Fun in the Sun

It is 3 pm on December 30 and I am sitting on the veranda of my hut. It is about 30 degrees out and the water in the ocean is warm and clear. It is very easy to see why people come back to this place year after year and stay for months at a time. Life is so simple and easy here. Nothing really bothers you and there is nothing you really have to do. No deadlines, no work projects. Just nothing. The problem with this for me is I can’t sit tight day after day and do the same things. At some point I have to get moving.
On the 28th we finally got some good weather. The tide isn’t as high in the mornings so it is perfect to get up and head down the beach to swim and tan. Had my usual banana pancake and did just that.

Headed down the beach and spent the better part of 2 hours laying on the beach and swimming. Returned and was going to go rent a bike to cruise around the island with Frank. Went back to my hut to do my Spanish lesson and ended up staying reading a book until about 3. I guess that meant no bike ride. Have to do that tomorrow as I am really starting to get the feeling I need to do something. Had the usual supper and chit chat until 8 and then retired to my hut to watch a movie and go to bed. Pretty ho hum day but I did enjoy it nonetheless.
Got up on the 29th and it was a little bit cloudy. Told Frank it was a perfect morning to grab a bike and head down the road to see the island. He didn’t want to, so I thought I would just go for a walk around the island. It was cloudy when I started but soon it cleared off and it became hot and sunny. I ended up walking to most of the places I hadn’t seen yet. Took me 3 1/2 hours to walk the 18 kms. Was a nice walk and I was happy to get out and hit the road. Soon

found out that my inactivity has left me a little out of shape. My hip started hurting about halfway and I was developing blisters on my feet from my sandals. I was quite tired when I got back and after doing my Spanish lesson I went for a swim. Just enough time to see the sunset and have some supper. Was planning on another early night, but had met a young English fellow named Damian and an older English guy named Roy. They had other ideas. Before we knew it the rum was flowing and the conversation was lively. Roy has played guitar and sang for money for years so he brought out his guitar and played for a hour or two. Very fun night and he was really good! We went to bed late after more than one too many rum. Have to get up early for Trash Hero tomorrow. Who is gonna make it up?
I got up at 8 determined to make it to Trash Hero. Edgar, Frank, and Dominick were up as well so we had a quick breakfast and headed to the meeting point. Was a tough day of Trash Hero as we started to clean the beaches. There was about 50 of us and we picked up trash until we ran out of garbage bags. Cleaned a lot of beach and felt like we really earned the lunch they gave us when we were done. Nice to be able to give back and do our part to help. We all felt good about our efforts this morning. Got back in time to do my Spanish lesson and then go for a swim. Tanned for a bit and then to the veranda to work on my diary. Need to have an early night and a big sleep because it looks like New Years could be a bit of a runaway if I know this group. The year is coming to a close on one of the most interesting years of my life. Crazy all that has gone on when sit back and reflect. Wonder what 2018 has in store for us all!