Rosie & Tuppergal?s Caribbean Trip 2015

Day 9: Punta Cana to Antigua (with stops in between)

It wasn't a problem getting down so I picked a spot to head down:





Anguilla is off the nose…I'm on a wide right base to Grand Case and will make a right 90 degree turn to final:



I’m on final, and if you look hard, you can see the runway right below the clouds (center of the picture):



On the ramp at Grand Case (TFFG) at ~1200 local time. Flight time was 2:26, however, 26 minutes of that was spent looking for the Royalton Punta Cana ;-)






I had to wait about 2 hours for the instructor to arrive from St. Barths so I cleaned up the plane with some spray ‘n shine and also cleaned the belly. Once Maxime arrived, we took off and he showed the me approach angle to St. Barths using the pattern at Grand Case. After one ‘steep’ approach, I did one to Grand Case also. Then we departed for the very short flight to St. Barths were he again took the controls and performed the first landing then taxi back for takeoff.

Next, it was my turn, and we had no sooner turned crosswind when my panel went off: The 60amp breaker popped….ReALLy?!? I was given the opportunity, based on hand signals and some yelling, to perform the next (and last landing) to St. Barths. I was able to get the plane on the runway and taxi back with a respectful amount of runway left. Here’s what happened next:


And to add insult to injury, I had to get on my back, under the panel, and move the landing light switch to the AV master switch:



When I changed out the alternator, I evidently did not place the flat ‘fast-on’ properly to the alternator, and it came off then shorted…badly…popped the 60 amp breaker and took out the 20 amp AV master switch. I did NOT even try to ponder that one…just changed the switch.

A couple of hours later, I was back together (with a dead alternator but with 13v battery), and Maxime took a picture to show, “I came, I saw, I did not win…”



I had a good battery so was able to start the plane and taxi out for takeoff:

Day 9: Punta Cana to Antigua (with stops in between)

Here’s an over the shoulder shot of St. Barths, departing runway 10:



The flight from St. Barths to Antigua is a short 75nm (30 min) flight. The arrow marks the boundary where Julianna will hand you off to the next sector (Antigua). NOTE: Sometimes, when filling out a flight plan, they will ask for the time (ETE) to the boundary:



I was unable to reach Julianna approach then finally realized that I had disconnected the coax from the floorpan (between my legs) thinking I would use my handheld. Reached down, reconnected it and I was talking to Julianna.

This sequence shows you the weather sequence from St. Barths to Antigua. Notice the lack of words...when you are droning along by yourself and no one to talk to, you look around a alot, check gauges and take pictures. The silence is deafining ;-)

Day 9: Punta Cana to Antigua (with stops in between)





Approach to landing at VC Bird Airport (TAPA), Antigua:



The 'gang' parked on the ramp:







Solange and Dajah at the front desk of the Jolly Beach Resort:



Here's a snapshot of the day's flying, starting from the red arrow:





You can see the deviations due to weather. I always get asked about 'how I deal with the weather'...I either go over, under or around!
I also heard a good one about rain here in the islands from Nordo: It doesn't rain...it drizzles or it pours...

Keep poundin' them rivets because it's ALL worth it!!! Rosie & Tuppergal

PS: The taxi cab driver is going to have my alternator fixed by Saturday evening!

For others, Internet access is almost impossible here, so Rosie is fighting hard for every bit that he uploads... Back to the fun.

Hi Rosie, Two things if I may. Could I ask why the instructor was necessary at St Barth's? And more importantly, it sounds like you flew to St Barths and Antigua by yourself?? Pleeeeeeeeeeeese don't do that. What if you went down in the water. Nobody here including me wants anything to happen to you. We're all watching and we're all your fans.

I know you've got a PLB, but still much better to have the posse overhead and circling to guide the rescue chopper in. What if you were floating, but unconscious and never set off your PLB

Challenging apt

St Bart's is 2100 ft downhill runway with a large hill/mountain on the approach end because of the prevailing trade winds. So it takes some practice.

