- Updates from the Islands -

- - Antigua - -

- - - 2003 Hurricane Season - - -

- DELUGED!!!!!!!

From: "Allan D" <top_shatta_ad2002 AT hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 16:21:51 +0000

We recieved the heaviest rain in St.John's so far yesterday(at 6:00pm). A total of 1.54 Inches in 30 minutes and 2.38 Inches in 12 hours. I see we are going to get a bit more, not much though. There was also thunderstorms last night around 8:00pm.

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- BARBUDA ON SUNDAY THE 9TH MAY 04

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 18:54:09 -0400

Title: Message

THIS IS ENORMOUS SINK HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF BARBUDA WITH THE MOST INCREDIBLE FLORA AND FAUNA.

ONLY A 2 MILE HIKE FROM THE NEAREST "ROAD". AWFULLY HOT BUT WORTH THE WALK.IT IS CALLED DERBY CAVE AND POOLS AT THE BOTTOM IN HEAVY RAIN.GETTING VERY DRY HERE.

FRIENDS FOUND THE TOOTH OF AN EXTINCT MEGA SHARK (CARCHARADON) IN ONE OF THE WALLS.

WE ALSO FOUND A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE ON THE EAST COAST ON SUNDAY--IT TOOK 2 YEARS TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC.

BARBUDA IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND IN THE CARIBBEAN.

THE 2ND PHOTO WAS TAKEN BY MY DAUGHTER FROM ATOP THE CLIFF OVERLOOKING TWO FOOT BAY ON THE EAST COAST.TRY TO BEAT THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

barbuda MAY04 DERBY CAVE 020.jpg
barbuda MAY04 DERBY CAVE 095.jpg

- HS2004 COUNTDOWN!!! 24:12:6:24

From: "Allan D" <top_shatta_ad2002 AT hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 07 May 2004 15:56:13 +0000

We are almost there! Well, from the way things looked, we would get the first tropical wave coming off the African coast within the next 15-20 days, the first sign of the hurricane season 2004 kicking off!

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- MAY

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 09:20:42 -0400

PHOTO TAKEN YESTERDAY NEAR LIGNUMVITAE BAY-WEST INDIAN TREE DUCKS-DENDROCYGNA ARBOREA.

MAY IS THE ”LITTLE RAINY SEASON” AND ALSO THE END OF THE ANNUAL NORTHERN MIGRATION OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WATER IN THE WETLANDS AND ALL SPECIES ARE FEEDING.

THE DUCKS SHOWN DO NOT MIGRATE HOWEVER AND HAVE BECOME QUITE RARE.

VERY WINDY HERE WITH LOVELY INTERMITTENT SHOWERS.

BIRDS 036.jpg

- National Clean up planning GOES HIGH TECH

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Sat, 1 May 2004 13:38:53 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

ANTIGUA IS HAVING A THIRD NATIONAL CLEANUP where we hope to bring out the entire island....this is the motivation from our newly elected GOVERNMENT IN THE SUNSHINE.. if any of you are visiting our fair land at this time plan to JOIN IN!! It is MAY 22nd 2004

NATIONAL CLEAN UP EFFORT GOES HIGH TECH

For those who are computer users, a web site has been set up to help with registration for people who wish to come out and join the NATIONAL CLEAN UP EFFORT on May 22^nd 2004. THE Government in the Sunshine and ABITPC has joined forces to clean up Antigua and Barbuda. It is hoped that there will be total commitment by all who care about Antigua and Barbuda by joining hand to CLEAN UP THE LAND.

The web site http://antiguanvoice.com allows for ease of registration for those who want to sign up to come out and clean up, be it groups are individuals. There is also an email which can be used cleanup@antiguanvoice.com .

The web site contains sections to commit funds or equipment to the clean up efforts. ABITPC is raisinig funds to purchase 25,000 garbage bags and gloves for use on clean up day. It also contains information on the National Slogan and the National Poster Contest. There will also be a section where the public can report unsightly littered area and a section that gives an UPDATE of the planning activities.

The creation and design of the web site has been done through ANTIGUAN VOICE owned by Nicky Gardner and Bruce Riddell of Hodges Bay. They have donated their time and energy to this worthwhile project.

The public is invited to check out the NATIONAL CLEAN UP WEB SITE and to sign up to help in this important community effort.

