We have been living at Port Louis Marina for three months now and, up until now, I haven’t really taken pictures of this lovely place. So, before the time escapes me and it is time to leave, here is where we have made our home for the hurricane season.

From the hill on the property.This gorgeous old tree sits overlooking the marina.  It is a silk cotton tree and is probably 200 years old.YOLO is a sushi and stir fry restaurant and it serves delicious food.The Victory Bar and Grill is another great restaurant on the property.No one seems too sure of what this building is, but it is in the center of everything.The ladies here do a great job with laundry.It has been very dry lately so the field has yellowed, but it is a beautiful walk through to the small beach at Port Louis.The cliff near the beach.Looking out to the anchorages.Looking toward Grand Anse.The Carenage from the Port Louis Marina beachLooking out to the Caribbean Sea.Scenes around the marina.My favorite spot in the marina and where I spend hours just about every day.Customs and Immigration offices.The ATM and the marina office.Colorful little shops and businesses along the docks.That’s Ed on Slowdown out of Houston, TX.  He caught me taking pictures and posed for a shot.This is J Dock where AfterMath hangs out.And AfterMath next to Tropical Blend.  Close quarters, but friendly company!

Becky and Judd are more than just friends; we have known them for 40 years, and we have had more good times with them than we could possibly count. It is hard to even imagine how different our lives would have been if we hadn’t met them all those years ago in Bethel, CT, so, when they told us they would like to fly to Grenada for a visit on AfterMath, we were thrilled. It seems as though it was very long ago that we all decided on the dates, but finally it was time for them to arrive, and we were very excited.

It didn’t take long for Becky to get in the cruising mode.Becky and Judd aboard Tangent.The sand and the water at Grand Anse are absolutely perfect.  And the company is great too!Giving a toast to Don and sending Jan our love.

We spent Thursday relaxing, swimming in the pool in the marina, enjoying happy hour and dinner, and catching up together. Friday came and we hopped in the dinghy, which was finally back in the water thanks to the cooperation of our neighbor, Larry, on Tropical Blend. (Our boats are very close in the marina and the only way we could drop Tangent, the dinghy, in was to move lines and to slide our boats apart until it would fit.) Aboard Tangent, we set off to show Becky and Judd the Carenage, St. Georges, and Grand Anse, the beautiful Grenadian beach nearby. We anchored at the beach near Umbrellas restaurant where we had lunch and spent some time remembering a very dear friend of all of ours, Don Kirk, who passed away last week, and thinking of Jan, his wife, who we love so much. Later we went for a long swim in the crystal clear waters before returning to AfterMath. It was a great day in Grenada.

In the fish market.The meat market.  This would make a great haunted house I think.

Judd next to the oldest mailbox in Grenada.In the Nutmeg Restaurant on the CarenageJudd, John, and Becky by Christ of the Deep on the Carenage.Little boys swimming in the Carenage.The moon shone bright on that warm September night.  It was gorgeous.  Pina coladas made it even better!

Saturday morning we took our guests on a bus ride into town. As always, the bus was crowded and played loud music, but it is a part of the island experience that is not to be missed. We toured the fish market, the meat market, the produce and spice markets and walked through the narrow Sendall tunnel with traffic approaching us. The next stop was lunch at the Nutmeg Restaurant on the Carenage. There we sampled rotis made with shrimp, lambi (conch), and chicken, while Becky chose a grilled ham and cheese sandwich that didn’t look anything like one you might get in the U. S. When we returned to Port Louis Marina, we took a swim in the little beach on the premises, and then dipped into the pool to rinse off before returning to AfterMath for dinner and a beautiful night sipping pina coladas on the bow. What can I say? It’s a hard life to lead!

From Coconuts at Grand AnseBecky and I were so happy to be together.Sunday came and after we shared our new tradition of a brunch of Bloody Mary’s and baguettes, complete with cheese, ham and butter, we decided to take a trip to Coconuts Beach Bar and Grill on Grand Anse. There we listened to a steel drum band and swam again in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Raymond showing us a cocoa pod.Antoine LakeAt the distillerySampling the rum.At Grande Etang LakeFeeding the fish in the lakeA rare picture!Heading back to the boat.  (Photo courtesy of Judd Everhart)

Monday was tour day. We met Raymond when Chris and Sam were with us and he has become our favorite taxi driver. A few days before Becky and Judd came I asked Raymond (aka Maboat) if he would give us a tour of Grenada. Always one to want to help, he agreed and we met him at 10:00 Monday morning. It was a wonderful day riding around the island and once again touring the River Antoine Rum Distillery. Raymond also took us to the Antoine Lake and to Grand Etang Lake, both of which we had not previously seen. Once again, after dinner, we sat and enjoyed the beautiful moonlight over the mountains that surround Port Louis in Grenada. We had so much fun watching the cloud formations and we laughed until it hurt as we described what we saw in them.

Tuesday came much too quickly and before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye to our forever friends. With tears in our eyes, we talked about seeing each other soon again. We loved having Becky and Judd with us. We only wish they could have stayed longer.

Our next visitors, at the end of next week, are my niece Karen and her husband Josh. They will be the most youthful visitors we’ve had in Grenada and we can’t wait for them to arrive!!!

