A brilliant and adventurous day! It began with a trip ashore near the resort of Anise Chastanet. Local volcanic geology well exposed along a 300 yard path to the bar! Dwight (former Geologist!) could not help but to expand on all he saw! “…and here….this is the historic paleo-beach faces….on lapped by the Mesozoic ash fall from the volcanic Piton to the south….and , and…look here is an ‘Ignimbright-Ash Flow!!!’ and, and…. (Kati and Dave know there is little left of Dwight’s Auditory Capacity….but I could hear them! “ does he go on like this often??…don’t worry whispered Kati….He’s just recalling college classes he didn’t pay attention to anyway…”.
But I digress: the natural landscaping (?) is incredible! As if Gods own landscape architect potholed each palm tree individually….giving it that just –right curve toward the sea that calendar shots are made of! Incredibly beautiful! Don’t get me wrong….the Boulevards of South Oakland are a sight to behold…but this beach seen is truly incredible!
As to the grand daily adventure: Capn’ Dave surveyed the seas and noted rightfully that the tide rip around the Leu Cat was particularly pronounced today….but still….the sun was out and there were sponges and fish and soft coral and warm seas within our grasp! So Over the stern we went….full on skin suits, snorkels and fins as Dwight attempted his first efforts with an underwater camera! Must say my first notice of a current (?) was in trying mightily to get to the top of a simple waving sea fan for my first picture. I’m swimming (with great purpose) ….but hey….I didn’t know a sea fan could swim away? How is that?? Kicking furiously….but can’t gain an inch on the galloping benthic creatures! Finally shot a few foggy pictures (Good shots of Dwight’s Knee and Kati’s Flippers there….well composed!) I came up to triangulate on the Leu Cat. Gosh looks far away! Think I’ll head back soon. With head down I begin swimming….first with normal fin-assisted kicking motions…..went on for five minutes it seemed… and I checked again! What….I have made no progress???? Matter of fact…the Leu Cat is farther away!? (Pirates have boarded, and are stealing the Leu Cat???) Now paddling in earnest, full on American Crawl….and making no headway against the current? Pondered seriously heading in the other direction toward the safety of the Beach Bar 1/4 mile to the south….but with-the-current! Maybe that would be safer!? Fortunately, and with some relief I spy the form of Cap’n Leu himself….boarding our vessel in the distance, launching the dingy in a flash and racing with Yamaha-assisted speed to our rescue!
Don’t know that I fully expressed how happy I was to drag my spent self over the side of that dingy….but I surely was.
I look back on another fine day….and another grand entry to my museum of recollection!
These adventures….they make your life longer…. Don’t they!