Up at 0630 for a shower and buff and it was back to the morning buffet. We watched the ship slip gently into the dock at Phillipsburg, St. Maarten as I started the birthday celebrations! Another day, another birthday party on the boat and on shore. We met up with the Byrne’s and I received a nice card from them with a lotto ticket inside. Sadly we did not win but the thought was very nice!
We grabbed a rental car and headed for our first cache above the cruise ship terminal. Well our trip ended at the Prison! No not in it! But sadly the road came to an end at the local prison and we didn’t really want to hike up past it another 400m to find the cache. Yes we are lazy when it comes to hiking this trip…. Maybe it’s all the food or drinks?? Maybe we are excited about seeing the island on a limited time frame and don’t want to waste time hiking? LOL We headed past the main part of Phillipsburg with its interesting shops and went north towards the French side. We wanted to plan our trip so we arrived at the Sunset Bar for lunch and the arrival of the big planes. More on that later.
We followed the road towards Orient Beach where there was a cache. It took us past a great little souvenir shop with great prices on items. We bought a few things and got directions to the beach area where the cache was. The beach was gorgeous and Mark was quick to grab the cache. Our first in several days! We took the time to explain what we were doing as several local girls started asking the usual questions. We explained how Geocaching worked and they were surprised when Mark said we came all the way from Canada to get this! Well not really it just happened to be there.
Off we went and grabbed another cache at Grand Case and searched out or planned snorkeling spot at Friars Beach. There was a cache there as well but we couldn’t find it. A couple arrived and started getting the lawn chairs out obviously preparing for a day at the beach. Kelly saw that they were wondering what we were doing and again explained the idea of Geocaching and how it took you to some great places like this one.
They said that the beach was great but they were taking a short 10 minute walk to Happy Beach. A quiet secluded beach that had palm trees and a gorgeous beach with small crowds and I thought sounds good to me! Off we went and it was truly a great spot. As we walked with them we learned they were from Toronto and wintered down here. We also learned that the beach was a well known nude beach! Well so what… the water was great and we had a great time and yes there were both clad and unclad people there. It was no big deal and Mark commented that he never saw Bo Derek running down the beach! Damn!
We grabbed a rental car and headed for our first cache above the cruise ship terminal. Well our trip ended at the Prison! No not in it! But sadly the road came to an end at the local prison and we didn’t really want to hike up past it another 400m to find the cache. Yes we are lazy when it comes to hiking this trip…. Maybe it’s all the food or drinks?? Maybe we are excited about seeing the island on a limited time frame and don’t want to waste time hiking? LOL We headed past the main part of Phillipsburg with its interesting shops and went north towards the French side. We wanted to plan our trip so we arrived at the Sunset Bar for lunch and the arrival of the big planes. More on that later.
We followed the road towards Orient Beach where there was a cache. It took us past a great little souvenir shop with great prices on items. We bought a few things and got directions to the beach area where the cache was. The beach was gorgeous and Mark was quick to grab the cache. Our first in several days! We took the time to explain what we were doing as several local girls started asking the usual questions. We explained how Geocaching worked and they were surprised when Mark said we came all the way from Canada to get this! Well not really it just happened to be there.
Off we went and grabbed another cache at Grand Case and searched out or planned snorkeling spot at Friars Beach. There was a cache there as well but we couldn’t find it. A couple arrived and started getting the lawn chairs out obviously preparing for a day at the beach. Kelly saw that they were wondering what we were doing and again explained the idea of Geocaching and how it took you to some great places like this one.
They said that the beach was great but they were taking a short 10 minute walk to Happy Beach. A quiet secluded beach that had palm trees and a gorgeous beach with small crowds and I thought sounds good to me! Off we went and it was truly a great spot. As we walked with them we learned they were from Toronto and wintered down here. We also learned that the beach was a well known nude beach! Well so what… the water was great and we had a great time and yes there were both clad and unclad people there. It was no big deal and Mark commented that he never saw Bo Derek running down the beach! Damn!
Next we headed off to the town of Marigot and drove along the north shore through Baie Rouge (Red Bay), around Simpson Bay Lagoon and re-entered the Dutch side of the island.
Our main destination came into view and we all enjoyed the beach music and arrivals at the button of RWY15 at Princess Juliana International Airport. This is the well known video spot of all the low flying aircraft. It was one of my bucket list places I wanted to see… so being as it was my birthday my timing was excellent.
Our main destination came into view and we all enjoyed the beach music and arrivals at the button of RWY15 at Princess Juliana International Airport. This is the well known video spot of all the low flying aircraft. It was one of my bucket list places I wanted to see… so being as it was my birthday my timing was excellent.
I had excellent information on this place from fellow pilot Jack Cassidy who flew Twin Otters out of this airport for, I believe, Winair. We saw Jack’s old pink residence off on the hill and I am sure he will remember the views when he sees the pictures I took.
We had a great lunch and enjoyed the aircraft arrivals and departures. I have seen thousand of close up views but never from a barstool with this kind of weather! We swam in the warm waters and had numerous cold beverages. Everything was going great when Mark decided he would try a “St Maarten Sandblaster”.. Well that’s what I call them now! I looked down the beach and Mark was standing in the blast path of a soon to depart 737. He was looking at me giving me the thumbs up and I was looking back at him shaking my head “NO”! I don’t remember the thrust of those CFM engines but when the power came up the sand, gravel and whatever other debris was hurtled over the beach and hit poor ol(yeah he’s 50 now!) Mark with a vengeance. At first Mark looked ok and winced as the sand started tearing the skin away from his body. He fell to his knees then went “belly to beach” as the thrust pushed him towards the water. He ended up in the surf and slowly recovered once he figured out which way was up. The crowd roared their approval and Mark slowly came over with pockets full of sand. We were laughing so hard and after He said “I am ok!” we laughed some more.
The gals laugh after Mark's adventures! It's now on youtube now as well!
I will say Mark is a pretty sharp guy most all the time… except for this time. We have actual video of this “amazing brain fade” and I hope to link it eventually. (Internet is 55 cents a minute on board!)
It will never be forgotten by us and we were thankful he was not hurt! Back to the ship after a quick stop at the shops in Philipsburg and I bought myself a new watch as a birthday present after scoring a sweet deal.
Beverages followed as we went on deck for the sail away out of St. Maarten. As repeat cruisers on RCI we were also invited to a special meet & great with the captain and crew. Free drinks and appies were served for everyone as they promoted their family of ships and the great upcoming cruises available to us this year. Dinner was at Chops Grill, one of two specialty restaurants on board. The food was simply fabulous and the service equally impressive. After dinner and a stop at the casino we all headed for the rack. Another great but exhausting day for us.
It will never be forgotten by us and we were thankful he was not hurt! Back to the ship after a quick stop at the shops in Philipsburg and I bought myself a new watch as a birthday present after scoring a sweet deal.
Beverages followed as we went on deck for the sail away out of St. Maarten. As repeat cruisers on RCI we were also invited to a special meet & great with the captain and crew. Free drinks and appies were served for everyone as they promoted their family of ships and the great upcoming cruises available to us this year. Dinner was at Chops Grill, one of two specialty restaurants on board. The food was simply fabulous and the service equally impressive. After dinner and a stop at the casino we all headed for the rack. Another great but exhausting day for us.
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