Departed Puerto De La Cruz (PLC) our position is now 10.28.65N 64.11.11W
Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Sat 2 Aug 2008 11:16
|
We've been land based (in the marina) long enough,
it's time to move. Our plans have changed since not too long ago, we'd
originally thought to go to Trinidad then early next year up the River Orinoco.
Again with Chris and Tony aboard 'Waylander' but we receive news that
Susie is to have a baby early in February so we need to be near an airport, and
Chris and Tony have business plans in the States which will involve them flying
to New York for a time. I think really they just wanna flash their 'Issued in
Havana' 10 year visa at the American authorities). Chaser therefore
decided to leave PLC and move into some cleaner water for some R&R and
swimming. We still have work to do aboard but we probably always will have, they
say Cruising, is about repairing boats in exotic places, so we've moved on to
fix things. Thank goodness we have a 'Fischer Panda' generator or we may run out
or repairs to carry out.
We said goodbye to 'Waylander' and
arranged to meet them in a couple of weeks further up the coast.
Our first stop was only 5 miles outside PLC, Isla
Chimana Segunda, security is always something on our minds, one gets a little
paranoid from all the rumours from the 'don't go theres' in Bahia Redonda
Marinas and the like.Still there can be problems and robbberies so we take no
chances, but we will travel out of the Marina. I'm think probably Venezuela is
as safe (or as dangerous if you're a pessimist) as anywhere else,but its prudent
not to be alone in secluded places. Chimana Segunda though is in radio
range of everyone and there is always other boats coming and going, so no
worries there. Its a lovely spot, we spent a couple of nights there, one reason
being we need to get under the boat and clean the crud off the propellor and
shaft, we couldn't go anywhere without doing that first. The water here was
good, surprisingly clear with some nice coral and fish. Such a change to be able
to snorkell after being in PLC for so long.
Our next anchorage was in a bay called Occult or
Hidden Bay, this is a lonely but beautiful anchorage but because we were sailing
alone we decided we would only stop for lunch and then move on somewhere else
for the night. There were though two other cruising boats in the area, so after
some swimming and lunch we dinghied over to ask if they were staying the
night, they were, so we did too. A beautiful spot, flat calm, clear water,
gorgeous sunset.
The following day we moved on to the village of
Mochima, this is deep into a bay thats about 3 miles long, totally protected
from any weather. We anchored just off the village about midday. Come evening we
dingied ashore, we walked along the streets looking in the few shops and then
had a beer in a bar before having a lovely meal right on the seafront in a
restaurant called Puerto Viejo. We could look out over the bay to
Chaser as well as take in the hustle and bustle of the water taxis
dancing in and out of the little harbour
outside the restaurant. Chris and Tony will love it here, hopefully they'll stop
on their way.
Now we are in a Marina at Cumana, its quite a big
town though a mile or so away, we'll take a trip in there tomorrow. The marina
here is no longer cheap, the same price as PLC but the place is falling apart,
the docks are dangerous as you can see in the last photo, the planking has
almost rotted, strangely its full of dead boats with many dead type liveaboards,
the sort that kinda run out of money and just lie here. We are the only British
boat, there is one American sailboat, he's cruising but stopped for repairs but
the rest of the sailing fraternity are French. We have managed to fill up with
diesel though, 350 litres for three euros (3) so it was worth coming, but we
wont be staying long, we'll move on Tuesday.
We will sail up and down the Golf of Cariaco,
hopefully meet up with 'Waylander' before going back across to
Margarita to see some friends. Then who knows.
SI850049.JPG IMGP4832.JPG IMGP4843.JPG IMGP4887.JPG IMGP4889.JPG IMGP4897.JPG SI850072.JPG SI850089.JPG SI850097.JPG SI850103.JPG SI850114.JPG SI850123.JPG These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google. Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/ |