- EASTER

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 14:12:20 -0400

Title: Message

A CALM WEEKEND IN BARBUDA

Barbuda'04 064.jpg

- HAPPY EASTER

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 07:08:45 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

To all who check on our Caribbean weather.. HAPPY EASTER..

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY..

very still and the sky is so blue and clear !! and the sea is flat calm!!

This week - for the nautical minded -- is the start of many exciting yacht races here in Antigua..

our CLASSIC BOAT RACES with some of the beautiful old classic yachts starts this week followed by the BIG ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK.. see below for more info on these exciting times!

http://www.antiguaclassics.com/ OUR CLASSIC BOAT RACES starting THIS WEEK

http://www.bigboatseries.com/index.html THE MEGA YACHTS (or BIG BOAT RACES

http://www.sailingweek.com/asw2004/news2004.html WORLD FAMOUS ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK ...starting April 25th

- FINAL COUNTDOWN!!!!! (1:23:06:05:23)

From: "Allan D" <top_shatta_ad2002 AT hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:54:40 +0000

Well...only 54 more days to go. With the Hurricane Season 2004 coming on a collision course, we must be prepare to face it and ride it out again. Official preliminary forecast suggest another ACTIVE hurricane season on its way...LOOKOUT!!!

The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE*

- THE EXPLORERS CLUB 2004 DINNER!

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 22:30:38 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

I HAVE JUST RETURNED LAST EVENING TO ANTIGUA FROM THE MOST UNIQUE WEEKENDS I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.. I REPORTED ON THIS IN PAST YEARS..BUT THIS YEAR WAS THE MOST AMAZING ..

AND I CAME HOME TO A NEW GOVERNMENT! THE OPPOSITION GOT INTO POWER IN OUR ELECTIONS HELD LAST TUESDAY... SO BIG CHANGES FOR OUR ISLAND! STAND BY FOR MORE

AN AMAZING EVENING IN THE LIFE OF MARTHA

THE 100TH ANNUAL DINNER OF THE EXPLORERS CLUB IN NEW YORK CITY

(and if this weekend was not enough, it was followed by BENEATH THE SEA this past weekend..

another amazing dive industry oriented event - but that's another story!)

I wanted to share this with those of you who have either attended this in the past with me...or who have talked about going in the future... can you eat spiders????

ON SATURDAY, March 20^th I attended this amazing event (for the 4th time) held by the Explorers Club, which I am greatly honored to be a member of.

It is always held at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue in New York. The theme was “A Century at the Forefront of Exploration” and speakers were those who had made major historical contributions during the past century. (and the best part was the evening was shared with good friends from near and far who joined the weekend!)

The evening started, as always, with the “exotics” served during the cocktail hour. Some of these included oven roasted North American Beaver, Roasted tempura tarantula, roasted termite on cherry tomatoes, west Virginia Cave Crickets, Endive float with goat cheeses and scorpion, pickled duck tongue, Herbed mealworms, termites and crickets, Braised earthworms in snow peas, smoked wild boar, poached bovine brain, rilette of raccoon, alligator marinated and lightly glazed, armadillo - to name a few!!! It should be noted

“Entomophagy, the eating of insects, by humans, has been practiced since the appearance of man on earth. In the past, all levels of society consumed various insects. Today insects remain an important nutritional food source in many parts of the world. Low in carbohydrates, high in protein, insects provide essential survival needs for the world’s explorers.”

The main meal was a bit more tame; Smoked Maine Salmon Roulades,

Midwestern Tournedos of Beef with roasted fingerling potatoes, asparagus, carrots and Milk chocolate mousse and hazelnut Dacquoise! The meal was complimented with special New Zealand wines in honor of the main speaker, Sir Edmund Hillary.

The speakers included Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the first men to summit Mount Everest; Buzz Aldrin, the second man to set foot on the moon and Stephen Squyres, the scientific director of the Mars lander Opportunity. Others were Don Walsh, who made history in 1960 by co-piloting the bathyscaphe TRIESTE to the deepest pint in the Earths Ocean (35,800 feet below sea level!) And Bertrand Piccard, who completed the first successful around the world balloon flight in 1991. Dr. Sylvia Earle - and my personal hero!) was also a speaker, the noted oceanographer whom TIME MAGAZINE calls a “hero of the planet”.

It was an evening to not be forgotten and makes me proud that I chose to be an adventurer for as Mark Twain said “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. I hope I can continue “going for it” for ages and ages hence!

