I arrived in Roatan on January 3, to lovely warm weather and blue seas. It was great leaving the big city behind me. I had met a lovely couple on the plane as well as a fellow who had just bought a boat and was staying at Fantasy Island as well. Small world.
Karen met me at the airport and we had a bit of a tour around the island while Cheryl was cleaning up the boat. We almost ran out of gas searching for a gas station. What a relief when we finally found one. Picked up a few groceries and wine then it was time to get to the boat and relax. So good to see the girls as it had been a while.
Tuesday we went snorkelling met the other boat people who were there and while Karen and Cheryl played a bit of volleyball I watched while the monkeys came down to try to get any goodies (including beer left in cans).
Wednesday found us snorkelling again but with Annie, Linda and Terry who were from 3 of the boats. Saw lots of lion fish amongst many others and feather dusters (a type of coral worm) which when you stir up the water close to it, it disappears. Volleyball was played and a sing a long at happy hour.
I am now officially known as “Bruce’s replacement” wherever we go.
Thursday we motored to West End and they let me “drive” the boat all the way there. Even though we couldn’t sail as there were no winds it was a lovely ride. Once we got there I was introduced to more boat people. Doug and Lisa from Highland Lights and Tim and Paula from Hooligan. Lovely people. More snorkelling was done and saw a green moray eel amongst the many corals and sea creatures. Doug and Lisa invited me to their boat for drinks (not the girls) and said they would pick me up. HAHA but we all get in the dingy and went over for nibbles and drinks.
Friday it was into town for a looksee around. Highland Lights and Hooligan were invited over that evening for a get together and gossip. A lovely time had by all. I also booked my first diving session at Roatan Divers.
Oh boy, Saturday and time for my Discover diving lesson while Karen and Cheryl rented tanks to go off to dive themselves. My instructor Richard was great and was very calm. I actually went down 50 ft. HOLY. It was amazing. Schools of blue tang, fabulous corals and array of fish. The weather couldn’t of been better and you could see everything so clearly. I was only supposed to go down 40 ft but he thought I did so well and we went a little deeper. I loved it. Time to book again for tomorrow. Now its back to the boat to watch the Saints game on the computer, a mandatory thing for the girls. It was a hoot even though they lost. (we lost contact as wifi was intermittent and we couldn’t sing our rooting song to continue to help them along). You had to be there for that one.
Sunday, more diving (yea). Went to the Blue channel this time for our dive. Down to 50 again but water not quite a clear. Richard told the girls he would take me anytime and that I was pretty good at it. His girlfriend Melanie took some pictures of me in my gear for me. Then it was time for a Champagne brunch with Doug, Lisa and John and Sharon from Sunbow. Then on to another place to watch the Greenbay packers play. Good game and they just managed to win it.
Monday, Wow a week has gone by already. Time sure flies by when you’re having fun.
Received a diving certificate from Roatan divers. How nice of them. Proof once again that I actually did it. Now it’s off to Coxen Hole, the capital by local bus to pick up a few trinkets. On the way back we stopped off at the butterfly farm where there really wasn’t too many butterflies but had some birds (Toucan’s, McCaw and few other animals). Was interesting but overpriced.
Fed our new found friend the ballyhoo (a local name) which is a type of gar. He really liked the chicken skin.
Tuesday we met up with Doug and Lisa again for lunch and to get gas. First place we hit was a Mexican place however the waiter didn’t remember our order or us so after a good 45 minutes when asked him if we could have our drinks. Guess what, he didn’t remember that either so we order them again. Poor Doug never did get his and we opted to pay for the drinks we did have and go elsewhere to eat. Good idea and I’m sure better food. Then it’s back to the boat for a water polo game with everyone. Another lovely day, what a hardship.
Wednesday found us walking the beach, again with Doug and Lisa, towards the West Bay where all the people from the cruise ships come in for the day. Wow what a crowd but the beach is lovely. Back to the boat for dinner and had an impromptu dance. What fun.
