A walk in the rain forest - it rained
Irie
Fri 28 Mar 2008 19:53
Rodney Bay
Wednesday 26th March
Well, it's 6.45 pm and sitting in the cockpit, the
mantle of dusk is casting a deepening shadow over the silver shimmer of the sea
and the voluptuous, volcanic folds of the bay. The sky is mostly
overcast and the sunset was obscured, though a few shafts of light
appearing through horizontal breaks in the cloud to the west hint at its
passing. Several large tripper catamarans have threaded their way through
the anchorage with motley cargoes of gyrating pink flesh, fuelled by rum
and issuing tribal chants and anthems. Much more decorous is the pretty
full rigged ship that sails a regular sundown trip; a tracery of yards and
rigging supporting a darkening silhouette of square canvas and staysails
outlined against the horizon beyond. A steel band chimes and trills all the
old favourites, and entering harbour she fires a gun. It's a charming
homage to a bygone day and at $30 US a head including free rum and a
burger, it's a bargain.
Tuesday provided a great family day for all eight.
Anchored off Pigeon beach we had a watery melange of swimming, snorkelling,
kayaking, plus the extra excitement of a rope suspended from the spinnaker boom
providing a piratical gibbet swing into the briny. A foraging beach party
established a beach-head, stoutly defended by a moated sandcastle and
provisioned with ice cream. The water has still to totally clear from the swell,
but the viz is much better, and there was loads to see round the rocks and
colourful coral heads.
Today saw steady rain till after midday with occasional
belting showers. This added authenticity to the Rain Forest Walk (there's a clue
in the title) which was a low key affair meandering for two and a half hours
round an undulating track beneath the soaring canopy. It's a real contrast
from the sea; soft transluscent greens, misty views to nowhere as the foliage
melts into moisture, the thrashing of rain on the canopy branches high above,
and then the pattering of liquid pearls as large droplets tumble to
the earth. It's very beautiful and deserves more time and a better
explanation of this delicate, balanced ecosystem, especially having travelled
over a hour and a half each way down the by now familiar airport
road.
Kate undergoing punishment / A walk on the wet
side
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