"Do not follow where the path may lead... Go instead where there is no
path and leave a trail"

"Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference"

Robert Frost

- IT IS ELECTION DAY

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 09:22:11 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

It is a rainy day in paradise and a big day as TODAY IS THE DAY with elections on the rock!! Lots of action!

Already Gave you the sites in my posting below to get info on the outcome! I flew home from NEW YORK to be on island for about 18 hours late yesterday JUST TO VOTE as this is such an important time for our country!

We are all anxiously awaiting the final poll results!!

- HOT TIMES IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT!

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2004 17:10:12 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

THINGS ARE HEATING UP IN "PARADISE"! WITH OUR ELECTIONS BEING HELD ON MARCH 23RD! Lots of political action going on

This is meant to be the closest election Antigua has ever had! For those who want to hear the coverage live check the radio station below.. or you can log on to the site listed.

http://www.live365.com/stations/observerradio?site=observerradio

http://www.electionworld.org/election/antigua.htm

- VICTORY

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2004 09:43:34 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

Don;t usually post things like this but this is SUCH A WONDERFUL VICTORY for the environment of ANTIGUA and BARBUDA and for wild dolphins of the Caribbean that I had to share it..

have been reporting about this off and on in earlier posting! and to read back ground for those who may not know see

http://freedolphins.caribbean-marketing.net/index.html

TO DOLPHIN FREEDOM!

The Daily Observer,Wednesday February 25,2004

ANTIGUA WEST INDIES

Page 9

ABITPC Scores Victory In Dolphin Salvo; Pressing On For More

By Joanne C.Hillhouse

The decision to rescind permission given for the capture of 12 dolphins a year in Antigua & Barbuda ’s waters,previously

reported in The DailyOBSERVER,has been confirmed.The Antigua & Barbuda Independent Tourism Promotion Corporation

(ABITPC)is in receipt of said decision.It reads:"Cabinet at a meeting held on Wednesday 11th February 2004 reconsidered

its decision of 20th December 2000 and decided as follows: That the permission granted to Mr.John Mezzanotte to capture

twelve (12)dolphins annually from Antigua waters is hereby revoked;That any importation or exportation of dolphins into or

from Antigua and Barbuda be in strict compliance with all international obligations of Antigua and Barbuda." This

communication is dated February 23, 2004 and is signed by the Cabinet Secretary Lounel Stevens and copied to the

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries Winston Burleigh. Though the environmental

lobby has hailed this as a victory for dolphins,they ’ve indicated

Continued on page 10

ABITPC is contending that the dolphins in captivity for the swim with

programme at Dolphin Fantaseas in Antigua should be free like this

duo pictured here.       (photo of free dolphins)

From page 9

that it does not necessarily mean that the case brought by ABITPC against govern-

ment and Dolphin   Fantaseas will simply go   away.They argue that there is still the matter of the dolphins already in captivity,

as part of Dolphin Fantaseas ’ ‘Swim with the   Dolphins ’ programme,,to consider.   News of the   groundbreaking case broke

late last year,after a letter sent by ABITPC to Prime   Minister Lester Bird failed to provoke any action.

They argued,at that   time,that Antigua was in   violation of several treaties and believe that their action forced the

government ’s   hand.

"Before we actually took legal action,we wrote a letter to the prime minister demanding that the permission be rescinded," said

ABITPC spokesperson   Martha Watkins-Gilkes,   speaking to this publication   on Tuesday,February 24, "not even an

acknowledgement.So,when that was not   forthcoming,we then pursued legal action.And I think that now that we have

pointed out so clearly in the press all the international treaties that Antigua is in   violation of with this protect,that they

obviously know that they ’re going to lose the case."

That said though,   Watkins-Gilkes said she is surprised at this early victory.   "I thought that we

would have to go to court,   and,in fact,we may still go with some legal action," she said."I ’m waiting to hear

from our lawyer on that.        "The importation of the dolphins currently in   captivity is,she indicated,a violation of the

Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)."We do wish to pursue the fact that they

were brought in illegally in violation with that CITES agreement," Watkins--Gilkes said."(That issue)is not in

here (the Cabinet decision) at all,the issue of the dolphins that have been imported in violation of

CITES."