Gary

Gary 40274 said:

St Bart's is 2100 ft downhill runway with a large hill/mountain on the approach end because of the prevailing trade winds. So it takes some practice.

Gary

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Gary. I tried to Air Nav.com and AOPA it, but couldn't find it. So I google mapped it. Turns out you could click on the actual airport, and then they had a lot of pictures. I think I can see what you mean. You can sort of see the slant of runway 10, and there's also pics of airplanes literally diving at runway 10. Sure looks like a beautiful place.

Day 10: Antigua

Today was our first full day on the island, and my day always starts out with Breakfast then diving! Here are the pictures....there are none...I left the camera turned on in Punta Cana....we did have a GREAT time though...more pics to follow of the 'RV Circle of friends'...I'm being paged.......OK, I'm back. Our group was able to rent four (4) Wave Runners, and for $50, you could 'rip around' for 35 minutes...had a BLAST! Checked in with the Dive shop for Diddy & Shiner to do a resort dive but they were closed after 1500. Back to the hotel with the group starting out at the Bar then to Dinner:



Opie & eStitch are leaving the group tomorrow for St. Barths (same flight checkout for Opie) and then start flying home...we'll miss you both!

Day 10: Antigua

And as is the case for every evening, we all end up sitting in what I call, my "RV Family of Friends" visiting and telling lies....we'll even let the Brits join us! I love you all! Rosie













Once again, another late evening, but all worth it!!! One more full day on Antigua on Sunday, and I have charged the Dive Camera Battery! Keep poundin' them rivets because it's all worth it! Rosie & Tuppergal

Rosie, were you signed off for the St. Barts approach and landing or did your panel problems get in the way of being signed off. Thanks for all the pics. I actually have landed at a lot of these airports via FSX... ~J~

Negative....Maxime (the instructor) did the first landing, then on crosswind, the panel went dark, and I got to do my first and only landing there, under his supervision. Note: He did NOT touch the controls; I was sole manipulator of the controls Rosie

Caribbean RV's

Rosie: Thank you for all the posts. We admire the bold resolve that brought you all here. While you were in Grand Case we were at Simpson Bay on the other side of the island. Wish we had the RV-8 here! Sorry about your short. Hope everything gets resolved quickly and thoroughly. Enjoy your trip! Bill

Bill, Got the alternator back from the taxi cab driver who had taken it from me when I arrived on Friday (17 April) and he took it to "Battery Engineering" here on the island I will replace it in the morning while everyone is doing their paperwork, Rosie

hello from Antigua

We have 2 special kids following our trip from Annapolis, MD, so we just wanted to say hi from the beautiful island of Antigua!

Day 11: Antigua

Hi All, another long day is coming to an end...Let me catch you up on how it went.

A bunch of the group went on a tour of the island today (will get those pics up after this).

I went diving with Gene and Roger, and had a great time as I'm getting better with air and can stay down longer (like Jimmyb):



I REALLY like having (bringing along) my own dive gear:





My first underwater 'selfie':



Gene "Moody Blue" Larsen:

Day 11: Antigua

Jimmyb: I'm getting better on air!

Day 11: Antigua

My Dive Master Cornelia:

Day 11: Antigua

While I started my day SCUBA diving, Tuppergal, Nordo/Diane, Shiner/Diddy went on the “Island Tour” with ShellyJay Jeep Tours.

