How much fun did we have doing the Segway tour on Antigua last cruise? Well, so much fun that we did it again today. It was basically the same tour, but by doing the 11:00am tour, we had some extra time for Segway free styling. When it comes to Segways, I've decided free-styling is my very favorite thing to do.
With a little time before we needed to meet up with the other passengers doing the tour, after breakfast we walked over to Big Banana in Redcliffe Quay to use the wifi. It was initially good enough to get a quick Vonage call out to Mom, but the speed deteriorated quickly as more people came to use it. Finally, instead of waiting around to meet the group, we decided to take a taxi over to the Segway office behind Millers by the Sea and use our extra time to access their wifi. It meets the big five of Caribbean wifi: fast, free, cool, quiet and shaded, and we relished the few minutes we had to surf the net. I downloaded another audiobook to listen to, and G checked the webcams back home to make sure all was well.
At 11:00am, the four other participants in our tour arrived at the Segway office, and we again watched that training video with the stick figure getting flattened by a Segway because he did it WRONG! But I'm braver now, and Mr. Stick Figure's misfortune didn't scare me. I was ready to helmet-up and GO! Soon enough we were once again on the Segways, zipping around on the concrete patio after we practiced getting on, getting off (still the trickiest part!), stopping and turning. We next moved to the grass and dirt area nearby, and it's amazing how different surfaces change the feeling of the ride.
Soon we were on our way, heading north to Runaway Beach along pot holed and bumpy roads. Instead of fearing each terrain change, I attacked them. G had added one more bit of advice this time that made perfect sense: it's a lot like downhill skiing. Well, that knowledge, like his suggestion last time to simply point my butt in the direction I wanted to go, made all the difference. I can slalom, and so that's what I did, slaloming my way to Runaway Beach.
We dismounted at Runaway Beach for our first water break of the morning, and spent some time walking on the beach and taking photos. Soon we were off again, making our way south to Fort James, for our third visit there this winter. You know G and forts...
The views from Fort James never disappoint, regardless of how many times we go there, and although I was far more comfortable on a Segway this time, I'll admit that crossing that stone bridge into the fort and then back out still had me crazy-scared. We were served fruit kabobs and sugar cane (damn, that stuff's good!) and more water before we continued on, leaving Fort James.
It was then that I heard my favorite words of the day, free styling. In the park-like area next to the remains of the fort, we were let loose to do what we wanted on the Segways, as long as we stayed off the grass. Wow, was that fun!!!! I zipped back and forth, back and forth, making tight turns and skirting around potholes. I wished it would never end!
Too soon it did, of course, and we made our way back to the Segway office. The first thing we did was make a reservation to do it again during our next visit on February 28th. So, if anyone reading this will be on the February 25th cruise and would like to join us, please contact Segway Antigua at http://www.segwayantigua.com. Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can!
One of the best parts of doing this tour is that you end at Fort James Beach, and we next spent a very enjoyable two hours on the beach and in the water. Aaaaahhhhhh...Antigua has such beautiful beaches!
We didn't get back to the ship until after 4:00pm, and we had just a bit of time to rest and get cleaned up before going to Skywalkers for pre-dinner drinks, but only the lightest of light hors doerves, because we were going to the Chefs Table at 7:00pm (but, honestly, with no lunch, we were STARVING!). Sailaway from Antigua is so pretty, and we are really enjoying the longer days in February.
With a little time before we needed to meet up with the other passengers doing the tour, after breakfast we walked over to Big Banana in Redcliffe Quay to use the wifi. It was initially good enough to get a quick Vonage call out to Mom, but the speed deteriorated quickly as more people came to use it. Finally, instead of waiting around to meet the group, we decided to take a taxi over to the Segway office behind Millers by the Sea and use our extra time to access their wifi. It meets the big five of Caribbean wifi: fast, free, cool, quiet and shaded, and we relished the few minutes we had to surf the net. I downloaded another audiobook to listen to, and G checked the webcams back home to make sure all was well.
At 11:00am, the four other participants in our tour arrived at the Segway office, and we again watched that training video with the stick figure getting flattened by a Segway because he did it WRONG! But I'm braver now, and Mr. Stick Figure's misfortune didn't scare me. I was ready to helmet-up and GO! Soon enough we were once again on the Segways, zipping around on the concrete patio after we practiced getting on, getting off (still the trickiest part!), stopping and turning. We next moved to the grass and dirt area nearby, and it's amazing how different surfaces change the feeling of the ride.
Soon we were on our way, heading north to Runaway Beach along pot holed and bumpy roads. Instead of fearing each terrain change, I attacked them. G had added one more bit of advice this time that made perfect sense: it's a lot like downhill skiing. Well, that knowledge, like his suggestion last time to simply point my butt in the direction I wanted to go, made all the difference. I can slalom, and so that's what I did, slaloming my way to Runaway Beach.
We dismounted at Runaway Beach for our first water break of the morning, and spent some time walking on the beach and taking photos. Soon we were off again, making our way south to Fort James, for our third visit there this winter. You know G and forts...
The views from Fort James never disappoint, regardless of how many times we go there, and although I was far more comfortable on a Segway this time, I'll admit that crossing that stone bridge into the fort and then back out still had me crazy-scared. We were served fruit kabobs and sugar cane (damn, that stuff's good!) and more water before we continued on, leaving Fort James.
It was then that I heard my favorite words of the day, free styling. In the park-like area next to the remains of the fort, we were let loose to do what we wanted on the Segways, as long as we stayed off the grass. Wow, was that fun!!!! I zipped back and forth, back and forth, making tight turns and skirting around potholes. I wished it would never end!
Too soon it did, of course, and we made our way back to the Segway office. The first thing we did was make a reservation to do it again during our next visit on February 28th. So, if anyone reading this will be on the February 25th cruise and would like to join us, please contact Segway Antigua at http://www.segwayantigua.com. Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can!
One of the best parts of doing this tour is that you end at Fort James Beach, and we next spent a very enjoyable two hours on the beach and in the water. Aaaaahhhhhh...Antigua has such beautiful beaches!
We didn't get back to the ship until after 4:00pm, and we had just a bit of time to rest and get cleaned up before going to Skywalkers for pre-dinner drinks, but only the lightest of light hors doerves, because we were going to the Chefs Table at 7:00pm (but, honestly, with no lunch, we were STARVING!). Sailaway from Antigua is so pretty, and we are really enjoying the longer days in February.
Next up: our evening at the Chef's Table
Photo 1: I started the day with the breakfast of champions: mixed berries pancakes
Photo 2: walking along Redcliffe Quay on the way to Big
Banana
Photo 3: Runaway Beach
Photo 4: the arched door entrance to Fort James (it's so cool to ride a modern invention like a Seqway through those 300-year old walls)
Photo 5: that bridge to Fort James
