Another adventure in house and pet sitting has started. This is the first of three homes I’ll be watching over the next few months. So, let’s get started.
Arriving at San Juan International Airport (SJU), I was running late to catch my commuter flight to Vieques Island.
Hustling, I got my bag and found the Vieques Air Link (VAL) ticket counter to check in. The attendant told me, they were waiting and would escort me from here. He ushered me to the waiting area where the attendant and a pilot continued without me. Within 10 minutes another VAL agent came and escorted me out of the terminal to a waiting van.
Hustling, I got my bag and found the Vieques Air Link (VAL) ticket counter to check in. The attendant told me, they were waiting and would escort me from here. He ushered me to the waiting area where the attendant and a pilot continued without me. Within 10 minutes another VAL agent came and escorted me out of the terminal to a waiting van.
I boarded the aircraft in the seat directly behind the copilot chair, the pilot was next; the remaining seven seats were empty. He informed me I was the only passenger and gave me the safety briefing. Chuckling, I told him, “if the plane goes down, I’ll be the number two man off the plane, you know how to work the doors”.
Preflight checklist complete, we taxi for takeoff.
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| Main island of Puerto Rico |
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| Puerto Rican coastline |
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| Mosquito Pier |
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| Vieques from a distance |
The landing
Carrie met and welcomed me at the airport and we headed home. As we turned into the driveway, the first thing I noticed was a large bomb on display; then I saw the signs on the gate.
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| Gate to the property |
Driving around two switchbacks to the third (top) level of the property we were greeted by their dogs. Whitey and Roxy, the ‘rat boys’ were first to the truck, followed by Maggie, a large mastiff, and finally Brownie, the thirteen year old stayed in the shade.
Even with Vieques going through a severe drought, the grounds are in pretty good shape. Yes, the grass is brown, and there are not many flowers on the shrubs; but the numerous palm trees and shade sails provided ample protection from the scorching sun.
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| The front yard |
Turning my attention to the buildings, I knew right away, this was going to be a great sit. While some of you may not like the ‘work in progress’ style, the separation between buildings/rooms (each building has a specific purpose), or the hilltop seclusion, for me it works.
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| Original bedroom and shed |
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| Kitchen |
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| Front building / bedroom |
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| The outside shower. It really is hidden in those banana trees |
As Carrie showed be around, I heard a loud squawk; Lou Lou the macaw parrot made her presence known.
Later in the evening Carrie hosted a dinner party with the homeowners of the two other homes I would be sitting, and a few friends. Having been here last year, seeing the homeowners again was like a reunion, and meeting new locals is always a good thing.
The following day as Carrie finished her preparation to go north we chatted about what to do if, by chance, a hurricane was headed for the island. She told me some of the basics like securing loose objects, and moving the birds (Lou Lou plus two cockatiels and two parakeets), the two cats, and the dogs inside. She continued by saying Barry (the man of the house) would return from his project on a neighboring island.
In this conversation, Carrie mentioned she had materials to build a ‘portable’ cage for Lou Lou. We talked about the particulars of this cage and in the end agreed I could build it. Thus, that’s what I’ve been doing for the past few days.
Okay, that should do it for now,
Until next time
Mike
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