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Trip Reports: Rain, No Wind, and our Final Dives – Days 13 & 14
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2006-2008: Archives 2008-08-01 to 2008-12-31: Rain, No Wind, and our Final Dives – Days 13 & 14
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Goodwin (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #379) on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 9:22 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

(I tried to post this report on Friday evening, but was unsuccessful due to internet problems.)

Geoff had 1300 PSI, as did Leslie. It was time to turn and head back for the dock. This is the hardest part of the trip. After two weeks of diving on Bonaire, this was the exact second I had been dreading. It was the start of the second half of our final dive.

As I reluctantly walked up the stairs at the BDA pier, a rogue tear tried desperately to escape its hiding place and streak down my check. I fought hard and was able to keep it secured. I splashed some saltwater on my face and savored the taste as it dripped onto my lips. The last taste I’ll have until my next trip, my next trip to paradise.

I paused at the top of the stairs and stared out at the ocean. It had been a fantastic dive, as had all of the other 38 dives we had made over the last two weeks. 39 spectacular dives; all priceless in their own special way.

I looked at Leslie and she looked at me; words were not necessary. Our diving was over. We returned our weights to the dive shop and our truck was eerily empty of tanks – for the first time in two weeks.

Our critter report for the two weeks is as follows:

Numerous turtles – probably thirty or so
Tons of squid
Tons of tarpon
6 eagle rays
6 octopi
3 frogfish
1 bat wing coral crab
1 slipper lobster
Some coral spawning
And one, beautiful, made-in-heaven seahorse

Starting late yesterday afternoon, the wind absolutely died out. Standing at Karpata early this morning, I had never seen the ocean so calm. It looked like glass for as far as could be seen. No wind, no waves, no noise at all – dead silence. It was unnatural.

A little rain today didn’t hamper our dive efforts. Margate Bay, a "secret" place that Tom and Smack told us about, and Bari rounded out our final day. Our final day of a spectacular trip...

Visibility on those final dives was the best we had during the trip. I assume it was due, at least, in part to the lack of wind. Very calm seas and spectacular visibility - how best to end a dive trip?

We met up with Tom, Smack, and Susan Porter this evening for some libations and laughter. And there were plenty of both. We are grateful to have met these folks and hope to have them as friends in the future. They are good people, fantastic people. Bonaire may never recover from all of us being on the island at the same time. There should probably be a law against it.

Last night’s meal was takeout from Pasa Bon again. We had some meat calzones, lasagna, and some dinner salads. Joe is a lot of fun and I just can’t get enough of his food.

Tonight we ate at the Sunset, once again enjoying their Bar-B-Que buffet. Kirk is running a really good place and I hope he succeeds.

Our equipment is rinsed and hanging to dry. Tomorrow evening we will pack it up and prepare for our early departure on Continental Airlines Sunday morning. A trip we would rather not make, but a tip we know we have to make.

Tomorrow afternoon we plan to take part in the reef cleanup. We won’t be able to dive and pickup trash, but I’m sure there will be plenty for us to do as shore support. We look forward to giving back to the reef that we love and care so much for.

One more trip report on Saturday after our reef cleanup and we’ll be off to the good old United States. It’s hard to believe that our two weeks of bliss has come to an end. It seems like just yesterday we were avoiding Andre at orientation. If it seems to have gone by that fast, then it was surely a good time. Thanks you Bonaire for another fabulous dive trip.

And thanks to all who read these trip report blogs – I appreciate your support. I enjoy the responses and PMs that I get. Everyone enjoys their vacations in slightly different ways. Some nap, some read, and others smoke cigars. I thoroughly enjoy recapping the day’s events in a trip report. I’m just happy – albeit still a little bewildered - that so many of you enjoy reading them. It adds volumes to my vacation. Thank you.

A little gouda and crackers along with some Brights, and we’re off to bed. Tomorrow we will discuss all the things we should’ve done but didn’t. The things we will promise ourselves we’ll do next trip. And there will be a next trip.

Dive on Friends.

Dave & Leslie.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kobi in Virginia ~ GO HOKIES (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8157) on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 9:28 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

THANK YOU, Dave & Leslie, for sharing your two weeks with those of us not in or near any salt water :-) I ALWAYS, ALWAYS enjoy when you're there and hope, sometime, to meet you in person!!!

Wishing you safe flights home!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pegi Sue, PS1, PegiPie (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6750) on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 9:38 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm so glad that we get one more report before the sad, sad, sad end to your trip. I think I get just as down about you leaving as you do. I enjoy reading your reports everyday!!!:-)

OK, when are you gonna be back?? I need to know so I have something to look forward to!!!:-)
Well, I am looking forward to 229 days from now!!! Right Kobi??!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay Parsons (BonaireTalker - Post #90) on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 9:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

ALmost brought a tear to MY eye boss. But it will be good having you back to torment me once again with stories of the seahorse and other critters I didn't get to see. Have a safe flight home and don't get lost coming back!!! Your humble servant

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Bellevue Bonaire Condo ) (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1675) on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 11:09 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dave..enjoyed reading your daily blogs. I've always found the saddest part of the many trips we've made to Bonaire is at the airport returning home. The last dive is always a bit more traumatic then any of the others. We always have a ritual of saying good bye to the many fish we've met.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Becky - 15 days and counting (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1881) on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 11:22 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wonderful, Dave... just wonderful. I also LOVE your reports, you really do have a gift. :-) I totally agree, the last dive is the worst, the best cure as we all know is to have another trip lined up... so when is yours? :-)

Good for you for helping with the cleanup!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lloyd Haskell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #243) on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 1:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Once again I enjoyed living your trip through your detailed reports . Safe trip home and oh yeah...dive on dave

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R J (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #106) on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 1:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Dave, I enjoyed reading your daily reports and wish you a safe trip home. Will there be pictures in a later report?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martha (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #136) on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 11:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Have a safe trip home! I'll miss your daily reports.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim McPeak (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1715) on Monday, September 22, 2008 - 8:45 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dave, the unfortunate part about leaving Bonaire is knowing that very shortly you will be back to work. However, being the pragmatic people that we are, we also know we must work to go to Bonaire. Here I sit in a jr. high homeroom, listening to kids talking about the Eagles, the Phillies, and what homework they should have for today. They give me a smile, as I know that is very important to them. I follow your stories and know that soon that will be me living "La Dolce Vita." Thank you, as always, for letting us read your adventures on the high seas, the food you ate, and the Brights you drank. I hope to someday meet many of you fine people that helped me through the doldrums of southeastern Pennsylvania.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MzFish is back in the Real World... sigh (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #193) on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 12:10 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dave.

I miss your reports.

Its getting too cold for diving here in South Dakota and I got into the habit of looking forward to the 'next edition' from you on BT. Thanks for sharing all the fun -

I laughed.
I cried.
It changed my life

(uh, well, almost!)

Thanks for the great reports, Dude!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John "Smack" Anderson (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1594) on Friday, September 26, 2008 - 9:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dave, thanks for your comments! I too really enjoyed meeting you, Leslie and Geoff. What fun you all are! I think I owe you a few Brights, so we'll have to meet up again and take care of that.:-) We'll let Geoff carry the cooler. Wait...bad idea. Can't put the beer in that kind of jeopardy.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Geoff Goodwin (BonaireTalker - Post #58) on Friday, September 26, 2008 - 1:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Smack, whatever do you mean? I am very trust worthy. We'll except for beer... and cigars... and Lover's Ice Cream... and... OK, I'm not trust worthy. I need another trip, the last one was way too short.

 


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