Wednesday night, David and T picked Greg and I up and took us to a very good
restaurant on the inland waterway.  Mike Gray was already there when we
arrived.  I was as excited as a little kid to meet him and so overly
exuberant in my greeting.  I hope I didn't hurt your ribs, Mike.

After we were seated and I got somewhat calmed down, it turned out to be a
lovely and mellow evening.  With our table right by the water and the slight
breeze blowing by, I began to feel my need for sleep.  Mike allowed that I
could dive with him the next morning (I must say the little kid in me was
relieved) and then he excused himself.   Rick had let sleep overtake him
earlier and so he missed dinner but did manage to catch up with us for a
little bit later.  Greg and I were taking a cab back to the hotel and that
gave us an opportunity for a few more hearty laughs.

The cab driver was so anxious to see that he didn't lose us as a fare, that
he came the wrong way down a one way street.  Our gang was saying our
goodbye's to one another as a police car pulled up behind the cab.  I damn
near stepped into the police car instead of the cab.  The cabbie and the
police officer were exchanging words and the officer even spoke somewhat
sharply to me.  I pointed out that I was from out of town and how would I
have known which direction the driver should be facing.  With that, Greg and
I piled into the back of the cab, to be treated to the cab driver going off
about how that policeman "picks on him all the time".  The driver was
originally from Haiti and so I could only understand every third word he was
saying (if that) but he was non-stop rapid patter all the way home.  I
caught a giggling fit and laughed my sides sore all the way back to the
hotel.  My laughter only seemed to encourage him to greater enthusiasm for
his story telling.

Thursday morning, Greg and I drove to Dave's place, where we jumped into his
truck off to Boynton to dive the Splashdown.  On this trip, we were to meet
up again with Dennis, Lee, Jim L., Bill and Robin.  Also joining us were
Curtis, Mike Gray, Dan Volker and Sandra.

Now, we have reached the time that was the real purpose of my trip.  I was
there to be Greg's body-guard and protect him from Curtis ripping his arm
off.

As we were unloading our gear and getting ready to board, I looked over and
saw Paul Bunyan standing by the curb.  I recognized our nemesis immediately
and in a blink realized how to diffuse the situation.  I walked over, held
my hand out and said "Curtis?  Very pleased to meet you.  I'm Greg Mossman."
You should have seen the look on his face.  He blinked.  His jaw dropped.
He blinked again, he sort of started to stutter something as he shook my
hand . . .but of course, I can never contain my laughter . . .and so he
quickly realized how it was.  Regardless, those few brief seconds were worth
more than words can ever say.  All that aside, meeting Curtis was a pleasure
and a delight.  He's a great guy and Greg would never have needed my
protection from him.  They got along like a house on fire, once Curtis
figured out who was really who.  Later, Curtis paid me back by giving me a
full body shot to the belly. ;^)

It looked like Dan V and Sandra weren't going to make it, so we started to
leave the dock.  All of a sudden a car comes to a halt in front of the
Splashdown shop and pops the trunk.  Some of our crew were yelling "that's
Dan and Sandra go back, go back".  I was saying, "No, no, no those DIR guys
are late, let's leave, go, go, go!!!" hee hee. Just kidding.

Dan and Sandra came on board and quickly got set up (right beside me).  I
didn't say anything for a few minutes and then I looked up at Dan and said
"Hello, do you know me?"  He looked at me kind of puzzled.  I said "It's me,
chilly" with the usual little wicked gleam in my eyes.  Imagine my delight
when he actually seemed genuinely pleased to meet me.  We had a great chat
on our way out and I liked him very much.

We dove Casino Point and Horseshoe reefs that day.  I could have dove
Horseshoe every dive.  While these dives are not particularly deep at
60-65', the soft corals are pretty and there is an abundance of wildlife.
There were many large schools of fish that are not often seen on Caribbean
dives of my experience.  I was hanging out with one of those schools when
Mike Gray came over and got me.  He took me away from the reef and out over
the sand.  Eventually we slowed and a ray rose out of the sand and began
circling us.  While I have been diving with rays before, there was something
particularly special about this gift that Mike had shared with me.
Eventually, the ray managed to catch too much attention and it left us.  As
I returned to the reef, I noticed a perfect outline of its body and tail,
where it had once rested ever lightly in the sand.

After dives that day, our gang adjourned to Margie's for lunch.  I sat
across from Curtis who ate a lumberjack's breakfast *and* lunch.  Again,
while it had been the plan to try and catch a few Z's that afternoon before
dinner . . . Dave, Greg, Curtis and I had a long, long chat that was worth
ever so much more.  We'd have been there still, had I not stepped in to
whine about my ear and remind them that it was coming up on time for dinner.
You know how boys are.

Part III to follow