The Rocky Horror Jellyfish Show

We guides often scout a swim, or at least part of a swim, before bringing guests out. This morning I sent John to check out the current at the point on the south side of the bay, where it can sometimes rip. I positioned myself half-way between him and our boat. He gave me the OK sign (fist motion to head) and I relayed it to Heather. Just as the guests jumped in, a raft of jellyfish moved into the outer bay and along the point, tiny little thimble jellies, not really jellyfish, but they still carry an annoying sting. They were so thick I could have walked across them, which I almost did after getting a bunch of little stings on my nose. I yelled “retreat!!” and we gathered back inside the bay with a new plan: swim along the beach. It really paid off, with lots of wildlife sightings, not a jellyfish to be seen. Robert and I used the opportunity to walk up a dirt path through the rainforest, and then jogged back to the beach.

The day had started with a local fisherman showing us his catch which included an 8 foot hammerhead shark he had pulled into that little boat with a hand line a few miles off shore. Stunning. A full rainbow greeted me when I popped out of my cabin, along with the poignant view of Robert making the most of his morning, having swum to the beach and walked the sand. - HP

We had a midday visit from Ziko who brought lovely jewelry that he makes with his mother. We will all go home with a little piece of St. Vincent.

 The afternoon brought rain showers, rainbows, books and naps. And a full steak lunch! 

John and Zack have been cutting their teeth at the wheel of these catamarans all week. Back home, Zack is a day-boat captain in Casco bay in Maine, driving monohull, single-screw vessels. John grew up sailing and motoring around Casco Bay, a waterman like Zack. This evening they sailed us to Fort Duvernette Island, where we swam along a rocky reef then hiked to the top of the island, which has some great history. The cannons atop this island are connected to the Garinagu, an Afro-indigenous people whose history began in St. Vincent with shipwrecked Africans intermarrying with the indigenous Kalinago and Arawak populations in the 17th century. They were exiled by the British in 1797, first to the island of Roatan off the coast of Honduras, and later migrated along the Central American coast, primarily to Belize, where their culture and identity were preserved through resilience and shared history. Today, their culture is celebrated, particularly in Belize through the Garifuna Settlement Day holiday on November 19.  

I think we can all celebrate a story of resilience like that. 

Thank you, John for getting these pics from atop the fort hill as I do not like to hike and happily stayed in the water with Miriam and Taylor! - HP

We had a special little photo shoot with Zack and his parents, Jill and Brad. We are so happy they were able to join us this week! - HP

Heather put on a slide show after a fabulous West Indian Chicken Barbeque, and the party rolled along with 2 pitchers of margaritas, karaoke performances by Captain Touché, me and Heather, and a show-stopper from the Rocky Horror Picture show by chef Jemima. 

In the end, it’s the group and their relationship with the ocean that makes a trip, and this group had that in spades. Tomorrow morning we’ll say our goodbyes, re-provision, and get these tubs cleaned up. See you then!

Hopper

Below, a little video of our wildlife encounters today, of course set to the music of my very own Finn Weafer. XO HP