Roatan, Honduras

16 21.35N 86 26.42 W

Roatan is the center island in The Bay of Islands.  It is supposedly one of the world's three best diving sites.  Don went on a couple of dives with other cruisers – we both went snorkeling and it was great.  We spent 2 weeks at anchor in the protection of French Harbor.  Fantasy Island is in French Harbor – it is a resort hotel complex that has a marina attached.  Most boats anchored in the protected bay and used the facilities of the Hotel – wonderful !!!  The sand is white, the water crystal clear and aquamarine in color and warm.  The cruisers were a very social lot – volleyball on the beach, yoga, beading, dominoes etc etc.  There was a happy hour at the marina most nights with a pot luck dinner every Saturday night.  We were still in company with Glide, Grace and Homers Odyssey and very thankful to have such wonderful friends.

Don was fascinated by a yellow open air plane that had two lawn mower engines strapped to its support frame above the passengers head for propulsion – oh attached to the engines were two large fans similar to those used for air movement in a domestic home.  I wouldn't have trusted the yellow plane to take off let alone stay up for any length of time.  Each time it was fired up both motors shook whilst I waited to see screws pop and gaffa tape unwind.  Don was hooked ….  he waltzed up to the pilot and introduced himself, asked intelligent questions and eyed his new found love with the looks I once received.  After days of doe eyed admiration he managed to score a ride – a short hop over to the other side of the island and back.   I was very worried as his seat behind the pilot had the controls used for training and I knew he could not help himself – he would have to fiddle with them, I gave him severe warnings and was glad when he did arrive back safe and sound.

We left French Harbor to sail down to West End, which funnily enough is on the West End of the Island.  The Marine Park Authorities have a mooring ball area set aside for boaters.  It is in the Marine Park and you can snorkel from the back of your boat.  West End is a touristy tiny town full of Restaurants and dive shops.  A funky little place to explore.  We spent 2 nights in West End then headed out for Puerto Morelos in Mexico.

Guanaja, Honduras

16 26.33 N 85 53.10 W

We stopped in at Bonacca, Honduras which is a tiny island absolutely covered in buildings.  There are only footpaths – no room for roads and no vehicles.  We watched a panga go by (12ft runabout) stacked high with mattresses – so this was how they moved large objects about – via water – it was funny.  When the population ran out of land area they began building out in the water.

This is where we checked into the new country.  I was hoping for rain as the boat needs a bath (so do we for that matter) and I want water for washing clothes.  We could not get water in Providenca and our watermaker is pickled - we don't want to "unpickle" it unless we need to use it constantly for a while so just hoping for a decent rain to collect water.


We are tucked into El Bite waiting for the Norther to come through - so far is has been a "non-event".  We shall leave for Roatan when the weather settles - maybe Tuesday.  We are still in company with a catamaran named “Grace” and “Homers Odyssey”.  We all went to the German Restaurant last night for dinner - roast Pork - wow it was good and huge servings.  We had been forewarned not to ask for supplements - ie chips instead of mash etc - one couple did and it was not well received, Germans can be set in their ways - how funny !!!  I did notice that roast pork was the only thing on the menu - literally - no dessert - so that is how they manage to serve a lot of people with only the owners working.  Annette took orders, served, then later came to your table with your account - she also remembered everyone's name and addressed you by your name - amazing women !!  She had a little map in her notebook with everyone's table and name - wonderful hospitality.  Annette's husband told us grave stories about the 1998 hurricane "Mitch" - we found it is still very much remembered in this part of the world - Providencia also.   One particularly upsetting story was of a women who had survived Mitch by holding onto a floating door after being washed out to sea for an entire week, eventually being picked up by a passing boat.  She had her two sons with her in the beginning.  When one was lost she clung desperately to the baby but eventually the baby died and she had to let it go.  A terrible story especially as she had been found drifting on a piece of debris several years previously after a similar hurricane.  Everyone here has a story about Mitch .


It was a particularly vicious hurricane – it hit land, hovered over it causing extensive damage then went out to sea – just when the islanders thought the worst was over Mitch returned, the devastation was terrible.