I'd like to thank my "dive sherpas" Kiwi and Steven, they saved my arse with a couple of "tank slipage" issues, Kiwi almost got killed at Oil Slick trying to push me up past the "missing rung" on the ladder...poor Kiwi, I think he saw his life flash before him as he was trying to "hump" me up to the next rung, all the while seeing my tank slip...and head toward his head...

I'd also like to thank Kiwi, the 1000 steps tank sherpa, a true gentleman will carry your tank down, then when you get underwater, there's a leak at the seal between the tank and valve, carry the tank back up 1000 steps, and bring a "fresh" tank back down 1000 steps...then Steven carried it back up...true gentleman, let me tell you!

I'd also like to thank Kiwi for being my "DD" on the night I wanted to get "lit." lol!

Jerry, thanks for doing the cannonballs off the dock, and Saint Louise...YOU DID IT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD-ksWgj4Z4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0-Khg0BOCE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99dLTJi4Z-E

Unfortunately, the quality of the vid and pictures were lost when I converted them to you tube But you get "the picture."

Tink,

Did you stay at the Bellefante?
If so, how was the dive off the dock, and who did you use for air?

We are thinking about staying there on our next trip. We have never stayed anywhere except Sanddollar, so it will all be a new experience for us....

Nice shot of the new KFC.
We were up at the Wisconsin Dells this weekend, and the KFC there actually has delivery! Maybe that's what Bonaire needs -- KFC delivery, at least to the resorts. I mean, if you're going to lard up with KFC, why burn calories going to get it? have it delivered!

Plus, can you imagine the "wonderful" mood Ruth would be in if she had to run deliveries all day? I think I would just call in a lot of bogus deliveries to remote parts of the island... just to give her a migraine.

But.... alas, I am just dreaming....

these came out great Tink.. thanks for sharing and making me sad and lonely for Bonaire...

Dave, yes, Belefonte. I LOVE that place. I just don't want to tell too many people cause then everyone will want to stay there. I HAD a bunch of pictures of the room, dive gear area, etc., but I accidentally deleted them...grrr! It is very quiet which is nice, and Robbert the manager is a gem. They have new chairs on the pier, with this little wooden tray that slides out to hold your drinks, etc. I loved sitting in a chair in the afternoon during a SI, catching a bite to eat and reading. The rooms are VERY nice.

I used Wannadive Windsock this time. There is one house between the Bel and Wannadive. I walked over on Sunday morning, got my tag, et. al. Picking up tanks and dropping off empties could not have been easier.

I like the dive off the dock. There is a lot to see, and the old "grid" is still there with a lot of life. I did one night dive off the Bel this year, and one "attempt" at a night dive...LOL! Plus a couple of other dives off the dock.

VERY nice vids!!!
Glad you had a wonderful time; you deserved it.
You truly were in GREAT company!

TinkerBell, can you PM me a copy of that pic of you in the water by the dock, grinning your face off? I love it...

Tink - thanks for the vids Good job
Thanks for sharing & getting it done so quickly!
Glad you had such a good time

Did Cynde say that she tried to KILL Steve a few times?

Jerry, moi? He is still recovering from his "kini elbow"...or was it the "windshield wiper" incident?

CB, that's Saint Louise grinning her face off! When I get a chance (hold your breath) I am going to post the photos here, they are too blurry in the vid....dang it!

OK, I downsized a few. I took Delta for the first time, I'm hooked. Used Wannadive again, Windsock location, easy peasy if you are on the South side of the island.

OMG, that one of Pachi's is HUGE...LMAO...guess I missed downsizing that one...L..M..D..A..O....

Here's Kiwi having a coke at the Windsock place. they give you straws with the can...WTF?

I love that shop.

Tink,

Is "Pachi Place" what I think it is?

If so, this is just way toooooo much, and no one has any idea why. This is hilarious, but unfortunately Ruth and I are the only ones that understand the inside joke.

But maybe I'll post another chapter and enlighten everyone.....

Pachi's Place LOL!

What's wrong with a straw in a can??? LMDAO!

Thanks Tink, you did good, and fast!!!

Yes Dave, that's "the" Pachi Place...I wanted to make sure I got a good pic, so next time someone asks about it, I can oblige with a good pic. I think you need to post another chapter, for us all.

Since the pic is so BIG, we can all look at it in detail...what flag is hanging on the flagpole all tattered and rolled up???

Gee, thanks Dave. With gas DOWN to around $4/gallon, even so, "no."
I tried delivery service for 3 years just after we opened in the mid 90's. I did end up driving most myself (even had one of those high-power spot lights like the police use-that was cool). Very hard to get good directions from people. The final straw came when I was taking directions from a customer, and it went something like this:
customer: "You remember "Jeanitsa," she worked for you 3 years ago?"
Me..."um...maybe...., why?"
Customer, "Well we're in the pink house down the street from where her grandmother lives"
Me: Sigh
I actually did find the house, but that was the last delivery.
Oy.

Re: Tink's pix of Pachi's-it's only the advertisement (gasp, a direction!) pointing you to the entrance, which is the next building. It's a good sign....

Jerry is that your bike out front?

Thanks, Tink.

This whole Panchi Place thing is pretty ironic, especially since it seems to revolve around you....

Good Stuff Tink.

Dave, oh, I'm good at fleet services...LOL!

Ruth, funny, I was trying to see where the "entrance" was...but couldn't...it wasn't "obvious"...like the "sign." LOL!

thank u tink.

yes another story please
es

Tink,
Ya done good!
Skip

Please, Where is Pachi Place and what is it?

Well Dan, Pachi's Place is a Gentlemans club of sorts.

"...of sorts?"

Well, I didn't quite know how to say it....I was trying to be gentle in case Dan was shocked that such a place existed!

If they are trying to run a buisness there, you would think they would advertise better

Yea, the sign is small...LOL!

All great stuff Tink. Thanks.

I think that Pachi's Place should make a donation to BT for all the free publicity it gets here!

Maybe Tink's making Pachi Place the only really large pic is something Freudian???... :–)

Glen...shhhhhhhh

Oh...OK.

Pachi's Place. Now that is what I'm talking about. LOL Cynde, how long was Jerry in there? Everytime I go to More for Less, I laugh going past Pachi's. I thought the Tubes were great. Not the tubes at Pachi's, but the You Tubes. LOL I stayed at Bellafone once. I loved it, but Kathi did not. ??? In fact, I thought it was the best place we ever stayed, and we have done a lot. When we were there, the manager was this Dutch guy who smoked one butt after another in his office. I think his name was George, but it had a Dutch pronunciation like Georde or something. We had quite a few things wrong, like the dishwasher, the ice maker, and one time the AC. I thought he was going to have a nervous breakdown everytime he saw me. I think he tripled his cigarette intake in those two weeks. He probably went to Pachi's every night I was there.

Jim..I think that might have been Sjoerd. I believe he's the manager at the Hotel Rocheline now (or he was as of last year). Sjoerd was the first manager at Bellafonte.

That would be him Vince. Thanks. My Dutch needs some work. LOL