Cayman Islands Day 3

June 18, 2017

Ren Seffer - White Dog Art

A good nights sleep in a rainstorm is a positive thing if the rainstorm stops for you to enjoy the next day of a trip. The rain here has been almost nonstop and the sun hasn't made a single appearance, ugh

I had my breakfast, cleaned up, and headed out. Before leaving, I showed Louise a Gallery on the south coast at the breakers. She thought that even with the holiday weekend that I might find it open. Also, it was along the way and the breakers is quite a spot for viewing the waves coming in from Jamaica. My final destination would be Rum Point, the opposite side of the bay from West Bay,

Traffic was light as I headed south. I bypassed Georgetown to the north and continued east along the coastal road. It only took about 25 minutes to reach the breakers. It was obvious that I was there as the waves were crashing quite dramatically. Today though, the waves were angry and the wind was ferocious.

I parked and got out to inspect these angry waves and the wind was pushing so hard it was difficult to open the thin, light car door. The spray coming up over the rocks felt like shards of glass as it was being projected with such force. I took some video of the waves and the sound of the wind was quite dramatic to witness. Also right here at the same location was to be a white dog art gallery. I've done some research and this artist’s perspective spoke to me and I was in hopes that I would find the studio open.

I walked down schoolhouse Lane which is against the waterfront and did not find any signage regarding the studio. So then I walked along the road and again pound of signage. Where I parked at the breakers as a restaurant with a little lighthouse on top. I walked inside and their announcement sign had an image that look to be by the artist I was in search of. I asked the host if you knew where his gallery was. He described walking along the highway to the second house/construction zone and that it was there. I walked and found no signage or any indication that there was a studio so I was a bit confused. I walked along the school House Road again and then back on the highway again to find… nothing.

So as I am a persistent guy, I decided I would spend the money and make a phone call to see if I could reach the artist. I called, woman answered, and it turned out to be Ren, the artist.

I has to she was open and she said that she hadn't planned to be but she was in the studio for a couple of hours. I told her that I was nearby and have been searching for her and could she give me directions. She started to explain but just decided to walk out of the studio and meet me out front which was great.

Just very pleasant and she with me inside to reveal a studio filled with the amazing colorful works that I had seen examples of on her website. We had some conversation about travel and politics and experiencing the world out there.

I definitely have appreciation for her style as it became very difficult to make a choice. I asked Ren to show me what her favorite piece was and to tell me why. She chose a piece with a wooden shack with palm trees in the background, boats in the water behind a bicycle out front with a little dog against the wall. It's a general store in Georgetown and is quite old. After hurricane Ivan decimated the island of Grand Cayman it was one of the few structures to withstand the fury. It's certainly a symbol of strength of Grand Cayman and it being a survivor. She also shared with me a secret that sometimes she paints over paintings and this is an example of one and she isn't feeling the vibe for what she's painting she starts a new painting but sometimes elements of the old painting are kept. She told me that you can see part of the old painting in the doorway and some of the water area behind the shack.

I shared the information for her to be able to pull up my travel blog and we talked about that a bit and my upcoming trip to Machu Picchu which she had been there two years prior but have not purchased passes I had a time and was unable to enter the site. She spent much time in Cuzco and said that it was not to be missed, something that will be a part of my journey also.

We could've chatted much longer she had things to do and I needed to move on as well. It's exchanges like these that really make travel and experience beyond just being in a different place. It's about the connections I find with interesting people and conversations with them. It was such a pleasure to meet Ren and have our brief conversation. Visiting her studio and talking with her was definitely the highlight of my time on Grand Cayman. Thank you Ren.

The weather was just as miserable …no change. The wind was driving the rain and waves just as fierce.

I continued east along the southern coast and stopped a few times to take in The dramatic crashing against the rocks and some places where there were blow holes and the Ocean Spray we come shooting out out of them. How dramatic nature was today!

I decided to drive the east side of the island for a bit of a different view as I had all day and the weather was going to be miserable matter what. The many towns along the way offered some interest with beach views in between them. I'm glad that I found

Approaching one point it was a lot of standing water in yard to peoples homes. Some cars for flooded also. I parked in a spot that was higher and made my way around the parking area into an adjacent street to get out of the flood zone.

Rum point is a park area with hammocks and picnic tables and chase lounges or along the beach front. There are a couple of walk up restaurants also serving drinks

, a sit down restaurant, and a gift shop. There also water sports available such as snorkeling and diving and kayaking. The beach volleyball area is set up for the more active landlubber

It was sprinkling rain so I made my rounds of the different areas considered a snack but nothing was really interesting me about rum point or the food options so I decided to leave

It was about an hour back to 7 mile Beach at West Bay from Rum Point. The first 10 miles to the turn off was sheer hell has four cars ahead of me all driving 25 mph and no way to pass. After the turn off to head so if I could drive anymore rate of speed and it was pretty quick that I was on the S. Coast Rd. passing the breakers in no time.

It was only 15 minutes from the bypass north of Georgetown to get back to cemetery beach and the townhouse.

Add a bit of lunch and after having my mother check the weather channel, I decided I would return to the beach here at 7 mile before the next round of rain would hit.

The surface rust on this stretch of 7 mile which is normally quite cold. I bet you're out into the water but the waves were quite strong almost knocking me over at times. The current as well was forceful I decided it wasn't the greatest idea to be wast deep in the water. I walked along long the sand taking in the sound and absorbing the crystal blue color.

As it started to sprinkle again, I sat on the picnic table and was stalked by a rooster who seemed to want me to take a video of him…done.

I returned before the rain band and worked on editing pics and writing. I chatted at bit and tried to connect with my dad via FaceTime, for Fathers Day…didn't work

The rest of the eve, I relaxed.

I had a final bit of hope for a sunny morning before I would leave the lovely island Grand Cayman. Please let this become a reality.