Did some waste deep wading last week!

[irishfield]

Leah's health was going down hill.. so I jumped on Redtag.ca and tried to find a nice hot spot to take her to shake and bake as a surprise birthday present. Found a deal to St. Maarten (haven't been there since '91). Of course the at Redtag, despite me telling them not to, made a "courtesy" call.. and Leah answered the phone !

 

Anyhow.. couldn't have asked for a nicer bird to go south on. Brand spanking new 737-700.. in service for only 3 days. Had that new car smell.. but unfortunately no entertainment system installed!

 

 

 

Scares some watching that wing bend!

 

 

Breakfast of champions...

 

 

Land Ho !

 

 

Short final..

 

 

Everyone out....nothing like a shiny new airplane..

 

 

After reading some reviews on this place, the Sonesta Maho, after booking.. I was a tad worried what we were going to find, but I can certainly live with this!

 

 

Still wonder what the temp was in the pool.. never did stick my toe in it. Never do with a swim up pool bar!!

 

 

 

Not a bad place at all... our room was way up there under the E in Sonesta.

 

 

One of the complaints about this place in the reviews was the noise.. and yes it is a noisy place and after 7 days it even got on the nerves of two pilots.. US. But while it was still neat I got some arrival shots... Delta

 

 

LIAT's Dash 8 (LIAT = Leave Island Any Time)

 

 

Jet Blue

 

 

The American Eagle

 

 

The Island of Saba.. we meant to get over there this time to check it out, but it didn't happen.

 

 

Our room view..

 

 

Sunset

 

 

Air France getting ready to depart... and to blow the people off the beach!

 

 

 

U.S. Airways coming in for landing.

 

 

The arrival board at Sunset bar.. so you know when to run out and get your pictures.

 

 

If you ever go to St. Maarten.. the food is great at the Sunset and cheap enough.. just don't sit and drink there. $5 US a beer.. and they give you the midget Carib bottles. The gal at the opposite end of the beach will sell you two full size bottles of Carib for $4 !!! .. or you can walk another 100 feet and buy 2 for $2.50 in the grocery store

 

 

If people would only believe these signs.. saw a few get turtled into the sand by departing jets.. and saw them with neck collars on the next day!

 

 

 

Saw this shirt and thought of GBFisher!

 

 

Where I dropped a good portion of my allowance.. .. but the drinks was free!

 

 

Full frontal nudity!

 

 

What do you mean I can't have one of these..

 

 

American Airlines coming in.

 

 

Shot inside the casino that Leah got crap for taking.

 

 

One thing that hasn't changed in St. Maarten in two decades.... you can get a free drink in any jewlery store by simply asking.

 

 

Now finally some fishing. Took a dollar store telescopic and a decent reel. Loaded up a plastic box with some different spoons and such.

 

 

 

 

Doesn't get much better than this.. Fishing and women in bikinis..or less!

 

 

Another day I tried the pier area in Marigot. Lots of action in the water.. gars swimming by, some hard hits, and managed to at least pull in what the locals call a lizard fish. That Dollar store rod held up pretty darn good for what I wanted to do.

 

The boat parking.. I think that guy, with the bass boat, that was at the last Lakair G2G must live down here! Those that were there know what I mean!!

 

 

 

 

Drying rack after rinsing my fishing gear.

 

 

Not sure what I said... but I think it was the right thing..

 

 

Glad we knew this thing was coming to town that day.... along with 5 other smaller ships and that we didn't go into Phillipsburg while it was there. 5000 passengers on this thing.

 

 

Our final sunset before going home the next afternoon.

 

 

We almost didn't get back home... the Island Rep Company for Westjet forgot to pick us up at our hotel. Made the airport in time, by alternate transportation, to get the last 2 seats.. and luckily together (although staring at the bulkhead in 1E and F). Flight was then delayed departing by over an hour.. but we still made it home by midnight, to beat the landing curfew.

 

If anyone is considering travelling there.. send me a PM and I'll give you some tips to the last remaining hassle free beaches that remain. I won't publish them on the interweb....as I want them to still be this way when I move there!

 

Will add a video or two later.

Edited January 26, 2010 by irishfield

[danbouck]

Looks like a great trip. My son would love to stand on the beach and watch the planes all day!

[Terry]

looks like a great trip

 

those planes landing that close would freak me out

[irishfield]

those planes landing that close would freak me out

 

Don't believe everything you see in the movie Pushing Tin !

[Fish Farmer]

Thanks for sharing Wayne, Man those planes come close. The one picture looks like it kick up the sand and water on the beach.

