The "Sippin' On The Sand" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Visiting Orient Beach on St. Martin.  Beautiful sunny day.  We find a couple of beach chairs and an umbrella, drop our stuff on the chairs and head into the water.  Water is calm and warm and naturally the neatest colors of aqua you will find anywhere on earth.  Then I look up at the wispy clouds and tell Carol to take a look also.  There, running the entire circumference of the sun, is a rainbow.  Bright as can be.  I have seen many a rainbow in my lifetime, but never a rainbow where it never starts or ends.  Truly a one-of-a-kind for both Carol and me.  Beach boy told us it means a perfect weather day, and boy was he right.  Great day for sunning or sitting under the umbrella reading or napping.  We had visited a beach bar by the name of Andy and Cheryl's for breakfast earlier in the morning and had the breakfast special, Pina Colada French toast.  French Toast made with Pina Colada mix in the batter and finished with slices of bananas between the three layers of toast.  Didn't need much for lunch but a few snacks and a drink we had packed for the day.  Then, at 2:30 PM, on the dot, the bell at the beach bar about 75 yards down the sand, rang and rang.  Happy Hour at the Perch Beach Bar.  Two drinks for the price of one!  The cruise ship passengers who were visiting the beach had just left to go back to their ship, but the line still formed quickly.  Willy, the bartender, is kept busy making drink after drink, taking orders in French, English, Dutch, or whatever language you may speak on the dual nationality island in the Caribbean.  I stand in line with about two dozen thirsty patrons, talking and waiting my turn to tell Willy my order.  And, today, the order was for a BBC, and naturally with the BBC came another BBC.  Two fer one!  I head back toward my wife, talking with a new-found friend as we walk, with a frosty drink in each hand, a hat on my head and a smile on my face.  You see, the beach of choice today is the clothing optional "Club O" where a hat and a smile is all that is needed.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - I have included a few photos, but with no photos allowed during beach time, I had to take these at the break of day.

The Perch Beach Bar

Beach chairs and umbrellas waiting customers