day 7

Back to Leinster bay and waterlemon, we felt there was some unfinished business there, so packed bags and hiked in. The trip in was tough for some reason, and we took longer than the first time. All along the trail we heard the donkeys having a songfest. I walked w/ camera ready, but never saw one. They sure sounded close but their camo worked well. There were quite a few people on the trail, and when we got to the beach it was crowded.......maybe 30 folks........we were spoiled by then! We worked our way past the rocks to a little stony beach area and started hanging gear in the trees. Sharp eyed hubby spotted a mongoose. I focused and got some good shots, then he said, no, its a rat.......i argued no a mongoose. talk about the blind men and the elephant........i was looking about 4 feet up the bank, he was looking at the edge......we were both right! We backed up, grabbed some shade and watched the Nature channel.....for real. The mongoose and his buddies {easier than figuring out mongeese(?) mongosses(?)} were in hot pursuit of the rat. When we first saw then the rat was curled up in some roots, mongoose just above them, obviously hunting. The rat lept of the cliff (about 4-5 ft big jump for a little critter) and headed into the sea, mongoose right behind him. Mr. rat swam out about 6 feet and swam in a tight circle, around and around. The biggest mongoose chased him right to the waters edge, climbed a rock and watched every move. After a few minutes something else caught the mongoose's eye and he took off down the beach. Mr. rat turned toward shore, watched for a good wave and body surfed right to the beach! and i got pictures of the whole thing!!!

Put away the land camera and headed into the water and out to the cay. There were quite a few people in the water, and as much as we tried to avoid them, everytime we stopped, folks would flock into the area where we were.... too many fins in the face! I dont mind sharing but this became quite distracting. I tired to stay clear of other swimmers and was rewarded with a huge octopus! grabbed the hubby's fin to signal and started to shoot. Got 5 wonderful shots, octo changing color and starting to move. (am posting pics as i finish this report....will post url)

We made 2 loups around cay, but too crowded for real fun or good photos........hauled up on the beach in a very anti-social mood.....and there on the sand was a family we had been visiting with all week ...so much for my 'i wanna be alone act'

Since the cay was jammed we decided to work up the coast line. Had the area to ourselves, and swam with 2 large turtles, got wonderful shots of him, never spooked him , had a great encounter!
rounded the point but choppy with a strong current so headed back.
Sun high so time to start stroll back. I was walking along complaining about hearing but not seeing donkeys, rounded the bend and there was a ass's ass proceding down the road. Followed slowly and got some photos....not great but better than none!

Back to the cottage for some lemonade and chill time. Hubby decided to head up for a shower, i recharged cameras and lined up my shower stuff, just as i started up, one of the great guys we met going up and down the stairs stopped and asked if we wanted to go out in the boat for a while. Honestly I thought he meant a little zodiac ride! I packed a dry bag, unplugged cameras and waited and waited for my better half. I had just started up the stairs to find him when he appeared, not really excited about getting in the water again, but he could see how much i wanted to go. WOW its going to be tough to describe what a SPECTACULAR evening we had!!!

We climbed into the zodiac....and headed to the biggest yacht in the harbour! We made everyone wait, but am so very thankful they did!
Once aboard, we headed out and i started snapping pics. We cruised to carvel(?) rocks, moored and the divers suited up and disappeared.
We were looking for tarpon, but they had all moved to the bay, saw them when we got back! There were 3 of us snorkling. I looked at the chop, wind and proximity of rocks, and we agreed that we would pull out at once if conditions were too tough. It was about as rough as i would ever attempt, but once in the water..........wheeee!
Saw several turtles, and caught one of our new friends free-divng about 15 feet to spank one! Turtle spanking! ....not a sport for the timid! We were having so much fun, that we were shocked to look back at the boot and see that the divers had returned. We just got back to the boat when the sky opened up, a cold hard pelting shower, but needed a rinse anyway! Immediately after shower a beautiful double rainbow in the northwest, (but photos of that are disappointing)

We cruised back to L Maho, all laughing and sharing stories, got to the bay, filled the 1st zodiac for a trip to the shore. When our host came back, he offered us dinner. I had clicked a snap of a mesh bag squirming around on the aft dive deck. He walked around to the bag and pulled out the two largest lobster I have ever seen......and i have seen some biggies.!!!! (we have alot of friends who are chefs and like to brag) We just looked at each other and grinned, I tried not to drool on the deck.

There were 7 of us for dinner....and leftover lobster....WOW. It was like prom night is supposed to be......just a magical evening getting to know each other, swapping stories and laughing from the heart.
We sat on the 'porch deck' on top and watched a gentle pink sunset.
The guests-of-honor for dinner were so large only 1 fit into a 30 gal steamer at a time. They were lightly steamed then split and put on a charcoal grill. Everytime someone shown a light to check the progress of din-din, the tarpon would rise to the light, glinting just under the surface of the water. The guys cooked, we ladies re-hydrated, and roared with laughter. Pretty soon i needed a lesson in how to flush a 'head'. We both fell a bit in love with each and everyone of those good people...what a treat! We stayed aboard, grin-muscles aching, until about 1a.m. then had to refuse an offer of lights for night snorkling....just too much fun for 1 day!