Here’s downtown St. John:



Here are the canons at Fort James, pictured with Diddy & Shiner:



Nordo liked the beer bottle (the Antigua local beer) and wanted a picture at the (new) Cricket Stadium:



This is the entrance to Betty’s Hope, an old sugar plantation:





Here’s the windmill for the wind-driven press that was used to extract the juice out of the sugar cane:





Next on the stop was Devil’s Bridge:





Here’s Nelson’s Dockyard National Park:

Day 11: Antigua

Nelson’s Dockyard National Park where the Card's are beta-testing a new communication device:







The group was then off to Shirley Heights with Nelson’s Dockyard in the background with Diane & Nordo:



The view looking UP to Shirley Heights:




Here’s Eric Clapton’s Compound on the peninsula:



The Agave plant, official plant of Antigua:



Several of the MANY free range goats on Antigua:



This a roadside pineapple stand where you can find black pineapple:



And they made it back to the Jolly Beach Resort just in time to take this picture…

Here’s are the grounds of the Jolly Beach Resort:

















The Jolly Beach Resort compound is HUGE, and they own all the beach as far as you can see it in this picture:

Day 11: Antigua

Day 11: Antigua

Here's the evening dinner where they were able to seat us all together:





Scoot...on hearing of the price of fuel in Antigua....



Sue & Roger Hansen:



An over-the-shoulder smile from Cookie:



Tuppergal and her (our) longtime friend Rebecca Sanchez. Rebecca flies with American Airlines and was able to surprise Victoria with a visit! They hadn't seen each other in awhile. Thank you for coming 'Becca!



This is Sharon 'Stone' and was our hostess in the restaurant all week...she's a HOOT!!!!



Scott Loftin sitting in the "RV Circle of Friends":



Gene and Sue:



Cookie pondering something....

'

The taxis arrive to take us to the airport at 0900 and we are hoping to be airborne by 1030. We all plan to fly by the Jolly Beach Resort, make a loop around the island of Monserrat then to Dominica.

Keep poundin' them rivets because it's all worth it! Rosie & Tuppergal

I have been having a ball following this trip! Thank you so much for spending the time posting everything. I tune in every day (just before I do should be doing paperwork) at my office and get the updates. Its been a mini mental vacation for me. THANKS!

That's great Aaron! We've been wondering how much 'lost time at work' is occurring because of this trip, Rosie

Thanks for the update! I hope all your problems are completely behind you now and the rest of the trip goes smoothly.

You and me both Bill, Rosie

Day 12: Antigua to Dominica

Hi All, the sun is getting low here on the horizon, and I have a few minutes before we meet up with the group for dinner.

We had a SUPER FUN flight from Antigua that started with a 3-ship formation takeoff led by Cookie/Scott, Shiner/Diddy & Taco/Belle with Scott Loftin in trail. I was busy changing out the alternator they were off the ground first. My flight followed with a 2-ship takeoff by me/Tuppergal and Nordo/Diane with single-ship-trail takeoffs by Roger/Sue Hansen and Moody Blue/Bun.

After takeoff, we circled the island counterclockwise and flew a nice formation pass (both flights) past the Jolly Beach Resort. We continued southwest for a very short flight to Montserrat where they had a devastating volcano eruption in 1997. Once around the island then pretty much direct to Dominica with another flight around the island. Alpha flight landed first on runway 19 with everyone continuing to the end (4 planes) before they all back taxied to exit the runway. Once clear, I started landing our flight with a rollout to the end, wait for the others then taxi back.

I had looked at several satellite pics of where we could park the plane on the grass at the north end of the runway...except I did not account for the wrecked twin-engine plane that had a brake failure in February. So we have several planes parked around the wreck (tied down) and others on the ramp (not tied down)

Sharkbait was already there to greet us, and it was REAL GOOD to see him safe after completing his trip to South America.

Here's today's ground track, about a one (1) hour flight:



Ok, time's up...will get some pics up later tonight with a much faster connection, Rosie & Tuppergal

Day 12: Antigua to Dominica

It’s Monday (20 April) and we departed the resort for the airport. Our taxi driver Greg brought me to the resort on Friday night, and he offered to take my alternator to the shop to get repaired. He had it with him when he arrived; Thank you Greg!









Since I had to install an alternator, the group let me go first to ‘get out of the country’. In order to save time, the airport guy put two people on a ‘ticket’ to leave so Shiner/Diddy and me/Tuppergal were first on the ramp.



