The Big Head Todd, Big Caribbean Cruise III is officially over today. :-(

This morning, we are back in St. Maarten. 12.5 nautical miles were covered to bring us back to port last night, bringing us to a grand total of 269.9 nautical miles sailed over the past week.

After breakfast, we squared up our bill, and turned our keys in. We shook hands with and give big meaningful hugs to all our new friends. We've all promised to keep in touch and with the closed Facebook group that has been setup, I feel confident we will. I've already overheard talk of reunions. The Red Rocks show is a big one. My next one will be the Down by Downtown festival in Roanoke, VA.

The Red Rocks show in June will be epic though.

Disembarking the ship was sad. As you walked off, they asked your cabin number. They then proceeded to turn your tag on the room number board from on board to "out" "122 is off the ship" Anita announced ... and that was it. We walked down the gang plank and headed out for our bags and ground transport.

Who's cutting onions near me?

Our friend Phil had coordinated a van for the 6 of us. Phil, Kathy, Kim, Chris, Heather, and myself to take a tour of St. Maarten. Our flight wasn't until 4:20. Since it was currently around 9:30 ... we had some time to kill. After the initial cab driver loftily thinking he could fit 6 people and all our bags into a mini van, we got into an actual van. Much better. So we head off to see the island. Orient Bay on the French side ...... or so we thought. Oh, we eventually got there, but what should have been a 15 minute drive took almost 90. Apparently there were 7 ships in port that day .... and a bike race to boot. After driving though some pretty significant poverty, and sitting in lines of traffic for double digit minutes at a time, we finally arrived at Orient Bay.

We mulled around the beach for about 10 minutes, and then headed to Marigot. We stayed at Marigot for about 1/2 hour. Checked out some of the local market. Then it was time to head for the airport.

We arrived at the airport around 12:30. Everyone we talked to told us we wanted to be there a minimum of 3 hours before the flight. As is with much I am finding out on this trip, that fact was far from ... factual. After we checked our bags, Heather and I grabbed a taxi to Sunset beach. Sunset Beach is the beach all the planes coming into St. Maarten, fly directly over right before touchdown. I'd seen videos of it, but nothing could have prepared me for how incredible it actually was. We spent about 1/2 hour there. Someday, I'd like to spend a day there.

The flight to Charlotte was uneventful. By the time we arrived though, we only had 1/2 hour to catch our connector, which, for a continental flight is no big deal. Coming back from the Caribbean though, you have getting off the plane, going through immigration, going through customs, getting your bags, re-checking your bags, and getting to your gate. That makes it a pretty hectic 30 minutes. Enter the TSA. They tried their damnedest to get us to miss our connecting flight, but they failed. I get it, we need security. We do. But we also need common sense. The TSA in Charlotte doesn't seem to have any.

We arrived in Pittsburgh around midnight. By the time we picked up Frankie and got home it was about 2:45 am.

As I watched the lights of Pittsburgh while we came in for our landing, I had a few minutes to reflect on the past week. We all go into vacations with mental images of what we think will happen. Even though some of my mental pre shows were fairly accurate, what I hadn't expected was the human factor. Monster Nation are seriously just about the coolest fans in rock and blues. I haven't experienced comradery like this since the Army. I don't even know how to adequately describe it. I do feel confident I have made some seriously long term friendships on this trip.

Above even that, this was just such a unique and special way to spend a week with a band whose music you love and respect. Finding out how non pretentious and how genuine and friendly they are and that they truly see their fans as friends? Like the commercial says .... "Priceless."

If there were any void in this trip at all .... It was the noticeable absence of Hazel Miller. Although this was my first BHTM cruise, I've seen them enough times to know that angelic voice of hers adds such a soulful dimension. Whatever kept her from this journey with us, I hope everything is ok. I know we don't have to tell her how sorely missed she was .... But we will anyway .... because Monster Nation .... We just love us some Hazel Miller .... Fact!

I went into this trip thinking I'd do one and done, but I think it's safe to say that as long as they keep having cruises, I'll be on every one I can.

What an amazing week ..... One for which I shall never, ever forget.

- DVD
3-2015