Tranquil Seas' Captain Chris as our historian. We relived stories by seeing sites of Roatan as scallywag central in the pirate and buccaneer days with attacks on Spanish galleons laden with precious metals, woods and other bounty. The Paya Indian (related to Mayans) sites were still evidenced on the shoreline by mounds they had built. The Garifuna village looked like a step back in time with all the thatched roof structures, wooden fishing boats on shore, and fishermen on the water working hard with oars as propulsion.We stopped along the way at 5 glorious snorkel spots. First stop had Mom a bit concerned as she viewed the ladder into the water and contemplated hoisting her legs over to get wet. I suggested she could sit on the railing of the boat and roll backward into the water, then I tuned away to get my gear together. I turn around and there is Mom,
masked and finned, sitting on the railing and back she goes, somersaulting into the water with a splash! I am sure this was scary for her, but less physically demanding than the ladder, so she did not want to think or discuss it, and over she went. This was her water access each snorkel stop! What a classic memory of my 82 year old Mermaid Mamasita, back somersaulting off the boat!Sea Star Garden was a classic Caribbean venue, crystal water, white sand bottom littered with Sea Stars, surrounded by dark barrier reef. We cruised around to back side of reef to view more unusual corals than we've been seeing in our backyard snorkels.
We putted our boat through a passage cut in the thick Mangrove jungle which saved the Spanish galleons 5-6 days of sail travel time. This got us out into channel at end of the island, then we cruised to next
Barretta Island for a snorkel at Jade Beach. Yes, we found nice jade pieces in the rolling surf as treasure.
As we rounded the Eastern end of the islands and saw Guanaja Island beyond blanketed in grey rain, we knew we were in for some weather. We attempted to get to tiny Pigeon Cays, off the end of the island, but the pelting rain headed us south toward the sunshine. We caught a glimpse of these classic Caribbean tiny cay islands with the mandatory 2 palm trees each. We will visit them next time....We did a "drift snorkel" allowing the current to take us along Long Reef and the gigantic Gregorian Fan garden.
Our lunch stop was at favorite Hole In The Wall (see At It's Best posting) and we were greeted like old friends from the salty dog owners. Scene was laid back compared to the prior Sunday scene. Unemployed Amie "interviewed" for job to be the "gofer" as they are tired of store runs, fixing Bloody Mary's and cleaning up. She may just have to come back for the job and use a putt putt dinghy as transportation!
Back on the boat, Chris served us yummy juicy cantaloupe for dessert at a gorgeous secluded bay. If only it were warmer, I would have jumped into the crystal waters! Again, next time....
We jumped into the water again to see shipwreck Prince Albert. It was shallow enough to view the cabin and see corals growing on deck. Interesting view for those who have never seen a shipwreck before.Cordilla Banks was a snorkel stop to see a large Staghorn coral garden intermixed with pencil coral, thought to be the spawning grounds for most of the Staghorn in the Caribbean. Great, this will keep it protected and pristine as it is now.
As we came around the west point of island and into familiar territory, we knew our boat adventure was coming to a close. We drifted close into Land's End Resort to give Adi a shout and invite him to join us for dinner at Tranquil Seas, as Monica was cooking up some Ahi steaks!
Tranquil Seas Resort welcomed us sea weary boaters with a refreshing dip in the mosaic pool, rinse under shell water spout shower and the signature drink "Tranquil Sea Breeze." We dressed for the occasion in only dry clothes we had with us, our long sarongs, island style.
We felt like family, with dad, Paul mixing our drinks, Monica getting special requests for dinner and all joining us for recounting of the days adventure stories. We coined a new drink for Tranquil Seas bar, "Let It Go" Be sure to request it when you are there. Yummy.
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