Desert islands....and sailing trips
Trip Start
Jun 26, 2006
1
72
119
Trip End
Feb 28, 2007
Belizian Barrier Reef,
Belize
Monday, November 6, 2006
a. Our boat!
. There were these weird little needle fish that hoped along the top of the water for ages. Then it was our first experience snorkelling, when we got the gear iŽd had no idea so i hoped it was the right size. Ramsey talked me and ames through it and ames opted for the life jacket for stabality. Once in the water i couldnt get the breathing right and kept getting a face and mouthful of water. Once id figured it out it was cool but the visibility wasnt that good cos of the rough waves. Could just about make out the corals and the reef but saw very few fish.
Then it was food time, a huge plate plateful of chicken rice and salad, was yummy and very filling..... i could get used to this all inclusive lark.... especially when the rum came out early and we started on the cuba libres.
After a while i was bored of sitting around so did some fishing with some bait ramsey had harpooned whilst weŽd snorkelled. Wasnt very hard..... i sat they like a lazy arse and eventually got a bite. Did my fingers in having to keep bringing in and letting out the line cos of seaweed. when it bit it bit hard and was kinda hard reeling it in. Turned out it was a barricuda..... quite a good size with huge teeth..... loads of dinner yum yummy!!!!!
We got to the little islands we would be staying around 4
b. how jealous does that make you?
. the one we were to camp on was Rendevous Caye, it was tiny with only about eight coconut trees, a real desert island..... and to add to that it was surrounded by the reef so we could snorkel right from the beach. We set up our camp....for me and ames it was luxery as the tent was much bigger than ours......and then i went off to snorkel with the other lads. The water was ridiculously shallow and we had to breath in in order not to scrape my belly on the floor. After a while we eventually got to a bit about waist height where u could swim in and out the reef, was amazing but quite hard swimming round it all. There were so many fish in so many differnt colours. When weŽd had enough we went back to shore where our food was being prepared and started on the huge vat of rum punch that had been made for us. We all sat on the beach and watched the sun set and then had our food. We haed rice, beautiful steamed mackeral steaks cookd in mushrooms and potato salad. Then we sat, chatted and drank rum punch as the moon rose out of the ocean high into the sky above.
The following morning we were up very early and went for a dip in the ocean and had more snorkelling time. After which we sat on the boat and had our brekkie of eggs, sausage and beans with beautiful bread..... i was greedy and had two platefuls, after all it was all inclusive!!!! Then we set sail.... there was actually wind so we were actually sailing
c. whos a clever boy then?
. was so peaceful without the sound of the motor so we sat and read our books and sunbathed. We then snorkelled in beautifully clear waters with a decent depth so you didnt have to worry about the reef. Saw loads of fish and quite a few big ones. A few of the guys caught a crab off the reef whilst they snorkelled. Then we set sail again, once again motor assisted. After an hour or so we were being slowly baked we stopped for lunch and a swim. Whilst swimming Ramsey harpponed more bait and caught a lobster off the bottom. One of the other guys went conch hunting and after several dead ones and ones not suitable he managed to chase a live one across the bottom and catch it for dinner. Lunch was huge tuna rolls with more damn nice bread and then it was more hard sittin on my back side watching the sea pass me by. The aussie lad took to the fishing and pulled in a huge barricuda, much bigger than mine from the previous day. Dinner waqs gonna be good tonight. When we got to Tobacco Caye we were greeted and introduced to Mayor George who was supposably in charge of the Caye. The island was more inhabited this time with loads of cabins and a bar!!!!! So ames got the beers in whilst i joined the long queue for the bog. After a very cool, much needed beer we were back on the dock drinking a new even stronger vat of rum punch. Mayor George was on the dock assembling the bbq, only it only had two legs so he balanced it on coconut shells. The guy really was a nut, he was drinking 190 proof rum from the bottle, setting light to the coconuts on the barbee with it, setting fire to the vapours from the bottle so they exploded like a firework and even at one point setting fire to the dock. He was also telling hilarious jokes, funny not cos of the story, funny cos he didnt have a clue and was in histerics about it.
Just as the food was ready the wind picked up and rain looked imminent so we headed into the bar
d. our own little desert island campground
. The food was amazing, huge barricuda steaks, lobster tails and beautiful potatoes cooked in coconut milk. I had seconds before going outside to tackle the rum punch vat whilst ames got chatting. The weather improved so we returned to the dock and insisted on ice for our punch. Ramsey went to get some off ythe boat and it got loose and headed for shore. Charlie was asleep on the dock so it was left to the locals to help out recovering the boat and ramsey who appeared with our ice.After more entertainment from Mayor George and more rums it was time for sleep.
The next day we awoke, had a breakfast of bacon and eggs and set sail. There was loads of wind and the boat was leaning right over, we were reassured that they was enough lead in the bottom of the boat to keep it upright so went to sleep on the cabin. Was a long hot day and when we finally stopped we really needed the dip. Couldnt be bothered to snorkel but the water was so refreshing to swim in. Once all aboard we were sailing again before lunch as we clearly had a long way to go still. Was actually quite a long boring day, guess the novelty of sailing had worn off either that or it was cos we couldnt really do much as we were all packed up. when we hit placencia we were all really tired. It was a seriously cool trip and by far the best way to see belize, even if it was expensive!!!!!!!
