Double Deuce Raft Races

Our good friends Mark and Lyndeta decided to host, for the first time in 4 years, a raft race at the Double Deuce Beach Bar and Restaurant on Pinny's Beach. The rules were set weeks ago - construct a raft using rubbish from around the island. Everything down to the paddles needed to be "homemade." Although each team understood the rules - not a single team followed the rules. It turned in to a day at the beach where kids and parents alike took turns having a go on the semi-homemade rafts. I snuck out of the house for a few hours to enjoy the 80 degree November weather and to sit and visit with some island friends while taking in a few races. On the ride home, Hunter and I decided to recreate a legendary picture that was captured 365 days ago.

The Double Deuce

Once again, the Deuce

Pinny's Beach - St. Kitts in the distance

And they're off...

Taken just before it capsized...again.

Mark's raft, taking on water

A few boats off the shore of Pinny's Beach

Not as epic as Round 1 - but still classic

Cat Ghaut Golf

With final exams rapidly approaching, it's getting increasingly more difficult to find time to get out and explore all the island has to offer. This past weekend, I figured I would celebrate my birthday by doing just that -- getting out of the house and forgetting about school work for a few hours. A couple buddies of mine decided to treat me to a round of golf for my birthday at the Cat Ghaut Golf Course. This course is a little known gem on the north side of the island that offers 12 par 3 holes, a full croquet set, and a set of horse-shoes. But best of all, the clubhouse "bar" functions on the honor system - all the water, pop, and beer in the fridge is there for the taking, and you're just asked to leave your money in the collection box. I suppose the view of the Caribbean Sea from most of the holes is a nice perk as well.

Raegan paying the dues

The dead grass-patch is the "green"

I think this shot went clear over Mt. Nevis..

Looking for my ball

They knew I was coming!

Hole #9

Playing in the sand

Hole #12 - The "signature" hole (if you look closely you can see the pin across the ravine, just to the right of the palm tree)

We even had time to fit in a game of horse-shoes

Ringer-ringer chicken dinner

Crunch Time

With less than 30 days left in the semester, the inevitable spike in stress levels is starting to take its course. One way for me to maintain sanity is to take a little time every now and then to remember that regardless of the hundreds of hours I still have to spend studying, and the countless exams left to take before the semester break....I AM still studying in the Caribbean -- Tonight's sunset from our beach

Jones Bay BBQ

We finally decided to break in the back porch at the new house with a small get-together. My roommate had some friends come visit the island from back home, so we welcomed them with a Nevis-style BBQ: A few classmates, some chicken, sausage and ribs, and some home-made Nevis Mango wine. Hopefully this is just the first of many evenings we spend like this.

Social hour

Can't beat it

Group shot

Our first taste of the home-made mango island wine

Cheers!

14th Annual Nevis Fishing Tournament

For the 14th year in a row, boats have cruised into Oualie Beach in hopes of capturing the title of "Champion" of the Nevis Fishing Tournament. Fisherman travel from as far as St. Croix and St. Maarten just for this event. This year, the Black Fin boat, manned by local Nevisian fisherman, hauled in over 600lbs of assorted fish, including Wahoo, Tuna, King and Dolphin fish to earn the title of Champion. The Black Fin fisherman also managed to bring in a 5 1/2 foot long Reef Shark.

Submerging myself into the local culture by attending events such as this tournament is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of living in the Caribbean.

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Oualie Beach

A few of the boats from the competition

Busy day on the docks

Wahoo and Dolphin fish

Tuna weighing in

SHARK!!

Ouch!

It wouldn't be a true Nevisian event without Carib and BBQ

Boats at Oualie from across the Bay

View of the boats at Oualie from the mountain-side

[Another] Home Sweet Home - Jones Bay

My fourth semester here on Nevis has proven to be equally as eventful as the previous, starting from the day I returned after break. As mentioned before, I moved out of the "Sweet Sunset" home in Fern Hill, and was staying at Nelson Springs with my friend Jamie for the time being. Well, a few weeks ago, my roommate and I found a new place to live. We lucked out in finding an affordable house that happens to have about 100 feet of private beach-front with a great view of St. Kitts. Have a look for yourself

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Front of house, and garage

Back of house

Sun room / screened in porch

My study spot

Porch

Another look at the porch

Looking across the back yard

Not a bad view from the porch

Private beach entrance in the back yard

A little chunk of our paradise

Beach Clean-Up

Each year, the International Coastal Cleanup coordinated by the Ocean Conservancy takes part in a world-wide beach clean-up. St. Kitts and Nevis have been participating in this cause for several years, and this year, I too was involved. A group of about 35 med students got together this past Saturday and covered about 4 miles of beach stretching behind the medical school. A total of just over 300 volunteers scoured over 14 miles of beaches and gathered an estimated 10,000 lbs worth of trash, on Nevis alone. Following the beach clean-up was an amazing BBQ lunch provided for all the volunteers at Coconut Grove. To be honest, I volunteered for the free lunch, but it definitely felt nice to help out such a good cause.

One man's trash is another man's treasure

Workin' hard at Long Haul Bay

Trash wasn't all we saw

Raegan and his findings from MUA beach

More trash from Long Haul / Herbert's beach area

Pizza beach trash

Coconut Grove gathering

Classmates and volunteers seeking shade!

Yum.