Rob and Berny's Holiday with us
Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Mon 28 Jan 2008 12:25
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Rob and Berny arrived in Porlamar International airport at about 3pm Sunday
13th, we had a cab waiting (beautiful 31 year old Ford) to take us all back to
Juan Griego, a small fishing village on the north coast of Isla Margarita. We
stayed in Juan Griego for a couple of days anchored in the bay. The water
here is rather dirty but Rob tried his hand at fishing but only managed to
catch some rather deadly (literally) Catfish, which he very carefully
unhooked. We then made an early departure Tuesday Morning for Isla
Blanquilla.
Yvonne and I had been there before so we knew it
was the nicest area to go to for snorkelling and swimming etc. We arrived in the
afternoon and anchored in the smaller of the anchorages, which we had to
ourselves. The snorkelling was brilliant we saw parrot fish, angel fish Octupus
and we even saw a Turtle grazing on the sea bed 2 metres below us.
We had an enjoyable time here swimming and
walking by day and barbequeing on board at night.
We left Blanquilla with another early start to
arrive in Isla Tortuga before sunset, we had a great sail. The fishing wasn't
too good en route but Rob did manage to catch another poisonous friend, a Puffer
Fish. Like the Catfish these are rather dangerous, reading the
description in our fishes guide book it says. ' Poisoning
usually commences 10 to 45 mins after eating with a tingling of the lips and
tongue, dizziness,skin palor, graduating to numbness and spreading to the
appendages accompanied by gastrointestinal disturbance. Further symptoms include
sweating, extreme salvatation, headache plummeting blood pressure and a fast
weak pulse, and respiratory distress eventually followed by blue, blistered skin
muscular tremor and paralysis and fixed glassey eyes. Cause of death,
respiratory paralysis. Victims get to enjoy every stage because mental acuity
typically lasts to the end'. ------- Consequently we decided to throw this
one back, its not for the barbeque. Tortuga is a nice island, Venezuelans
fly in here for a day on the beach. We didn't spend to much time here, it was
now Sunday, so yet another early start Monday for a good fast sail to Puerto De
La Cruz.
Rob managed to catch a few Baracudas on this leg,
another dangerous fish but good eating, that did go on the Barbie! Back in
PLC we met up with some old friends. Had a good meal ashore, did some retail
therapy, travelled to Plaza Bolivar and also to some shopping centres, we
spent an evening Bowling before leaving too.
A difficult sail back to Margarita on Friday,
travelling 82 miles to avoid the head on sea, wind and tide, although we were
doing 6.5 knots through the water we could only manage about 4 kts over
ground.
Saturday, our last full day in Margarita we spent
shopping for goodies, Rob and Bern bought a new laptop and two new Kenwood car
radios.
The two weeks went very quickly, we had a good
time, some good sailing and swimming and hopefully Rob and Berny enjoyed their
time with us as much as we did.
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