Hurricane Bill...Clinton

All of this hurricane business has clearly diverted my attention from spilling the beans on the arrival of yet another Bill to Bermuda’s pink shores: Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Admittedly it’s old news by now. The two arrived last Tuesday with plans to vacation through the weekend. But the storm changed all that, forcing the Clintons to leave on Thursday night instead. It’s a shame they couldn’t stay longer, however it’s clear the power couple enjoyed their short time at Cambridge Beaches, a secluded hotel on the island’s west end with 94 cottages and panoramic views of Long Bay (although I’m guessing they skipped the hotel’s new clothing-optional pool deck). According to the Royal Gazette, the two ate breakfast at Tamarisk Terrace—Cambridge Beaches’ waterfront restaurant—and enjoyed lunch at Shutters, its casual poolside café. President Clinton even played a round of golf at Port Royal, the newly renovated public course that will host the PGA Grand Slam of Golf this October (I wonder how he fared on the punishing sixteenth hole?). Early reports said the couple was visiting Bermuda to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of conceiving their daughter, Chelsea, which by all accounts is way too much information, but I suppose Bermuda can have that affect on people. Feel the love, indeed.

The Storm That Wasn't

So much for all the hype. The weekend saw strong winds, high surf, and driving rain, but Hurricane Bill largely spared Bermuda for what was undoubtedly an anticlimactic two days. We didn’t even lose power, an event my Bermudian neighbors—most of whom endured the punishing blows of Hurricane Fabian in 2003—all but guaranteed. Of course I’m not complaining. The island is certainly breathing a collective sigh of relief, especially since a seven-year-old girl just died off the coast of Maine after getting swept away by a rogue wave. But the storm did feel, shall we say, much ado about nothing. Local news is still trickling in, but a spokeswoman from Bermuda Electric Light Company said 3,700 customers lost power (down to 1,300 as of yesterday) and minor flooding was reported island-wide. A Saturday afternoon drive confirmed stray branches had been cleared from roads, although the same can’t be said for the island’s beaches, many of which are still littered with debris that washed ashore (see above; that's Church Bay). Gold stars go to Digicell—Bermuda’s largest wireless provider—for sending storm updates to all of its customers via hourly text messages and Marketplace Southampton for only charging me $4.50 for a box of five candles (as opposed to the price gouging that was going on at Gorham’s, the Home Depot of Bermuda). So consider the storm weathered. It’s clear all those extra batteries, hefty six-volt flashlights, and multi-packs of duct tape will have to stay put for awhile, which is fine by me.

Live From Church Bay

Watch the video!

Storm Watch

According to CNN, Hurricane Bill is about 425 miles south of Bermuda with tropical storm conditions expected for the weekend. It’s hard to tell just by looking outside—after all, it’s another beautiful day here in Bermuda—but there are indeed signs that a big storm is on the way. Just this morning I stopped at Church Bay to peek at the ocean on the island’s south shore. Long lines of waves were crashing in, chest-high rollers my surfer buddies back home would’ve loved to paddle out in (see above). It’s crazy. On any given day that bay is totally flat. We’ve had ominous thunderstorms too—deep clangs from dark clouds that seem to shake the Earth. There are less natural indicators too, like the front-page headlines from the Royal Gazette, our local newspaper. Yesterday’s was “Island Prepares for Hurricane Bill,” with repeated recommendations from the Bermuda Weather Service to buy water, canned goods, flashlights, and more. The radio’s been abuzz too, with hourly updates on the storm’s progress and public service announcements regarding ways to stay safe. And I already told you about the scene at the hardware store—lots of panicked shopping. So consider myself warned. I’ll be spending my Friday morning taking in patio furniture, taping up the windows, and making sure we’ve got the essentials: Water, flashlights…rum. I think it’s time for a dark n' stormy.

Weather Center

Big news from the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Bill is now a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds up to 135 mph and its sights set for Bermuda. Well, almost. In the next 24 hours Bill is expected to begin a gradual turn northwest, but most models suggest the storm will veer just west of the island (see above). We’ll definitely get some rain, and the swell on the south shore should be head-high or bigger (hear that surfers?), but the chance of a direct hit seems pretty slim. That’s great news for Bermuda although most people I’ve met today aren’t buying it. Having just returned from my local hardware store preparedness is the order of the day. It was amazing. Or amazingly scary, I should say. Hordes of people were snapping up batteries, tarps, flashlights, rope—and whatever else they could fit in their shopping baskets—then returning for more. It was nuts. Workers could barely keep the items on the shelves but no doubt Bermudians have far more experience at this than I do. I think I was just a kid in New York the last time I endured a hurricane of any strength and I'm sure it was paltry at best. There was a lesson to be learned here—so I caved and bought the fear that Gorham’s was selling: Two flashlights, a few rolls of duct tape, and enough batteries to last me through 2010. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.