Gromit's Trip Report - Day 3

[Gromit]

Day 3: Maho, Skinny Legs, $10.99 Edy’s, Forum
Gathering at Beach Bar, Dinner at Aqua Bistro

iTunes Daily Soundtrack

Pure Shores - All Saints
Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
Chan Chan – Buena Vista Social Club
The Old Black Rum – Great Big Sea
Coconut – Harry NilssonBetter
Together – Jack Johnson
In The Sun – Joseph Arthur
Come Baby Come – K7
Les Yeux De Ton Pere – Les Negresses Vertes
The Laziest Girl in Town – Nina Simone
Oye Como Va - Santana

Up with the Sun and some breakfast in the belly and I am ready to roll.

Turns out that Mr. Flip Flop is still trying not to toss his cookies and Mr. Gromit is happy to be lazy in bed. Mr. Gromit is happy to hang back a bit to see if Mr. FF will rally and I elect to hop in the car with my BFF and the kiddos and head to Maho (finally!!)

Off to Maho we go (this time without incident or having to change course).

Maho was a bit on the buggy side but nothing that wasn’t manageable with a little Ben’s. This is a favorite beach for a lot of reasons. I love the fact that you can park right next to the beach and the fact that the sand here is amazingly soft. Unusually soft. Feels like silk between your toes.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_g ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SkuFG ... 6.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Mk ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SkuFI ... 8.JPG"></a>

Plus the water is crazy calm, almost like glass and this makes floating on your back that much easier. I could do that for hours at Maho.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lZ ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8O ... 2.JPG"></a>

Cousin Gromit was enjoying her book...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/To ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SkuFK ... 9.JPG"></a>


After a while, Mr. Gromit showed up sans Mr. FF who had opted to just hang at the villa.

Mr. Gromit decided to take my Mom and Aunt out for a snorkel...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6z ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SkuFL ... 0.JPG"></a>

We just whiled away the morning on the beach and I decided to do a few sky/sunlight studies with my camera. I don’t have a fancy camera. It’s just a Canon powershot and it’s like 8 years old. I know I need another one but it seems to work for me pretty well.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/i3 ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8I ... 7.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Jk ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8M ... 0.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5C ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8Q ... 3.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vc ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8R ... 4.JPG"></a>

Mr. Gromit (aka Tony Stewart) enjoyed his cigar...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ps ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8T ... 6.JPG"></a>

After a while we decide that it’s time for our first trip to Skinny Legs for a burger and some shopping at Jolly Dog at the Wall Street complex.

The burgers were great and the service was prompt. No problems. Burgers are always good here. I think they put crack or weed in them but I can’t be sure. All I know is they are yummy and hit the spot.

After lunch and giving the tour of the joint to Cousin Gromit we poke around the shops. Cousin Gromit bought herself a super cute t-shirt and I just browse.

After shopping we decide to hit Lilly’s for some ice-cream and to top off some supplies (Just Bagels NY Bagels!!) that we missed during the first go round.

Gromit Tip # (Oh who cares what number it is... I'm losing count!) It’s imperative when buying ice cream in the summer to have a cooler in the car so that you can make it home without it melting into oblivion.

The Edy’s half gallon (which is no longer really a half gallon and that really pisses me off – don’t get me started) was $10.99. Yep. That’s right, $10.99.

So after taking out the second mortgage on the house to buy ice cream we loaded up and headed back to the villa for some pool time before the forum gathering at the Beach Bar.

After determining that EVERYONE wanted to come to gathering except Mr. Flip Flop and the kids we piled into one vehicle (the Nitro) and headed out to Cruz Bay.

We parked at STJ Car rental without any difficulty and headed over to the Beach Bar. Our Krewe had secured some seats and a table on the beach and we just hung out for a bit. We decided to check upstairs on Ruth to find out when she would be arriving and she was just getting ready to close up shop.

Let me just say that the Summer Solstice forum gathering was AWESOME!! We had a BLAST meeting everyone and putting names to faces. Although we all found it difficult to call each other by our “real” names and it was just easier to stick with forum names. This is one of those instances when you hope your forum name doesn’t sound ridiculous (like mine does, I know).

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EM ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8W ... 8.JPG"></a>

Ruth making faces
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5m ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8e ... 5.JPG"></a>

Pia, Les and Flip

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0Q ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8f ... 6.JPG"></a>




I introduced Cousin Gromit and McDomzals son Ryan to each other. We all thought it was hilarious that they had been Facebooking for weeks and texting non-stop since the McDomzals arrived on island and then proceeded to sit next to one another in COMPLETE SILENCE for like 15 minutes.

