Los Roques Our position 11:57.05N 66:40.82W
Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Tue 24 Nov 2009 20:35
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So after the disappointing start to Los Roques we
moved to a new anchorage near El Gran Roque, haven't been this far north
for a long while. The water was beautifully clear, we anchored in
about 3 metres of water behind a reef so we still got the sea breeze but the
calm waters. Our first task was to get the dinghy off the deck and
lowered into the water, fix on the outboard and throw in the fuel tank. We then
took the windsurfer to the beach in order for Rob to rig the sail etc, it has
been a long time since Rob had chance to windsurf in good waters and winds so he
wanted to make the most of the opportunity. In the meantime Susie rigged the
inflatable sailing boat and sailed it across to the beach with Berny on board
too. Yvonne, me, Billy and Evie took the dinghy to the beach to explore
the little island. It was a beautiful beach, Evie loves the water you can't keep
her out, she'll soon be swimming, just needs to keep her mouth closed long
enough, being female of course she finds it a little difficult! Yvonne and
Susie took a stroll around the beach, it was picture perfect as all the
anchorages are though we didn't have time to explore too many. You could
spend months here sailing between the islands, different conditions, different
snorkelling.Our visit was to be brief, thats the trouble with
holidays.
After a couple of days we took Chaser ll
around to the main town, the only town actually in any of the Islands. We
anchored offshore and took the dinghy to the dock, we checked out a local bar,
as one does, to sample the local brew. It was a little more expensive as you
would expect because everything has to be shipped or flown in to Gran Roque.
Nevertheless they had a varied supply of most things, tourist gifts, clothes,
food and drinks etc. There were several restaurants and a bank too. For the
evening we arranged a meal in a beach side restaurant but daytime we explored
the town and bars, the airport and bank. Our cruisers guide tells us
we should check into immigration and customs and pay a park fee too. Well be
paid when we cleared in to Venezuela 18 months ago so we didn't feel the need to
go offering anybody money because surely they would have taken it and said
thankyou very much. So we waited until we were asked, we were not! So I would
advise any cruisers visiting to do the same. That evening we had a good meal, I
had Baracuda chips and salad; when cruising fish is often on the menu but
salad and chips are something of a rarity, salad stuff doesn't keep and
saucepans of cooking oil not such a good idea. Potatoes or potatoe looking
things are normally boiled, roasted or a jacket in the microwave.It was nice to
have a meal ashore though then in the darkness we dinghied back to Chaser
ll, in shifts the girls first with Evie in her lifejacket and I returned
for the lads.El Gran Roque is a lovely town, there are no vehicles and the
streets are of sand, the only asfalt is the airstrip.
Next day we sailed to a new anchorage and tried to
catch some fish on the way but no luck.Believe it or not time goes very quickly
when sailing especially when you have family or friends aboard and soon it was
time to make tracks towards Caracas.We moved west to an anchorage where it wood
be easy to leave in the early hours, Cayo Del Agua, fishing again and Rob's reel
sounded off while travelling through the Cays, we slowed and Rob began to wind,
it didn't feel too big, when he got it aboard it would appear to have been a Red
Snapper type fish about 40cm long, unfortunately something biiger had it in
sight and Rob was left with the head! Rob had taken some big fish one of the
biggest was a Baracuda probably over a metre long, it was big, unfortunately as
it came to the back of the boat I missed the gaff and it struggled and broke
free.The follow day Rob caught a big Dorado but again wasn't to be it fought
well and broke the rings holding the hooks to the lure, thats
fishin!
We left at 0330hrs, daylight was only a couple of
hours away and we had a 90 mile trip to the Venezuelan coast to the port of
Carabelleda, this then only means a 30 minute cab ride to Caracas airport. We
arrived just before sunset, time to moor up and have a sundowner before dinner.
The following day, our last of the kids holiday we got everything packed and
ready to taxi, then lunchtime we strolled around to the marina bar for a last
meal, the bar restaurant was a beached boat, it was really good, good food well
cooked, beer all at good prices, thats why they are always busy.The cab arrived
at 1430, he came to Chaser ll everything was prepared to load, 2 cabs
actually, there was 7 of us wih Evie plus all the luggage.So our last journey
together until next time but what a good adventure we all had an experience
to remember, Evie to young to do that so she'll have to come again and again.
She was an excellent crew member even at 9 months, sailing never bothered her
she loved the water, in it or on it.
IMGP0392.JPG IMGP0395.JPG IMGP0398.JPG IMGP0400.JPG IMGP0304.JPG IMGP0318.JPG IMGP0333.JPG IMGP0366.JPG IMGP0368.JPG IMGP0412.JPG These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google. Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/ |