I don't remember if I've mentioned this before, but to get to your plane, you get in line and go through all the security checks with all the airline passengers. The difference is that you DON'T have a boarding pass, however, you place your pilot's license in your passport, hand it to the gate agent and say, "I am a Private Flight". They then pass this on to the X-ray machine person so we can get through with our BIG bottles of liquid, Swiss Army knife...everything you could NOT take on an Airliner. Once inside, you find a security person, show them the passport and license, say, "I am a Private Flight" and they will open the secured door for you to leave. Everyone in the terminal building then begins to wonder "Who are those 'special' people who are being given unescorted access to the airport ramp?" Yea....we're rock stars ;-)





Shiner and I teamed up to complete the change-out in record time:

Day 12: Antigua to Dominica

Getting ready for departure. Since I was 'wrenching' on my plane, I told Cookie/Scoot to get her flight off the ramp first, then we followed.













Cookie/Scoot got permission for a 3+1 departure off the runway (cool!):



I was able to get a formation takeoff as well: 2+1+1

Day 12: Antigua to Dominica

Diane was able take this picture (thank you!):







The resort is just off the nose:





We departed for Montserrat for a ‘spin’ around the island to see the Volcano:



The Montserrat Airport:



Volcano eruptions are BAD….

Day 12: Antigua to Dominica

Now on our way from Antigua to Dominica for the ~45 minute flight, we saw this on the ocean surface near Guadalupe….anybody know what this is?



The islands just south of Guadalupe:



The island of Dominica:



The resort is just off the nose:





Melville Hall Airport (TDPD):

Day 12: Antigua to Dominica

Now right downwind at Canefield Airport (TDCF) for right traffic, runway 19.





Since there is no parallel taxiway, we all landed, taxied to the end and then taxied back as a group:



The kids at school just across the street really enjoyed the ‘landing show’”



Shiner and I parked behind the wrecked plane:



Scoot/Cookie, Taco/Belle and Roger/Sue parked in front:











The diving and touring starts tomorrow!

Keep poundin' them rivets because it's all worth it! Rosie & Tuppergal

Gotta love the line crew watching the guys change out the alternator... this is... "How it get's done on the tarmac". That has got to be some of the best pictures yet!

Thanks for the continued inspiration!

Rosie said:

Now on our way from Antigua to Dominica for the ~45 minute flight, we saw this on the ocean surface near Guadalupe….anybody know what this is?

Click to expand...

looks like sargasso seaweed.

Sargassum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargassum
Wikipedia
Sargassum is a genus of brown (class Phaeophyceae) macroalgae (seaweed) in the order Fucales. Numerous species are distributed throughout the temperate ...
‎Sargassum muticum - ‎Sargassum fish - ‎List of Sargassum species

Day 13: Dominica

Today (Tuesday 21 April) was the first of two full days on the island, and my morning was spent diving; check it out!

Dave "Taco" Buono:

Day 13: Dominica

At the end of the first dive, the Dive Instructor found us some Squid!!!



That's Gene "Moody Blue" Larsen behind the Squid...



Here's Staci "Diddy" Stroud and Jeff "Shiner" Jackson after completing their first dive EVER!



Scott Loftin:



Sharkbait (back from Brazil), Cookie, Alina, Taco & Scoot





Rosie ready to jump in!



Cookie & Scoot:



Mr. Seahorse:

Day 13: Dominica















Does anyone know what this 'brillo pad' is? I found it in a coral bowl...





After diving, I flew with Moody Blue to Martinique to buy fuel; a 50nm short hop. Got spanked by both the tower in the air and....hmmm...I'll be glad to tell you all about it....in person...hold that thought when you see me on the ramp somewhere in America....



Tomorrow (Wednesday 22 April) will be a repeat for the diving followed by an 'Island Tour' for the group.