But,with that battle still to be fought,ABITPC is still in a celebratory mood

from all indications. Apress release quoted Watkins-Gilkes as saying,"ABITPC is delighted that this long,drawn-out

debate,which has been very time consuming,mentally and financially draining,has come to a close and that justice has

trumpeted. We are pleased that the environment of Antigua & Barbuda will not be compromised by the removal of

our wild dolphins.We feel, and I have stated from the start of this saga,that the government was sold a dirty and misleading

"bill of goods " from foreigners who came to our island and want to exploit our marine resources for their own per-

sonal financial gain with very little in it for Antigua & Barbuda.   "In a public debate held with the managing

director Arthur Bud Krames,before the project opened,he stated they would employ over 20

Antiguans.I would like to ask how many Antiguans are employed some two years later."

The release concluded:"It is hoped that this case will have a positive impact throughout the

Caribbean islands,in that the governments of these islands will be forced to act responsibly to the citizens

of their respective country in the upholding of any international environmental treaty they are party to."

- ANTIGUA THINGS

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2004 12:35:17 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

Beautiful weather in the islands just now! typical this time of year.. although more rain than normal..

Have reported to you on the DOLPHIN LEGAL BATTLE but it now

seems to be a VICTORY FOR THE DOLPHINS OF ANTIUGA AND BARBUDA . Awaiting official word

Check this site and then go to UPDATE in YELLOW BOX for the latest news which broke yesterday.

http://freedolphins.caribbean-marketing.net/index.html

- STILL in PARADISE!

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 08:21:17 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

TIME FLIES THEY SAY... guess it does... it has been ages since I posted with lots going on in Antigua... Our elections are coming soon so there is lots of political debate!

Am involved through ABITPC ( Antigua Barbuda Independant Tourism Promotion Corp in a big project in the community of Freetown.. establishment of a community park to include a pond with a botanical garden setting including a fenced childrens park and a proprogation house to grow plants and trees to beautify the area. The community is doing the work so it is wonderful to see the self help efforts (so photos attached and more availalble if anyone wants to see more. ABITPC is also in a legal battle to try to stop the capture of our wild dolphins ..

for more see http://freedolphins.caribbean-marketing.net/index.html

clean up jan 04.jpg
DSCN0048.jpg

- BEAUTIFUL HALF MOON BEACH

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 09:05:24 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

GOSH..where did January go ???? was last wishin you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS and suddenly it is almost FEBRUARY! Yesterday for the first time in several years did a BEACH ENTRY SCUBA DIVE AT HALF MOON BAY - pictured here...... rated by the US Travel Channel in the TOP 10 most BEAUTIFUL BEACHES IN The WORLD!!!

guess it is easy to see why.... about half of the beach is private owned land turned into a NATIONAL PARK so it will never be developed..and the other half has one hotel on it.. sadly closed since 1995 Hurricane LUIS...but with hopes it will be developed again someday!!

It was encouraging to see coral coming back in places in the bay as it was badly damaged by the 1990s hurricanes that kept visiting Antigua... hope that pattern is broken as we have been spared for 3 years!

Sorry to hear about the SEVERE WEATHER so many of you are having... record COLD TEMPS on the US east coast...

COME TO PARADISE and warm up!!!

.... and to learn more about Antigua check out this super new site the

"father of our history" (Desmond Nicholson) has developed.... www.antiguamuseums.org

HALF MOON BAY ANTIGUA

- MERMAID WEATHER

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 17:40:28 -0500

Title: Message

YOU COULD NOT FIND A MORE PLEASING CLIMATE ANYWHERE THAN IT IS HERE.NOT TOO HOT,EVENINGS SEXY COOL,SEA GENTLE WITH UNIMAGINABLE HUES OF BLUE AND GREEN.BIRDS EVERYWHERE,FISH BITING AND WHALES ABOUT TO ARRIVE................BEAT THAT!!!!!!

- Update

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2004 11:30:24 -0500

Title: Message

only 5 months to the start of the 2004 hurricane season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- MERRY CHRISTMAS

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2003 09:09:51 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

I wish all who love Antigua and check out our "well being" throughout the year via this wonderful site Gert created A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR for 2004! something to give you a chuckle below!! no offense guys!!

Subject: Reindeer truths-Christmas trivia

Did you know...

While both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year,

according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, male reindeer drop

their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December.

Female reindeer retain their antlers until after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen - had to be a girl.

We should've known.

Only women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost

- HAPPY HOLIDAYS

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 06:51:55 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

Had Stormy weather the last couple of days....with yesterday being very gusty (winds on the Atlantic side up to 28 mph) and also rain rain!! But at least we

are not having a REAL storm like the northern islands

and getting ready for CHRISTMAS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS

TO ALL

- BEAUTIFUL weather...

