With the winds, one must move.
We sailed the boat around the island of Guanaja to visit the inhabited south side,
Our first stop was the Texico Garage on the island of Bonacca.
A majority of the population of Guanaja live on this small island. They say it is because the sand flies and no seams are so viscous on the mainland. Everything you need can be found here.
We came to the Texaco Garage because they, not only have reasonably cheap clean fuel, but free fresh spring water piped in from the mainland! Some of the best water in the Caribbean.
Unfortunately when we arrived they were out of diesel, but expected the fuel boat any time. They let us stay tied up here while we had a look around town.
Bonacca is a town half built on land and half built on water.
No mater which way you take the narrow causeways you will always end up back at the sea.
There are several churches on the island, banks, grocery stores, hardware stores, restaurants, hotels, administration buildings including Port Captain and immigration for signing in or out of the country.
It is a fun place to explore with all it’s narrow avenues and canals. Just do not expect Venice
We arrived just after the weekly fruit and vegetable supply boat. This meant we
were lucky enough to get lots of fresh supplies. While at the municipal dock we ran into a very famous member of the community.
Hando does his best promoting the reading and writing of English in Bonacca. In his words, he has ‘a few words for the Queen after abandoning them on the Bay Islands’. He believes being able to speak English gives the kids more options in the future. He totes his few English children’s books around the island trying to get the children to read. He is happy to except book donations for both adults and children.
After running around the island we learned that the next small cay might have diesel and defiantly had propane. So we headed over there.
Sure enough they had both. We were now well stocked for our trip further south. Before going anywhere we needed to find a good anchorage for the night. We heard that El Bight, in the north end of the harbor, was lovely. So we headed off there before the light faded.
Careful of the shallows as you sail around Dunbar Rock.
El Bight is a lovely anchorage, but it is mangroves on this side of the island. I am missing my beaches. There is even a small restaurant and bar on the shore.
CHECKING OUT OF HONDURAS
Now my humans seem to be lucky here. They had no problems checking in and again, no problems checking out. The Port Captain issued the humans with an exit Visa for the boat (Zarpa) at no charge. Immigration was happy to issue them with exit Visa’s in their passports. Again at no charge. No problem.
Friends on the S/V Bellatrix had a similar experience right after us. We all needed copies of the ships papers, our passports and the Zarpa. Easy enough at one of the towns local shops. Most people in town speak English, so they are happy to give directions.
So we are checked out of the country. What next?
WE THINK WE ARE LEAVING TOMORROW?
The winds are a bit strong, and going to get stronger, but at least they are in the right direction.
The humans are madly getting the boat ready for a about 5 days at sea. Battening the hatches down as it looks to be a bit rough along the way.
We are going to be heading almost due east towards Gorda Cay and then turning south to Panama.
It has been a while since we did a longish trip, so wish us all luck.
