I Don't Like Lizards or Snakes!!!! but that ain't what it takes.....
February 18, 2009
Nonsuch Bay, Green Island, Antigua
So...I guess....this is what wintering in the Caribbean is all about. Hiding from Weather!
We are presently in this beautiful bay, protected by reefs just off our bow....and we have a little wave action at 20K from the ENE....which is pointing about at Europe.....alot of fetch there...but the reefs stop any big wave or swell. It's going to be impressive as the wind and waves build....we have a little breaking of waves on Green Island....but not much today. The wind and waves are predicted to just keep building.
We left Jumby Bay and the view of the beautiful resort on Friday the 13th....and didn't have any untoward things happen to us!!!! But....really we only went about 2-3 miles....so we didn't want to stretch our luck!!!! When we anchored at Great Bird Island we were, once again....the only boat there.
It was beautiful!!!! On Valentine's Day we hiked around the island and spent the day watching just beautiful tropic birds.
They were flying off the cliffs on the West side of the island...probably had some nests there. I was mesmerized by them, to say the least. They are just beautiful birds and sooooo graceful. It was really a great hike and fun to see all the birds. There were a few frigate birds flying by, but they carried on and the tropic birds didn't seem to care.
Great Bird Island also is home to maybe one of the rarest snakes in the world....the Antiguan racer snake.....and of course....what do we run across?????
The rarest snake, possibly, in the world....while we're walking on Great Bird Island. I'll post a picture of it....but Jim spotted it....then it moved a bit into the foliage on the ground....so it looks like a stick...but it's really a very rare SNAKE!!! Not my favorite pet! But I was impressed. We also came across a really cool green lizard on a nearby island, Maiden Island.....
and another lizard on Great Bird Island with a "forked" tail!!
The longer we stayed on Great Bird Island, the more crowded it became. A catamaran came first and anchored almost on top of us....then invited us for cocktails the evening of Valentine's Day. I said "welcome to our anchorage"....they started apologizing because they anchored in this pristine anchorage right on top of us....then they invited us for drinks....and I said...well...it's Valentine's Day and NO....we want to spend it alone!!!!! So...of course I felt bad the rest of the night because I "snubbed" our new neighbors.....but oh well. The following day about 3 other boats appeared....this is a really small anchorage....and it became really crowded.
On February 16, or President's Day, Monday, we left Great Bird Island for Green Island....still on Antigua's Eastern shore. But we took the Little Bird Island Channel out....which is precarious as best...alot of reefs and visual navigation.
So....I stayed on the bow and we wore our little headsets named "Cruising Solutions"....advertised as "marriage savers"...but for us it's really "boat partner savers"...but they are really convenient.....no yelling and you can say all sorts of things to each other in just a whisper. But....we cruised thru the channel, unscathed....and motorsailed into the wind...about 6 miles to Green Island.
We anchored in about 20' of water, just inside the reef...closer than any other boat that was here at the time. We're moving into the humongous cruising sailing yachts....and there were a few at anchor here when we arrived. I counted 13 dorades on the deck of this huge dark blue sailing yacht....but only seeing it from the portside! So...just imagine!!!! It is a beautiful vessel! We anchored next to an Italian sailing yacht.....a male singlehandler....that does yoga or meditation in the nude every morning. The yacht is beautiful.....he's invited several other cruisers onboard for tours.....but not us......yet. There are two of the coolest-looking catamarans I've ever seen here, also. One is a German boat...that looks like a spaceship....and is painted partially bright yellow. The people are real athletes....swimming the breast stroke daily around the anchorage....and tonight giving everyone a great show as he kiteboarded thru the anchored boats!
We snorkeled a bit yesterday....during the calm wind and seas. Saw alot of little fish, but only two groupers and no lobster. Once again....very disappointed with the reef conditions as compare with the Bahamas. We walked the beach on the South side of Green Island and Jim found a fire worm in the shallow water!!! I'm suprised he didn't bring it back onboard to commune with our colony of geckos!!!!
Today we took the dinghy over to the mainland.....Harmony House. They are a bar/restaurant/art gallery.....and we considered having lunch there. We took a look at the menu and decided that 120 EC for lunch was a bit much....and came back to Bees Knees and had a great tuna salad delight on crackers with honey mustard and "leftover" coleslaw!!! For basically.....free!!!! We checked into how to get to a town for groceries....we're getting a bit low....and probably would have to hitchhike to town. So....we think we'll last until we get to English Harbour sometime in the near future.
So.....this evening we watched a few kiteboarders zoom thru the anchorage....airborne at times.....and watched the sunset thru the building clouds. We're up in the air about when to leave....we only have a few more legal days in this country....the 24th, Tuesday....should be our last day.
Stay tuned! Bye for now.