From: "Alan Scholl" <scholla AT candw.ag>
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 08:11:45 -0400


With the exception of some intermittent night showers, we have been blessed
with unbelievable daytime weather. The temperatrure has cooled off from our
summer heat so there is a slight brisk to the breeze. Nevertheless, the sky
is brilliant blue and the clouds do not get much whiter. Our visitors should
enjoy this week along with the few lucky ones who do not have to work ;-)

Alan B. Scholl
http://www.digitalphoto.ag/scholla
Amateur Radio: V21BF
Antigua, West Indies - "Where Land & Sea Make Beauty..."

- Mdm.Odette?

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 22:29:17 -0500

Title: Message

IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER.

- rain and sunshine

From: "Alan Scholl" <scholla AT candw.ag>
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 10:14:43 -0400


We have been inundated with rainfall over the last two days. The sun is once
again occasionally peeking out in the north but there is still some rainfall
over the Shekerley mountains in the south. There is some rain clouds hanging
around so we could expect more scattered showers later today with
intermittent periods of bright sunshine.

Alan
http://www.digitalphoto.ag/scholla
Amateur Radio: V21BF
Antigua, West Indies - "Where Land & Sea Make Beauty..."

- HAPPY TURKEY DAY

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 07:39:11 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

POURED WITH RAIN LAST NIGHT! We all have full cisterns which is a God send!

Happy Thanksgiving.... it is not celebrated here in Antigua but many of us who are duel citizens will

celebrate with the traditional THANKSGIVING! Check the site below for a unique Thanksgiving greeting

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=0183913358

- Nippy morning !!!

From: "Alan Scholl" <scholla AT candw.ag>
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2003 08:12:58 -0400


Anyone reading this outside the Caribbean might have a chuckle, but this
morning dropped down to 71F(22C). Needless to say, I had to break open the
"winter" blanket. Today is a stunner, the sky has never been this blue for a
few weeks, just a few scattered clouds on the horizon. It will be a
wondwerful day to be on the beach.

Alan
http://www.digitalphoto.ag/scholla
Amateur Radio: V21BF
Antigua, West Indies - "Where Land & Sea Make Beauty..."

- RAINY DAYS GONE!

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 14:11:48 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

Have been off island for about 10 days....wow what a rainy time .. leaky roofs, mud ponds all over!! Antigua is real green now ! and the gardens loved it!

.. but people were sick of it... since we always complain about NOT ENOUGH RAIN we have to be thankful!! TODAY IS A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY!! Nice to be back in "paradise"!

- horse spiders

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 17:45:50 -0500

Title: Message

rain rain rain

horse spiders walking

- STORMY

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 20:03:06 -0500

THIS SYSTEM OVER US JUST SEEMS TO GET STRONGER AND STRONGER. “PRESSURES FALLING EVERYWHERE”.

MORE RAIN IN THE LAST 4 DAYS THAN IN THE WHOLE YEAR.SQUALLS WITH 30-35 MPH WINDS.WE LOVE IT.

MY SON,ELI,IS HOWEVER BETWEEN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND PUERTO RICO BRINGING HIS NEW BOAT DOWN FROM FLORIDA---WITH ONLY ONE CREW.MAKES ME REALLY NERVOUS.

SYRTEM COULD BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION SOON.A REVERSE LENNY???

- Total eclipse of Moon tonight

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 19:42:45 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

ANTIGUA... WHICH IS USUALLY A PARADISE FOR STAR GAZIN...(NO WONDER IT IS SUCH A "ROMANTIC" PLACE... SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE A Total eclipse of THE Moon tonight

BUT WE ARE COVERED IN HEAVY CLOUDS!! HAVE HAD RAIN RAIN RAIN AND MORE RAIN ALL DAY!!

WONDERFUL FOR OUR CISTERNS!! BUT SORRY I AM MISSING THIS SPECIAL EVENT IN THE SKIES!

We cant complain since we have fabulous starry starry nights most of the time! Those who are viewing...

enjoy!!

- weather is RAINY!!!

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 08:40:59 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

rain rain wonderful rain .... Still getting it.... very overcast as the satellite pic shows... a day for lovers and such!!

- weather today

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 09:01:57 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

Wonderful rain now

... if you ck out the Sat. pic you will see we have nice cloud cover bringing ALWAYS WELCOME RAIN to the rock...

not so for the (tourists) but we need the rain!!!