After a while they warmed up to each other’s presence and decided to walk around and chat. They seemed like they were having as much fun as we were.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lQ ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8r ... 6.JPG"></a>


I also took some sunset shots from the Beach Bar…

Going...
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GT ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8Z ... 1.JPG"></a>

Going...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sC ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8a ... 2.JPG"></a>

Almost Gone...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qx ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8d ... 4.JPG"></a>

Towards the end of the gathering I spot this couple out of the corner of my eye and they are staring at me. After a few minutes the young woman shyly sidles up to me and says, “Are you Gromit?” and I’m like, “yeah…” and she’s like, “I TOTALLY KNEW it! You sound just like you do when you post. I KNEW it was you.”

At this point I’m hoping this is a good thing and she assures me it is.

She introduces herself as Tina Johnson (Hi Tina!!) and her hubby who is not a forum guy and apparently doesn’t find it weird at all. Apparently it took them a while to get up the courage to come over. So we spent some time introducing them to folks and we carried on.

FF made Pia an honorary member of the Tanned & Tanked Tour!!

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ls ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky8i ... 9.JPG"></a>

Running into forumites was to become a theme of this trip—one of many days just hanging out together (some planned and some not).

Among the attendees that night (and I hope I am not forgetting anyone here) were:
Tracy in WI; Liamsaunt and her hubby John (we all marveled at how trim he is despite Becky’s legendary cooking!); DJmom plus her hubby and kids; Jimg20 and his wife Diana; McDomzal and her hubby plus her son Ryan; Pia and Les (LOVE LOVE LOVE you guys!!); Ruth and Ron; Captain John Brandi and his wife; Tina Johnson and her hubby; Bob & Anita and I KNOW I’m forgetting someone (sorry!)

Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and chatting with everyone that night. Special thanks to the McDomzals for listening to all my wild Caribbean tales and laughing in all the right places without any cue cards.

I hope that I will get to meet everyone again sometime in the near future!!

After dinner we decided to head back for dinner at Aqua Bistro. Of course Flip Flop and I spent the entire drive talking about our impressions of everyone and saying how delightful everyone was. Forumites ROCK!!

Dinner at Aqua Bistro was AWESOME. This is the second time I have eaten here and was not disappointed. The service we received and the quality of the food definitely made up for the previous nights experience at Shipwreck.

We also ran into DJMOM and her krewe again (she was stalking us!) NO she wasn’t but it became a joke because we kept seeing her all over the place!

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. If you haven’t tried Aqua Bistro, you really should. The drinks are excellent here as is the quality of food and the portions are huge. This will stay on our must visit list from now on.

After dinner we headed back to the villa for some pool time in the dark and jell-o shots (there’s always room for Jell-O).

After some chill time it was time to hit the sack.

Tomorrow soon come!

[djmom]

Gromit,

It was a pleasure stalking you.

I will see you in the BVIs in about 5 months.

[sea-nile]

WOW you had a big BB gathering! Colorful pictures!

[msgcolleen]

Love all the pics! Ya'll are having waaaaay too much forum fun~

[augie]

Not to deny your wish for a new one, but I'd have to agree that your "old Powershot" still takes great pictures.

Of course we all know that it's only a tool, it's the craftsman (craftsperson?) using it that makes the difference.

Nice report/trip/pictures!

[mcdomzal]

Hey, Gromit! Your stories were hilarious and you are a great story teller (as evidenced by your trip reports)! It was great fun to listen to you. We especially liked the one about the guy and the hurricane and his little bag.... Hopefully we'll get to hang together again sometime. Let me know if you're ever in Chicago!

[Nic in KC]

Another great day! The forum gathering looks like a blast. I agree that Aqua Bistro is a great spot that gets missed. During Omar, we ate there several times and the food, even when they ran out of everything due to the storm, was delicious!

[TravelinTexasGal]

Another great trip report.... can't wait to read more!

[Maggy]

Nice reports and photos.

What a big group at the Beach Bar. It must have been a fun party, with so many forum people.

Great sunset pics btw.

[MCDomzal2]

Gromit - I literally laughed out loud at work when I read the comment about Ryan and Amber not talking to each other for the first 15 minutes after they met in person!!! That was hilarious!

I just love reading your reports - thanks for sharing your stories with us!

Mr Mcdomzal (aka Chris)

[liamsaunt]

I am going to make you feel better about your $10.99 gallon of Edys. I paid $9.99 for a PINT of Haagen Daz at Starfish! It didn't have a price tag on it. Live and learn, I guess.

I can't wait to tell John that you all thought he was trim. I know he would disagree!

[Gromit]

Holy CrAp!! I think recreational drugs are cheaper on island than ice cream is on STJ.... where's the justice??

[seagrape]

Fun reading your trip report! I'm the only dope who can't seem to stay on task to look into the camera for a second! My husband is on my right.

That sure was a great night. Thanks for sharing,

Seagrape

[Gromit]

Seagrape! I KNEW I was forgetting soemone.. although I don't think we really got a chance to chat.

Good times!