IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
Belize Mexico

Mexico and Belize Outer Atoll Photos – Yes, we finally got some internet

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Well we made it to the mainland of Belize.  We used the last of the wind to sail the 50 nautical miles from Glovers Reef, through the barrier reef passage at Tobacco Caye, up and around the shallows (holding our breath) to the inner passage and down to Placencia.

It was down wind sailing in the lee of Glovers Reef to the cut and the inner passage was amazingly flat sailing nestled between the mountainous mainland and the mangrove cays inside the barrier reef.

A gentle sail through the inner channel with only a ripple on the water with 15-20 knots of wind
A gentle sail through the inner channel with only a ripple on the water with 15-20 knots of wind
You get beautiful mountains to the west
You get beautiful mountains to the west
Pretty mangrove cays inside the barrier reef to your east.
Pretty mangrove cays inside the barrier reef to your east.
Now this is what I call sailing. Barely a ripple to interrupt my siesta time.
Now this is what I call sailing. Barely a ripple to interrupt my siesta time.
Spirit of Argo safely anchored up off the 'grovey' Belize town of Placencia. Note the yellow flag. This means the boat is under quarantine.
Spirit of Argo safely anchored up off the ‘groovey’ Belize town of Placencia. Note the yellow flag. This means the boat is under quarantine.

Our next stop is a dingy ride over to Big Creek port to check into Belize ‘proper’, but before we do that I have promised you pictures of the trip we made down from Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

Bahia de la Espiritu Santo, Mexico

The first leg of our trip was an overnight from Isla Mujeres to Cayo Norte, but we did not make it.  A strong flowing northly current slowed us down, so we tucked into Bahia de la Espiritu Santo for the night so we would make the reef break into Mexico’s Atoll in good light the next day.

A good bow watch is required to get into the Bahia as most charts are incorrect for this area
A good bow watch is required to get into the Bahia as most charts are incorrect for this area
You think we are joking? Our Garmin chart plotter says that the reef break is north of our route.
You think we are joking? Our Garmin chart plotter says that the reef break is north of our route.
We are using the Rauscher cruising guide, and way points, to help us navigate this area.
We are using the Rauscher cruising guide, and way points, to help us navigate this area.

Cayo Norte, Blano Chincorro, Mexico

We were excited about visiting our first atoll.  A ring of living reef surrounding shallows, coral heads and cays.  Again the charts were a little incorrect.

Our Garmin chart plotter had us going over the reef and heading for the east side of the cay. Not consistent with reality.
Our Garmin chart plotter had us going over the reef and heading for the east side of the cay.  The chart plotter also has the lighthouse on the reef and not on the end of the cay. Not consistent with reality.
Instead the reef entrance was north of the chart plotters indication and the entire cay was much further east. We anchored on the west shore of the cay and lighthouse.
Instead the reef entrance was north of the chart plotters indication and the entire cay was much further east. We anchored on the west shore of the cay and lighthouse.
Beautiful to be surrounded by aquamarine waters, reefs and have a lovely palm fringed cay infront.....to bad they put a military base here.
Beautiful to be surrounded by aquamarine waters, reefs and have a lovely palm fringed cay infront…..to bad they put a military base here.
We were not granted permission to go ashore.
We were not granted permission to go ashore.

Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef, Belize

Another overnight trip south to get to Lighthouse Reef.

We missed any showers, but did see rainbows in the sky.
We missed any showers, but did see rainbows in the sky.
It is important to drink lots of water on these long trips. Too bad the water maker is broken. I am good at recycling.
It is important to drink lots of water on these long trips. Too bad the water maker is broken. I am good at recycling.
No sundowners allowed on passage.
No sundowners allowed on passage.

We picked an anchorage off the beach at Long Caye inside the atolls reef.  This gave us easy access to the beach and some great snorkeling and diving.

Anchored off the beach at Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef
Anchored off the beach at Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef
Finally I get to go for a big long run!
Finally I get to go for a big long run!
We ran into friends from the sailing vessel Seismic wave, who we met in the Bahamas.
We ran into friends from the sailing vessel Seismic wave, who we met in the Bahamas.
Only we can turn burning rubbish into a social event.
Only we can turn burning rubbish into a social event.

The humans say the diving was very easy here as there were lots of buoys set out along the drop off and very little current.   Unfortunately the flash went on the underwater camera.  Here is the best we have to offer, but they are a bit dark.

The reef that surrounds the atoll drops off into the abyss on the ocean side
The reef that surrounds the atoll drops off into the abyss on the ocean side
These coral walls make fun dives
These coral walls make fun dives
The humans dropped down to the lower depths of the wall 'one way' and returned nearer the top 'the way back'.
The humans dropped down to the lower depths of the wall ‘one way’ and returned nearer the top ‘the way back’.
There were lots of over hangs and gullies to explore.
There were lots of over hangs and gullies to explore.
Lots of hard and soft coral.
Lots of hard and soft coral.
They say it was great to be diving again after so long.
They say it was great to be diving again after so long.