- WONDERFUL WHALE SHARKS

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2003 09:29:28 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTIGUA.. today is INDEPENDENCE DAY ON ANTIGUA.. lots of celebrations going on!! and about that whale shark reported on http://www.stormcarib.com/reports/2003/antigua.shtml !!!

WOW OH WOW... THANKS Back room John boy for the WHALE SHARK POSTING and sharing this amazing story -- not cluttering the site at all since there is ONLY BEAUTIFUL WEATHER TO REPORT ON ...

What a wonderful and rare experience Doctor Nick and his back room boys had to have this

"close up and personal" marine encounter with a RARE Whale shark.. I too have been blessed with this encounter.

For the record he told me it was 20 miles DUE WEST off Antigua on October 19th 2003, and the whale shark was about 35 feet long...and hung around for about 15 minutes just checking out the boat and allowing them to "touch it", gently rolling over and descending!

SEE BELOW FOR MORE FROM SRI... these are the unique experiences in the sea that stay with you a life time... to touch nature up close WITH THE ENCOUNTER BEING THE CREATURES CHOICE... NOT BECAUSE IT IS CONFINED AND FORCED TO interact with humans in order to be fed!!

PART OF THE REASON A NUMBER OF "CONCERNED CITIZENS" HERE ARE FIGHTING TO

http://freedolphins.caribbean-marketing.net/index.html

BACK TO WHALE SHARKS!!!!

See attached photo for the most amazing whale shark/ diver encounter I have ever known about...with underwater film maker Stan Waterman - ( who I have had the pleasure of working with in his underwater filming all over the world for 25 years! ) being "nosed" by a whale shark...

The Shark Research Institute (SRI), based in Princeton, NJ, is engaged in a worldwide study to locate, tag and document the behavior of whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, the largest fish in the sea. Whale sharks are rare; by 1986 there had been only 320 recorded sightings in all of western scientific literature. Seasonal aggregations have been observed in recent years with the result that whale sharks have become a prime target of eastern fisheries. As an example, last year three villages in India alone slaughtered some 1,000 whale sharks

http://www.sharks.org/whale_shark/ows.html

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The whale shark is a the biggest shark and the biggest fish. It is NOT a whale. It has a huge mouth which can be up to 4 feet (1.4 m) wide. Its mouth is at the very front of its head (not on the underside of the head like in most sharks). It has a wide, flat head, a rounded snout, small eyes, 5 very large gill slits, 2 dorsal fins (on its back) and 2 pectoral fins (on its sides). The spiracle (a vestigial first gill slit used for breathing when the shark is resting on the sea floor) is located just behind the shark's eye. Its tail has a top fin much larger than the lower fin.

stan wh sharksmaller s.jpg

- FW: whale shark

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 18:33:26 -0500

Hate to clutter site with fotos but thought you’d like to see our tame whale shark and some of the backroom boys.

2.jpg
3.jpg
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- RAIN

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 06:03:59 -0500

WE’VE ALL HAD A GOOD WASH.RAIN,AS WE SAY ‘FOR SO’.MORE PLEASE.

- Update

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 07:11:38 -0500

Title: Message

FLAT CALM.BEAUTIFUL.DRY.WARM.PERFECT FOR REFUGEES FROM THE NORTH.BORING...........ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

- MUCK DIVING - EXPLORING ENGLISH HARBOR

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 18:10:22 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

BEAUTIFUL WEATHER IN ANTIGUA NOW!

Had quite an adventure this wkend... REAL MUCK DIVING in the truest sense.... in our famous ENGLISH HARBOR (where many of our ships dock.. and original home base for Lord Nelson's fleet! (a MUST SEE for any tourists coming to Antigua and Barbuda... ck out the web sites below....

The purpose...to photograph the original old wharf which is being rebuilt and will be covered forever and ever more during the coming week with massive concrete structures. Our Museum (at the request of our "father of historical documentation Desmond Nicholson) wanted this documented on film "for the record" so Dr Reg Murphy, Antiguas own "famous archeologist" and I dove on the site to record this --- diving in this water....with 6 inch viz is NOT FOR THE WEAK OF HEART (maybe for the slightly "crazy" - BUT WE PREFER TO CALL OURSELVES ADVENTURERS ) ..beside the "pollution" who knows what creepy crawlers were hiding out under the wall!! I THOUGHT I saw the remains of some drunken British sailor from centuries ago... or was it an underwater ghost... and am sure there are tiny crabs crawling in my ears today!!!

