The "Autographs with Meaning" Story

It was an ordinary day. I was working on our scrapbook from our latest trip to St. Martin. This year we took a day trip to Anguilla to see a few places that we had missed on our last trip. Anguilla is a short 15 minute trip by ferry from Marigot, the capital of French St. Martin. In 2007 Jimmy Buffett played a benefit concert on Anguilla at Bankie Banx's Dune Preserve. Every March Bankie sponsors "Moonsplash" to help with preservation of beachfront on Anguilla. For years Bankie has been fighting development in Anguilla, but with limited success. The massive Cuisinart Resort sits directly next to him on Rendezvous Bay Beach. His Dune Preserve is visible from the ferry as you approach Blowing Point, the landing area for the ferries. We wanted to travel to the Dune Preserve to see where Jimmy played the benefit concert, since we enjoyed watching the "Live in Anguilla" CD. After arrival on Anguilla, we rented a car for the day. Driving on the left used to be a challenge, but I have done it somany times that it is easier as long as Carol is yelling instructions to me as we go. Took only about 15 minutes to locate the Dune Preserve. As you approach you first see the main gate with a lifeboat turned upside down on top of it. Whimsical decorations are throughout the grounds. Seems we got there too early. This is a beach bar and arriving at 10:30 AM isn't the best thing to do. We are greeted by one of Bankie'semployees and he tells us that Bankie will arrive soon. He invites us to walk around the grounds and I take tons of photos. We find the bandstand and can't believe that thousands crowded into this small area to see Jimmy play. Shortly we are greeted by Bankie and he takes us on a short tour of his place. I ask if he would autograph a page from the Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine that I have with me. He graciously agrees and then also agrees to stand for a photo with Carol and I. After we talk some more he invites us back after they are ready to serve lunch so we can eat and a drink. We thank him for the hospitality and head to our next location. We take a short tour of the island and make our way to Shoal Bay for a few hours. Around 2:00 PM we head for our next destination. A few years ago I purchased, through Amazon, a copy of "A Trip to the Beach" - Living on Island Time by Melinda and Robert Blanchard. The book is a true story about how a husband and wife escape civilization to build a small restaurant on an island paradise-and discover that even paradise has its pitfalls. Reading about their joys and struggles and the disaster that comes with Hurricane Luis is riveting. After I read it I gave it to Carol and she enjoyed as much as I did. We agreed at that point that we just had to meet these people and see their restaurant. Here was a couple our age who had the courage to live their dream and finally succeed. Just had to meet them. We found our way to the other end of Anguilla and as soon as we approached, knew it was the restaurant before we saw the sign. Just like it was described in the book. Anxiously parked the car and walked to the front door. Locked! Not open yet. We didn't come all this way for disappointment. I walked around to the other side and into the kitchen. I was greeted by Clinton Davis who I immediately knew from the book. Wow, Mel really did a good job describing her employees. Clinton gave me the disappointing news that the Blanchards returned to the states for a visit and he was in charge. He so kindly gave Carol and I a tour of the grounds and invited us back for supper. We needed to catch the return ferry so I asked if he could do the honor of autographing our book. His eyes brightened with the request and he wrote his name on the cover for us. The journey for us was a success. Off to Blowing Point to return the car, hop on the ferry and return to our island. I'm now adding the stories and autographs to our scrapbook. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Pix from top are: stage at dune preserve where Jimmy Buffett played benefit concert, Bankie Banx with Carol and LDub, autograph from Bankie, Cover of Blanchard"s book, Bob and Mel Blanchard and front entrance to quaint Blanchard's Restaurant, Anguilla.