Keep poundin' them rivets because it's ALL worth it! Rosie & Tuppergal

the "Brillo Pad" looks like a variety of "Basket Starfish". At night they open up and start to feed on the really small creepy crawlies drifting in the currents.
If you hold a dive light on them at night it attracts "insects" like a porch light. Really cool thing to see as the star fish tentacles will close over the prey in that area.

Day 14: Dominica

Hi All,
Day 14 began like they all began for me...wake up, shower, get dressed, eat breakfast and go diving....are you getting tired of dive pics yet?!?

Got some different looking sea life for you today:



Do you see the fish?



Here's a closer look; Jimmyb tells me it's a Scorpion Fish:





Here's another really cool fish....do you see it?



How about now? Jimmyb says this is a Frog Fish:

'

Here's me and Andrew "Sharkbait" Brandt:







I can tell you that the fish are VERY ABUNDANT here in Dominica!!!!!

Day 14: Dominica

Here's a video of Mr. Eel...

Ever since I saw Sid Baldwin (friend of Jimmyb and me) stick his head in a bowl like this, I've been trying to get better at my 'breathing' to duplicate it...only took 11 years! Thanks to Sharkbait for being patient and capturing the moment:

From the Cayman Islands 2009 trip: Sid Baldwin



And now Rosie, 2015:





The Divemaster pointed to this and motioned, "Take a picture". This is a sea creature of some sort:











This is a yellow Sea Horse, about 3" long...

Day 14: Dominica

After diving, we had lunch, and this was to be our afternoon of sightseeing with the group. Today was Janet Larsen's Birthday so she and Gene along with Roger & Sue Hansen went sightseeing with the morning tour.

We met our guides Shane & Johnny who took us around the island for several hours. I can't remember everywhere we went but did get pics of some of the signs. The island is truly a rain forest, and you can't see the sun through the trees...Load 'em up!





Previous Hurricane Damage:



Cricket is a BIG sport on the island of Dominica:







Here's the hike to the Gorge....a beautiful walk to get there:



Here's the entrance to the Gorge:



And in goes Cookie!



There is a really cool waterfall inside here...see this video. Scenes from "Pirates of the Caribbean" were filmed here too. We just had a GREAT time inside and were also able to climb up and jump from the waterfall ;-)

Day 14: Dominica

Our guides, Johnny, Shane and Belle:



Next stop was Trafalgar Falls and the Hot Springs:





Belle, Taco, Scoot & Cookie:



Sharkbait!!!!



We then stopped for Rum Punch at the River Rock Cafe & Bar:









We ended the evening with (what turned into) a late dinner at TAO...with Ester Green, whose sister we met in Marathon at the Pizza Hut!! Oh yea....HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANET "BUN" LARSEN!

Day 15: Dominica to Canouan

Hi All, Day 15 started at 0700 (again), and as is the morning routine, I walked out to smell the morning ocean air and was greeted by this view:



Yup...time to leave the island!

We had to be dressed to say goodbye to the main group as they make their way back UP the island chain to Puerto Plata in Dominican Republic then eventually home to the USA. Scoot/Cookie, Shiner/Diddy, Scott Loftin, Moody Blue/Bun, Nordo/Diane, Taco & Belle....WE MISS YOU ALL!!!!!!!! Sharkbait also left with the 'group' at 0815 so he could pickup his girlfriend Crystal in Grenada. She arrived last last night (Wednesday) after an 18 hour day (leaving from Fresno-CA to Dallas to Miami to Grenada).

So after seeing the group off, Tuppergal and I were off to Breakfast. The plan for Roger and I was to leave the hotel for the airport at 1000, be in the air by 11:30 and be in Canouan by 12:30. We arrived to the airport on schedule, just in time to see Cookie/Scoot, Shiner/Diddy and Scott Loftin takeoff from Dominica:



Moody Blue/Bun, Nordo/Diane and Taco/Belle followed by I did not wait at the fence to get their picture...

