Andi and Tanner with their body boards

In the past week or so we’ve been able to get out a little more and enjoy St. Martin’s most beautiful and bounteous resource: it’s many beaches.

There are so many beaches on this island, and each of them are unique in their own way.  We’ve only seen a few of them but we look forward to enjoying more now that we have a car.  And in the mean time I’ll share some of the fun we’ve been having at the beaches we have been to.

Also, I’d like to let Andi do some of the talking.  For a home school assignment she wrote up a short report on Guana Bay, and she agreed to let me post it on the blog.  You’ll find it below.

Maho Beach / Sunset Beach

I’m not sure what to call this place. The map refers to it as Maho Beach but it seems that everyone down here calls it Sunset Beach. Either will do, I guess?  This beach is famous because it’s situated right at the head of the island’s runway and the jumbo jets that fly in quite literally rake the beach as they land.  I recall many years ago seeing a photo of a 747 hanging just a few feet above a beach and thinking “Surely this is Photoshop job!!”  I had no idea at that time that it was an actual photo and that I would someday live on that island.

A few days ago we went and checked it out.  My camera is still not functional and the batteries on Michelle’s point-and-shoot were about drained.  But we did manage to get a video of a 737 landing just over our heads.

 

Like all beaches here, the sand and the water are beautiful and we had fun playing in the surf and bobbing in the small waves for a while.  And of course the airplanes landing almost on top of our heads is a novelty we won’t get anyplace else in the world.  But I don’t see us spending much time at this beach.  It’s a popular tourist hangout, it’s crowded, it’s small, and of course it’s noisy.

We had to check it out at least once, of course.  But I think our beach time will be spent more at places like Guana Bay.

Guana Bay!

The waves at Guana are seriously impressive.

WOW!  This place is a BLAST! Last Saturday Cheyenne invited us and the Lew’s (Cecily and Matt) to come with her and her two boys to their favorite boogie boarding beach.  And as soon as we arrived it was easy to see why it’s their favorite.  Granted, as a product of the Midwest I’ve not spent too much time around beaches or waves, but I have never experienced anything like this.  Some of the waves were cresting three or four feet over our heads.  Serious rush!

At this point, I’ll stop talking and let Andi tell the story.  Also, all the photo credits of our Guana Bay trip go to Cheyenne.

By Andi:


Hitting the surf at Guana Bay

Adventures always have a beginning a middle and an end. Most stories will start in the beginning of the adventure, but I’m going to take you back just a few days before my wild ride. Living on St. Marteen has been an adventure in itself with many challenges, one of the many is the fact that cars are some-what hard to find, during this time we had yet to find a car. So we rented one from Sapphire, a hotel resort just a quick walk away. We had a long list of errands we needed to run. So when we got into the town of Philipsburg, we set off on the first thing, to find boogie boards. For those who are unfamiliar with this ocean toy contraption, it is a board made out of slick plastic made to ride the waves on to the shore. Doing it is a blast! However finding the good one is not so much fun. One of our family friends here on the island instructed us to go to Surf Ace. Finding this store was a big challenge, but we did find it after a lot of walking in the wrong direction and driving in circles. We had our boards now the adventure could begin.

After a long week of anticipation the big day finally arrived! Saturday! We packed our bags full of every thing we thought we would need for a day at the beach. Lots of food,towels,our big umbrella ect. ( little did we know SPF 100,000 was needed in order to avoid sun burn) and set off with our friends the Lews (still no car).  After an  hour of driving on top of speed bumps, and avoiding the biggest pot holes, we made it! With Tanner in one car with the McGlues and me and my dad with the Lews we all ran down to the beach.

Andi after riding a wave into shore

The waves were HUGE and were a blast to ride! We were greeted with the biggest and best boogie boarding waves! Sun screen was a necessity that we did not have so we borrowed from the Lews. We ran to the ocean greeted by the cold salty water running up our I was (in my opinion) riding like a pro. At least for me, this was only my third time boarding. These waves easily put Mullet and Plum (the other two beaches I have been to) to shame.

But these huge and awesome waves came at a cost. They were exhausting, and soon my entire body wanted to crumble into dust. Mind over matter I didn’t stop. I pushed myself to my feet and headed back into the large body of water. It took a little getting used to, but I blocked out everything negative my poor body was trying to tell me. Soon I had no choice but to listen. I pulled myself and my board to shore and collapsed into a heap on my towel. My rash guard was clinging to me in such an uncomfortable way. My dad let my put on his big shirt. After I did that I knew I was done, I was also incredibly thirsty, but we had no water left.

Dillon, Ronan and Tanner

It was almost time to go. I stationed myself down under the shade and closed my eyes. Wow, that was fun! I was breathing so hard I had to let my heart catch up. Soon everyone else was tired and we left the beach. What a day! We loaded back up and drove home making only one stop to get something to drink, and a little snack. Grape Juice and mentos. Yum! Then we drove back to Rainbow. The first thing I did was shower to get all that sand and seaweed gunk out of… everywhere. Then I put on my Pajamas and collapsed, again, on the air mattress only then realizing how burnt I really was. Great. The sun burn got better after a few days. Then all I had left was a pair of scabbed dry lips. I applied aloe Vera to them every 10 minutes.

