We truly found Paradise

Bird population here is about 12 if not counting the 20 flamingos. So far we've seen 1 heron, 1 king fisher, 2 turns, 2 osprey, 3 pelicans and 3 frigate birds all attacking one single Booby. There are a few turtles hanging around the boat and now and then popping their heads out of the water. After seeing the flamingos I was determent to find out where they are as they flew to the eastern end of the mangrove island. The following day we hopped into the dinghy and explored the island. Almost towards the end of the island we found a small sandy beach and went ashore. About a 3 minute walk brought us to the edge of a big stinky lagoon, just the kind flamingos like. Unfortunately we did not encounter any and there was no way to walk around as it was slippery and overgrown with mangroves. We headed back to the dinghy and ventured out to the end of the island where the reef starts and went for a hike along the reef. We found beautiful pools and an area where the reef gave way to the sea like flat tables with cut outs. All Tables were overgrown with a mossy looking sea plant. The gaps between the tables filled and emptied again and occasionally the waves flooded over the top. It was breath taking. Not just that but we found lots of snails again and finally figured out where the big ones hide, now that is our secret. We came home with a huge back full. The biggest snails I prepped like Abalone, pounded, breaded and pan fried. Ahhhhh they were good.
Our provisions are getting really low now. We have 1 carrot, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, very low on coffee and power milk, few canned goods, no more pasta, little rice, no wine, beer and are on our last roll of toilette paper. The stores in Bonaire are going to love us! Oh we're almost out of rum, we had one bottle with about 2 inches of rum left when I found the bottle on its side and the lid not screwed on tide and some rum spilled. Luckily there was a plastic bag that caught the spill. Both of us reacted immediately by closing in on the spill on hands and knees, assessing the situation then grabbing the bag on four sides, gingerly lifting it up and even more so carefully moving it over a ready wide mouth glass and finally saving the rum in the glass, it was about 1 ½ shots of rum. Then we realized what we just had done, we laughed our butts off, it was too comical, well you had to be there.
We're still waiting for the squally weather to pass so what all can you do. Sid climbed the mast twice and fixed the wind instrument. The wind from that squall was so strong, Sid figured over 50 to be able to seize the instrument. Then for two days he cleaned stainless, while I combat mildew. Of course we had fun too. I became a huge fan of mangrove fishing and being surrounded by it again you couldn't keep the two of us away from it. We followed the mangroves along our anchorage and at the southwest corner little bay opened to the south, we followed it and half way in we positioned the dinghy close enough to the mangroves and started throwing the lure and bingo a huge, huge snapper bit my lure. Wow, what a fight. We couldn't believe our eyes when we landed the fish in the dinghy, it must have been 10 to 12 pound and barely fit in the bucket except the tail was sticking out. At the end of this little bite of a bay the mangrove gave way to a narrow canal and opened up to a lagoon all surrounded by mangroves. As we headed through that cut another mangrove snapper hit my lure. Inside the mangrove we tried to catch fish at any odd places but nothing. Through the very dark colored water we did see some rays we scared of with the motor and many barracudas. Sid saw one that was about 5 feet long. At the very end of the lagoon are some taller mangroves and you can drive right under them, we thought for sure we'll catch some more snappers here and what a surprise to get hit right away. Then we realized they were tarpons. We had about 20 around the dinghy and no matter where you tossed the lure they got it. Amazing how high they jump out of the water. By the way, we did have to put bug spray on as the no-see-ums were very thick and Sid brought up the fact of the low bird population might be cause due to them. Back at the boat Sid cleaned the fish, there was enough meat for 4 dinners for us with just half of the fish. The second fish we caught we brought over to our neighbors we haven't met yet, but saw them in the same anchorage in Barlovento. We chat for a bit about this and that and provisions what we had left, especially the one roll of TP. About an hour later a knock on the boat and a roll of TP came flying into the cockpit, I would say that was a good trade LOL.
Sid fixed up some poles for the tarpons and the following day we headed back into the mangrove. Unfortunately the tarpons were not as playful as the previous day but Sid managed to hook one. Amazing how high they jump out of the water to shake loose the lure. By the way they are pretty difficult to hook as their mouth is hard but have no teeth and their gills are dangerously sharp so you have to grab them by the lips to take the lure out before releasing them back into the water. I definitely got hooked on mangrove fishing, it's very exciting and I did catch another one nice size mangrove snapper not quite as big as the last one but bigger then the ones before. Sid is getting tired of cleaning fish, but he said he likes to be the bait and cleaning guy LOL.
It's been a very enjoyable stay here, especially the fishing. But sitting on deck a couple of hours before sunset to the many turtles popping up their heads all around us and the very few birds feeding and along the mangroves fish feeding while wispy clouds pass over us makes us realize we did find another Paradise. This has been truly a wonderful and enjoyable trip we'll always treasure. Weather has finally cleared and it's time to go on to find new adventure. This is a final goodbye to Venezuela.

After being awaken by the morning star
The anchor is pulled and out at sea again we are
With a fresh cup of coffee in our hand
We are leaving another beautiful land
As the island is slowly fading
Some yet new ones are waiting
For our anchor gently settle in the sand
And our bare feet touching another new land
While our minds are wondering how it will be
Mother Nature is cradling Paradise across the sea
What a beautiful life we have and what bliss
Something we definitely don't want to miss

Manuela Olshefski 03/17/2010