Thursday and Friday found us boat bound as winds and rains came in and prevented us from going anywhere. However reading and games kept us going. It’s always good when you’re with friends no matter what the weather. Looking forward to tomorrow when it’s supposed to get a little better by the afternoon. Will keep fingers crossed as it will soon be time to leave again, but at least I have great memories and hopefully new friends.
Saturday we thought would turn out nice but the weather forecast was wrong and we had another very breezy and turbulent water day, so it was another day inside .But by dinner time we were fed-up and since I had promised Karen and Cheryl a couple of meals out, we got a hold of the gang and said to heck with it. So despite the crappy weather and since everyone was sick of being boat bound for too long we all headed out for a lovely dinner at the Argentina Grill. It was unfortunate that Hooligan couldn’t make it as they got soaked from a earlier ride into town. Once our tummies were full we headed off to Rick’s Place to watch the Packers game since Lisa is a BIG packers fan. Had a fun time as usual and the Packers won big time. Didn’t get back until 10:50 pm way past the girls bedtime.
Sunday, the last whole day before I head back to Toronto and the cold. Boo. Headed back to Fantasy Island which is closer to the airport. Low and behold the weather actually got better and the seas flatter. A good sign I hope. Will be taking the girls out for my last night with them as a thank you for all their kindness during my stay. I will miss them as usual but know I will see them in the future. I say thanks to all their friends they introduced me to who treated me like one of the bunch during my time here. They made my time here even more special than it was. So adios amigos for the time being and may fair winds speed you to all of your new destinations.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Bruce's Christmas Vacation
December 20
Even before I arrived I knew the vacation was going to be good as the plane had to be de-iced twice even before we left Toronto. Then in Roatan security wanted to check my bag, it turned out they weren’t sure about the dark chocolate covered cashews, or at least that was the only thing they looked at.
Much driving and provisioning ensued, not necessarily in that order. How they expect to get up some of those streets when the snows hit I don’t know - or the rains. Banking the next day required turning off cell phones as ordered by armed guards, luckily I still don’t have a cell phone.
December 21/24
A short sail to Cayo Chochinos and my first snorkel. It is fascinating just watching the fish going about their own business. In places there are cleaning stations where larger fish get parasites removed by smaller ones. One of the animated films seems to have gotten their animation spot on.
Christmas decorations go up: icicles, snow globes (which were kinda neat) and Cheryl’s Ikea tree with the GrinchTM ornaments. We also were “forced” to watch the Grinch original. We tried to watch the Jim Carrey A Christmas Carol that I had brought down but for some reason it wouldn’t play on the DVD player. I’ll have to try at home which means I’ll have to watch a Christmas show before December 2011.
Tourtiere was excellent as usual. The banana ketchup (yes there is such a thing) was good too. Karen and my attempt at Mom’s shortbread fell short of our memories but we will try again in the future. Christmas Eve we had great appetizers’ at Lori and Hoss’ house on the hill with a great view of the bay and sunset.
December 25 Christmas Day
Santa arrived!!! Stockings are stuffed. He even wanted Cheryl to throw me off a cliff (Pirates of the Caribbean zip lines). I can finally showed Karen and Cheryl why my bags were so heavy coming down. Going home will be light by comparison.
Christmas dinner was great. Turkey cooked on a smoker basted with juices of a chicken, celery casserole, creamed spinach, ham, corn bread stuffing and other things too numerous to mention. Twelve people are there: Karen, Cheryl and I, Greg & Judy (our hosts), Lori & Hoss, & others. There was also a lot of wine (not too much I hope, if there is such a thing).
December 26 Boxing Day
We wake up to higher winds coming from precisely the wrong direction so we get everything ready for passage back to Mango Creek in Port Royal, Roatan. It was a very confusing passage (the waves not the crew) although my shins might not be the same for a while. No nausea but I wasn’t allowed below decks due to an incident on our passage out.
December 26 to 28
Some great snorkelling : a whole herd of jellyfish, lion fish and some amazing colours. A great dinner ashore at Mango Creek. Lobster/shrimp, key lime pie and chocolate cake.
December 29-Jan 1
An uneventful passage to French Harbour and we are back where the sailing adventure started!! Cheryl acted on the promise to throw me off a cliff. Actually I jumped, we were so high up it didn’t seem that bad an idea until the last zip. At the start you could see both sides of the island (sorry Isla).
