Mr. Lowe

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San Nicolas Art

Bumming around the island we came across San Nicolas, a nice little town known for its street art. It was Sunday, and literally everything in town was closed, so we just walked down the middle of the roads and checked out the art. Probably for the best as it seems the only businesses in town are bars.

San Nicolas Art San Nicolas Art San Nicolas Art San Nicolas Art San Nicolas ArtSan Nicolas ArtSan Nicolas ArtSan NicolasSan NicolasSan Nicolas

Repairing a leaky dinghy. Surprisingly, my first repair held up for three years. We’ll see how long this one lasts. The dinghy is looking pretty rough these days, as all of our dinghies tend to do eventually. It’s one of those things I’d probably go ahead and replace if we were in the States, but out in the islands it’s pretty much impossible. There is also the problem of having custom wooden chocks on the boat that fit this particular dinghy perfectly.

Bumfuzzle dinghy repair

There’s always an animal in need, it seems. Here we were trying to find a bird that had been wobbling around with a bum wing. We never did catch him, but if I had to guess, like most birds, he didn’t really need our help and was off flying an hour later.

saving bird

Our marina is associated with the resort next door, giving us access to their pool, beaches, and even their private island. The island costs tourists $125/day, which I would consider the worst possible use of $125, but for us it’s free. They have some flamingos out there wandering about. Aruba’s flamingos are imports from Chile (and aren’t particularly pink), which Bonairians are happy to let you know since their flamingos are homegrown locals.

Flamingos

The private island has a manmade beach, with perfectly manicured palms, but our family wandered back deep into the mangroves and found a beach tennis court. I can’t imagine who this was built for—complete with scorer’s box, on an island accessible only to guests of one particular hotel—but we enjoyed ourselves.

Beach Tennis

As my dad would say, “Lowe’s loaded for bear.” Coconuts were his target, though.

Weapons

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9 Comments on “Mr. Lowe”

  1. That pic of Lowe and the Mr. Lowe sign instantly brought The Beach Boys’ “Surfin USA” up from the depths of my memory banks:

    If everybody had an ocean
    Across the U.S.A
    Then everybody’d be surfin’
    Like Californ-i-a
    You’d see ’em wearin’ their baggies
    Huarache sandals too
    A bushy bushy blond hairdo
    Surfin’ U.S.A
    (Brian Wilson, 1963)

    I was fifteen that summer, growing up in Colorado and arguing who was better – The Beach Boys or The Beatles. Good times! 🙂

  2. That barber shop sign is a quintessential Bum photo. I would love to talk to the owner for a spell. I love how he thinks. I have been reading you guys from the catamaran purchase. With the world spinning into never never land I find this place….comforting. The internet is a weird thing. I feel I know more about your kids than my own grandkids. They live on the other side of the country. I even offered my daughter a boat but no, she works 2 full time jobs instead. What a waste of living.

    1. Hi Ken,
      I googled d flaco, and it is a very popular barber shop name. Flaco means skinny male and used between friends.

      Yes, hard to change peoples views on how life can be lived. We don’t even try, sometimes biting our tongues because if you don’t want this, it doesn’t work.

  3. Ax and other assorted accouterments make for a fine day of hunting, regardless of the quarry! ” Oh the places you will go!” Ha…. goodonyas

  4. Your kids are the bird whisperers. I love that story as that is how I met you guys through your mom in Portland🦜
    I’ve been to Aruba twice when my husband was working on a job there about 12 years ago. Thanks for sharing the photos. I’d love to go back someday. Cheers!

    1. Ha ha – true they always find the birds. We didn’t share the story a few weeks back when we were in Bonaire, and a green parrot landed on the sidewalk in front of us. Lowe went up to it and put out his finger and said, “Up!” And the parrot bit his finger (not hard). We laughed about that one for awhile, and every time we saw one flying by us, we told Lowe to watch out. 🙂

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