Day 15 - Sunday, Feb 15 Homeward Bound

Today we start our way back to the snowy Winter of Canada

Our flight is a United Airlines 737-900ER

We have a rather convulted route to get home:

  Bonaire to Houston

  Houston to Newark

  Newark to Buffalo 

We faced some very high winds during our landing in Newark, and the takeoff for Buffalo was a tense affair too.

That is the new Word Trade Centre in lower New York City as seen from the airport in Newark, NJ

That is not sand, that is snow and -23c tempature 

This is Franz (he is a Bonaire Donkey), he has come North to join Euclid to help out at Turtle Lodge (deep in Algonquin Park), he brought a good supply of Cadushy Liqueur with him, so he is a hit already at the Lodge. 

Day 14 - Saturday, Feb 14

This will be our last full day on the island of Bonaire, we will be very sorry to leave as this has been a great vacation.

Found this guy hanging out in town on one of the side streets.

Harbour Village Resort 

Life is a beach, right?

Our last night in Bonaire

Day 13 - Friday, Feb 13

RI will be doing an island tour today on the Scooter, visiting the town of Rincon, home of Cadushy Cactus liquor.

This town has its own flag, neat backwater in Bonaire

Barrel Cactus, not a lot of rain in Bonaire

All the premium Cactus Liqueur is made in that cooper still

Got to add some this, I forgot the name of this fruit

BTW that quad is parked in front of Rincon's "biker bar"

On the road in Bonaire

OK, this is a colour altered photo, just had to try this feature out on my Nikon

Sandal Tree

Karen at a dock by the bay in Bonaire

Day 12 - Thursday. Feb 12

Late yesterday I decided to rent a Scooter for a couple days, this scoot will allow Karen and I to do some exploring the island. 

Today I am diving on the Hooker wreck again, this is our dive boat taken at sea level, just before I start my dive on the wreck, which will take me to a depth of 100ft.

Porthole on the wreck

The propeller 

 I am perfecting my underwater selfie's, here I am on the Hooker Wreck

This is the 50cc Scooter, I did get it up to 65km/h, but going up hill it would only do 15, anyway it is fun to zip around Bonaire on it and Karen and I have used it to extend our range for dinner in the evening.

Day 11 - Wednesday, Feb 11

Another day of Sunny weather and another day of diving.

This is a view of the dive dock and the beach at our Resort.

Spong, love the blue colour

A Cow Fish 

This I think is an old porcupine fish, the reason look at the eyes, in nead of a cataract operation, I was almost about the hold him for a photo op, but he out swam me.

 

Day 10 - Tuesday, Feb 10

Today we took the water taxi to the island of Klein Bonaire, which is about 1.5km from our hotel.  I have dived on a number of site surrounding this island, but never put ashore on the island itself.  OK, you can expect sand, but, there albino crabs running around trying to hide in little holes, very entertaing.  But the snorting on top of a coral reef is what is so fantastic.

So here are some shots from today, the underwater stuff will be posted tomorrow, as they come off the dive camera, which is not SD card, but the professional Compact Flash cards, so the download process is very different.

Also I have rented a 50cc scooter, photos to follow but I don't want any scooter trash jokes by the way.

Karen in front of our unit

Ken at the resort

Sunset on the beach at the resort, with a bit of enhancement 

Cool dive tees, well not that great

Fishing boat on the Promenade 

On the promenade in Bonaire

We were at Julie's on the Promenades this evening, only 7 tables, food was great, and yes Julie owns and runs the place.

At Budget Marine to get my Bonaire Flag, as some of you know I have a flag from every country that I have visited and/or lived it, the collection is over 100 plus a number of special flags, like Canada Centennial and Manitoba's 100.

 

Day 9 - Sunday Feb 9 Underwater Adventure

Some underwater photos.  

Look to the middle left, that is a golden spotted eel, yes they have teeth, but not very good eyesight, this one is very small, and unusual 

Yes, that is a selfie taken underwater, something new for me

This guy is trying to hideout, he is not doing a good job, I can see him

Day 8 - Saturday Feb 8

Today we will explore the South end of the Island

Karen with a new friend at the Donkey Sanctuary, this one is only about 7 months old.

You bring carrots or apples, there can be as many as 5 happy guys trying to get at the treats, that like being stroked under the chin, and on sides by the shoulder blades, I had one follow me for an hour and all wanted was stroking, and some carrots. 

They also some protected land tortoise, this one thought that Euclid was with us as he wanted to meet the famous turtle from Canada.

Another guy looking for a handout 

This the wild East coast of the island, that is open ocean, high waves and dramatic.

Looking due East at 12deg N, I think about 63deg W

South end lighthouse, taken from the light keeps house ca. 1800's

Salt ponds

A large salt operation owned by Cargill, this site has in operations since the late 1700's using convicts and slaves at one time, so Bonaire has a dark side.

End of another fantastic day in Bonaire