Thanks to all of THEM for filing flight plans and going through Customs. After doing the paperwork for their six (6) airplanes, our two (2) airplanes were in/out in about 15 minutes. We were on the ramp at the planes in record time. I do want to give special thanks to the airport manager Cecilia as I was able to get her to ask the tower NOT TO CHARGE ME $125 US for landing after hours coming from Martinique the other night after getting fuel ;-)

And I have learned something new in the islands: The bad news is that having an alternator rebuilt in the islands is not such a good idea....the good news is that Sharkbait had a brand new one in his plane, which he left for me. Cookie/Scoot left me a battery in case I needed a jump. It took about 2.5 hours to make 'field' modifications to get Sharkbait's alternator on my plane...once again. Yes, when I get home, I'm buying a new alternator !!!!!

By 1400 (exactly) Roger/Sue were buckled in for startup and ready for the flight to Canouan:



Our time 'off the ground' (according to Canefield Tower) was 1405, and we made a pass by the cruise ship and hotel before climbing to 5,500'. I made sure to contact the French Approach controllers southbound on 121.0 prior to entering their airspace ;-) There were lots of clouds over the islands so not much to see...





In less than 10 minutes, we were off the northern coast of Martinique (France) and I cringed everytime I had to speak with a French Controller. So I just found out that Scoot 'gave me up' so you all read what happened...I was wondering if the French Controllers remembered me from two days before when I two-shipped it to Martinique for fuel only....

Here's what happens to an American when you make a French Controller 'unhappy'... Believe you me, I can't be making this up... this was the first part of my 'spanking' as I tried to land at Martinique for fuel...the second 'spanking' was when they did speak to anyone other than me, it was in French (even though protocol is to use English when an English speaker is in the pattern)....you really do gotta' laugh...



Note to self: Contact French Approach even if not told to do so by the Towered airport you are leaving. If you don't, be prepared to hold out over the ocean...hold for nobody...really...just hold out there till we ask you to come and land...we'll all speak French just to annoy you, you American Pilot...then after we finally give you clearance to land, we'll sick the Gendarmerie (Police) on you...you 'dangerous American pilot' you........... Catch me on the ramp for the full-up Police story ;-)

So where was I....oh yea...we were approaching the northern coast of Martinique in (mere RV) minutes. The clouds were lower on the east side of Martinique at 5,500' so that's where we went:





So I'm trying to stay FAR AWAY from the Martinique Airport (TFFF) and the controller tells us to overfly directly...really...REALLY???!!!???



In the picture above, you can see the approach and departure (does not include the zigging and zagging) into TFFF two days prior.

So I continue to follow Roger/Sue as we fly to Canouan:

Day 15: Dominica to Canouan

The next island ahead is St. Lucia, and the clouds were lower over the west side of the island...so that's were we went...until the next controller told us to turn left 55 degrees and overfly the George Charles (TLPC) airport on St. Lucia. Mind you our on-course heading was 115 degrees...ok...we can do that...IF we can climb up to 7,500'....approved, so up we went;



Once over the airport, I asked for Direct-Canouan (TVSC) and was allowed to turn on-course. This took us over the only airport on St. Vincent (TVSV);



It was time to start down because Bequia is RIGHT next to St. Vincent and Canouan is right next to Bequia. In this picture, you can see Canouan in the distance right below the cloud deck:



The descent took us right over Bequia Airport (TVSB) where Tuppergal took this picture of Roger & Sue:



And you can now make out Canouan better;

Day 15: Dominica to Canouan

Here were are on a wide left base (giving Roger/Sue LOTS of separation) followed by final:







Sue & Roger Hansen:



And their RV-6:





Sharkbait tied-down so he could face into the wind:

Day 15: Dominica to Canouan

Customs, Immigration and a trip to the tower went quickly. Only Immigration wanted money, $5 US. Customs and Tower each wanted one (1) General Declaration. Andrew and Crystal were there to greet us and had the hotel shuttle there to pick us up. Our drive Shannon gave us a a 5-minute tour of the small town next to the airport and got us to the Tamarind Beach Hotel in less than eight (8) minutes ;-)

Lashika, Merissa and Nerissa were there to greet us with an especially-made-for-us fruit punch drink:



This hotel is AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL as is our Suite!!!!















