A Lazy Day
09 May 2005 | Turneffe Islands, Belize
Waking up with a hangover on a rocking boat is not such a grand experience. In was our intension to head east to an area which is a well renown for its fabulous diving, Lighthouse Reef. Although we are not divers, we thought that it would be a great place for snorkeling. The weather report, though was not promising. In order to get to Lighthouse Reef, we would have to head dead into the wind. I had read enough to know that a sailboat cannot go directly into the wind, but must beat to windward. The captain decided that we should wait a day to see if the weather improves. Therefore, we spent the day relaxing. I had brought a fair amount of reading material, but had few moments of time to read with all of our sailing and exploring activities. Each person staked out their place for relaxation. Stephanie and Sheryl made comfortable nests with the cushions in the cockpit. Bruno rigged up his spinnaker pole and slung a hammock. As for me, I had purchased a simple inflatable raft for just such an occasion. I tied a rope around a cleat on the boat's stern and looped the other end around my foot. I spent hours relaxing with the bobbing of the waves, cooling myself from the hot sun with a simple splash of the arms. This is what I had expected. Nothing to do and plenty of time to do it.
Thoroughly rested and relaxed, I volunteered to make dinner. We had some mangos on board which were a little past their prime. I easily turned them into a sauce, with tomatoes, onion, a little bit of marmalade, and a dash of rum. I served this sweet sauce over rice with a side of jalapeno spiced black beans, for a spicy contrast. This improvised little meal was a big hit. We enjoyed dinner and sundowners and played cards until bedtime.