Bonaire, September 2014

Songerie in front of Karels' bar

 The sailing from Sotavento to Bonaire was with-out any highlights.
We got a mooring quite close to Karel's bar for free wifi. The checking in with customs and immigration was easy but we were in for a shock: We were only allowed to stay for 7 days! After all that effort and waiting the visa was issued for Curacao with a short stop allowed for Bonaire.

On board "Be as you are" with Russel, Natalyia and their dutch friend for a day diving along the coastline.

Goat fish feed using a pair of long barbels ("whiskers") protruding from their chins to rifle through the sediments in search of anything edible; worms, crustaceans, molluscs and other small invertebrates are staples.

Green Moray eel

Trumpet fish

White spotted file fish

Jaco taking a deep free dive, he went to 35m (with Russel using scuba)

Black Durgon fish

File fish

We made the most of the 7 days by planning dives with "Be as You Are"  and "Chaser II".

One thing really stands out: the diving is superb, very well marked and easy to reach and tie up with your boat.

Blenny

Onboard Chaser for a day diving.

tied on a buoy for a dive.

Goby

spotted drum

Scrawled filefish

Pink Flamingo's seem to pose for photo's.

We rented a car together with Phil and Yvonne to see the whole Island.
Slave huts and the salt works was interesting.
The rest of the island is not extremely impressive. (It reminded us of the Center North of Namibia with only thorn bush and donkeys!)

Jaco in front of the small slave hut

Rum punch sundowner then on to the Cuban restaurant for a tender steak!

All too soon 7 days were up and the weather looked OK so we checked out and headed for Venezuela.

We motorsailed to Caraballeda marina, rested for the day and left again the night to motor all the way to Puerto la Cruz.

Christelle landed a big Dorado to put the perfect finish to a good trip.
Now we are getting ready to put Songerie on the hard and to start the big cycle trip.