Anchor up!



This was my fun for the day!



Sunlight, finally, and we're on the way to the Jackanally Cays.  Okay, who talked me into this?  Of course, as soon as we picked up the anchor, the clouds rolled over -- reefs everywhere!!  Dennis on the bow directing where to go (yeah, but it's still going to be my fault if we hit anything!), while I watch the chartplotter, the depth sounder and the water.  Don't know how good this photo of the chart will turn out, but all those light blue areas are really shallow water.  We didn't see any less than 20' all the way in, but I was an absolute basket case by the time we dropped anchor.  Why?  I don't know!  Brian from Darramy called as we were making our way through the reefs and had a chuckle at how stressed I was.  Glad I can amuse some people.

Anchored in good holding, on the outside of the mangroves, hopefully away from all the bugs.  Brian and Sue from Darramy were on their way back to the boat after visiting a French Canadian couple who have built a small house on the close island.  Did a short snorkel with Brian, enjoying getting in the water again.  Unfortunately, just as we were ready to head off to visit them, the sky turned black, the clouds rolled in and the rain came in sheets. 

Off for our village hike



Exploring in the river

Not quite sure what's up -- Dennis isn't feeling well, with a headache and sore back -- so while he napped 2 hours after getting up I re-organized the canned goods.  Felt better the next day and went dinghy exploring with Brian and Sue up the Salt River.  Were surprised when we explored a couple of little cut-offs, and then one led to a village of 500 people!  The sign said they were funded by the US (of course), and like Bluefields, there were nice homes, sidewalks, a school and stores.  There was also a sort of tourist center that did tours and hikes.  They stopped us to show us everything and how much different things would cost ... we were exploring, no one had any money!  They allowed us to walk around on our own when we explained we were just taking a short walk and had no money.  Met a young man from the Peace Corps from Pennsylvannia.  He's been here 18 months as a volunteer teaching English to the kids and, now that they're out of school, the adults.  In this little place there's actually 500 people, and 250-300 of those are kids.




Heading through the mangroves

Woke up the next morning and we're both sick!  I hate this.  Headaches and all achy.  I need to look up the symptoms for malaria and denge fever!  The weather is horrible, raining all the time, so we're spending a lot of time sleeping off our sickness.  Seems to be one day of sun for 3 days of rain.  GET ME OFF THIS BOAT!!!  I just want phone service and civilization again.  Took the dinghy over to the tienda (little store) at the Crawl Cay area - bread but no fruits or veggies.  Time to pick those up.



Finally, Tuesday, the 18th, there was sun again.  Instead of snorkelling, we picked up anchor, headed out of the reefs, through the cut by the Zapatillo Cays, out in the big water to do some fishing before we drop anchor by Bocas Town to re-provision.  Good fishing.  First caught a king mackeral, which we don't like so let go.  Then, something really big hit the Cuban yoyo, took the line out, dead pull on 200 lb test, then broke the 100 lb leader.  Hmmm, would have loved to see what that was!  Finally, another hit.  Caught a small blackfin tuna, amazingly on a surface plug, enough for one meal, but we're happy!





Motor is acting funny, have to check that out.  Pulled into the anchorage off of Bocas Marina, anchoring in what feels like a parking lot.  Clunk, clunk, drag, drag ... ooooh, hope that's a hook!  10' water - Dennis should be happy!

 ~~~/_)~~~