To Honey River
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 20 Oct 2019 23:57
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To Honey River or River
Baramahamay
 Trevor and Kimi dropped Fred and Maria back to
Serafina and us to Beez and at twenty past ten we set off for
the Honey (Baramahamay in Malagasy) River, Slow
Flight taking the lead. Bear took the watch so I could nip
downstairs to edit our lemur pictures to hand over to Kimi and Maria. Wind next
to nothing so a motor-sail for the twenty-one mile journey.
 A very heavily
laden local going the other way – probably to Crater Bay.
 The wide Honey
River entrance. Fred and Maria were in first and settled by the time we
turned in.
 As we rounded the
corner we could see we would be boat number five to anchor with Slow
Flight just behind us.
 Passing the beach
to the village. It was low tide and for a tiny bit we had 2.7 metres
below but mostly we had ten plus.
  The river
and a local anchored beyond the beach.
 We went to the back of the small
group, turned around to face into the wind and anchored in 4.3 metres, within a
minute of settling a local paddled over to offer us honey. A litre and a half
for two pounds, we bought it to add to our collection for Des, the wonderful
weather adviser that will become all so very important to us once we get to Baly
Bay. The view to our right..........
  ....to our
left with Harmoni and behind us.
Idyllic quiet.
  A quick loss for me at backgammon.
Growling. Half an hour later Trevor and Kimi very kindly picked the four of us
up once again to head ashore to explore the village.
Kimi got out some sweets and the quietest mention of the word “bon bon” and the
Pied Piper effect was dramatic. The canny amongst
them hid their sweet and queued for a second time but Kimi was well to the wise
on that trick and was very strict.....
         It meant that I got chance to take
some of the children’s faces and show them their
picture. Many in the village were getting over an outbreak of malaria but other
than a few ‘green candles below noses’ everyone we saw looked well. Favourite –
of course, the little fellow at the end so his picture got taken twice.
Adorable.
 Next, we went to the village shop where Fred handed in four empty 1.5 litre
water bottles, bought four full ones of honey and Trevor bought too. It’s nice
to support the villages where we can.
  I caught sight
of children pounding flour and they were bemused when
Bear took a turn.
  The children’s
rhythm was excellent and then Maria took a
turn.
   We met up with the Scandinavian group
and chatted for a while until someone mentioned fish for sale. Beyond a few
houses and there we were in an impromptu fish market.
We have never tried triggerfish and as the chap was
breathing his last we bought the huge thing for a pound.
   Bear and his chap
now dangling unceremoniously from a piece of tied fishing
line. Back to Trevor and Kimi’s dinghy (we were told is called
Dirty Diana), just as well with Bear and his ‘dodgy
handbag’. Chap in the sink and had to take a picture of his teeth. Once his head was off half of him was gone but
enough for the two of us for supper. Tough as old boots to prep for the oven and
one or two barbs made their mark. Would I buy triggerfish again ??? No, too
meaty for me but Bear enjoyed it with salad and boiled potatoes.
  After supper we played Mex Train Doms
and on the final round and Bear doing his usual trick by putting a double down
that neither of us could answer until only one was left in the drawing
pile......he ended up with thirty-three tiles
and I ended up with twenty-four. Who won the round
??? as usual himself, but not only that he won the whole game by six. Growling
very loudly. I was so miffed I demanded a game of Sequence and managed a five
one win. Huh. Don’t give me huh......Shower,
bed and two episodes of the very good Blindspot. An excellent
day.
ALL IN ALL A GORGEOUS
VILLAGE
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