Roatan, Honduras

11/2//13

Roatan, Honduras

Intermittent rain showers


We are anxious to get to Roatan and have left Utila too early, it will need more time for exploration and diving, on our way out of the country when we return to Guatemala.  The trip to Roatan is only roughly about 30 miles from East Harbor, Utila to French Harbor, Roatan where our marina, Fantasy Island awaits us.  The sky's were dark and foreboding when we left and which made me a little anxious, but when the rain squalls hit they were brief and without mishap, but they followed us all the way there.

When we arrived and thanks to Jonesy and Terry on s/v Nikki Wikki, we had the necessary waypoints as there is a small opening in the reef to get into French Harbor.  Once in, there is also a very shallow spot that needs to be avoided.  The water is beautiful though, azure blue and clear in the more shallow spots where there is a sand bottom.  We were met at the dock by, Jerry, dock master extraordinaire, for Fantasy Island Marina.  He got us situated in the back of the island ("the back 40") where we stayed until the next day, when we moved to a site with electricity.  Jerry, is a delightful man with the best voice I have ever heard....he should be a newscaster or the like.  Jerry showed us around the island and bought us a drink at the resort bar, what a nice entrance to our new "home".  That evening being tired we made the decision to eat at the resort, leaving our boat open (as we had no electricity), I was a little worried about the bugs and the dreaded "no-seeums".  Our meal was on an open veranda, but was certainly not as good as we had anticipated, albeit the view and surroundings were great.  The breeze was wonderful and then it kept getting stronger and stronger and then the rain started.  My worries turned from bugs to water as we ran back to the boat and were drenched when we got there.  What a mess, water on all our books and siting in shelves, luckily - I never open the ports over our bed, thank goodness at least we had a dry bed that night.

The next day we were moved to the other side of the island and moored in front of the Tikki Palapa, or what would soon be completed to be the Tikki Palapa, at present it is a deck with poles that would support the roof later on.  The Fantasy Island property is stunning, with a huge half moon bay and sand beach.  A short swim from the beach is Mayalantis.  This is an area where there are large sculptures which replicate Mayan ruins on the bottom in about 15' of water.  It is a nice area to snorkel, but in no way is it the best of the snorkeling that FI has to offer.

Scrawled Filefish

We are only a short dingy ride from Mr. Sherman's Marine Park.  Mr. Sherman owns the Iguana Farm and he protects the lobster and conch in the marine park from poachers, which is an endless job and one that the Honduran government doesn't support.  Anyone that is caught poaching is arrested and then promptly released, much to Mr. Sherman's frustration.  It is a great area for snorkeling with only being 3-4' deep.  We have seen and continue to see new things each time we snorkel there.  We always enjoy the endless beauties underwater.

Queen Conch

Smooth Trunkfish

April 9, 2014
 Fantasy Island
Sunny and breezy

Selfie of Kaleigh and Susi

 Today we picked up my sweet girlfriend, Susi Q and her daughter, Kaleigh at the airport for a week’s visit to Island Sol. We were eager to get both the girls into the water as soon as we returned to the marina. Kaleigh, who has a degree in marine biology, was ready to dive in. We had a great snorkel at the reserve sign right off the reef and very close to the marina. A delightful afternoon was had by all. The resident 4’ barracuda, Woodie, was ever present and making us all just a little nervous. We see this guy every time we snorkel in this area; I guess he is guarding the place for Mr. Sherman.

 As Kaleigh and Susi had decided to get “open water” certified, we took a trip to Cayos Cochinois for 4 days. Our motor sail there (yes, the wind was on our nose, again) was good and as we neared the islands we all got more and more excited. This is our 4th trip here and we love this place, so unspoiled and beautiful. Best sunsets ever! We found a mooring ball in front of Turtle Bay Eco Resort and after they met the staff, got there first assignment to read Chapters 1 & 2 before being in class the next morning at 8 a.m. Poor Susi, her relaxing vacation has turned into a class with reading and in water instruction that has left her exhausted each night.  We did several dives here and yes, Kaleigh and Susi passed their tests with flying colors, both in the water and out.

