Turtle Cove

[Gringo]

It has been raining here six out of the last seven days. Then today, the sun came out, finally. La Gringa and I decided to get out of the house and grab a bite to eat, so we headed down to Turtle Cove. Just about anyone who has ever brought a boat down here will know Turtle Cove.

We had lunch at an open air place on the water called the Tiki Hut. This is it from the dock across the water:



We haven't been here in about six weeks, so it was very apparant to us that things are winding down. During the winter this place is just about filled with boats. And I do mean boats. There are some huge yachts that come in here. But today, it was quiet and less than a third full. Hurricane season starts in a couple of weeks.

Most of the tourists are gone. We practically had the whole dining area to ourselves. Well, not totally to ourselves. There are still some beggars hanging around looking for a handout:



We finished up lunch and took a stroll around the marina just to see if anything at all was happening. And not much was. We saw one of the marine police's boats on a trailer here..



Far be it from me to ask why they needed to order their police boat with outriggers...but hey...I guess if it were me in that job and I could get away with it...

Even though the busiest part of the season is over for six months, there are still a few boats here. Some of them are based here year round, and of course this time of year some sportfishermen are starting to head this way for billfish.


A few boats next to one of the other restaurants on Turtle Cove:


That place is called the "Sharkbite", and we used to go there a lot more than we do now. Then, it changed management at some point and the next two times we went, well, something had slipped a notch in quality. We will probably go back at some point and try again.

A local friend of ours, Mike, specializes in welding stainless and aluminum. He and his wife Cathy built this trimaran. Not bad for a homebuilt:


All the way from Bikini. Man, now THAT's a fishing trip.


The guy on the deck was working on a set of reels, and they sure had all the tools and gadgets they seemed to need to keep things in tip top shape, just like the boat:


Pretty nice ride. But I guess that's what it takes if you are going to go anywhere in the world to fish.


Some of you guys who have been down here might remember the old Third Turtle Inn from years ago. Well, permits and plans are in place to build the New Third Turtle Inn. So far, all I can see of progress is a pile of dirt across the harbor at the building site:


Of course a lot of the building projects down here have been put on hold lately. Many of them because of economic and funding issues. And a lot of others are halted pending government revue of the permits and legality issues. It's a mess.

I put this photo in, not because it's got a boat from Texas in it, but because of something I noticed in the left background. That's one of the Customs vehicles, who came down to inspect an incoming cruiser and clear them through Customs and Immigration. I thought that was pretty cool that they could do it on a Sunday.



We also snapped this photo of the Customs vehicle leaving. That's one of our Land Rovers in the back ground.


I spotted this little sailing catamaran across the harbor, and was trying to figure out what it is. It looked about the size of a Gemini 105, which is on my wish list.


But even from here we could tell it was some other kind of boat. So we went around to the other side to see if we could figure it out.

Nope, still don't know what it is, or who builds it.


Still, it looks about the right size for the two of us and the odd guest. Well, I don't mean "odd" guest, exactly.

This is a power cat that is used for local day charters. The operators are not making too many friends with some of the home owners on other islands, from what I hear. There was a severe accident with this boat last year, as well. Something to do with the skipper backing down while his mate was in the water working on the prop. That's all I am going to say about that, here.



While over there we noticed what an exceptionally low tide we are getting now. Gotta help with the barnacle issues:


Wouldn't be much fun if you were planning to leave about now on a nice afternoon sail, though.

When I say the tide was low, I do mean low. How would you like to have to rappel down to your floating finger dock?



And while getting down could be fun, getting back up with a load of gear could be downright challenging.

So, that was how we spent our Sunday afternoon yesterday. It was only the second day in the past week that it didn't rain. Now, its Monday. Memorial day in the US, and a bank holiday here. I think it's called "Heroes Day" or something similar. Same idea, to honor and remember the valiant from years gone by.

[Capt_John]

Man, you're making me miss that place. I loved drinking a cold Presidente at the Tiki Hut. I'm pretty sure that the big sportfish isn't from Bikini. Most likely just flagged from there for documentation reasons. That boat from Charleston was there when I was there.

[La Gringa]

Man, you're making me miss that place. I loved drinking a cold Presidente at the Tiki Hut. I'm pretty sure that the big sportfish isn't from Bikini. Most likely just flagged from there for documentation reasons. That boat from Charleston was there when I was there.

Hey John!

You're not missing much these days. It has rained 7 of the last 9 days!!!! Very unusual even for the rainy season...!!!

[Gringo]

Hi John,
Good to hear from you. Hey, I saw in the paper yesterday that the trial for your buddy from Ambergris is starting this week. She and her lawyer say she was set up, and from what I am reading, it sure looks like it.

[Capt_John]

She's not my buddy Gringo. I'm sure she probably was setup, but that's what happens when you screw with the locals.

[Gringo]

Oh, I knew she wasn't on your Christmas List. And it's pretty obvious she was set up. Problem is that they did a really crummy job of it. The evidence pretty much points to how it was done, and I bet she gets off the hook legally.

I know about the locals. It's looking like I will be going into a business partnership with two of them, in fact.

[Capt_John]

Oh, I knew she wasn't on your Christmas List. And it's pretty obvious she was set up. Problem is that they did a really crummy job of it. The evidence pretty much points to how it was done, and I bet she gets off the hook legally.

I know about the locals. It's looking like I will be going into a business partnership with two of them, in fact.

Nice to see you're settling in good then. It's just like any other place I've been down there. As long as you're cool and don't mess with anyone, you'll be fine. She ruffled a lot of feathers from day one, but screwed up when she took her BS over to Provo too. Oh well, we'll see what happens.

[La Gringa]

Nice to see you're settling in good then. It's just like any other place I've been down there. As long as you're cool and don't mess with anyone, you'll be fine. She ruffled a lot of feathers from day one, but screwed up when she took her BS over to Provo too. Oh well, we'll see what happens.

I would hope we're settled in. I've been coming here for almost 20 years... 4 of them as a full time resident...!!!

[bisquit]

Gringo--love your forum; thanks for all the effort you put into it.

I notice the life float on the t-top of the police boat. Any idea how it's attached? Velcro straps, or snap buckle straps attached to the t-top frame?

[Robja]

Gringo I like the pics. T&C looks like a nice place to visit sometime.