TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Oh, what a night.......

Yesterday was another laid back day for us. We pretty much hung at the pool here and enjoyed the luxury of not having to go anywhere or do anything, knowing full well we were meeting good friends at Marks Place later on for dinner.

It was truly a gorgeous day until again, out of no where, another of those rain squalls blew in. We thought about it and we gave serious thought to calling the Cannegieters and cancelling but at just about the time we were due to leave the rain backed off and by the time we got in the car it had almost stopped. So certain was I it was done, when I realized I had forgotten my umbrella I basically said what the heck and by the time we would get to Marks the rain would have passed and we wouldn’t need it. WRONG!!

And then, about half way to ‘the hill’ it started all over again but this time with a vengeance. So much so, that by the time we reached Marks we were questioning our own sanity for being out in it, but again, these rain squalls had come up off and on ever since we’ve gotten here so we figured it would pass. This one was different!

The Cannegieters arrived at just about the same time we did so we dodged the pelting rain and made it into Mark’s and to our table. Hugs and hellos exchanged, drinks and dinner ordered, we reminisced for the first hour but by now the rain, instead of stopping, had become seriously intensified. Barbara kept checking her cell phone weather and they kept upping the stop time for this particular passing squall. By this time, after finishing their delicious bucket of mussels and a couple of glasses of wine, Barbara was again checking her cell phone for updates and suggesting we spend the night at their house basically around the corner from Marks. She had just read the first official warnings about street flooding and cautions that people should avoid driving at all costs. We knew that we’d have issues getting across White Sands Road but didn’t ever dream we’d experience the flooding on the hill.

OMG! It was horrible. You may think I’m being melodramatic but there were small mud slides - small for sure - and the rains were gushing down the hillside like nothing I could/would have ever imagined. And we had waited to leave until the rain jad slowed again, almost to a stop. When we finally reached the exit driveway from The Dunes Casino you could barely find tgecroad in places but thank God our trusty little R14 made it through and with my DH’s steady hand and nerves of steel along with the absolute grace of God, we did arrive safely back at Beachside Villas.

The mussels were wonderful and the pleasure of catching up with long time friends was excellent but perhaps next time lunch so at least, God forbid, something like that should happen again, we could see where we were going and what we were dealing with.

Glad you made it back safely. Mark's Place is a true gem.

OMGoodness - those mussels were incredible. The very best I’ve ever had and the broth was out of this world. They could serve it as a soup w/o the mussels themselves. Well, they could if they served it with a lot of sliced baguette!

Glad you made it back ok. We have those 'gulley washer' rains around here a LOT. I've never seen it rain so HARD as it rains down here. And everything around here is flat as a fritter. I can't imagine having to go up over that mountain, and then deal with that lake in front of the Dunes., in that kind of rain. Glad you're ok. We haven't been to Mark's in a while, but we always enjoy it.

Pat, does R14 referent to the car? I think had that one once. And we've also had #1.

Glad you made it home safely!

We were on the island in December many years ago, and my wife and I we're at the La Vie en Rose in Marigot one evening when it rained like Pat describes. We were certain we were going to be stuck at the restaurant for the night. Intersections were flooded, cars were floating, etc. The water went down by about 11, and we were able to make it back to Cupecoy around midnight. That spot that floods by the golf course was impassable for days though..it would rain just enough each evening to keep filling it back up. Strange year..great beach weather all day, and then it would pour at night. A quick trip just down the road to Maho village or Simpson Bay had to be made "the long way" so we had more dinners on the French side than usual by far.

It was quite the experience, for sure, and one I don’t want a do-over on EVER!

Wow! That's incredible.

The spot on White Sands by the casino was a lake all week too! There are pot holes on each side, and only one real spot to get through. And after the heavy rains we also had, it was scary! Going through very slow with foot on brake to keep them going.....I kept thinking water would come in the door! Our little R51 made it through!

You really should've stayed with the C's! But I understand the desire to get home and with your own things.

Oh my! Sure hope the rain squalls slow down by the time we get there. I'm so sorry you had to go through that -- I would have been a wreck! Glad you're safe and that you had a good time with friends.

What a story! Glad you are safe.

Looks like system 96L will be giving you more rain.

http://trackthetropics.com/graphical-tropical-weather-outlook/

Glad you made it safely. You were brave to head out. We stayed in and ordered room service (new service) at Simpson Bay Resort. We felt bad when the young man showed up at our unit soaking wet wearing a trash bag.

So glad you made it back safely. We drove in very heavy rain on our second trip to SXM back from dinner at Captain Oliver's. How we got back to the Caravanserai (now Allegria) is a miracle because it was impossible to see and we did not know the roads. Very scary.

Glad you made it back safe

Pat..sounds like one of the downpours that we experienced a couple of years back. I also was going up the hill at the time...and swore within a few minutes had a river headed right at me as we went up. It was fairly light then, and i thought it looked like a tsuanmi heading for us...with rocks in the road. Then again after we reached the top....going down i was scared shitless. There was a couple of slides coming off the hill itself....and rocks throughout the road. I swear i skidded the entire way down. My timing couldn't be worse.....by the time we reached Lee's or so in simpson bay...the biggest rainbow i have ever seen on the island appeared. I know there is billions of dollars of yachts in the marina in March....and one of those lucky rich folk must've had the pot of gold right in their boat!!!!!! I can say...i probably have never been behind the wheel at a worse time as that hill...i usally don't worry bout driving...but this time was so much different. Thank god...you made it back safely...and now will have this memory to last a lifetime. Enjoy the rest of vacation.