Getting Blown Away in Maho Bay

After we dropped Granny off at the airport on April 3rd, we still had our tour guide Rufus waiting to take us back to the boat by taxi.  He was cool with stopping at Maho Beach to watch the planes take off before we returned to Philipsburg. 

Maho Beach has become a big tourist attraction over the years. It is a little beach right at the end of the airport runway where you can see planes taking off and landing. There is usually a big wave that breaks on the beach when a plane lands. At take off, the jet blast blows people, sand and everything else towards the water.  It is noisy, exciting, and a little freaky at times. 

Ready for take off

We timed our first visit to Maho Beach perfectly to see the large Air France plane take off.  It was amazing to see items being ripped off people, and stuff on the beach get blown away. Wavey was not happy with the sand burn she got on her legs from the sand storm that blew up when the plane took off.  It was an experience for sure!

See other videos on You Tube for a better idea of what happens here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlTNj6IWey4

Over the next few days, we made our way to the French side of the island, and returned to Marigot with the plan to focus on school and some projects we have been putting off for months.  We anchored close to a hotel, where we could get free internet on the boat, with a good signal after midnight. (If you are wondering how I have been catching up on blog posts, this is the reason!)

So, as I was bingeing on Facebook late at night, I noticed that our friends Susan and James (from Kingston, Ontario) just happened to be on a cruise in the Eastern Caribbean.  I sent them a message asking if they were coming to St. Martin.

As we were getting up the following morning, I got a message stating that their cruise ship was just arriving in Philipsburg (where we had just been for a week!), and that they would be at Maho Beach for the day.  The kids did not balk at postponing school for the day. We raced through breakfast, grabbed our beach gear and hopped in the dinghy. We motored into the Lagoon and across to the Dutch side to the Pink Iguana, a bar and nightclub close to the airport where we left our dinghy. 

                           


From here, we walked half a mile to the beach where we met Susan and James and several of their friends!

Kathryn, Wavey, Simon and Susan

Susan, James and John

It was a brilliant way to spend the day swimming, catching up and eating great food at the Sunset bar and restaurant.

This sign just seems to attract more people 

Susan on the beach at the end of the runway

Crowds at Maho

Susan and her quesadilla

Watching for planes

Wavey and the Green Bear on the beach (This bear from Japan apparently makes appearances all over the world.)

Nacho boy

Quesadilla girl

Wenda and Lesley

Kent and Jeff

Just a small plane

After a whirlwind of a day, we hugged our friends goodbye and walked back to the dinghy. While we were having a drink at the Pink Iguana (as payment for leaving our dinghy there for the day), I explained the meaning of the word, surreal to the kids; the day had a dreamlike, uncanny, and magical feel to it. It is not everyday you get to hang out with your family and good friends on a beach with breaking waves and planes landing all around you!


We are planning on being here in St. Martin (French side) for a couple of weeks. We are going to hunker down to get some work done, clock some Bomeschool hours, and hang out with some other cruising families here.  Life aboard is never dull.

 

Cheers,
The Crew