Before the celebrations Jamie’s boat developed hydraulic steering problems and then engine problems. It was nice to see everyone pitching in to help out a fellow sailor. As a result of this we had to dingy in for shopping but I then got the adventure of being driven in a panel van back to Fantasy Island.
New Year’s celebration itself was disappointing but I don’t think I would have been able to stay up anyway as I had missed both my morning and afternoon naps!! The food was great – crab, shrimp etc. Due to rough seas we changed on shore into our good dud’s and stowed the wet stuff.
January 2
Getting ready to go into West Bay for supper at the Argentine restaurant but first I am being forced to write this blog!
Even before I arrived I knew the vacation was going to be good as the plane had to be de-iced twice even before we left Toronto. Then in Roatan security wanted to check my bag, it turned out they weren’t sure about the dark chocolate covered cashews, or at least that was the only thing they looked at.
Much driving and provisioning ensued, not necessarily in that order. How they expect to get up some of those streets when the snows hit I don’t know - or the rains. Banking the next day required turning off cell phones as ordered by armed guards, luckily I still don’t have a cell phone.
December 21/24
A short sail to Cayo Chochinos and my first snorkel. It is fascinating just watching the fish going about their own business. In places there are cleaning stations where larger fish get parasites removed by smaller ones. One of the animated films seems to have gotten their animation spot on.
Christmas decorations go up: icicles, snow globes (which were kinda neat) and Cheryl’s Ikea tree with the GrinchTM ornaments. We also were “forced” to watch the Grinch original. We tried to watch the Jim Carrey A Christmas Carol that I had brought down but for some reason it wouldn’t play on the DVD player. I’ll have to try at home which means I’ll have to watch a Christmas show before December 2011.
Tourtiere was excellent as usual. The banana ketchup (yes there is such a thing) was good too. Karen and my attempt at Mom’s shortbread fell short of our memories but we will try again in the future. Christmas Eve we had great appetizers’ at Lori and Hoss’ house on the hill with a great view of the bay and sunset.
December 25 Christmas Day
Santa arrived!!! Stockings are stuffed. He even wanted Cheryl to throw me off a cliff (Pirates of the Caribbean zip lines). I can finally showed Karen and Cheryl why my bags were so heavy coming down. Going home will be light by comparison.
Christmas dinner was great. Turkey cooked on a smoker basted with juices of a chicken, celery casserole, creamed spinach, ham, corn bread stuffing and other things too numerous to mention. Twelve people are there: Karen, Cheryl and I, Greg & Judy (our hosts), Lori & Hoss, & others. There was also a lot of wine (not too much I hope, if there is such a thing).
December 26 Boxing Day
We wake up to higher winds coming from precisely the wrong direction so we get everything ready for passage back to Mango Creek in Port Royal, Roatan. It was a very confusing passage (the waves not the crew) although my shins might not be the same for a while. No nausea but I wasn’t allowed below decks due to an incident on our passage out.
December 26 to 28
Some great snorkelling : a whole herd of jellyfish, lion fish and some amazing colours. A great dinner ashore at Mango Creek. Lobster/shrimp, key lime pie and chocolate cake.
December 29-Jan 1
An uneventful passage to French Harbour and we are back where the sailing adventure started!! Cheryl acted on the promise to throw me off a cliff. Actually I jumped, we were so high up it didn’t seem that bad an idea until the last zip. At the start you could see both sides of the island (sorry Isla).
Before the celebrations Jamie’s boat developed hydraulic steering problems and then engine problems. It was nice to see everyone pitching in to help out a fellow sailor. As a result of this we had to dingy in for shopping but I then got the adventure of being driven in a panel van back to Fantasy Island.
New Year’s celebration itself was disappointing but I don’t think I would have been able to stay up anyway as I had missed both my morning and afternoon naps!! The food was great – crab, shrimp etc. Due to rough seas we changed on shore into our good dud’s and stowed the wet stuff.
January 2
Getting ready to go into West Bay for supper at the Argentine restaurant but first I am being forced to write this blog!
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