That day was a blast. I had an absolutely fabulous time, and I am super glad I went to Guana Bay. Even if the sun burn was a little extreme. At least now we know. Pack Sun screen. (SPF 100,000).

P.S. to the reader I was totally against putting this on my dads blog. Just for the record.

(P.P.S. from Dad: I had to bribe Andi with freedom from all dishes and cleaning duties for the rest of the day so she would agree to let me post this.)

Andi and Cecily waiting for just the right wave

A great shot of Cheyenne by Cecily that shows how much fun this is, and how huge the waves were!

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COMMENTS
    Starr Christie commented

    Awesome narrative on your boogie board adventure, Andi. I liked the suspense and build up before you colapsed in the shade. Very nicely done. I hope you post your next assignment as well. It helps us imagine what it must be like to be you, right now. We are enjoying your life’s experiences vicariously. xoxoStarr P.S. Thanks Dad for bribing her, It’s a piece too well written not to share.

    Reply
    February 10, 2012 at 3:56 am
    Lauren Holm commented

    Loved the report, Andi! It was awesome to hear your perspective. And we’ve really loved reading about all of the Crookstons adventures — what a beautiful and fascinating place. Keep em coming!

    Reply
    February 10, 2012 at 8:06 am
    Spouse James commented

    Hey there Crookstons, I’m loving your blog! It looks like you have been keeping busy with all sorts of fun activities and explorations! I haven’t yet made it over to Guana Bay, but it sounds like a good time – perhaps we can head over together sometime. Great reporting, Andi, and fantastic photos, too! Let’s go on a shoot soon, Casey! …and perhaps Cheyenne as well?

    Reply
    February 11, 2012 at 1:26 pm
    Gayle Crookston commented

    terrific pictures! Thanks for sharing. It sounds like the home school boooks arrived. How do the three of you like homeschooling? Maybe it is too soon to tell.

    Reply
    February 11, 2012 at 8:48 pm
    Donna Siech commented

    Thanks Andi for letting us see the beach from your point of view. I am glad your dad bribed you into letting him post it. Hope you will write for us again. PS And please let me know where you can find sunscreen SPF 100,000 – I think it could come in handy if I ever get to visit Mexico again.

    Reply
    February 12, 2012 at 2:15 am
    JoAnn HOlm commented

    Thanks once again for the great replay on the life at the beach…..I loved the video clip of the plane flying over and Andi’s home school book report was awesome….I’m glad she got a day off dishes and work for publishing it. I bet all her school friends wish they were on an island doing homeschool….sounds pretty tough as school goes!

    Reply
    February 13, 2012 at 12:58 am
      ccrookston commented

      Ha ha! I actually get lots of grumbles and complaints about the quantity of work I’m making them do. It’s good for ’em 🙂

      Reply
      February 24, 2012 at 10:54 pm
    Rebecca Watson commented

    Andi- Nice writing! I love your description of rinsing off after the long day. =) Made me laugh. Thank you for allowing your dad to bribe you into posting this.

    =)

    Reply
    February 24, 2012 at 11:31 pm
    Kim commented

    Andi — I loved reading your assignment! It’s great to read everything your dad posts, but I loved hearing this story from your perspective. I hope you do more, and would love to hear from Tanner and Cari, too.

    Casey — I have seen your airport on TV! I think it was on the Travel Channel, something about the worlds 10 scariest airports or something like that. The program showed how low the incoming planes are, and also showed people hanging onto the fence as planes were taking off and how the blast from the jet engines practically blows them into the ocean. (Please don’t try that, any of you!) Thanks again for doing this – it’s amazing! : D

    Reply
    April 9, 2012 at 5:09 am
      ccrookston commented

      Kim! So good to hear from you! How are you? Thanks for the comment and for keeping in touch. Yes, the airport here is nuts. There is a video here on the blog somewhere of the kids swimming in the ocean as a plane come in for a landing just a few feet over their heads. And “fence surfing”, as it’s called, is popular amongst the tourists after putting back a few drinks. I don’t plan on trying it… people have been seriously injured doing that. I’ll pass along your compliments to Andi as well. Stay in touch!

      Reply
      April 9, 2012 at 3:53 pm
        Kim commented

        Yes, I saw the video — that’s just crazy stuff! Give my love to Cari – I miss our girls’ nights out. 😀

        Reply
        April 10, 2012 at 4:35 am
          ccrookston commented

          Love to Cari passed along 🙂 I know she feels bad that she doesn’t do a better job of keeping in touch with St. Cloud friends. In her words, “I just can’t do everything, and right now school needs to be the priority.”

          Reply
          April 12, 2012 at 12:01 am

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