The Girls with Clement

Some of our guests.....

5/5/14

Fantasy Island, Roatan, Honduras

We were very fortunate to have friends and family visit us on Fantasy Island.

Lobster and steak dinner their first night
on Island Sol.

First, our daughter and son-in-law, Haley and Bobby.  They arrived just a few weeks from our arrival to Roatan.  The weather was not to good when they landed, in fact several flights earlier were diverted to La Cieba (on the mainland).  It was at the end of that storm we had after Thanksgiving.  But luckily their plane landed.  Next came the hour in customs where they had a real nightmare presenting all the stuff we had them bring us....we told them to declare, which we have found out from a local..."oh no, don't do that"...it cost more $$$.  Honduras gets you coming in and going out, when it comes to your money.  But, we had our kids on the ground and soon in our arms.  So glad they came.

Our good friend, John, who has been doing some of the cruising with us came back to Roatan for another taste of the cruising life.  We enjoyed scuba, drinking and eating and just hanging out with him.  And, we know he will be back for more! John was more of a local by the time he left to return to reality.

Trip to Guanaja, Honduras

5/3/14

overcast skies and not much wind

It was time to get off of Fantasy Island and see something new.  We had many tell us that Guanaja was beautiful and several of our friends were heading to Panama via Guanaja, so we tagged along.  Guanaja is roughly 8-10 miles from Roatan heading west and with the easterly winds blowing that is a trip.  We made it in about 5 hours and with way points from Elly and Wayne on s/v Zeppelin we cruised right in like we knew what we were doing.  The island is large, but a small cay off of the main island is where all the people live.  Guanaja is infamous for it's sand flies...the dreaded no-seeums and that is why everyone lives on this tiny island (because there is no sand).  We have avoided using Off w/deet, but now we are pulling out the big guns.  I unfortunately seem to be their favorite meal and they leave these large raised itchy places all over me...enough whining, I get no sympathy although I try.


We anchored in Sandy Bay where the famous German Restaurant, Manatee, is located.   Klaus and Annette run the restaurant and it is pretty darn good.  Annette is so friendly that you just want to stay and drink that German beer all night long.  So we have eaten here 2 out of the 3 days that we have been on the island.

pizza oven

This is the local hangout, but it is closed on Monday and so the local crowd walks or takes their dingy to the next dock over to eat at Han's Pizza.  Honest to god, this guy makes the best pizza in the world and in a 50 gallon barrel drum oven.  It is amazing, and the place is packed....2 pizzas at a time in the barrel, so you drink alot of beer waiting on the pizza.  But the conversation is always interesting.

Calabash Bight, Roatan

3-25-14
 Calabash Bite, Roatan, Honduras
 sunny and breezy

 We have decided to take a trip up east to Calabash Bite and Turtle Grass Marina. It was a short 7 mile trip motoring into the easterly trade winds. The coordinates that we got from Turtle Grass Marina's blog were right on and we entered the bite from outside the reef heading straight for their first red buoy with reef on both sides of us. Once past the next red buoy (keeping both to our starboard) the depth of the water deepened and we headed for the mooring ball close to the Marina docks. Lori and Mark, run Turtle Grass and on this our first visit we found that Mark was in the states and due back in a couple of weeks. Lori was very helpful, giving us information on the bite and the mangrove cuts that we came here to see. She was also gracious enough to pick up some supplies for us in town.

dock to Turtle Grass Marina

It is nice being on a mooring ball instead of anchoring, so we were able to get a good nights' sleep and there was a great breeze blowing through Island Sol. The next day we took the dingy and the cut from Calabash to Panndi town, the next small bite heading back west. Small shacks on stilts lined the bite and children were swimming near their homes. Across the bite we entered the first of the mangrove cuts, this one being fairly short and brought us out into Oakridge, a larger and more populated bite. Most homes and businesses are along the water way here and we stopped into BJ’s for lunch. BJ is a local with quit a history as it seems. Her husband told us that she is the woman in Jimmy Buffets song….”there’s a woman going crazy on Caroline Street…” and I believe it. The food is good and on Friday we returned to a live band of expats for more food and beer. Passing on through Oakridge we went through Silent Springs, another bite, and then got into much longer mangrove cuts through the island. It was almost magical, with the trees enclosing us overhead and with the mangrove roots on each side, sort of like out of a Lord of the Rings movie. When there were cuts from the reef into the mangroves the water was really nice, blue and clear. It amazes me that people can live right on the reef and the Caribbean Ocean, what do they do in a storm?

Island Sol from Lori's house

mangrove cut our of Panndi Town

The Banditos @ BJ's

School "boat"

Before we left Calabash, Lori invited us to her home for happy hour and we got this great view of the bite and Island Sol floating peacefully in the harbor. Thanks Lori for you gracious hospitality. Also, to Mrs. Coralu for doing our laundry while we were there, laundry service via launcha.

Come to the Island, Mon....

Laundry

Ok, before I begin, I have to tell you that this blog post is not about an exotic island or a wonderful sail, it is about LAUNDRY, and specifically, laundry in Central America.  This is something I have always taken for granted in the states.  And, I promise, when I return I will appreciate it so much more.
12/8/13
Roatan, Honduras


In Guatemala, at Mario's marina we had a laundry on the premises.  It had 2 washing machines and 2 dryers.  There is NO hot water anywhere that I have found in Central America to do your wash.  It is cold water only and then the dryers work off of propane and the only way you know that the propane is out, is to wait the 45 minutes or so it takes to dry your clothes and then you open the dryer and low and behold, they are still wet.  But, of course, if someone before you let's the marina know the propane is out they will switch over to a new tank, but this doesn't always happen or I was always the first to get the empty "dryer".  The convenience of having the laundry near your boat was a great thing, though, plus I could have Judy do it for me for an extra few "Q's".

Now, I am in Roatan, staying at "Fantasy Island" Resort and Marina.  Sounds great, sounds like this is the place to be, but NOT for laundry.  There is no laundry available to cruisers at this marina, which is strange since there is a huge laundry facility for the resort.  So, instead, we have a "laundry service".  This too, sounds great, except you send your clothes out at 10:00 am and get them back at 10:00 am the next day.  Then don't make the mistake of sending them out on Saturday, because then you have to wait for Monday.  This particular service...I think the guys name is Steve....always returns my clothes semi dry (after being washed in cold water).  The 3rd time I sent my laundry out and it came back even wetter than before, I sent it back the next day with a note, requesting that they only be dried, as they were still wet.  Steve had plans on charging me for this drying service, but I was not about to dish out more lempiras for something that should have been done right the first time.

So, today, Charlie and I gathered up all our laundry and took the dingy to Brooksy Point, another marina "just around the corner".  Brooksy Point, run by Mike and his family, is a lovely small marina and it has 2 washing machines and 2 dryers right next to the bar...how convenient is that!  So, you can do your wash and have a beer at the same time.  Again...no hot water and then after 2 loads of laundry, and one beer, I find out that one dryer is not working.  This necessitates another beer as I wait for the second load to be dried.  Charlie had a great time chewing the fat with Mike at the bar as I slaved to do our laundry, but he did learn some good things about sailing in Panama that will come in handy for us in the future.  So, after about 3 hours, we loaded our laundry in the dingy and turned on the light, because now it is dark thirty...and made our way back to Island Sol.

So in conclusion, I hope all my friends and family in the states appreciate the task of doing the laundry in the comfort of their own homes with HOT water.  I know that I certainly will when I return.  No more bitching about the laundry, because, doing the laundry in Central America is a real effort...and that is my motto on my boat...."Everything is an effort"!

PS...after sleeping on this "rant", I decided that I had better humble myself and be glad I have a laundry to go to, even with cold water.