Haiti- LAND HO!
Two days of nothing but open water and nobody could be more at home than me! I was grateful for the time in the sun, reading, playing music, and finally not feeling guilty for the time off. We took turns relaxing in the hammock over the side of the boat and continued to fish for anything willing to bite. The sun beat down on our bodies relentlessly and when the inverter power was on it meant no AC in our cabins – hot does not even describe the feeling. At night people slowly emerged from their rooms to lay out on the floor in the salon, take up a bench in the back deck, or venture in the hammock off the port railing; anything to capture a slight breeze or a whisper of fresh air.
After the second day of full sail, the water begged us to jump in. I could peer my head over the railings of the boat and see all the way to the bottom of the ocean floor…not too deep reaching about 45-50 feet in depth, I had never been able to sea the ocean floor like this before. It was breath taking and I wondered if I would ever wake to take for granted the beauty around me-doubtful. “Slow the engines. Bring us to an idle!” Ben called to Riggs manning the helm. In less then 5 minutes the entire crew was up on deck, in swim trunks and bikinis, sun screened to the ‘T’, and ready to jump ship! “LOOK OUT BELOW! CANNON-BALL!” Splash! Riggs took a dive off the bridge roof inviting us all to join him. Sky and looked to Ben to be out shark look out…hey you never know. Taking out turns running and jumping, sky and I summoned the guts to jump off the bridge roof bringing butterflies to my stomach. It didn’t take long before I realized I was swimming in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean able to see all the way under my feet and beyond! I grabbed a mask and went exploring. The water was warm and soothed my sun burnt body! Oh this was the life. After everyone got enough salt in their skin we started up the engines once more and continued towards Haiti; but not before passing through the Bahamas Cays.
LAND HO! I am not sure why, but we always manage to arrive at new destinations late at night…I guess it’s our thing. So, late at night, we motored up to a small island in the Grand Bahamas Bank. With Nick, Nick, and Ben, I jumped into the skiff to go exploring. There was no way I was going to miss out on being the first one to step onto a beach on an island in the middle of the ocean….even if I could barely see what it was I was stepping on. Adventure awaits and if anything is going to happen- it is going to happen out their….ooo aaaa. The sand was white, the water was so clear the only sign I was even in water was the fact that my feet collected sand as if seemingly wet. Awesome.
In the morning I was not disappointed with what I saw. Picture perfect, right off a travel agent’s wall….long sandy beach with water several shades of turquoise. We spent a few days moored off the island to not only rest out bodies and prepare for the last leg to Haiti, but to also clam shelter from some bad weather. I was not going to complain. I helped trail for fish, explore the island habitats, and on the last night built a bon fire watching the sunset.
In the morning, however, right before we went to raise the anchor nick managed to snag a shark from the bait we had slung over the side of the boat. Like a scene from Jaws, the shark jumped out of the water shacking its head, and ripped off the fish taking half the rope with it! Yikes. Everyone was shouting and pointing as two reels went spinning catching two more sharks. The water being as clear as it was, we all could watch the action right from the boat. One shark came up slowly stalking the bait then bolted in snagging itself on the hook. Nick burned his thumb trying to get a handle on the line as the shark swam off into the distance. Over 15 minutes had gone by with Nick wrestling with the fishing pole trying not to loose the shark. We didn’t want to kill the shark, but rather catch it to release the hook in its mouth. Within minutes more sharks seemed to have appeared out of nowhere surrounding the boat. Sky and I looked at each other in disbelief. We had just spent two days swimming and splashing in these very same waters…should I be lucky to still have my arms??
The Nick managed to reel the shark in roping its tail and lifting it unto the side deck…I pet the shark for funnzies before they released it back into the water. One hell of a creature sharks are. Beautiful in design and something to marvel at in the food chain!
Having to continue our way to Haiti we all sat and watched as once again land disappeared out of sight. The ocean was also not going to be giving us any breaks getting to Haiti. Mother-nature was surely going to show us who was boss. With waves reaching up to ten feet our vessel took on wave after wave after wave slowing us down and making impossible for anyone to get some shuteye. Like a family waiting for a tornado to pass overhead, we all gathered in the salon waiting to vomit. Sky wanted a gun to shoot her out of her misery, and I mentally punched nick in the stomach envious of his ability to snore through this all.
Without fail, the sun was going down and we were approaching Petite Goave. Our Captain needed a haircut so Lynn graciously snipped away as Riggs provided some shade! Nick was lucky (but he clams it was his skill and prowess) and caught a huge thirty pound King fish for our first meal in Haiti. I love fresh fish! Mother nature rewarded us for getting through the tough seas with a moonrise off our Port Quarter and a magnificent sunset off or starboard beam. It was beautiful and I was exhausted. Nightfall came and it was going to be late (I told you so) when we finally dropped the anchor, so I took the sleep when I could.
I was too tired to even have any emotional response to arriving in this new country. I staggered down to the aft quarters and before my head could hit the pillow I was dreaming.