The next morning my honey came up with the perfect simile.....he said he felt like Cinderella..woke up surrounded by pumpkins with mice running around and missing a shoe!

day 8

Last full day in paradise...and I have the blues.....BAD , try hard to shake off the thoughts of our impending walk-of-woe. My sweetie had had his hair cut just before we left......by some who sneezed on his neck for 40 mins.......he did real well (i packed a small drug store-thats usually my trick to catch a sniffle on these trips) but was feeling tired and a bit snotty. He wanted to rest, so I headed down to beach and back to B Maho for a while. Not as much fun, when theres no-one to point to, but had a couple of hours and burned up some media. I wont get on a plane til i fill em up! Back to the cottage to find that he had done laundry, and some housekeeping.....what a guy!

After a little lunch i stretched out on the futon, with my book, 2 chapters to go....the juicy stuff....who really done it........and out like i light i go. Poor hubby was trying to ask me something.......too busy snoring! I woke , he was sleeping, so wrote a note and headed out for 1 last swim in paradise. Back to the far side of Francis one more time. Swam most of the bay, but got out to walk and warm a bit. I stopped to chat for a moment meteorologist from OH, swapped lake-effect snowbelt stories while lazing in the carrib sun....what fun!

Up on that left coast i was just floating along when i met the LARGEST green moray I have ever seen, all out, fully exposed.
We startled each other, and by the time i had the camera up, he was completely tucked under a tiny hunk of corral. I waited til i started to chill, then marked the location to check on the way back, but no luck. Finished that last of 220 underwater pics....time to head home.

Dinner at the Pavillion, a few sky pics, then time for my most dreaded vacation chores.........fitting it all back into suitcases. This job seldom brings out the best in me, and have actually asked hubby to please be somewhere else during....but everything went into its bag, bags went into roller-duffles, and before I knew it an ugly job was done!
Left the parrot lights on, but cottage looked so plain with all our toys packed. last sip of rum, then sleep under the milky-way's glow.

departure day

Up too early, but unwilling to go back to sleep, so savoured sunrise and coffee. Cleaned out the cooler and pantry , took a big pile of food/books to the take-it shelf, by the time i got out of the bathroom, it was all gone. One of the neatest features of this resort,
this is a great way to re-cycle and lighten the suitcase load! Too soon it was time to start lugging it all up the steps, I had dreaded it, but it wasnt too bad. Swept out the cottage and threw last washwater, scattering cats. Check-out was painless, except for finding out that the employee I had happily been calling by name when i saw him all over, was actually a twin....i was right about half the time! Up to the pavillion to say good-bye to our new friends, swap e-mails, and loudly proclaim......WE ARE COMING BACK!

Caught the first bus to town, happily with some of the month-employees who were also headed home. We had had such fun w/ these folks, it was nice to share the trip out with new friends.
We had some time before the ferry , so i headed up the hill to Hercules for some patties.......hadnt had any and wasnt going to leave with-out! Delicious, a different kind of crust than we found in jamacia, but wonderful, especially with the 'carib' hot sauce. We brought back 6 different hot sauces, but I wish i could grab a couple bottles of this hottie! serious stuff!!! Got the last media card out and shot more pics of cruz bay, I took so many of this little area....all good.

We took the Charlette A ferry, had time before flight and wanted to see as much as possible. Sat on the top deck with our friends, and laughed our way across the water. There was a cruise ship in port, so glad we werent stuck on that for a week., but each to their own.
The vendors mart was just opening, so left hubby sitting in shade surrounded by luggage while i made a warp-speed shop trip. Bought a couple of T's and a beautiful slip dress for $12, not going to get a lot of wear at home, but will be the first thing into the bag for the next tropics trip. My sweetie bought me a beautiful long wrap skirt from the Maho store, batiked with all the things we swam with, turtles, fish, and star-fish. Other than some rum for our cat-feeder, habanaro sauce, coffee,and a jerk rub, that was all we bought. (Though there was a gong at Now and Zen that he coveted.....santa didnt know how to pack it)

2 more liters of water then off to the airport. The cab was our first taste of A/C in 10 days......gotta admit it felt good. We were very early for our flight, which was delayed a couple of hours, so had too much time in the airport. We got a very kind and funny customs agent, no problems, when i unpacked i found a TSA notice in one of our backpacks that it had been searched. I never worry, always read up on regs before we travel.

Too much time waiting for our flight, but had lots of connection elastic, and even more than we knew. The A/C was nice and I glommed onto CNN for a little catch-up. Great flight, rotten food, landed in Newark to find our next flight 4 hrs delayed. 6 hours swimming the day before, and dramamine combined poorly to make me much fun stuck in an airport.....it was tough. all told that was a 18 hour trip home, but that driveway sure looked good! A lot of cat-hugging, then downloaded photos....sat and watched the slide show, tore myself away from images about 5 a.m. and went to bed.....home again!

A word of caution: we are both very strong swimmers w/ alot of experience, and know how to read water. If you copy our treks, use common sense, and take good care of each other. We swim w/ a whistle and use hand signals.....good safety is always the most important part of any adventure. Be a good visitor and dont annoy the natives---fish, fowl, or furry, be super careful around the coral, never touch or stand on it, you will harm the coral, and it will cut you, often causing a very slow-healing wound. only sand- before you stand

the following is a link to the 1st photo album, havent checked it yet, will work til i have them available to share. will be posting land pics next...enjoy!

waterpics
http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=789651844105&page=1&sort_order=0

landpics
http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=613406844105

i just checked these.....cut and paste url... should work well. will post more, only 500 to choose from!