The flight from Lauderdale to P.R. is cheap on Spirit
Airlines ($75 o/w) which makes a midnight departure a little more palatable.
That is unless you get caught up in their new policy of charging $100 if your
carry-on is a little too big. I didn't, but it's still outrageous that bringing
along a large backpack could cost you more than your seat!
With a 3:30am landing time I was a bit concerned about
securing transportation, especially after this summer's Spirit flight to
Atlantic City, which, after delays caused me to have to sleep in the airport
until the car rentals opened up the next morning. I was pleasantly surprised to
learn that not only would there be taxis available at that time, but the car
rentals would also be open.
So after a packed flight and getting the car it was a short
drive to the guest house owned by ex-pat Tom Luker, fellow Jersey Boy and
father of high school friend Greg who is
now owner of Lex Mex Restaurant in Ship Bottom. Thankfully Tom is an early riser, really
early. Around 4:30am he showed me to my room, gave me a surf map and said if
I'm up for it he would be heading out for a surf at sun up. Who needs sleep? So
off to "Surfer's Beach" we went.
We were greeted with head high surf with only a few guys out
and it sure was nice to get a board under my feet after 2+ years. I was on an
unfamiliar board and understandably rusty so I certainly didn't getting any
bonus points for style, but I made all my waves and was happy with that. Eighty
something degree water temperature didn't hurt either!
Needless to say I was pretty tired as well as hungry so I
went and found some pancakes and eggs. At least I think they were eggs. There
was definitely something different in the texture and taste, but my stomach
said keep eating and I trusted it. Then it was off for a much needed nap.
That afternoon I got in the car and drove around to get the
lay of the land. The roads in PR have, unlike our waistlines, not kept pace
with the increasing size and number of vehicles. Even in a Kia you need to be
alert to many sections of road which won't accommodate on-coming traffic.
Perhaps playing "Chicken" is a
national pastime. Or perhaps instead of
"national" I should say "US territory" possibly soon to
become a state, as they have just voted to apply to become a US state. Also, as much as I hate to say it, they could
do with a few more traffic lights. Getting through crossroads can be a
challenge when traffic gets heavy and further supports my "national pastime"
theory.
Late afternoon I met the other two guests and we enjoyed
conversation and some adult beverages on the porch well past sunset. Jhana told
her story of being robbed the day before and how things were sorted out.
Although she was heading home to Massachusetts the next day, she was not
dismayed and will be coming back. Tony is from Ocean City, NJ and a similar age
so we played the "do you know so and so" game. We had about a 25% hit
rate with that.
I told them both to knock on my door in the morning when
they headed out for a surf. It won't surprise anyone reading this that I blew
them both off for a little more sleep. I did, however, get up early (for me
anyway) and decided to join them at "Wilderness". I probably should
have paddled out, but instead decided to check somewhere else. On the way out I
hit a pot hole and the "POP" I heard did not sound good. Luckily it was only a blown tire.
That took some of the wind out of my sails so after putting
on the donut spare I decided to go in search of a replacement. Having heard
horror stories of price gouging in these situations I wanted to find a
replacement on my own. I can't say I was surprised that no one, even Pep Boys,
carried the correct brand. In the end, I had to call Enterprise and they
informed me that it didn't have to match the brand and I could replace it
myself or exchange the car and they would take care of it. No big whoop, but I
have to remember in the future that Kia economy cars are not real good for off
roading!
The surf forecast looks good so we will see what tomorrow brings,
other than another trip to Pep Boys.....
Adios, Hablamos pronto!
