Thursday, October 31, 2019

October 24 - Resort Adventures

October 24, 2019
Day 297 - 68 Days to go
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost in the Dark (Colombian Dark French Roast)

I have to admit that Grand Cayman this time around was one of the more intriguing experiences I've ever had. It is the largest of what I understand is three islands. It's twenty two miles long by only four miles wide and barely above sea level. It's a beautiful island with white sand beaches. We booked a ride on a submarine but the excursion people tossed in some extras I was not aware of. Our tour bus driver kept asking if we wanted to "Go to Hell". "What an odd question" I thought. At first I thought it was a joke but his persistence began to suggest that he was serious. He kept saying we would ride a submarine, see some sea turtles, eat some rum cake and then go to hell!  And he was going to take us there, but not to worry, he would also bring us back!...…….. OKAY!

Anyway, the Submarine ride included driving around some sunken ship wrecks with interesting history. One of them sprung a leak while loaded with rice which then expanded from the sea water and burst the ship at the seams. The other was seeking  a safe port from a hurricane only to get sunk right in the middle of the harbor channel by yet another storm. It later got scattered around the island and reefs up to a mile distance when they tried to blow it up using 500 instead of 50 pounds of dynamite. I guess someone didn't read the instructions quite right and brought ten times more than what was necessary!

Our next stop was a local "Sea Turtle Farm" where hatching and growing sea turtles for release back to sea (and some for culinary purposes) takes place. It's all very regulated and scientific and has helped replenish turtle populations in the process. The eggs are gathered from an artificial beach nesting area. Meaning it's a real beach with real sand next to real seawater, but it's also contained to be protected as well as keep the egg clutches in one area for ease of gathering. Shelley got to hold a younger six year old turtle for a picture. The bigger ones were in various ponds and pens.

The larger ones were off limits from handling but we were able to take pictures.

After the turtles came the Rum Cake stop. So who wouldn't want to visit a rum cake shop? I guess Caribbean Islands, Pirates, Rum Cakes..... Rum.... and all that just go together. The cake was good but I'm still a bigger fan of Cruise Ship Cheesecake. I was a little nervous eating Rum (cake) and visiting a pirate inspired place just before our next stop, which was promised to be hell.  How did I get on this tour anyway and WHO WAS IT that booked me on it. It was Shelley and Shannon!

Hell was very interesting, I assumed it was probably just some cheap gimmick of a tourist trap. I discovered tourist trap, Yes. Cheap gimmick, No! Hell was a real place, ironically owned by a Mr. McDoom! (NO JOKE, I actually met him and shook his hand...…. which wasn't particularly hot.) His father had purchased it over 50 years ago and the younger McDoom inherited Hell and runs it yet today. You can get your passport stamped from Hell. You can mail a post card postmarked from Hell. It's at the end of a road named Hell road. (or I suppose could be interpreted as the "Highway to Hell" if you're an AC/DC fan) You can buy T-shirts that say things like "I went to Hell but came back", or "I'd rather go to Hell than go to work". Oddly, there are several churches in Hell. None of them claimed "Hell" on their signs, such as "First Church of Hell" or anything like that. They seemed to be very selective with their names, avoiding references to being associated with or being located in Hell.

No, Hell is named for, and is locally famous for something entirely different. A long time ago, probably centuries, it is presumed that an earthquake raised a portion of the sea bed above the water along with it's coral reef. Where water drained away, the land became more jungle like. Hell is a five to ten acre area that had a depression where water stands stagnate and cannot drain away. The coral there died and nothing else grows there so it became black and ominous looking. When discovered, the statement was made, "This must be Hell." It stuck and is now an odd little tourist attraction where you can go to Hell, buy some stuff, and still come back intact! I actually kind of enjoyed Hell. But one is enough for me. Not really too interested in seeing any more of them!

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October 23 - Resort Adventures

October 23, 2019
Day 296 - 69 Days to go
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost in the Jungle (Again, we don't have a lost in the Jungle, so just pick one of the other ones, maybe Lost up the Creek)

Jamaica is a modestly mountainous island that is like a jungle. Our tour guide told us there was actually snow on it's highest peak once. I believe he said back in the 50's, Ya Mon! I suppose I could handle snow once every 60-70 years or so, Ya Mon! (By the way, I asked him if they were trained to say "Ya Mon" to the tourists at the end of every sentence. He said no, it's just what they do!)

Anyway, the Jamaican people remind me of my tribe in a lot of ways. They seem to have an "entrepreneurial spirit" about them that I can easily connect to. It's obvious in the tourist areas. But even when you get away from the tourist areas they still carry on a strong business presence. I suppose it's a matter of necessity more than anything else. Without the social safety net (I suppose) that America enjoys, they do what they can which includes finding ways to meet the needs of their small roadside communities by all having their own little shops, stores or services.

While on Jamaica, We all took a Jungle ATV adventure tour. Shelley surprised me (or maybe she didn't) when she hopped on her ATV for the first time ever and took off like a pro! I don't know why that would surprise me. We drove through jungle and streams for the better part of the morning. Even though the tour was guided by a lead ATV, they drove much faster than I would have guessed they would. Shelley kept up, I actually had to do some catching up on occasion. 

Jamaica was an enjoyable stop. We had been there before but only got out in the ocean for some snorkeling the first time. While there, our youngest daughter was also on the island with her husband on their honeymoon. It turns out they were just across the bay from where our ship docked and got a picture of it from their hotel.

Adventure Quote: “Maybe there is another who sees life not as a flickering candle but as a torch that can illuminate an undiscovered world.”
― Jimmy Buffett

Gift Item feature: Rockaway Beach Hoodies

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