Fun in Bonaire

Just before we moved into the marina the Bonaire Coast Guard boarded us to check out paper work. They were very nice and the end Sid exchanged LAPD patches with them and one officer took his patch right off his sleeve and handed it to Sid. Now whenever they are in the harbor and drive by Paradise they wave to us.

Paradise needed a bath really bad we were amazed how much dirt we hosed off the boat and sails. The Harbor Village Marina is small and very quite but at night the mosquitoes rule and we got tired of donating blood. Randy and Lourae knowing how hot and mosquito infested this marina is offered us to stay at their house while at the marina. We could not say no to this incredible offer so every evening around five we were picked up, driven to their home where cocktails and infinity pool awaited us. Then we had a sundowner on deck with some spectacular sunsets and wonderful home cooked meals either by Lourae or Manuela or joint efforts and interesting talks until the pillows called us to bed. Early the next morning we were driven back to the marina and work continued. It felt like going to work. The days were hot in the marina so by 2 PM we were beat and needed a break. We could not wait until we were picked up again, driven to Villa Blue having a cold cocktail in the pool the rest you know. Randy and Lourae thank you sooooo much for the good time, you spoiled us rotten. The house is really amazing, our bedroom had 8 corners the ceiling is 18 feet high and the breeze that came in through the three giant windows made for a cool night sleep. It was fun watching bats sweep down on the pool to drink water at night and in the morning to wake up to the chatter of parrots and wild cry of donkeys, little different than the rooster. On Lourae’s Birthday we went to Richard’s on the water front which by request places a table under the palm palapa on the end of the dock, where we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at sunset celebrating her birthday. After a little over one week we moved back on Paradise and left the marina. We picked up a mooring to find out that we are in front of one of the 6 Bonaire Webcams, how kewl is that: http://www.bonairewebcams.com/YellowSubPierCamLarge.php

While in the marina Sid changed the membrane on the water maker and two elbows for the high pressure side broke off due to corrosion. A local plumber who had closed his store many years ago managed to find two of the elbows in his left over stuff, water make works fine now but Sid ordered extras for the future so we are waiting for our mail to arrive in some 10 days plus from now. We learned that shipping to Bonaire not to write Netherland Antilles on the address rather Caribbean Islands otherwise the package will go to Holland first. Blake on Slow Mocean waited over one month for his mail which did in deed go via Holland.

The fridge took a dive as well, not sure yet what’s wrong with it as the tech support for Glacier Bay could not give Sid and answer yet. At least it still working just have to turn it off and on manually.

It’s time to play now, on Sunday Lourae and Randy picked us up and took us for a fun sail on their 24 foot Corsair a trimaran. We had a blast that thing goes so fast you can feel the acceleration each time a puff of wind hit. We sailed as fast as 12.5 knots, had lunch at Klein Bonaire with a cool snorkel, saw a seas snake amongst a lot of reef fish. Wednesday Manuela is going diving with our neighbors Phill and Nell aboard Moondancer, Sid is meeting Randy and the boys at the It’s Raining Fishes restaurant for the weekly Wednesday morning get together to safe the world. Thursday we’ll do an island tour with Randy and Lourae, Time for some fun!

By the way I added the latest Turtle Express of the outer islands of Venezuela if you like to see the photo stories click on following link and scroll to the end:

http://turtle-express34.blogspot.com/