Good morning up to see the sunrise but to my surprise there are quite a few clouds and a few showers but not to disappoint me I see the sun rising over the Island through the clouds :-)

We are on route to Long Island this morning should arrive around 2 or 3 depending on the winds it's suppose to be really calm out there today fingers crossed . We have to clear customs when we arrive as it's our first marina since we left Turks & Caicos. We will stay there 2 nights the winds are picking up tonight and high tomorrow. Lots to explore on the Island, I'm hoping to do a tour to the caves and blue hole there is a local guide Leonard that we met last time we visited he is apparently the guy to hire.

This Marina has Internet, if you remember the is is the place with all the fisherman who feed the sharks so we won't swim at the marina hehe.  

We arrived at the marina around 2, fuelled up and got El Nido all secured for a bit of wind tomorrow. Fixed docks sigh, I know I've said this a few times but they are a challenge but the crew at the marina are really helpful. This Marina makes me a bit nervous because of all the sharks floating around waiting for their afternoon snack, which they didn't get today as no fisherman arrived with scraps so I'm sure they are angry hehe .

Once we cleared customs we went for a short walk to explore the area we didn't go to far but I noticed right away that the vegetation is much thicker here and the island is a bit higher than some of the others. We came upon Rowdy Boys Pub how can you walk past that place and not stop in, well it was interesting very old we were the only ones there, sort of a resort with a small pool in the back and deserted bar it was rather funny. We walked in and a gal walked in at the same time we asked if they were open and the reply was yes sir, Bryan ordered a Mai Tai but they had no idea what that was so a beer was the order of the day. This Friday they are hosting a pig roast I bet that would be good with live music but we are not going to be here...perhaps next time.

We tracked down a local guide to show us around the Island tomorrow, Lester is his name and will arrive at 10AM he said whatever we want to see he will show us there are several caves, the famous Deans Blue Hole and beaches, Christopher Columbus monument and more he will take us to the grocery store and anything else we would like . I asked him how much he charges and all he would say if you are happy with my work and I make you happy you pay me, I kept trying to ask in different ways but what is a good price and no answer. So after the call I asked around for a price no one really could give me an answer very different here, finally the local dock hand said perhaps $60 or $80 would be a fair price well that is a deal and a 1/2. If it's wonderful I'm thinking a $100 is a great deal...we will see.

We ate dinner at the Marina restaurant Outer Edge Grill, it wasn't as good as our first visit here but still nice the atmosphere in this little restaurant was great. They BBQ out back on a home style BBQ, have 2 cooks and one server they are kept hopping. It's so small that when an order of Cracked Conch comes in you can hear it being smashed with a mallet from your table that's what makes it all worth it fresh local fish cooked their way. I had the Mahi Mahi at least 12 oz portion huge order but they didn't grill it they poached it in onions very odd, sometimes they get our language mixed up although it is english they don't completely understand ...again that's part of the charm not knowing what you will receive. It was accompanied by frozen mixed veggies that were steam I think and the classic beans and rice...I love the beans and rice.

No shark feeding show today on the dock I'm certain the sharks were not happy they enjoy the scraps from the fisherman. We saw many of them swimming around waiting, I'm very cautious about walking around here. I asked one of the marina staff if anyone had ever fallen in he said yes a few years ago and apparently as soon as he hit the water the sharks are took off scared. Sharks eat what is familiar and they don't like the human flesh, they might take a bit but would never continue on because they don't like our taste. Problem is one bit could be fatal, but this man that fell in was pulled out and nothing happened which was great given the number of huge sharks here!

Back to the boat an early night, before bed the power went out which was a bit odd could be that the marina is packed full or the wind took it out hard to say.
 

 

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