The "Floating Ford Focus" Story

It was an ordinary day. We were getting antsy sitting in our room. The rain just won't stop. This is our second trip to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. We are staying at Crystal Cove Villas at Sapphire Bay West. Places were built many years ago and are starting to show their age, but they are also right on the beach at Sapphire Bay and the beach is beautiful. Sportssome of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. The reef, which is about 50 yards offshore and easy to get to, has some of the most colorful fish and coral I have ever seen. Everything from large grouper and barracuda to the small colorful parrot fish. But, today we aren't interested in the beach. We just want to escape our rooms and head into Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the island, to do some shopping and have lunch. It seems like the parking lot has flooded in the middle of the lot and we are parked on the side opposite the entrance. Jerry and Just Sue head over to our room to talk about our plans. Jerry says we should just try to drive through the water and hope we make it out. Carol and I are not so sure, since it is not our car, but we are willing to try anything. We have a three year old rental car and it may be able to get through the water. Jerry volunteers to go out into the deepest part to show us how deep the water really is. He takes off his sandals and wades out into the water. It is at least 12" deep and still raining. Well, Carol and Just Sue hop in the back seat and I get behind the wheel and we start. Should I go fast or slow. I opt for the later and we inch our way into the water. Then from the back seat comes, "It's coming in the back door. Now it's up to our ankles." I stop and put it into reverse. The floor of the car in the back has a couple of inches of water in it by now. Jerry said, "Don't worry, we can punch a few holes in the floor to let the water out." But, I back up and the girls get out. Our next plan of attack is to drive along the building at the edge of the parking lot where we can see the grass. OK, that's what I try next. We remove a parking barrier and I head over the grass to where the water is the most shallow and viola! We are past the flooded part of the lot. Don't think I sunk in too much. Everyone hops back in the car and off we go to town to find lunch and pick up a hammer and something sharp to empty the water out of the back seat wells. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.