Reunion in Belize City
02 March 2009 | Belize City, Belize,
sunny with rain showers, Air Temp 83F, Water Temp 81F, Wind NE@12-15
Last week we headed back up to Belize City, spending a few days in the cays doing so. We left Placencia and spent the night at The Blue Ground Range, not to be confused with The Blue Field Range further north where we spent la night last week. Anchored in the Blue Ground Range we traded a 1/2 pint of rum for a nice fresh snapper for dinner with a local fisherman who had a small camp on one of the cays. Then we dinghied ashore to explore a former resort where we were met by a caretaker who was glad of the company, but more happy to hear we would re-charge his cell phone. It had once been a tiny resort(two thatched roof cabanas and a common dining cabana) but has since been sold to someone who just uses it as his private cay. But we got to stretch our legs and chat. Next morning we worked our way between coral heads to anchor off South Water Cay, right on the barrier reef. We anchored here and snorkeled the cut in the reef where we saw some unusual coral and fish. Snorkeling or diving in cuts rather than just along the reef usually produces more interesting snorkeling. Then we landed at a resort on the southern tip (the cay is about 300 yds long and 50 yds wide) where we were able to have lunch. It was a beautiful setting. After lunch we sailed north past Tobacco Cay on the reef to anchor in the nearby Tobacco Range. A "Range" is a group of cays, usually with a cut in the middle. Here we spent a quiet night following which we set out for Belize City. Again we had a beautiful sail, stopping for lunch at Robinson Cays and arriving at Cucumber Beach Marina in early afternoon. Our lines were taken by John and Barbara Anderson on the PDQ 30 catamaran "Sam the Skull" from Glasgow, Scotland. We had first met them in the Bahamas last year and knew they were heading for Belize as we heard their position reports on the NW Caribbean Net on the SSB. I have to explain the name: since their boat is a catamaran, or cat for short, and is from Glasgow, it seemed logical to call it Sam the Skull after a Glasgow drinking song about a local alley cat called, you guessed it, Sam the Skull. Google Sam the Skull and you will find the words, or on Youtube you can hear it belted out in a real Glasgow Pub! We had a great time at the Board dinner, catching up with old friends and meeting new board members and generally getting caught up on events. Next morning we were off with John and Barbara from Sam the Skull for shopping and touring Belize City. By days end we were tired and loaded with supplies and ready to head off again. Next stop, after a few days in the cays, Placencia where we'll spend a day with Stan and Beth Marshall at their house in Placencia!