CAPTAIN SLOG STAR DATE 77.13

Another day and another island.... and what a little beauty this one is.

I woke up this morning to the sound of a steel band as we slipped gracefully alongside the quay at St Johns, Antigua.  Not an early start today, 9.45 on the pier, so no need to rush. Today was to be quad biking so I decided against my usual shower and hairwash as experience has shown that, unless you are in the lead, you just become a human dustball.

Antigua looks very promising, prettier than the other islands and what a blue sky! As with the other islands, temperatures are in the mid 80s by 9am. Lush! So looking forward to coming back here with Debs and Ayla in August.

So, breakfast outside at the blunt end, quite leisurely, no, too leisurely and I had to leg it down to the pier. There was no sign of anyone with a little board saying 'ATV TOUR' so I walked down to the end. No sign of anyone. Back up the pier I spotted a Celebrity tour guide who said to wait as I was too early - no I wasn't,  I was bang on time. 10 minutes later I saw someone with the magic board and she said I was the last one. How did that happen, when I'd been there all the time? She took a look at my flip flops and said I needed to go back and change into trainers. What? It never said anything about that on the ticket.

And so it was that I broke the 4 minute mile, to my cabin, change shoes and back in 3.9 minutes flat.  Once we were loaded onto the minibus, I could relax.

It was a 20 minute drive to the bikes, just 8 of us. There had been an earlier group which was much larger. When we got there the bikes weren't back yet, so we had a chance to look around. It was set by a reservoir, quite a pretty little spot.

Oh my goodness, look what I spotted....
An MGB GT, not seen one of them for years! Only 7500 on the clock, this time round!





A low rumbling announced the arrival of our transport. Much yee-ha-ing and high fiving as they all dismounted. There were a couple of Harley Davidson veterans among them, looking like extras from ZZTop.

After a helmet fitting, we were given the usual safety briefing and then it was time to mount up. They put me behind the leader James because I looked the most staid and then the rest followed in their respective groups, followed by the tail end guide.

And off we roared.

I managed to keep up with James, fishtailing around all the corners and standing up over the rough bits. I've done it twice before, once in the Mohave desert with Debs and again on the north rim of the Grand Canyon with Wendy, so not a raw beginner.

We stopped for a water break half way and I was instantly high fived by James who said I was pushing him 'real hard' and he said I was a good rider. Woohoo! Then the tail end guide came up and said much the same thing and how we were going much, much faster than the other group. And them with a couple of Harley guys. Wimps!

James appeared to be setting a faster pace on the way back but didn't manage to shake me off and we arrived back safe and sound. It was a very noisy way to see parts of the island but great fun too! And, damn was I dirty!

We were dropped off at the cruise terminal so I just had time to buy some tat, and what a classy piece this time, and then off for a shower.

After, I climbed into one of the enormous curtained hammocks on the sun deck, with the cocktail of the day and had a little ziz. Then it was off to the casino, to do battle with Griffin's Gate.

I played for about an hour and was down to half my money so I decided to try a different machine. After about five goes I realised I was playing $2 a pull and I only had $2 left. Hell! So I managed to double it and then went on a Jackpot Party machine, where I got down to my last pull, hit the bonus and walked away with $49.

Cool!

So back to anihilate Griffins Gate and after a Big Win I walked away with $69. I live to fight another day!

My family, especially Mum and Wendy will not be surprised to read the above tale of Jill and the Slots, will you huns?

Got back to my cabin to discover that they have cancelled my Aqua boat trip on St Martin tomorrow. Not enough participants, so I have just booked a beach trip instead. Apparently it's a nudist beach, so that should be a laugh!

Dinner today was just ok. I ordered the Vegetarian Wellington. The pastry was like modelling clay. Our waiter Jimmy came round and saw that I had put it to one side and said that it was only there to hold the vegetables together! I suggested that a rubber band might have been just as efficient, and probably more tasty! I'm not sure poor Jimmy understands my sense of humour,  so I fashioned a little Rasta man out of it. Terry added some broccoli pubic hair on it and we sent our complimenrs to the chef!

Night Night xx