BVI/USVI Friendship Day – 9th November – St. Thomas USVI
Saturday 9th November dawned, well I think it dawned as it was difficult to tell if the sun was anywhere close, to a swirling mist with intermittent heavy rain, and this was around 5am. I’d just returned from taking the dog for a very wet walk and was doing a sanity check on why I was awake at all, let alone drenched and preparing to go down to the ferry dock to catch the 6am ferry to Red Hook via Cruz Bay St.John. Did I say the 6am ferry; how long have I been here? Well there were a few stalwart would be travellers waiting to buy tickets when I reached the booth at 5.50, but not much sign of Rotarians. I wondered if it had been called off and no one had told me. Around 6.15, more people started to turn up, Interactors and Rotaractors included. AG Delma and Pres. Ken from Tortola joined the queue; still more people arrived between then and 6.30 by which time there was a healthy queue and hopes of a 6am cast off had vanished some time back. At 6.50, we finally set “sail” for West End to pick up yet more bedraggled travellers, including Rtn Geraldeen and Pres. Kadian. We now had some 13 Interactors who had braved the bad weather and early hour, three members from our Club (PP Nona had slipped on board at some point), a few from Tortola and about 10 Rotaractors. As we reached Cruz Bay, another squall came through just in time as we disembarked (where did the word de-bark come from?) to clear US Immigration. An hour later and we were on our way again heading for Red Hook, where we were met by a couple of St Thomas Rotarians and two mobile toast racks, more commonly known as taxis. From there we set off for Megan’s Bay, which is a national park. Yea, a great day for a beach bash! We found our “pitch” which seemed to be the same place as we were at 3 years ago. The skies remained heavy and grey, with the constant threat of rain, which it obliged with dumping on us from time to time. Coffee and bush tea was waiting for us, followed by a breakfast feast of salt fish, johnny cake, eggs – well that’s what I had, I am sure there was more, and more coffee. After breakfast, there was a formal welcome from St Thomas AG Mike Toussaintand his team of presidents,with AG Delma responding on behalf of the BVI family, and then out came the dominoes, and people clustered around in groups trying to avoid the rain, which at times came in horizontally. The USVI Clubs distributed some tourist board bags with goodies as well as a special edition T shirt to all attendees. The bar opened at some point, maybe it was open the whole time, not sure and as rum, wine and beer took its effect (not all in the same glass, well plastic), the fellowship became more vocal. Before Lunch, AG Mike, in a temporary lull in the rain, organised the electric slide in which many Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interact members took part, but after much fun, another heavy shower drove them all under cover. During the morning PP Janice and Rtn Alphonso joined us. Despite the rain, the local clubs “slaved” over a BBQ and produced a great spread, including, burgers, chicken, ribs and fish. Not to be dissuaded by the weather, AG Mike then organised some traditional dances including the Quadrille, in which our AG was prominent. Following that, Interact President Kadian inducted two new members in to her club assisted by PDG Rupert Ross and AG Delma. After that there was more fellowship, more dominoes, chess and a determination that the weather was not going to destroy our friendship day. Our return ferry was due to leave by 5pm, so at 4pm we boarded our transport, bidding farewell to our hosts who had done an excellent job despite the best efforts of the elements to disrupt the whole day. It seems that Native Son never recovered from the 45 minute delay on the first ferry out of Tortola and true to form, the ferry left Red Hook at around 5.45. Some things remained constant; the rain continued to accompany us on our trip back. But all in all, in a perverse way, a very enjoyable day, so AG Mike “Many thanks” from all of us.