Nonsuch Bay, Green Island, Antigua
So...I guess....this is what wintering in the Caribbean is all about. Hiding from Weather!
We are presently in this beautiful bay, protected by reefs just off our bow....and we have a little wave action at 20K from the ENE....which is pointing about at Europe.....alot of fetch there...but the reefs stop any big wave or swell. It's going to be impressive as the wind and waves build....we have a little breaking of waves on Green Island....but not much today. The wind and waves are predicted to just keep building.
We left Jumby Bay and the view of the beautiful resort on Friday the 13th....and didn't have any untoward things happen to us!!!! But....really we only went about 2-3 miles....so we didn't want to stretch our luck!!!! When we anchored at Great Bird Island we were, once again....the only boat there.
It was beautiful!!!! On Valentine's Day we hiked around the island and spent the day watching just beautiful tropic birds.
They were flying off the cliffs on the West side of the island...probably had some nests there. I was mesmerized by them, to say the least. They are just beautiful birds and sooooo graceful. It was really a great hike and fun to see all the birds. There were a few frigate birds flying by, but they carried on and the tropic birds didn't seem to care.
Great Bird Island also is home to maybe one of the rarest snakes in the world....the Antiguan racer snake.....and of course....what do we run across?????
The rarest snake, possibly, in the world....while we're walking on Great Bird Island. I'll post a picture of it....but Jim spotted it....then it moved a bit into the foliage on the ground....so it looks like a stick...but it's really a very rare SNAKE!!! Not my favorite pet! But I was impressed. We also came across a really cool green lizard on a nearby island, Maiden Island.....
and another lizard on Great Bird Island with a "forked" tail!!
The longer we stayed on Great Bird Island, the more crowded it became. A catamaran came first and anchored almost on top of us....then invited us for cocktails the evening of Valentine's Day. I said "welcome to our anchorage"....they started apologizing because they anchored in this pristine anchorage right on top of us....then they invited us for drinks....and I said...well...it's Valentine's Day and NO....we want to spend it alone!!!!! So...of course I felt bad the rest of the night because I "snubbed" our new neighbors.....but oh well. The following day about 3 other boats appeared....this is a really small anchorage....and it became really crowded.
On February 16, or President's Day, Monday, we left Great Bird Island for Green Island....still on Antigua's Eastern shore. But we took the Little Bird Island Channel out....which is precarious as best...alot of reefs and visual navigation.
So....I stayed on the bow and we wore our little headsets named "Cruising Solutions"....advertised as "marriage savers"...but for us it's really "boat partner savers"...but they are really convenient.....no yelling and you can say all sorts of things to each other in just a whisper. But....we cruised thru the channel, unscathed....and motorsailed into the wind...about 6 miles to Green Island.
We anchored in about 20' of water, just inside the reef...closer than any other boat that was here at the time. We're moving into the humongous cruising sailing yachts....and there were a few at anchor here when we arrived. I counted 13 dorades on the deck of this huge dark blue sailing yacht....but only seeing it from the portside! So...just imagine!!!! It is a beautiful vessel! We anchored next to an Italian sailing yacht.....a male singlehandler....that does yoga or meditation in the nude every morning. The yacht is beautiful.....he's invited several other cruisers onboard for tours.....but not us......yet. There are two of the coolest-looking catamarans I've ever seen here, also. One is a German boat...that looks like a spaceship....and is painted partially bright yellow. The people are real athletes....swimming the breast stroke daily around the anchorage....and tonight giving everyone a great show as he kiteboarded thru the anchored boats!
We snorkeled a bit yesterday....during the calm wind and seas. Saw alot of little fish, but only two groupers and no lobster. Once again....very disappointed with the reef conditions as compare with the Bahamas. We walked the beach on the South side of Green Island and Jim found a fire worm in the shallow water!!! I'm suprised he didn't bring it back onboard to commune with our colony of geckos!!!!
Today we took the dinghy over to the mainland.....Harmony House. They are a bar/restaurant/art gallery.....and we considered having lunch there. We took a look at the menu and decided that 120 EC for lunch was a bit much....and came back to Bees Knees and had a great tuna salad delight on crackers with honey mustard and "leftover" coleslaw!!! For basically.....free!!!! We checked into how to get to a town for groceries....we're getting a bit low....and probably would have to hitchhike to town. So....we think we'll last until we get to English Harbour sometime in the near future.
So.....this evening we watched a few kiteboarders zoom thru the anchorage....airborne at times.....and watched the sunset thru the building clouds. We're up in the air about when to leave....we only have a few more legal days in this country....the 24th, Tuesday....should be our last day.
Stay tuned! Bye for now.
These are great!! The descriptions are wonderful. How do you get the pictures on- digital I guess. I will check this more often!!! TBL
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