07/10-16/2006
Chaguaramas, Trinidad
10.40.822N
61.37.899W

We were in luck when it came to our turtle tour. We got to see 5 different turtles!

Carol & Wayne (Take Time), Jim & Freddie (Chez Freddie), Brian, Lisa & Suzanne (Wasabe) took the long bus ride to the far side of the island for the event. We viewed a film about the leatherneck turtles describing the threatened extinction particularly the problem of so many returning females becoming tangled in fishing nets and drowning. Trinidad is making a valiant effort to educate their population regarding the plight of the leathernecks and is definitely making progress with the next generations by providing education in the primary schools.

As we approached the beach, one monstrous sized leatherneck turtle had just finished covering her nest and was on her way back to the sea. A few more yards down the beach, another had just finished digging her nest and we were present when she laid her cache of rubbery eggs. Although we were disappointed that the forestry guide would not allow us to photograph the turtles, we were able to touch her shell, head and flippers while she was in her trance-like state during the egg laying portion.

During our time on the beach, three more turtles lumbered ashore to start the arduous process of digging their 3’ deep nest. One changed her mind twice; she would struggle out of the surf and up the beach then turn around and head back out again. Twice she made the trek before she returned to the surf for good.

On our way back to the bus, we were allowed to touch and photograph the little turtles that had emerged from their nests earlier in the day.

It was quite the experience of sights and smells.

For the rest of the week, Dale tried to repair a slow leak in our dinghy while I re-stitched the chaps where the seams had separated with our scraping against less than perfect dinghy docks. He used the soapy water method of locating the leak and then we hoisted it up to stand it on its nose to get the liquid sealer to the leak area. I had to make a quick side step when the brass shackle broke and the whole thing came crashing down. No harm was done and after a day of being inflated, we thought the leak had been repaired. However, the first time we used it visiting Carol & Wayne across the channel, we returned to find it completely flat. Not just a little flat, but totally flat. I was surprised that the hard bottom had enough buoyancy to keep the motor afloat. In fact, we carefully stepped onto what was left and slowly motored home. As you can see from the photo, I was more than a little concerned that one of the go fast boats zinging through the channel would swamp us. We were in luck and none appeared.

When we returned and took off the chaps, we found that one of the pontoon seams had come completely unglued. We knew that it could be repaired but Dale felt that since one seam failed, it was a matter of time before the rest would fail and it would be better to get a new one here where they are available rather than be caught some place where we wouldn’t be able to replace it. Once again, my budget is obliterated. Our new dinghy should be here by the end of the week. Of course, the chaps I made for our original dinghy won’t fit the new one, so we’ll splurge and have a pair made here (with leather chafe guards).

NOTE to GG & Nicky: Put leather on the bow and along the rub rail of your dinghy chaps if you can.