with Spinach and I had the “Cheaters” omelet with Egg whites, Ham and Goat Cheese. Both were good but we liked the Cheaters best. We went to Pelican and were able to check into our unit early. We left our stuff in our room and proceeded to Cupecoy to see if our friends were there. They were and we had a nice visit and a dip in the surf. We left Cupecoy in time to stop at Food Express for groceries and still beat the bridge opening at 5:30. After the Food Express stop we had dinner in our unit and went to bed early.

The amount of sand at Cupecoy did not seem significantly different from last year but that was about the only thing that did not change. Parking at the main road near the cement wall was virtually non-existent. The new roundabout and road up the hill to the Lowlands looks like it will be much nicer than the present road and appears to be finished but is not yet open. The primary parking is now from a road along the top of the cliff that starts from the parking lot next to Ocean Club.

Unfortunately, there is no wi-fi signal available from our unit at Pelican. As a result, our Internet access will be limited to times we get up enough ambition to go find a wi-fi signal.

Monday

Monday was time for an all day cruise on the Random Wind. We joined six other couples for a charter trip. The day began with breakfast at Ric’s Place where we boarded a dinghy for a short trip to the Random Wind anchored in Simpson Bay. After weighing anchor our captain O’Leary raised sail and we sailed past Cupecoy, Baie Longue and Baie Prune before stopping for a swim off Baie Rouge. We then clambered back aboard for a sail to Friars Bay where we stopped for snorkeling and lunch aboard. La Samana was the next stop where we tied to a buoy off La Samana for another swim. O’Leary and our hostess Joanie from Holland made this a most pleasant day. After our cruise, we returned to our condo for a light dinner and a brief trip to the casino where we made a deposit.

We found the trip on the Random Wind more enjoyable than our trip last year on the Celine. Both hosts were very amiable as were the hostesses. The food on the Celine was probably a little better. The Random Wind provided more comfortable seating and shelter from the sun and rain than the Celine and this made the major difference. We’re looking forward to a possible cruise next year on the Random Wind.


Tuesday

Tuesday was the Fourth of July. That means the Fourth of July Party at Baywatch and the annual 4th of July Parade at Orient. It’s fun to watch the folks at Club O decorate themselves in Red White and Blue and parade down Orient Beach. After the parade left, we went to Baywatch for the big party. Andy offers all you can eat Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Corn on the cob and Watermelon from 11-3. Bruce and Sheila added to the festivities by passing out 4th of July leis and Baywatch key chains. It’s all accompanied by Rock and Roll music, dancing on the tables and a good time for all. As old duffers and party poopers, we took advantage of the early festivities then cruised back up the beach for happy hour at the Perch. We spent the rest of the afternoon lounging on the beach with friends.

We took advantage of the weekly parking special at Club Orient. You can by seven days parking and chair passes for the cost of five days. The $100 gets seven days parking that you have nine days to use. You must go into the reception office to purchase these.

Following an afternoon on the beach, we went to The Wharf for dinner with our friends. Gretchen had the Garlic Shrimp followed by the Chocolate Glace desert. We also shared a Calamari appetizer (Okay, not outstanding) and French Onion soup. The French Onion soup was a little different. Their version had more melted cheese than I have ever seen on a French Onion soup and seemed to have less actual soup as a result. This was not necessarily a negative, as I really enjoyed the soup. I had a Grouper Filet special. It was good but I felt it was a little overcooked and tough. The dinner was accompanied by nice live music which we enjoyed.

Wednesday

Wednesday was a day or relaxation. We slept in and then stopped at Le Sucre. Wow! What a selection of pastries along with fresh cooked breads. We got some pastries for breakfast and Toasted Ham and Cheese sandwich and Tuna stuffed pastry for lunch and headed off to Orient Beach.

We took a little side trip to check out the construction at Dawn Beach. They’ve made a lot of progress on the hotel but none on the condominiums on the hill. The villa’s behind Ms B’s were more obtrusive than we had expected. They are three story monstrosities and now located on both the beach and the Oyster Pond sides of the entry road to Oyster Bay Beach Resort. There is a limited parking area with signs claiming it for Mr. Busby’s customers only.

Once we got to Orient, we left our lounge chairs only to swim and to visit Happy Hour at the Perch. I read most of a book.

When they came around to collect the umbrellas we dragged ourselves to our car and stopped at the Lido for an order of ribs and a separate meal which we ate back at our room. Then it was early to bed following another exhausting day in paradise. For $13 it was a good dinner for two with the ribs, rice, macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes and a plain lettuce salad.