To Honey River

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 20 Oct 2019 23:57
To Honey River or River Baramahamay
 
 
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 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.
 
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A very heavily laden local going the other way – probably to Crater Bay.
 
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The wide Honey River entrance. Fred and Maria were in first and settled by the time we turned in.
 
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As we rounded the corner we could see we would be boat number five to anchor with Slow Flight just behind us.
 
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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.
 
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The river and a local anchored beyond the beach.
 
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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..........
 
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....to our left with Harmoni and behind us. Idyllic quiet.
 
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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.....
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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I caught sight of children pounding flour and they were bemused when Bear took a turn.
 
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The children’s rhythm was excellent and then Maria took a turn.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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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
                     TRANQUIL AND PRETTY