And the view from the second floor balcony:



Today's flight was about an hour from Dominica to Canouan:



For $140 US, a dive boat is coming over from nearby Union Island to pick Roger and I up for a two-tank dive. Andrew and Crystal are on their own and the wives are going to explore the island.

Keep poundin' them rivets because it's ALL worth it! Rosie & Tuppergal

French Wife

HA! You should have had my French wife aboard by Martinique. She would have set them straight.

Did I say that About my wife

Awwww, man, why did we head north!? I wanna' go...

Rosie said:

Hi All,
Day 14 began like they all began for me...wake up, shower, get dressed, eat breakfast and go diving....are you getting tired of dive pics yet?!?

Click to expand...

Shower before diving??? You're doing it wrong Nice u/w pics!

Rosie said:

Does anyone know what this 'brillo pad' is? I found it in a coral bowl...

[IMG]http://www.paulrosales.com/Caribbean_2015/Caribbean_528.jpg

Click to expand...

May be a Basket Star, thought they may be just a mass of brittle stars in the giant barrel sponge, but looks like it's a Basket Star.

On ground safe but customs closed

Nordo , Scott and Gene who really is/was NORDO safe at West Palm Beach. customs closed. Now what?

flynwest said:

Nordo , Scott and Gene who really is/was NORDO safe at West Palm Beach. customs closed. Now what?

Click to expand...

Just talked with Nordo...they could not make the 1800 (Customs) closing at Fort Pierce, and Customs directed them to land West Palm Beach. The three of them landed West Palm Beach at 2020 local time...and no Customs...they went home too. After many calls, Customs said they'd be there in one hour...they just arrived at 2145 local time. I'm curious to see how this goes for them...Rosie

Ouch... This is probably gonna hurt. IIRC we just barely made Ft Pierce in 2007. They wanted us to divert to Palm Beach, but we snuck in just under the wire.

Scott

Rosie said:

Just talked with Nordo...they could not make the 1800 (Customs) closing at Fort Pierce, and Customs directed them to land West Palm Beach. The three of them landed West Palm Beach at 2020 local time...and no Customs...they went home too. After many calls, Customs said they'd be there in one hour...they just arrived at 2145 local time. I'm curious to see how this goes for them...Rosie

Click to expand...

Just called Nordo at 2245 local and they are STILL with Customs.....now I'm concerned....Rosie

Nordo just called at 2305...they got a spanked 'a little' by Customs and are now out the door to the hotel, Rosie

Day 16: Canouan

It's Friday, 24 April, and Roger/I were supposed to go Scuba diving today...as mentioned previously...$140 US and they would pick us up at the dock...Roger got word that the cost was now $500 US....ah....as Al would say on that old TV show, "I don't think so Tim" We took a pass so I had to spend the day playing in the water, playing frisbee, Kayaking, had lunch with Sue & Tuppergal, relaxed on the beach, caught up on the Dominica pics, and had a great dinner with Sharbait/Crystal, Roger/Sue & Tuppergal. So with that said, here are some pics of the Tamarind Beach Hotel, a place I KNOW that I'll be bringing the group to in the future!!!!



This is the Hotel Lobby…all open-air:













Restaurant on the left, Bar on the right:



The Beach Bar:



And the end of another wonderful day on 'Island Time':



Tomorrow, I have a dive scheduled for Sharkbait/me at 0900 with the dive shop located here at the Tamarind, then we fly over to Bequia (a five minute flight at 500') for another dive at 1430.

Keep poundin' them rivets because it's ALL worth it! Rosie & Tuppergal