On Monday, we vowed to visit Happy Bay, and the weather gamble
turned out in our favor, though not initially. We used the traditional rugged
hill-climb route, which was as daunting as ever, with the added obstacle of a
steady stream of rainwater running down the rock path. Made it a bit slippery
and treacherous at times, but we managed and sighed with relief when the meadow
came into view.
We learned that nudists tend to gather at the left end of
the beach, and the boaters typically anchor to the right, and usually wear
bathing suits. Looking around, this seemed to be exactly the case.
There were only eight couples there when we arrived, and
half of them left when it began to sprinkle. We sought shelter at Dany’s Lolo,
where we used the half-hour of inclement weather to get to know the man. Dany
turned out to be quite the conversationalist, and we learned a lot about the
Bay, his life, his business, and his political beliefs. I asked him if I could
put him in my next book, and he replied, “As long as I have a girlfriend”.
Funny guy.
Happy Bay is so unlike Orient Beach; it is just plain
uncanny. While we adore the lively spirit and diverse culture of Orient, the
feel of Happy Bay is quite the opposite. It is quiet, serene, beautiful,
unspoiled, and tranquil. The only sound you hear most of the time is the
hypnotic rhythm of the gently rolling surf. Conversations are rare here; people
gather with a quiet reverence and only converse softly between themselves. Two
sailboats were anchored near the east end and their occupants would spend equal
time on their vessels and the beach. Everyone seemed to be enjoying a shared
sense of complete relaxation.
When the rain left, it left for good, and the sky became
breathtaking with the panoramic view offered from this area. We stayed over
four hours, and even then left only because we were meeting up with our friends
again on Mullet Bay before their flight tomorrow morning. Dany informed us the
path from the gate is much easier for entrance; the gate itself has been broken
and can be easily opened by hand. We probably will park outside the gate and
walk though if we return on Wednesday as planned. I wanted to walk the hill
today for photo ops, but this new information is good to know for future trips.
If we had to pick only one beach to spend an entire week,
it would be a toss-up between Club Orient and Happy Bay.www.happybaynovel.com
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