Tag Archives: Caribbean fiction
Blacktip Island Weather
Sunday, October 16, 2022
Temperature: 82
Humidity: 71%
Precipitation: Take a raincoat
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
‘Brewstream’ Pipeline Will Supply Blacktip Island’s Bars
Sections of insulated pipe, with leak surveillance monitors, at Blacktip island’s Bonefish Brew prior to being buried as part of the company’s new Brewstream delivery system. (photo courtesy of Mike 1024)
Hostilities between Blacktip Island’s two competing breweries came to a head this week with the completion of Bonefish Brew’s ‘Brewstream’ pipeline, which will deliver draft beer directly to the small Caribbean island’s bars, company a spokesperson said.
“Those pirates over at Assmonkey Ale kept whacking our delivery van, then delivering their nasty-ass beer in its place,” Bonefish Brew president Adolph Süds said. “We tried everything to shut that down, with no success. Then we got the idea of a pipeline pumping beer directly to bars without the need for a van.
“Took us a while, since we had to bury it to head off Assmonkey saboteurs, but it’s in place now and going like gangbusters,” Süds said. “The hidden plus is the beer tastes fresher since it’s been aerated nicely and chilled with our insulated pipes. Customers love it.”
The rival brewer condemned the pipeline.
“They’re taking our livelihood, snatching food from our kids’ mouths,” Assmonkey Ale CEO Adolphus Mandrill said. “They can’t keep their van running, that’s not our fault, but it does speak to the quality control over there. And there’s no proof our people chucked those nails on the road. That’s straight-up defamation.
“Building a pipeline deprives folks to opportunity to enjoy our higher-quality products,” Mandrill said. “Plus, the lines going to Sandy Bottoms and the Sand Spit run awfully close to the booby pond. They already had one leak there. Sure, it improved the pond’s smell, but what happens when . . . pond water . . . gets carbureted into the flow? They’re gonna kill us all to make a buck.”
Island authorities urged caution from both sides.
“This beer battle’s been a pain in everybody’s butts,” Island Police Constable Rafe Marquette said. “Those roofing nails took out the tires on more vehicles than just a delivery van. Happens again, people’re going to jail. Once my tires get replaced.
“Bigger problem with the feud is bars run out of beer,” Marquette said. “That’s a major public safety emergency on this island. No beer in the bars, folks’ll riot. They tore up Eagle Ray Cove’s tiki bar just last week. I don’t care who wins, this crap just needs to stop. If a pipeline does that, I’m all for it and can finally get some sleep.”
Island residents were pleased with the news.
“I don’t know, or care, who flung the nails,” island de facto mayor Jack Cobia said. “For all I know, it was a Bonefish Brew false flag to make Assmonkey look bad. My office fully supports anything that puts an end to the nastiness. If Assmonkey has to die, well, it’s for the greater good.”
Cobia would neither confirm nor deny reports he has significant investments in Bonefish Brew.
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
Blacktip Island Weather
Sunday, October 9, 2022
Temperature: 84
Humidity: 73%
Precipitation: Not anytime soon
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
Blacktip Island Weather
Sunday, October 2, 2022
Temperature: 86
Humidity: 74%
Precipitation: Not today
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
Blacktip Island Stages Impromptu Underwater Car Show
A scuba diver examines one of the vehicles swept away in Hurricane Wendy’s storm surge Wednesday. The car, and more than a dozen others, are now the small Caribbean island’s first underwater auto show. (photo courtesy of Achim R. Schloeffel)
Blacktip Island community organizers Thursday announced the small Caribbean island’s inaugural Underwater Car Show in the wake of Hurricane Wendy’s unexpected storm surge Wednesday morning.
“The storm was tracked to go way east of the island, so lots of folks parked their cars on the west side for protection,” island meteorologist Rayne Doppler said. “Problem was, the storm wobbled and came up the west side. All the cars parked by Diddley’s Landing public pier got swept out to sea.
“There’s no way to save any of them, and no way to get them out right now, so we decided to turn lemons into lemonade,” Doppler said. “The way they’re all strewn across the sand, it looks like they’re on display, so we decided to make it a car show. Scuba divers and snorkelers can swim around and check them out to their hearts’ content. For a fee.”
Island residents had mixed feelings about the new dive site.
“We’re thankful no one was seriously injured. Or died,” Sally Port said. “Unfortunately, a bunch of Nissans did, though. It’s a tragedy, really— some of them didn’t even have rust on them yet.”
Others praised the idea.
“Intentional or not, it got rid of a bunch of island beaters,” Chip Pompano said. “All the rust-buckets with leaking mufflers, cracked windshields and random wheel rims are gone. Now people’ll have to get newer vehicles. It’s beautifying the island, long term.”
Others voiced concerns about post-hurricane relief shipments.
“The supply barge docks at Diddley’s Landing, and it may not be able to land now,” public works chief Rocky Shore said. “We got divers out there now assessing whether it’s safe to dock, or whether cars are piled up so high they’re navigational hazards.”
Environmental officials were also concerned.
“There’s at least a dozen vehicles down there, all of them leaking oil and gasoline,” marine parks spokesperson Val Schrader said. “That will negatively impact the surrounding reefs for months, if not years, to come.
“Our first thought was to haul them all out, but we don’t have the equipment,” Schrader said. “And even if we did, what would we do with them? The dump’s already full. For now, the damage is ongoing and we can’t do anything about it. They might as well turn it into a car show.”
The island’s art community praised the sunken cars.
“It’s an unprecedented in situ modern sculpture,” Marcia Chagall said. “It truly speaks to the futility of humanity pitting itself against nature. Anyone who dives out there will be struck by that juxtaposition. It also makes a great fish habitat. We can now be inspired by art while we catch dinner just offshore.”
Island officials are charging a $25 entry fee per diver to view the cars. Those wishing to retrieve personal items will be charged an additional $20. Those wishing to retrieve the personal items of others will be charged an additional $50. All proceeds will go to hurricane relief and new cars.
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
Blacktip Island Weather
Sunday, September 25, 2022
Temperature: 88
Humidity: 82%
Precipitation: Storm soon come
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
The Blacktip Times 