THE construction of the area was started in 1727 with the first wharf.... The section we were diving on was built in 1818 by slave labor (some 25 slaves worked on this area and the names of all are recorded)

This was truly a walk down "memory lane" ... there is lots documented in the Dockyard Museum(see site below and is a MUST DO for anyone coming to Antigua!!

PHOTOS attached

Pier above water shows us diving on the dock (you can see the original wood columns just below the water surface

02 shows diving along the edge being reinforced with massive concrete block

93 & 84 entering the water

117 close up of the cooper sheeting which the wooden poles were wrapped in to protect from

worms eating them

012 Martha exits the water with Desmond (our "father of history" looking on in foreground)

INTERESTING sites on the DOCKYARD

http://www.antiguanice.com/places/nelsons/nelsons.htm

http://www.skyviews.com/antigua/nelsons.html

http://www.haleinn.com/lv-nels.htm

http://www.antiguanice.com/places/d-museum/d-museum.htm

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- GERT the STORM CARIB CREATOR

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 18:52:31 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)

BACK FROM MY NEARLY 3 WEEKS OF "WALK ABOUT"...AND WHAT ADVENTURES... ALTHOUGH IT IS NICE TO BE HOME AND ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE NEARLY THRU HURRICANE SEASON!! WEATHER IS BEAUTIFUL!

SENT U A PIC WHILE ON THE ROAD OF THE HEAVY DUTY DIVE EQUIPT on display from my first stop in Miami ....and also at that event got to met one of my "heroes", undersea explorer DR SYLVIA EARLE (see photo) - who has walked on the ocean floor at 1250 feet (and many other amazing sea related adventures)...see http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/ear0bio-1

THEN AS OF LATE "I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO".... WHAT a TOWN!!!

CK OUT THE FAB SEA LIONS FROLICKING JUST OFF FISHERMANS WHARF... (hey those back room boys may think they are mermaids AND HEAD WEST! --not sure where their tastes run in "mermaids"!!

AND BEST OF ALL I MET "OUR GERT" (and his pretty wife!) ... (see photo of gert attached!!) THE CREATOR OF THIS SITE STORM CARIB!!! (who lives just outside SAN FRAN!) We tried to meet once in Washington, DC yrs back, and it did not work... so at last...after reporting with him for about 7 years we finally met!!

(and I always thought our genius who created Storm carib was an OLD MAN!!! )

Pictured with his "to die for" precious twin boys (talk about future lady killers!)

if only i was lots of years younger, I would fight the other little gals to play in the sand box with this pair!!! they are so precious ... he promises to bring them to Antigua when they are a bit older!!!

SUPER TO MEET U AND UR WONDERFUL FAMILY DEAR GERT!!! TXS FOR STORM CARIB AND ALL IT DOES FOR PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD!

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- NEVIS FISHING

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2003 18:58:15 -0400

Title: Message

A BUNCH OF US WENT DOWN TO NEVIS FOR THEIR ANNUAL FISHING TOURNAMENT.ABOUT 8 BOATS FROM ANTIGUA.

EVEN 2 OF OUR BOYS WERE PERSUADED TO LEAVE THEIR ROOM.NO VALID TRAVEL DOCS. THOUGH.GOT THEM IN ANYWAY.BEAUTIFUL WEATHER CALM SEAS.NEVIS IS YOUR FAIRY TALE VOLCANIC ISLAND.WE TRAVELLED UP TO MONTSERRAT ACROSS TO REDONDA AND ALL OVER THE OCEAN LOOKING FOR THE BIG ONE.GOT A FEW WAHOO,TUNA,DORADOS.CAME BACK UP TODAY.WEATHER A LITTLE CHOPPIER.MY BROTHER DR.NICK CAME ACROSS AN EXTREMELY TAME WHALE SHARK ABOUT 30 FEET LONG SUNBATHING ABOUT 12 MILES WEST OF ANTIGUA.THEY CAME ALONGSIDE IT AND SCRATCHED ITS HEAD FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT WENT ABOUT ITS BUSINESS!!!!!!! SORRY I MISSED IT.

WITH A BIT OF LUCK SOME RAIN TONIGHT.

SADLY NO MERMAIDS.

