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Monday 10:30 hrs...Dateline Roatan:
Now we are at Roatan, comfortable in the arms of CoCoView. As we landed aboard TACA
on Saturay, a flight with barely 45 passengers (due to Continentals new flights) we were once again - after some 25 trips, that our luggage was aboard. The island appeared below the
thick clouds.
For the previous two weeks, the first 1/2 of December, the weather on Roatan had been
warm, dry and inviting. In that Herself, my intrepid dive buddy had taken yet another try
at finding paradise in the Caribbean in December, she was eagerly anticipating sun and
warmth. Since she had previously vactioned from her job as a Hollywood Professional Cat
Wrangler for previous several years in this- the height of the rainy season- she knew
disapppointment well. But still, she hoped for the best. On the way from the Roatan airport,
her hopes dimmed substantialy as we looked thru the side windows of the bus at the
twinkling lights of Roatan, Christmas on Steroids. Over decorating was the norm and they
have yet to get those inflatable Christmas Lawn Ornament baloons. Just Wait.
Our driver allowed as how this is the very first rain that they had seen in weeks. "Herself" was now glaring at me.
Sunday night was clear and bright, with a promise of impending sunshine and warmth. We
took the opportunity to hang OUR Christmas lights around Cabana #12 and further brighten
the night sky around CoCoView. We ate Drunken Island Chicken and Sweet/Sour Shrimp
and dawdled at the bar. Our fellow travellers had arrived earlier aboard Continental so they
already had done their CCV Orientation dive- learning the process of navigating the Front
Yard.
Sunday morning, we took some of the newer divers back out on a shore dive in order to sort
out their fears and streses. Due the the rain, the shore dive wasnt pleasant until we reached
ten feet of depth, then it was quite clear. The newbies barely saw the 5 Green Moray or the
huge 120# Grouper, but we also saw the usual suspects like the Garden Eels, the Secretary
Blennies and Arrow Crabs. On the way back in, my dive buddy and Cousin Katie was so
relaxed that she saw the Garden Eels and observed with interest the ever present Sailfin
Blennies. I think diving is a wonderful new sport for her, as this is the first time Ive ever not
heard her talking, thank you Mr. Second Stage.
Lunch of Fajita Salad, Ginger Shrimp, Ham & Cheese, with the worlds best Onion Soup,
power nap and then out on the 2:00 boat. We did Johns Spot and of course, DM Tulio
found the Seahorses, Flamingo Tongues and mated Angels. The Drop Off dive I
encouraged any and all to simply drop off on the wreck of the Prince Albert, if ony to further
enhance their understanding of the layout of CCVs front yard. We jumped in as Grigo the
Captain advised us that the first ten feet were cloudy, that we should descend thru that as
quickly as possible and enjoy the clear viz below. Of course, he was correct. At the end, as
we SCUBAs back the chain to CCV... then it really started to rain.
We had a dinner of Roast Beef, Grilled Fillet Fish, Parmesan Mashed and Salva Vida. The
night dive was a forgone write-off.
It has now been drizzling for 16 hours. Although maybe half the diver went out on the boats,
lots decided to stay warm and dry while getting their hair braided or getting pedicures and
facials. Thats what me and they other guys did anyway. The girls just lay in the hammocks,
smoked Cuban cigars and drank Salva Vida. See? Something for everyone. The new owners have installed one satellite tv upstairs in the club house, and the new porches off of the cabanas are still quite private but expanded the room area. They are all AC now, something I never really needed.
In that the breeze is now coming from the South, the weather should clear sometime soon,
possibly by January 2005.
I am waiting impatiently for Monday lunch: Chicken Enchiladas and a Fish Chowder and
salads.
Is that a break in the clouds I see?
Now we are at Roatan, comfortable in the arms of CoCoView. As we landed aboard TACA
on Saturay, a flight with barely 45 passengers (due to Continentals new flights) we were once again - after some 25 trips, that our luggage was aboard. The island appeared below the
thick clouds.
For the previous two weeks, the first 1/2 of December, the weather on Roatan had been
warm, dry and inviting. In that Herself, my intrepid dive buddy had taken yet another try
at finding paradise in the Caribbean in December, she was eagerly anticipating sun and
warmth. Since she had previously vactioned from her job as a Hollywood Professional Cat
Wrangler for previous several years in this- the height of the rainy season- she knew
disapppointment well. But still, she hoped for the best. On the way from the Roatan airport,
her hopes dimmed substantialy as we looked thru the side windows of the bus at the
twinkling lights of Roatan, Christmas on Steroids. Over decorating was the norm and they
have yet to get those inflatable Christmas Lawn Ornament baloons. Just Wait.
Our driver allowed as how this is the very first rain that they had seen in weeks. "Herself" was now glaring at me.
Sunday night was clear and bright, with a promise of impending sunshine and warmth. We
took the opportunity to hang OUR Christmas lights around Cabana #12 and further brighten
the night sky around CoCoView. We ate Drunken Island Chicken and Sweet/Sour Shrimp
and dawdled at the bar. Our fellow travellers had arrived earlier aboard Continental so they
already had done their CCV Orientation dive- learning the process of navigating the Front
Yard.
Sunday morning, we took some of the newer divers back out on a shore dive in order to sort
out their fears and streses. Due the the rain, the shore dive wasnt pleasant until we reached
ten feet of depth, then it was quite clear. The newbies barely saw the 5 Green Moray or the
huge 120# Grouper, but we also saw the usual suspects like the Garden Eels, the Secretary
Blennies and Arrow Crabs. On the way back in, my dive buddy and Cousin Katie was so
relaxed that she saw the Garden Eels and observed with interest the ever present Sailfin
Blennies. I think diving is a wonderful new sport for her, as this is the first time Ive ever not
heard her talking, thank you Mr. Second Stage.
Lunch of Fajita Salad, Ginger Shrimp, Ham & Cheese, with the worlds best Onion Soup,
power nap and then out on the 2:00 boat. We did Johns Spot and of course, DM Tulio
found the Seahorses, Flamingo Tongues and mated Angels. The Drop Off dive I
encouraged any and all to simply drop off on the wreck of the Prince Albert, if ony to further
enhance their understanding of the layout of CCVs front yard. We jumped in as Grigo the
Captain advised us that the first ten feet were cloudy, that we should descend thru that as
quickly as possible and enjoy the clear viz below. Of course, he was correct. At the end, as
we SCUBAs back the chain to CCV... then it really started to rain.
We had a dinner of Roast Beef, Grilled Fillet Fish, Parmesan Mashed and Salva Vida. The
night dive was a forgone write-off.
It has now been drizzling for 16 hours. Although maybe half the diver went out on the boats,
lots decided to stay warm and dry while getting their hair braided or getting pedicures and
facials. Thats what me and they other guys did anyway. The girls just lay in the hammocks,
smoked Cuban cigars and drank Salva Vida. See? Something for everyone. The new owners have installed one satellite tv upstairs in the club house, and the new porches off of the cabanas are still quite private but expanded the room area. They are all AC now, something I never really needed.
In that the breeze is now coming from the South, the weather should clear sometime soon,
possibly by January 2005.
I am waiting impatiently for Monday lunch: Chicken Enchiladas and a Fish Chowder and
salads.
Is that a break in the clouds I see?