April 4, 2000

Adventure Day! Luis was waiting for us, with a huge hangover. We think he may have thought since we cancelled yesterday, we may not be coming at all, and had tied one on the night before. He'd just cracked a fresh beer as we stepped into the boat, (although he did ask us if we minded and Greg and Bob had said it was OK). First thing we discovered was he did NOT have enough life jackets. Well, he did if 6 of us had been under 40 lbs, but we were 9 adults, not 5 and 4 kids. Fortunately, Greg had thought something like this might happen, and had brought two of our own lifejackets with him all the way from Alberta. So now we were just 2 short. Luis borrowed 2 more stinky old ones from a friend, and off we went.

Out into the deep blue sea with a drunken (well... hung-over) Mexican captain. But Captain Luis held 'er straight and within an hour (no, maybe a little more) we had passed Cuastocomates, Tamarindo, Los Angeles Locos (now the Blue Bay) and arrived at an opening into the river.

Luis looked a little worried, and cut the engine right back. He asked everybody to move to the front of the boat. Bob actually thought he wanted him to jump out! But he just needed to be able to lift his motor, and ride a wave into the mouth of the river. We waited for about 5 minutes, (all the time the 9 of us actually weren't too sure what we were really waiting for) until a big wave came along, and then he gave 'er full steam ahead, and we rode it right in.

We had arrived on a beautiful palm lined beach. A tropical paradise really. Very pretty. We all got out, and Luis took off the canopy in preparation for our jungle cruise - La Hoongala. Probably spelled la jungala.

It was the coolest thing. We wound our way down this jungle river (mangroves, I guess) having to duck to avoid the overhanging branches. We saw various birds, egrets perhaps? and lots of fish. Still no crocodiles, although you sure wouldn't have been surprised to see one surface.

Then we arrived at Tenacatita! Luis brought the gas tank with us so banditos wouldn't steal it. We ate at a very nice little restaurant "Mexican Fiesta" I think it was called. I had the Rollo del Mar, which is fish stuffed with shrimp and octopus, with some kind of sauce. Truly excellent!

Luis asked Greg to come with him back through the mangroves because he would need his help pushing the boat through the gap we had come through on the wave on the way in. They would bring the boat around and come and pick us up out front. We could give him our day packs when they left. They figured it would take about an hour.

We wanted to laze around on the beach for a while, and maybe do a little snorkelling anyway. Then they were gone! They took Dad with them too, and just disappeared without saying anything! So, we lazed around in the sun for an hour or more. Bob and Cindy walked up the road and over to the next bay. THAT's where we were supposed to go to snorkel apparently! Beautiful clear water, coral reef, private beach. The locals call it the "Aquarium". Why didn't Luis tell us about it?

Then our boat appeared, and it was time to try boarding! He couldn't bring it right to shore because of the surf. Packs over our heads, we walked toward the boat. The water was getting deeper and deeper, and the surf was pounding us back. But undaunted we arrived port side and handed up our packs. Then it was time to get in. This was what I was worried about. Christy was up and in like she bounced from a trampoline. Then it was My turn. This had been one of my major concerns all day. But Jeff let me stand on his cupped hands and boosted me up from the ocean side. Grandpa and Greg had me by the hands and hauled me in like a Beluga whale. Stacey somehow got both feet up, with her butt still in the water. No problems for Cindy and Jeff, and Beluga Bob came in last. Whew! All Aboard.

Luis was a little concerned about his remaining fuel, but Greg seemed to think we would be OK. It was quite comforting having Greg there, because having our own boat at home, he was quite well informed about such things. We stopped to ask a fisherman to sell us some of his gas, but he wouldn't. He Did show us one of the most beautiful fish I have ever seen. Every shade of aqua, pink, yellow blue and silver. He called it a Lory (which I have since found out is Spanish for Parrotfish). He was a spear fisherman, and had speared two of them.

Big waves coming home but all went well. We saw a seal! Then we asked Luis if he would go right by our hotel so we could wave at Mom. He took us right into the Melaque Bahia and we all waved fanatically. Everybody on the beach was waving at us. Finally Mom spotted us and came out and waved.

Next