Nice pictures. Now if I could only talk the wife into going.

[MCTFisher9120]

Awesome man! Looks like a trip of a lifetime.

 

Thanks for the great photo's,

MTBF

[Leecher]

Great report and pics Wayne

Nice way to celebrate your wife's birthday!!!

Lizard fish.... first time seeing one of those

I see that you had a five of diamonds in your arsenal.... any luck with it??

Thanks for taking the time to post and share your trip with us!!!

Leechman

[irishfield]

Nope... they seem to like Gold. The lizard fish was on a small williams half/half hammered... as were all the other hits.

 

I am told there are 80 lb Tarpon in the Simpson Lagoon... just couldn't find a friendly access point to try it out. Place sure isn't like it was 19 years ago...

[Ron]

Glad you had an excellent holiday Wayne. I'm sure Leigh thanked you many times for that!

 

I know exactly why she is smiling in this pic.....

 

You were probably saying "Yes dear, you are right, I am wrong...again..."

 

Ironically I was checking out this place on "youtube", said something about the shortest approach runway in the world. Pretty kewl!

 

Cheers, Ron...

[Gerry]

Wayne, I was there a week before on one of those cruise ships. Darn ship wouldn't slow down so I could do a little trolling.

[irishfield]

I know exactly why she is smiling in this pic.....

 

You were probably saying "Yes dear, you are right, I am wrong...again..."

 

And that's anything new? Just wish that we didn't have rain 5 days out of 7... she didn't come back any healthier unfortunately.

[douG]

I know your vacation was the best thing for both of you, Wayne, and your lovely Leah. Thanks for your photos, and Good Health to youse.

[Joey]

Looks like a nice trip, sorry to hear Leah didn't come back any healthier. I think you need to take her to Arizona Pronto!!! Start booking that one Wayne

 

Great photos and I can certainly understand the noise problem, but heck, it beats my desk at work any day of the week. I could adapt I actually think it would be pretty cool for a week to see the planes come and go.

 

Nice little fishy too

 

Joey

[darsky]

Go figure-95% of pics taken are of aircraft

 

glad you had a great trip. I,myself am leaving for Turks & Caicos in a few days.

[irishfield]

I think you need to take her to Arizona Pronto!!! Start booking that one Wayne

 

Joey

 

We're gonna get this winter out of the way.. and then I think it might just be time for me to hang up the rivet gun for good, sell and move Joey. The hard part is finding a climate that will work for her (and figuring out what to do with the "inventory" around here.. read my junk!). Winter here would be just fine if it would stay good and cold, and none of this rain crap. In the mean time I think Leah is going to go down to her Father's in Cape Coral FL, with her sister, while I'm up at the lake with the lads in February.

Edited January 25, 2010 by irishfield

[corvette1]

congrats to the both of you what a trip

[Sinker]

That was an awful nice birthday gift Wayne. Too bad about the weather. Those planes are CLOSE.....WOW!

 

P.S......my birthday is in march

 

S.

[redneck666]

wow, that looks like a super great trip!

[Rich Clemens]

Kinda gives to meaning to "Hop on a Plane" eh ? Thanks for sharing Wayne.

[Roy]

Glad you guys had a great time....nice report.

 

A few more pics of Leah wouldn't have killed you yanno.

[bigugli]

Sorry to hear the Mrs health isn't doing well with our climate. You will simply have to join the flock of snowbirds (I know, easier said than done!)

 

I would find all that air traffic annoying for about 2 weeks, then it becomes background noise.

[splashhopper]

your post reminds me of a song :

 

" took a trip and never even left the farm"

 

...

 

I think Leah was smiling because you took the shirt off that said she was named "fear"

[ketchenany]

Irish, that looks great will be there next Wednesday, but only for the day . . . one stop on our 7-day cruise.

[capt_hooked]

Leslie and I jsut enjoyed viewing your post and pics...

 

we especially enjoyed the warning sign... about departing aircraft... causing injury or death.... now that's an adventure... possibility of death on the beach!

(lets drink . way too much ... and go look at the planes... woooooah...! that was close...!)

 

 

about that fish.. hey... I caught that very same fish off a Florida pier in December (I swear!)... sure gets around for a little guy...!

 

best regards from the 2 of us to the 2 of U..!

 

the capt and his first mate...

[Headhunter]

Nice pics and report Wayne... sorry it didn't work as planned for Leah, but I suspect you could try again and again....

Could done without the topless shot though!

HH