So in the last blog I did hope to get some more decent underwater photos.Well, since the equipment (camara and flash light) have not yet improved unfortunately also the photos didn’t, but here nevertheless the highlights of the next dive and snorkel trips around Bonaire.

Another 4 weeks have passed by so quickly that we almost cannot believe it. In the beginning we thought it would get boring here, when we stay here until our visitors will arrive by next week.

Well, the first week just went by with Reto’s ear infection which got so bad that he could even bite any more. So that meant taking antibiotics for 10 days and eating soup (so he didn’t need to chew…).

I kept myself on the other hand busy with taking care of him, going for coffee and chats to the Seaborne, snorkeling and taking pictures and doing long overdue things like sorting and cleaning of the picture archive…

After 1 week of antibiotics Reto was back to strength and motivated enough to start with the project “new Bimini”- we already had bought the fabric in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, so we know for a long time that the Bimini needs to be replaced. But then to really start with it needed some effort…

Especially challenging were the 15 to 20 knots of wind together with the fabric of – once sewn together – at least 3 m by 6 m… That’s why my first main job was to prevent the fabric from flying away in the wind and after a short time I realized that I do this best in just lying down on it with arms and legs wide spread. Actually a nice job, like this I spend some relaxing time lying in the sun than on the whole trip so far 😉

After 4 days we are already very happy with the result and only the details need to be done… well, that takes another 3 days and still the zippers are missing, since we had to order them from the U.S. It was not planned to replace the zippers but a closer inspections shows us that it doesn’t make sense to use the old ones.

When Reto takes apart the old Bimini in order to recover the useful fabrics, he also sees that it was really about time to replace it. On many places the sewing didn’t exist any more, it only held together with the old seam stick, therefore very weak…

While we look for the zippers we sort of fall over the next project, a new set of cockpit cushions. Well, what an unnecessary luxury one could almost think.Looking at the price for the materials it really seams so. And then the work, but ok, that doesn’t count.

So during the last bit of ear – recovery time the first prototype is being made and we almost fight who is allowed to sit on it. It does make a difference to the 12 year old cushions who went through 11 charter years…

Then finally we are ready again to go scuba diving and enjoy an unforgettable night dive together with Nadine and Thomas from the Seaborne.

As it is two days after full moon we have the chance to see the lightening eggs of the Ostrakodes, some miniature crab like animals who at that time of the moon make lights like in a christmas show. The show is great but also we enjoy just to dive again and to look at the corals and fish in the light of the flashlight, that’s really awesome.

Not so nice I find the thousands of red worms that approach me every time I turn on the flash light, so I prefer to turn it off and watch where the others put their light 😉

After another day of exploring the island by bike Reto fills the dive bottles for the next dives, but being a bit in a hurry he touches the exhaust pipe of the compressor and catches a nice new wound on the leg.

Since we know of the consequences of salt water on wounds we prefer to renew the dive pause and find again something else to do.

For example, we absolutely need to go to the hardware store every second day – 15 min walk either way – because one of the running projects always needs material. Good thing that there is good WIFI and free Cappuccino as well at the hardware store…

Then of course the new cushions need to be sewn, and we exactly get 4 pieces out of the fabric that we have already. Good, now the visit can come ;-).

Also we take on the challenge to go to the highest point of Bonaire – you will not believe, the peak named Brandaris is 241 meters high.

But since we go there by bike we have a total of more than 50 km and 780 meter height and on the way back in the heat of midday we are really dying for cold, refreshing drinks and a bath in the sea.

One week after the accident with the burn we go diving again and explore the other side of Klein Bonaire. Here we have for the first time a rather strong current which results in 30 min going one way and 5 min returning to the ship – well better this way then the other way around.

On Sunday evening we visit the “Taste of Bonaire” where locals sell food, handcrafts and there is also dance and music.

Being advertised as an event for tourists we are surprised how many locals also visit.

In the beginning only the children dance, but soon later also some adults, and after the first mojito also we dare to move to the Bonairian music from Rincon.

Thanks to the invitation from Pura Vida we join a Brasilian Churrasco on Klein Bonaires Barbeque beach together with the crews from Pura Vida, Itacaré and Good Karma . The meat is excellent and the day passes by like nothing, it is Thursday but we all feel like Sunday 🙂

In the following night we have our first heavy weather since we are here in Bonaire,  a thunderstorm passes by closer than normally and causes meter high waves coming from South/South-West. It is so uncomfortable that we decide to be on watch and the fishermen next to us all flee into the harbour… Advantage, the dust of several weeks is finally washed down again from our She San.

Now we only have one more week to go until our visitors Felicitas and Jannik arrive, we really look forward to seeing them and there is still a lot to do!