What A Cold Front or Norther Looks Like!
We're still at Lighthouse Reef, Belize-don't remember if we told you about our day from hell yesterday? The norther came though mid afternoon-but in the AM, a dive boat came out & dropped off snorkelers right behind where Wasabi & Winterlude were anchored. Apparently that's the Half Moon Caye Wall. Anyway, a ranger boat came by & told us we couldn't anchor there. Now keep in mind, we're on the south side of the island, protected from all
sectors of north wind, it's already blowing 20+ with a big swell & this guy wants us to move. AND he's insisting we come INSIDE the reef, to the north side of the island. We explained & explained about the norther & how dangerous it would be for us to be on a lee shore during a norther, all for naught. So Winterlude upped anchor & came inside. Turned out alright, we anchored in about 6' of water over sand & the sand turned out to be VERY good holding-but still we were 1/4 mile from the island lee shore, not safe. Luckily, our buddy boat, Wasabi, was able to pick up a liveaboard dive mooring outside-they have a 7' draft and could not have gotten inside, too shallow. They spent the norther on the empty dive boat mooring. Unfortunately for them, the roll was rail to rail sideways & they were MISERABLE all night, a 2nd night of no sleep. Inside here, once the wind switched to the NE, a little before dark, so we were protected from the reef, and our two anchors held us nearly motionless, we got a good nights sleep, even though we weren't expecting it.
sectors of north wind, it's already blowing 20+ with a big swell & this guy wants us to move. AND he's insisting we come INSIDE the reef, to the north side of the island. We explained & explained about the norther & how dangerous it would be for us to be on a lee shore during a norther, all for naught. So Winterlude upped anchor & came inside. Turned out alright, we anchored in about 6' of water over sand & the sand turned out to be VERY good holding-but still we were 1/4 mile from the island lee shore, not safe. Luckily, our buddy boat, Wasabi, was able to pick up a liveaboard dive mooring outside-they have a 7' draft and could not have gotten inside, too shallow. They spent the norther on the empty dive boat mooring. Unfortunately for them, the roll was rail to rail sideways & they were MISERABLE all night, a 2nd night of no sleep. Inside here, once the wind switched to the NE, a little before dark, so we were protected from the reef, and our two anchors held us nearly motionless, we got a good nights sleep, even though we weren't expecting it.
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Today was absolute south seas paradise! In the morning, we took the dinghy & went exploring-went in to the island, hiked a bit, walked the beach, talked a guy named Rooster, the lighthouse keeper, into letting me climb the lighthouse in hopes of a picture perfect pic of Winterlude at anchor here-and I did climb the lighthouse, unfortunately, the palm coconuts were exactly at the wrong angle & I couldn't see Winterlude. BUMMER.
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 Lighthouse on Half Moon Caye |
Then we hiked to the other end of the island & climbed the bird observation tower & saw baby boobies-these were red footed boobies, not the blue ones we saw in the Sea of Cortez!!! But the fuzzy white babies are very, very cute, altho they aren't very little! :) Then the bugs chased us back to our dinghy & we came back for lunch. About that time, Brian & Lisa were dinghying in to pay their park fees (it was $10 BZ per person for as long as we want to stay-that's $5 US for each of us-what a DEAL!!!) -- we all decided we'd snorkel the reef over by their boat after we had lunch. But first, David & I put the Airline together & used it for the first time (other that the quick test run we gave it outside Marathon just to make sure it worked) -- David cleaned the bottom of the boat & I watched the conch & crabs crawl all over the sand under our keel. It was WONDERFUL-I think I'm going to LOVE the airline!!! :)
Then we went snorkeling-LOTS & LOTS of fantastic coral, colorful sea fans, etc., but not as many fish as I had hoped, altho' I did see a French Angelfish. But as David says, that's just one spot & there are dozens more to explore! :) Not sure what's up tomorrow - Brian & Lisa want to dive the Blue Hole (well, if Lisa can find her heavy wetsuit, the water's a bit chilly) -- they have tanks for us if we want to go with them. We're not sure we want to try it-you have to get down 50' below a thermacline before the visibility gets better & then supposedly all there is to see are stalagmites & stalagtites. But we'll see... we're not ruling it out yet either.
Then we went snorkeling-LOTS & LOTS of fantastic coral, colorful sea fans, etc., but not as many fish as I had hoped, altho' I did see a French Angelfish. But as David says, that's just one spot & there are dozens more to explore! :) Not sure what's up tomorrow - Brian & Lisa want to dive the Blue Hole (well, if Lisa can find her heavy wetsuit, the water's a bit chilly) -- they have tanks for us if we want to go with them. We're not sure we want to try it-you have to get down 50' below a thermacline before the visibility gets better & then supposedly all there is to see are stalagmites & stalagtites. But we'll see... we're not ruling it out yet either.
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 Rooster, the Lighthouse Keeper's House on Half Moon Caye, Belize -- there are only two "residents" on Half Moon Caye -- Rooster & the Belize Audubon Society representative -- the Audubon Society guy collects the park fees & also cares for the island & the bird sanctuary at the other end. They spend 2 weeks at a time & then trade off with another Audubon Society person.
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