Flat Hunter--Conclusion

Flat Hunter couldn’t let a bellyache stop him; though, because he was only mid-way through his journey across Saint Croix. They drove north and stopped at Columbus Cove, yep, you guessed it, at the beach where Christopher Columbus landed on his second voyage to the New World.

Then they drove further north to Christiansted, the larger town and capitol of Saint Croix. Flat Hunter walks on stone streets past many old buildings and shops. He walks to the boardwalk and gets a great view of the harbor, the ships anchored there and the historic fort. Flat Hunter tours Fort Christian that was built to protect the town from enemies like pirates.

From Christiansted, Flat Hunter and his aunt and uncle (they left Chuck at home after the rain forest ride) drove East. They drove and drove and the land became less green and they began to see cactus. The east end of Saint Croix is a desert and does not look like what one thinks of as a tropical island. At the very end of the island is Point Udall, the easternmost point of the United States. Standing on the tip of America, Flat Hunter sees only miles and miles of ocean in front of him.

Flat Hunter’s journey across Saint Croix has come to an end. He thinks about his amazing trip. He has traveled from a rain forest to a desert in one day. He has seen new and strange fish and animals. He has eaten many (too many) delicious foods.

And best of all he was swimming and sunning at the beach in November!!

Only now he has to leave, (sigh). A bit disappointed by farewell, he says “cheese and bread.”

The blog is back

Nearly a month that included Thanksgiving, a multi-state trip and technical difficulties have kept me offline for far too long. A brief update of our travels and the two part conclusion to Flat Hunter (I know you all are on pins and needles) will be forthcoming this week.

In addition, I intend to chronicle the Christmas Carnivale that takes place on St. Croix from Christmas to Three Kings Day. Tramps, horse races, masked balls and lots of to-doing that I cannot wait to witness.

Seasons Greetings to you all.

As always 85 degrees and mostly sunny.

Flat Hunter part 2

Okay I'm having issues adding phots, but here's the blog. I will include my delightful photographs which are shameless promotions of my pets soon.

Flat Hunter jumped in his aunt and uncle’s jeep and they left Fredriksted and began a drive through the rain forest. The rain forest is home to many large trees, waterfalls and streams and plants so thick that one cannot see very far from the road.

The rain forest roads can be rough and the jeep bounced and chugged as it drove up and over the mountains. Chuck, the dog, loves to go 4-wheeling and got so excited that he drooled on Flat Hunter and his aunt. “Chuck, dog drool! Cheese and Bread,” they said.

While driving through the rain forest, Flat Hunter saw many animals. He saw a tortoise, a very large bird called a heron, wild horses and mongooses. Mongooses are originally from India and were brought to Saint Croix to kill rats and snakes. A mongoose is the only animal that can fight and kill a cobra snake (cobras are found in India, not Saint Croix).

Other animals that Flat Hunter saw everywhere were geckos. These little lizards come in all sizes from teeny tiny to as big as man’s hand and live all around his aunt and uncle's house. A few of them have gotten in the house, but their cat, Gus, is very good at catching them.

Flat Hunter and Gus start the hunt by looking on the back porch where they found one suspended from the ceiling. (photo 2)

After snorkeling, riding through the rain forest and catching gekos, Flat Hunter was getting hungry. His aunt and uncle wanted to take him further across the island to taste local food. Flat Hunter tasted salt fish, a dish of fish dried in salt then cooked with spices. Crucians may eat salt fish for breakfast, dinner or supper. Flat Hunter likes salty things and thought it was good. Flat Hunter tasted seafood: kingfish and wahoo, both local fishes; spiny lobster; and conch fritters, a kind of hushpuppie made from the animal that lives inside a conch shell. All yummy!

For side dishes Flat Hunter ate seasoned rice and beans, potato salad that was different from potato salad at home, and man soup.

Man soup is a thick seafood soup that is supposed to be hearty enough for a grown man.
In the first spoon full of man soup, Flat Hunter got tasty fish.
In the second spoon full of man soup, Flat Hunter got tasty vegetables.
In the third spoon full of man soup, Flat Hunter got a fish jaw bone with teeth in it.
He decided that maybe he was not yet man enough for man soup and did not eat anymore.

Then his aunt and uncle took Flat Hunter to the La Reine (say rain) Chicken Shack, sometimes called, “The Dirty Chicken” for delicious roast chicken and Johnny cakes.

What are Johnny cakes? A sweet bread something like a cross between cornbread and a doughnut. Flat Hunter thought they were VERY delicious. He ate Johnny cake after Johnny cake, in fact he ate so many that he got a terrible bellyache. “Uhhh,” he moaned. “Cheese and Bread.”