Griffin's Ship's Logs

SEPTEMBER 2007

Stormy Weather With Hurricane Felix bearing down on Guatemala, the Weather Channel was desperately looking for field reports on conditions here. So MBBC (Monkey Bay Broadcasting Company) quickly mobilized its crack team headed by their top reporter, Billy Jediet. To document this momentous event in MBBC’s short but storied history, we took these photos. In photo #1, you can see Billy living up to his reputation. In #2, you can see that in the true tradition of television storm reporting we were able to create a more-or-less accurate picture of what was happening. We received mucho thanks from the WC for “sexing it up.” Film at 11.

JUNE 2007

June 8:  Monkey Bay Marina, Rio Dulce, Guatemala C.A.

OK, so what have I been doing since my last update in JANUARY??? A lot and a little.  Short version, left the Rio in February, two days later anchored in Placencia, Belize, spent the allotted time of 90 days, came back to the Rio, been here three weeks, plan to leave around June 10 to be back in Placencia for LobsterFest June 22, 23, 24, stay until mid-July then back to the Rio for the remainder of “H” season.

NOW, the details…

When I left the Rio it was my first time single-handing Griffin. Left with Allegro.  We crossed the sand bar at Livingston together into wind and swell.  It was good to be back in saltwater, but a bit uncomfortable.  Got all squared away and turned NE for a safe anchorage halfway to Placencia.  Stopped in New Haven for a night, then made Placencia the next day.  Anchored in my “usual place” and felt right at home.  It was packed there, counted 23, yes 23, dinghies at the dock one day.  But folks moved on and Griffin just rode her anchor.

Said hello to friends, bought some conch and ice, and settled into my routine.

In 90 days we had only 4 days of any significant rain, so no problems with high winds in the anchorage.  We did have some light cold fronts move thru, and weeks later we were wishing for more as the temps rose.

Saw lots of old friends pass thru and met a bunch of new folks.

Significant events:

• Mostly radio and telephone assistance in recovery of a motor vessel aground on a sand bar in BZ.

• Same for a sailboat in MX.

• Same for a capsized catamaran off south Florida.

• Same for sinking sailboat in Pacific.

All had good results for people and, more or less, vessels.  More details on Sailabout in Pacific at www.saltysailors.com

I know I say this often, but I do believe that everything happens for a reason.  I was fortunate to be in place where I had reasonable radio function and access to a telephone.  I was just glad that I was in Placencia, and that I have many local friends who could help make things happen.

The nature of Placencia is changing rapidly as developers come in, roads improve and word gets out about this place.  I’m so glad I could be there in the years following Hurricane Iris as the recovery progressed and it was a tranquil place.  Hopefully it will remain tranquil for a few more years.  Almost all I met on the beach in my daily walks were from Canada.  I asked them if anyone was minding the country?  Most heard about Placencia by accident, so I always asked them to “keep the secret!”  My Belize friends say I walk the beach in search of “white iguanas.”  I tell them they are “red iguanas” the next day!

Conch was plentiful at the Fisherman’s Co-op, but not fish as fishermen now focus on dive trips for tourists.  During the full moons there was a lot of snapper fishing as the whale sharks and snapper do their thing.  The snapper spawn during the full moon, and the whale sharks feed on all that stuff.  Interestingly, when the full moon falls early in the month, things don’t come together well, so whale shark sightings were few.  I asked my friend Lincoln, a local, it the fish had calendars, ha, ha.

Lynn came down for a 10-day visit and we went to Laughing Bird Caye and North Long Coco Caye.  It was really beautiful out there and we had a great time.  I will post some fotos.

The tropical storm forecast is for an active hurricane season.  Please keep your fingers crossed for us as well as you!

You might remember the little girl here at the marina that was born with problems on her right hand fingers.  She just turned 1 year, and I’m glad to report that the surgery to separate the fingers has greatly improved her hand. She has full use of the thumb and last two fingers, and perhaps we will be able to do something with the rest as she grows older.  She’s such a cutie…when I spin the tip of my finger in a circle and approach her nose, she pushes forward to meet it with a giggle…it’s our little game, I think I enjoy it more than she.

As I said, I’m getting ready to head to Belize for LobsterFest next week, hoping to spend a month there and then return to the Rio.

Looking forward to attending my 40-year class reunion at Texas A&M in October. Will place it in the middle of my annual 2-week trip to civilization. Key features of that trip include visiting my dear Aunt Sissy and eating big ol’ greasy enchiladas with my sister in San Antonio, um, um good!

I have included some nature pictures from Monkey Bay Marina in the update.

As always there is a never ending cycle of  many of the plants coming forth. It is always interesting to me to see the infant and adult stages (ok, I’m sure there is an official botanical term, but who cares?) Anyway, watching the young unfold is amazing. I particularly like the young orchids which disguise themselves as mere leaves then blossom into the most incredible flowers. I really like the tiny one, beige in color, that has bloomed over the past few weeks.  I have named it Griffin because the adult looks like a giant mythological bird, though it is smaller than my thumb (more fotos in the gallery). Other orchids are showing signs, and I hope to have some of those to send when I return from Belize.

Look closely at the leaf photos and you will see the young and the old together!

Honestly, I can walk and sit and stare for hours in our small grounds, and never cease to be amazed. For instance, the fairy wasps (don’t know their real name) and their tiny honeycomb. The wasps are smaller than a pencil eraser and hover near the comb entrance waiting their turn, dash in, do their thing and zoom out. In the right sunlight they are like flecks of gold, scores of them, waiting their turn. The honey is said to be good for eye ailments. Gee, all this sounds like the Willy Nelson song that mentions watching ants (I’d Have To Be Crazy, I believe). Actually, I have done a lot of that, too. They are amazing.

Well, that’s about it for now.  Will give another update when I recover, uh, return from LobFest.

Check out the fotos, more to come….

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