 

Not that the snorkeling was not great too. Here are some tube worms
Not that the snorkeling was not great too. Here are some tube worms
You have to love Trunkfish. There body is incased in a hard shell. All they can move is their tail, fins, mouth and eyes.
You have to love Trunkfish. There body is incased in a hard shell. All they can move is their tail, fins, mouth and eyes.

We also did the ‘tourist’ thing and visited Halfmoon Caye.

This beautiful cay is located in the south east corner of the atoll.
This beautiful cay is located in the south east corner of the atoll.
It is in a designated marine wildlife park and has a whole host of cridders to see.
It is in a designated marine wildlife park and has a whole host of critters to see.
All set on a beautiful palm and beach back drop.
All set on a beautiful palm and beach back drop.
The cay is most famous for it's breeding colony of Red-footed Boobies.
The cay is most famous for it’s breeding colony of Red-footed Boobies.
We were lucky enough to visit the cay during the breeding season. Here is a fluffy little hatchling.
We were lucky enough to visit the cay during the breeding season. Here is a fluffy little hatchling.
If you like your cridders a little more crawly, this is the fattest iguana I have ever seen!
If you like your critters a little more crawly, this is the fattest iguana I have ever seen!
Red land crabs crawly enough for you?
Hermit crabs crawly enough for you?
They have the cay set up very nicely with groomed trails and picnic tables.
They have the cay set up very nicely with groomed trails and picnic tables.
You can spend the day exploring the cay here
You can spend the day exploring the cay here
Or you can just relax and look out on the sparkling water here.
Or you can just relax and look out on the sparkling water here.
Feeling adventurous there is also a lighthouse on the eastern tip of the cay.
Feeling adventurous there is also a lighthouse on the eastern tip of the cay.
The new lighthouse replaces an old one that fell into the sea after a hurricane.
The new lighthouse replaces an old one that fell into the sea after a hurricane.
A pair of Osprey have used the new lighthouse as a great nesting spot. It is obvious that the light does not bother them at night.
A pair of Osprey have used the new lighthouse as a great nesting spot. It is obvious that the light does not bother them at night.

Turneffe Islands, Belize

Our next stop was a group of reefs, cays and islands that form an atoll like ring.  We headed for the slightly deeper anchorage off the southern tip behind the famous diving site of Elbow Reef.

The anchorage inside Elbow Reef is easy to get into, good holding in grass and sand and right beside some excellent diving.
The anchorage inside Elbow Reef is easy to get into, good holding in grass and sand and right beside some excellent diving.
The best snorkeling is inside the atoll near the resort cay
The best snorkeling is inside the atoll near the resort cay
We could not get our boat in here easily as it is very shallow, but a short run in the dingy.
We could not get our boat in here easily as it is very shallow, but a short run in the dingy.
Lets play a game 'guess that marine creature'.
Lets play a game ‘guess that marine creature’.
Lets start with an easy one. This is a southern stingray.
Lets start with an easy one.  This is a southern stingray.
The reef builder...Elkhorn coral.
The reef builder…Elkhorn coral.
Bluestripped Grunt
Bluestripped Grunt
Beautiful but dangerous...Leafy stinging coral
Beautiful but dangerous…Leafy stinging coral
Sometimes if you look real hard into corners you find something rare. Hiding in the sand here is a Yellow stingray
Sometimes if you look real hard into corners you find something rare. Hiding in the sand here is a Yellow stingray
Some guys are just really big and in your face. Here is a tarpon.
Some guys are just really big and in your face. Here is a tarpon.
It is always fun to visit sea creatures in their home and watch them going about their everyday lives.
It is always fun to visit sea creatures in their home and watch them going about their everyday lives.

Southwest Cays, Glovers Reef, Belize

Another overnight sail and we came to the last of the off shore atolls on our journey.  We weaved through the reef and spots of coral to anchor off the western shores of Southwest Cays.

Anchored off a lovely beach in and amongst some great coral reefs.
Anchored off a lovely beach in and amongst some great coral reefs.
You could 'bribe' your way past the caretaker here to go ashore or just visit the reefs instead.
You could ‘bribe’ your way past the caretaker here to go ashore or just visit the reefs instead.
My humans went 'of course' for the cheaper option.
My humans went ‘of course’ for the cheaper option.
There were some lovely healthy reefs right beside the boat. Easy snorkeling distance away! Tube sponges.
There were some lovely healthy reefs right beside the boat. Easy snorkeling distance away! Tube sponges.
The coral is called Sea Rod and the fish is from the wrasse family. Aptly named Blue Head.
The coral is called Sea Rod and the fish is from the wrasse family. Aptly named Blue Head.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

This means we are all caught up after not having internet for so long.

Oh, but I haven’t gotten you any pictures of the town of Placencia or told you about checking in.

You will just have to ‘stay tuned’ for the next blog.

And yes, my leg seems to be getting better in direct proportion to the number of dog treats the humans have left.

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