A proud looking Pelican perched atop his rocky domain in Anse La Roche.
****
This morning we find ourselves itching to go Sailing. Would you believe sailing Just for fun. Gunk-Holing if you will. Not with a need-to-get-there destination in mind, but just Adventuring for the Fun of Being Out and About with a Let's See Attitude.
That's Union Island ahead of us in the photo, on the horizon. And the Gunk-Hole to Explore is seen on your right, just before this woody outcrop of a cliff, kinda due North-West-Wards if you can visualize the island of Carriacou. Not far from where we were on Sandy Island, perhaps not even 3 nm by the charts.
We are in search of a remote, almost hidden,
inlet of a Bay,
Called Anse La Roche.
Or, literally translated to: Bay of the The Rock.
Normally having Huge Rocky Boulders and your Boat of a Home within easy collision parameters don't make for happy and smiling cruisers. In fact, under normal circumstances, one would think that there would be quite a large pucker factor involved, not to mention a double Arrival Beer at the End, n'est ce pas?
Let's Face the Fear and Do It Anyways, right? Or Slow is Pro, and you don't know till you go, right?
We entered the inlet with caution, I on the bow, just like in the ole Bahamian Days, watching for coral heads or reefs, or anything that the Charts might have omitted that would cause Banyan to go Bump.
We circled around for a little bit, getting a feel for the size, depth, roll, and swing room. I could clearly see the bottom and it was sandy with no evidence of anything large or dark or looming.
We felt there was more than enough room for us to safely anchor, in 10-14 feet of water. Room enough for one boat, two might be pushing it (pending your own personal pucker factor) and the roll was negligible.
We had just enough time to decide to anchor before the skies darkened,
yet we were safe and sound
by the protection of the Rocks.
"Isn't that some sort of Oxymoronic type of statement" thinks I.
The Rocks and Boulders and Reef Ridden Shore that lay on either side of the Bay (sort of shielding us from the currents and offshore waters)
with another large group of them on the one side, the waters displaying gorgeous hues of greens and blues and a clarity that showed the reefs from where we sat.
"That would be a great place to snorkel" thinks I.
A swim on the anchor to double check, and then the rains hit and hard, which, no matter, it's time for lunch and a duelling game or two.
That afternoon the skies sort of cleared and we went for a Dinghy Ride,
or rather, a Banyan Photo-Op,
Times Two.
and then a swim, the snorkelling in clear waters was quite nice and the schools of fish swimming all around us, used to humans invading their surfy turf.
After having sat there, safely anchored for most of the day, without hitting the rocks, without dragging on the beach and plenty enjoying the quiet and solitude, we opted to stay here for the night.
Watching the SunSet
and the resulting Colours of Approaching Night Beyond Gorgeous Belief.
And then, as we were all cozy and comfy settled in bed, listening to the Loud Sounds of Nothing, telling of Quiet and Blackness, reading and just about to turn the lights out, we googled ourselves into a frenzy !!
"Guess what?" I quietly whisper to Dave.
"What...?" he asks, already dozing off.
"Anse La Roche is a well-known area for incoming contraband and drug smuggling".
Sweet Dreams or the Stuff that Speaks of Nightmares, what say you?