- NICHOLAS 2004-----JOSE 1999

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2003 07:59:48 -0400

Title: Message

JOSE'S EYE CAME STRAIGHT OVER ANTIGUA ON THE 20TH OCTOBER,1999

NICHOLAS MAY MAKE IT A DAY OR TWO EARLIER AND CONSIDERING HOW FAR EAST PRE-NICHOLAS IS NOW, HE MAY BE SOMEWHAT STRONGER.IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER

- HI FROM MIAMI

From: "MARTHA WATKINS GILKES" <gilkesm AT candw.ag>
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 10:43:47 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time)

NICE TO SEE ANTIGUA GETTING RAIN...HOT AND WARM IN MIAMI

AM AT BIG SCUBA DIVE RELATED CONFERENCE WITH THE CUTTING EDGE OF NEW EQUIPMENT ON SHOW INCLUDING AMAZING NAVY EQUIPMENT LIKE REBREATHERES AND SEMI CLOSED BREATHING EQUIPMENT. AND GLAD TO SEE THERE IS NO BAD WEATHER COMING TOWARDS FLORIDA...HEIGHT OF IRONY WOULD BE FOR ME TO LEAVE HURRICANE ALLEY AND HAVE A HURRICANE IN FLORIDA!!

____________________________________________________

IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here

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- back to sunshione

From: "Alan Scholl" <scholla AT candw.ag>
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 10:22:42 -0400


After two days of almost continous rain, we are back to a bright and sunny
day this morning. It is still a bit hazy as the sky is not quite its
brilliant Caribbean blue but the sun is out and shining. This is a perfect
beach day!

Alan B. Scholl
http://www.digitalphoto.ag/scholla
Amateur Radio: V21BF
Antigua, West Indies - "Where Land & Sea Make Beauty..."

- LIFE BOUY

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 18:27:21 -0400

WELL WE’VE HAD SOME RAIN! AND FEW PEOPLE ON EARTH APPRECIATE IT MORE THAN WE DO.IT PRODUCES A CATHARTHIS IN US ALL,THE COLOURS,THE TEMPERATURE,OUR PSYCHES,THE VEGETATION,SUNRISE AND SUNSET ALL CHANGE.WE HAVE 2 SEASONS,WET AND DRY,IT IS JUST THAT WE TEND TO BECOME IRRITABLE WHEN THE WET SEASON FAILS TO ARRIVE…AND THE BOYS IN THE BACKROOM TEND TO RIPEN.SO YESTERDAY 2 OF THEM (MARTIN AND TONY) SAW STORM CARIB’S SAT PIC AND REQUESTED SOME LIFEBOUY SOAP.IT WAS DELIVERED IN THE NICK OF TIME.THE FRAGRANCE OF THEIR ROOM IS TRANSFORMED!

THE RAIN HAS NOW STOPPED,THE TREE FROGS ARE GOING BANANAS,THE HORSE SPIDERS ARE WALKING AND THE BOYS ARE SNOOZING.

RAIN IS OUR PANACEA AND THAT WHICH BOUYS ALL LIFE HERE.

- DARK GREY,LIGHT GREY,DEEP BLUE,LIGHT BLUE,PINK AND ORANGE

From: "John Fuller" <fullerj AT candw.ag>
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 18:35:45 -0400

Title: Message

FINALLY SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE WEATHER.WIND AND SEAS UP--MAYBE WE'LL GET SOME RAIN

IT LOOKS GOOD,STORMY AND WILD EVEN IF IT'S JUST BLUFFING.

PERHAPS MARTIN,MAX,TIM,STEVE,BUSHY,ELI,AL AND THE REST OF THE BOYS CAN FINALLY GET THEIR END-OF-SUMMER BATH.

- Beautiful sunny day...

From: "Alan Scholl" <scholla AT candw.ag>
Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2003 08:09:03 -0400


Looks like today will be a perfect beach day. We had some intermittent
showers of blessing yesterday but the sky is blue, the clouds ared slowly
drifting by and the hills are a beautiful green. Well some of us have to
work, so I won't be one of the lucky ones on the beach. I am sure our
visitors will have a lovely day.

Alan B. Scholl
http://www.digitalphoto.ag/scholla
Amateur Radio: V21BF
Antigua, West Indies - "Where Land & Sea Make Beauty..."

- Updates from the Islands -

- - Antigua - -

- - - 2003 Hurricane Season - - -

"Do not follow where the path may lead... Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail"

"Somewhere ages and ages henceTwo roads diverged in a woodAnd I took the one less traveled byAnd that has made all the difference"

Robert Frost

"Do not follow where the path may lead... Go instead where there is no
path and leave a trail"

"Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference"