Archiv
CW 49 2002
25.11. - 01.12.02
On Monday morning SILVER BLUE is sailing through the turquoise water on a
light downwind, towards the west end of the islands Los Roques. (image below,
left)
Her destination is Cayo de Agua, a dune island and the only one in the Los
Roques archipelago with fresh water. The anchor already drops at 2.30pm, so
there's enough time to explore. So I let the dinghy down and go ashore. Apart
from high dunes I also encounter a special kind of dune grass that fights
me with lots of small thorn balls. After a while they're hanging all over
me, and when I pull them off they prick my fingers. But it's not too bad.
On my way I meet another inhabitant of this island, but apparently his house
has become too small for him and he's leaning far out, "hello, I'm Herbie,
the hermit-crab." (right image)
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On Tuesday morning I weigh anchor at 8am. My destination is Los Avres; those are two small islands in the west. Under easterly winds with up to 7 Beaufort I'm sailing fast towards that direction, but they also cause quite a swell. And one of those daring waves gets me pretty wet. Oh well, in the future the swell will definitely grow even stronger; around Columbia-Panama 3-4 meters are the norm in this time of the year.
| After 33 nautical miles, I already reach my designated anchoring spot
around noon. But to get to it, I first have to manoeuvre through numerous
reefs and since some of the passageways are only 20 metres across, I really
have to pay attention. But the place awaiting me is indescribably fascinating. High mangrove forests, shimmering reefs and thousands of large seabirds, at home in AVRES DE BARLOVENTO, surround SILVER BLUE. An amazing atmosphere; and the day ends with a matching sunset and the calls of all those birds. The following days are spent discovering this entire, wonderful place - above the water and below. |
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I start in the mangroves where all these birds "live". I drift
along the mangrove-covered shore in the dinghy with birds-eyes watching me
everywhere (left image). There are many different kinds, but the most common
one here is the "Red foot booby". I took a picture of one of their
fluffy chicks (right image). And you can see, how close one can approach the
birds; they're not shy at all.
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| This is also a great place under water. Huge colonies of brain- and
horn-corals and completely intact, which, unfortunately, isn't the norm
nowadays. Of course there are also all sorts of other creature of the
ocean swimming around. But, I'm sorry to say, none of them could be convinced
to come into my frying pan. That's how the week goes by, and since I haven't heard from SILVERS, who actually wanted to be here by the end of the week, I'll make my way to AVES DE SOTAVENTO on Sunday. I drop anchor at the leeward side of a small sand island on which one solitary palm tree stands. A beautiful good-bye picture - tomorrow it'll be "Adios Venezuela" and, hopefully, "bon bini" (welcome in the local slang) Bonaire. More of that next week - if you like. Until then, take care TOM |
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