Of course the hardest part of this trip is being away from my children and grandchildren. Right from the start, about a year and half ago, I knew I would miss them more than words could express. Once we arrived in Grenada I planned a trip to the states so that I could visit my family. Unfortunately, I planned my trip right during the high point of hurricane season which, although Grenada is relatively safe from hurricanes, was still enough of a risk that John felt uncomfortable leaving AfterMath and the island. We will travel together this winter though, but this month I set off to Florida and Maryland.

August 29^th was our oldest granddaughter, Michaela’s, 9^th birthday. On that day, I flew from Grenada to Miami, then from Miami to Jacksonville where Kelly, Craig, Michaela, Carter, and Madison live. Jason, our oldest son, and his girlfriend, Lisa, planned a visit while I was there to celebrate Michaela’s big day. Michaela and her siblings had no clue I was coming (Kelly and I have a hard time keeping quiet, but we did it!), so Jason and Lisa picked me up at the airport. They came prepared with a large box and big red bow. When we got to Kelly and Craig’s house I climbed in the box, they attached the bow, and I called Michaela to wish her a happy birthday. Although she thought I was still in Grenada, I told her there was a gift for her on the front porch. She made her way to the porch and opened the box. To say it was a happy surprise for all would be an understatement! We hugged, cried, and kissed a lot. I will always remember that day, and hopefully, Michaela will too.

We have passed through Jacksonville Landings so many times in the past!Miss Maddie loving the fountains.Lisa leading Madison right through the middle!Uncle Jason (Sweater) and Maddie having so much fun.

Jason and Lisa stayed in Jacksonville till late Tuesday and after a fun shopping trip and a lunch at Jacksonville Landing, Lisa gave Kelly, Michaela, Madison and me all new hairstyles. We felt pampered and happy as we sported new colors and new haircuts and we can’t thank Lisa enough for all of her time taking care of us.

Nana is allowed to be very messy.  Here is homemade “flubber”.Miss Maddie in ballet class.  So many memories of her mom in my heart.

Tuesday night came and Jason and Lisa headed back to New Port Richey, but I stayed in Jacksonville until Saturday. During that time I was able to see Madison attend a ballet and tap class that she now is enrolled in. I have to admit that I was very teary eyed as I watched her. For those of you who don’t know, Kelly was a dancer for most of her life. She started in ballet when she was just Madison’s age and continued through college. Watching Madison brought back so many memories and, as her Nana, I was very sentimental about the whole event. Who would know that the “brush, spank, step” phrase could induce tears in someone my age, but it did.

Michaela looking so grown up.  When did this happen?Carter is a bundle of love!Jacksonville Zoo has an amazing tiger habitat.The Komodo dragon and Madison.

Thursday was very exciting for me as my buddy, Susan, drove all the way over from Sarasota just to have lunch with us.  Somehow she escaped without us having our picture taken, but it was so wonderful to see her.  Then Friday brought Tropical Storm Hermine to Jacksonville, which, thankfully, meant the kids had a day off from school. It was so wonderful to have a full day with the kids and, as the storm lost so much power before it hit the northeast of Florida, we spent the afternoon at Jacksonville Zoo. Everyone had a wonderful time walking around and enjoying the zoo that is so much a part of the lives of Kelly’s family.

Saturday came and it was time to fly to Baltimore to visit Jeff, Sarah, Walt and Rush. Because Hermine was predicted to move up the coast, I was worried that my flights might be delayed, but, thankfully, everything went on time and I was able to fly to see the rest of the family.

Jeff, piloting Toboggan In AnnapolisRush grew so much since we saw him last!!And Walter.  How lucky am I to have these grandchildren?Ok, I admit it, I love these guys!

On Sunday, Sarah had to work, but Jeff, Walt, Rush and I headed out on Toboggan, Jeff and Sarah’s “winter” boat to Annapolis for lunch. As usual for Jeff and I, we had a little issue with the boat, but we were able to get things straightened out and we made it to the club to which Jeff and Sarah belong right in the center of Annapolis. The boys and we had a great lunch and loved our trip there.

Monday was a relaxed day for everyone, and included a cookout with friends, but on Tuesday Jeff had to work so Sarah and I decided it would be a great day for a trip to the B & O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. Rush and Walt love trains, so there was much for them to see and experience there. It turns out that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first railroad system in the country. The museum was beautiful and the kids just loved the child friendly atmosphere that exists there. We had such a wonderful time looking at the old trains, playing in the children’s area, and being together.

Jeff in his element.

Later that evening, after Jeff arrived home from work, we took a beautiful sail aboard Jeff and Sarah’s Cape Dory, Prerequisite (yes, my children love boating too). It was wonderful to be under sail again and the light winds and calm seas were just perfect for this boating family.

When my day to leave arrived on Wednesday I was so sad to say goodbye to the USA. What you miss from the states is hard to express. Besides kids and grandkids, I miss friends, the ease of moving around, grocery stores that have anything we need, and so much more, but it was time to return to Grenada, my home away from home this summer. I can’t help but think that I am living a life that is the dream. I love my life in so many ways and I am so happy to be living it.

Next: We are so excited that Becky and Judd will be arriving Thursday. I can’t express how fortunate we are to have such good friends in our lives.