July 7th, 2006
Screw my Liver - as long as my onions remain intact, I think I’ll be OK.

Woke up early and had the last of the 4 cheese pastries from LE Sucherie, which were reheated in the oven and back to their blissful self in 10 minutes! Yuummmyy! We chartered Golden Eagle today, a 74’ X 34’ Catamaran, to sail us basically around the entire island in a circle. Debbie with Golden Eagle arranged it, assured us we’d have a great time with the kids, and even arranged transportation to and form the boat.

The boat itself was excellent, and we met up with some of our closest friends, we didn’t know yet. The boat went out and headed to our first stop, Tintamarre (Flat) Island.

The sail from Bobby’s Marina to Tintamarre was about an hour, and was the roughest sail we saw, and our family did fine (I think I’m training some sailors). However, we did have 5 contestants in the “NAME THAT BREAKFAST” contest. Cool water on the back of the neck, sitting backwards at the back of the boat, resting quietly, and breathing deeply while staring at things FAR away makes throwing up in the Caribbean a really pleasant experience. Evidently. Unfortunately I passed, as did the family.

Tintamarre has a great beach but is mostly known for its MUD, which hides about 50’ off the beach. Our guide ran back and got a huge bucket, and we proceed to get a SPA-like mud bath for the low low cost of the charter… There were about 30 people on the beach doing the same, and we had a blast. Letting the mud dry, it was like a MASK, and I spent the better part of the afternoon singing “I feel Pretty, Oh so Pretty….. “

P.S. I’m not allowed back on Tintamarre..

We left Tintamarre, and headed around the tip of the island, where I got to shoot pictures of the Dump on fire (important to Ryan, who had never seen a dump on fire), Wilderness beach, Petite Cayes, and the infamous Duck’s Beach, which I attempted to hike to last week. Ducks’ is small, but would have been a grand trophy. Maybe next time I get a kayak from Anse Marcel.

We rounded the point and headed into Creole rock, and Grand Case. Creole rock was great snorkeling, and we yielded probably 50+ species of fish in the first 5 minutes. Needle Gar, and Jelly Fish were the best of the viewing. The water here, despite being offshore, is calm enough the kids snorkeled nearby, and I didn’t feel I had to hold hands all the time. There is no current here, and this is the best snorkeling we have seen. I understand you can get boats out from Grand Case to do this too.

In the free diving competition, the crew of the boat marveled as I showed off my Superior technique. Not realizing how deep the water was, I dove and picked up a bandana that was polluting the reef.

Sidebar: Lest anyone think I have gone environmental, I thought it was a wallet, and immediately after clearing the litter, I drill for oil in the same location, and cut down the nearest tree for sport.).
Later as one of our group was returning to the boat, she dropped a fin, and it had this nasty little trick. In the islands the expression is “IT SANK”. My Nave Seal training sprung into action, and after equalizing three times on the way down, (which any diver good at making up stats on the spot will tell you that’s about 38 feet).

I picked it up and returned it to the cheering of the owner. Only after accepting the kudos and cheer of the fact that Chivalry was NOT Dead after all, only being held in a hotel in New Jersey) did the crew tell me I was diving at about 40’, according to the Anchor Chain and Line.

I immediately decided the next water I was going to wrestle was in the frozen form, and returned to kick the crap out of a rum bottle! Thanks Diana, for my inability to spell tonight.

We pulled away form Creole Rock, went to Grand Case, and stopped at Calmos Café. A great restaurant that provides it’s diners with chairs, etc. About 30 of us pulled in on boats the same time, and they took good care of us. I ate grilled Mahi-Mahi and Creole rice, which blistered my lips, when I added enough of the Creole oil provided on the table. Good food. Remy ate fish and Ryan chicken. Minda had the Vegetarian plate, just for variety. We all shared and everything was good, including Salad before and a chocolate desert after.

The beach here is absolutely gorgeous and well worth a trip. From TTOL, I learned that every Sunday Calmos Café has a live Reggae band playing on the beach. Very French on the beach side, and all 100+ patrons gathered under the area we were in when a Caribbean Storm passed through.

Caribbean Storm: Noun.. A quick downpour, leaving everything cooler, wetter and the patrons asking, “Did it rain” because the brevity. Note, eating your lunch while 25 topless sunbathers huddle next to you during the time it’s raining is something everyone should try. However, that didn’t happen today. Oh well.

Returned to the cat after a quick swim, and began the rest of our journey. On the back side of the island, we ran with motor and sail to outrun the cloudburst, and were mostly successful. Got to Bay Rouge, and around Plum Bay, to see the beaches we are trying tomorrow or the next day. Next stop was LA SAMANNA, where were moored out 300 feet or so from the shore. I dropped my fins on, and “Noodled” Remy and Ryan to Shore, after jumping off the top of the cat 15’ or so into the water. They loved that, and had not fear jumping that far. The three of us spent about 30 minutes running around the beach at LA SAMANNA, and returned by way of Dad’s fins.

The rest of the sail was restful, and was spent mostly trying to kill off the Dianabugs and the RumBugs. Diana was the bar tender, and RumBugs come in glasses. I like her…
Got back to the Docks, after passing the rest of the beaches, and tacking Briefly to “MOON” the “Lambata” as it passed, then again as we circled it. Believe it or not, I kept my clothes on. (People at work won’t believe this I’m sure). Saw a couple of planes come in on Maho, and finished the sail at Bobby’s marina, a mere 8 hours after our tirp began.

For the money, this was some of the best money spent so far. I’m completely spent, exhausted, happy, and had a ride there and back to milk off the Rum.

After we got dropped at the Pelican Resort, I hung out a while downloading pictures, and writing a bit, then Decided it was time to test the alcohol meter, and go get some dinner. My trusty Alcohol Hawk told me I was legal, even here, and I went to get some ribs, for the Bijillionith time since we got here.

Tonight it was back to Johnny B’s Under The TREE. Johnny was indeed under the tree tonight , and offered a $25 grille Lobster to start. I passed and got three racks of Baby-back ribs (He also does Babies, for those of you following the Baby versus Louis score card).

After leaving his place I laughed because the lady helping me told me “I couldn’t remember if you wanted Rice and Beans or potato Salad, so I gave you all three.” I was afraid what the other one was… haha..

So, the head to head winner of best ribs so far is:

Lido’s for better ribs, and better sauce.

Not that Johnny B’s Under the tree wasn’t great, but his sauce was not as good as Lido’s. Lido’s potatoes are Scallopped, as opposed to Potato Salad at Johnny B’s. Lido’s gets the nod there from Minda.

It’s 10 PM, and the kids have crashed, and I have set a world’s record. We have been here 7 days, and I have yet to set foot in a casino which by the way is 100 yards from here. WOW. (See the Great Vegas Caper of ’05).

Goodnight, and Sleep well. We will.