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Trip Reports: Trials and Tribulations of Bonaire Vacation
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2005: Archives - 2002-09-26 to 2003-03-31: Trials and Tribulations of Bonaire Vacation
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glenn Fager on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 10:29 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Our group of three left Minneapolis on Friday to a downpour of rain, thinking "Oh man, are the tropics ever going to feel good!". The flight to Chicago was uneventful, but once we boarded and taxied for San Juan, the pilot states no planes get to leave do to thunderstorms. So he shuts down the engines and we wait on the plane for two hours waiting for the weather to pass. Finally start rolling again and land in San Juan. We're a 1/2 hour past our take-off time to Bonaire but rush to the gate hoping they've held the flight. I'm not too worried about luggage at this point because I have my vitals with me- first/second stages and mask. Well, we missed the flight so AA puts us up in downtown San Juan for the night. Not another flight until Saturday at the same time. So spent the night drowning my sorrows in a hole-in-the-wall bar in downtown San Juan but generally trying to remain upbeat.

Get to Bonaire Saturday evening and check in at Capt. Don's. While I'm signing paperwork Rtshineto (from BT-Community Chat) and Boo-Boo dog just happened to show up to see why I haven't returned her messages. Good timing on her part! I express my concern that our friends on BT expected us on cam earlier in the day and she logically states it couldn't be helped. So we make plans to meet for dinner on Monday.

Sunday it was good to dive in the ocean again! The only setback was Capt. Don's was diving Small Wall during my orientation and I figured they probably wouldn't be back during my stay. I was unfortunately correct. When I pulled out my camera to start taking pictures, I noticed the framer that sits on top of the camera you use to aim has broken in two during the flight down, so I had to guess at image composition. I stopped in the Capt. Don's photo shop to see if they sold any and Erst, who was working at the time, stated they didn't but he had some epoxy cement and he'd try to glue it back together. Thank you Ernst!! It worked for awhile, but unfortunately broke in two again during a dive, so I went back to guessing. Hope the pics turn out okay!

Also, my strobe started not test-firing like it did during my local dives. I'm thinking, "Here we go again!" But one member in my group suggested I take the camera on the dive anyway since I had nothing to lose. I'm glad he did because once submerged, the strobe worked beautifully! Wish I'd thought of that during my frustrating local dives.

Anyway, had an enjoyable dinner with Rtshineto and Boo-Boo at Rum-Runners. Boo-Boo didn't like all the cats at Rum-Runners and was getting into trouble with his owner. I was very tired from diving so I had to call it an early night. We made plans to snorkel on Tuesday. Tuesday I was too tired from diving to snorkel but I had a nice visit with Rtshineto and Boo-Boo and that was when I went in front of the street cam:

pic1 pic2
pic3 pic4

The diving was fantastic, of course! I saw many creatures this trip I hadn't seen on my first trip back in Feb. including: scorpion fish, flamingo tongue, cleaner shrimp, arrow crabs, reef squid, baby spotted drum, banded coral shrimp, brittle star. On a night dive at "Sampler", I saw many lobster and crabs. 1 very huge lobster and 1 very huge crab. At the end of the dive all on the boat had a huge craving for seafood. Other dive sites visited were: 1000 Steps, Divi Tree, Andrea II, Bon Adventure, Ol' Blue, Hands Off, Angel City, Oil Slick, Hilma Hooker and of course a few shore dives at Capt. Don's.

At Angel City the DM was at one point banging on his tank for everyone to come over and take a look. From the distance it looked like he was pointing to a big tree trunk. I'm thinking, "What's so exciting about a tree trunk?", but decide to investigate anyway. It was the mother of all barracuda! 5 feet long with a girth to match, sitting at a cleaning station. You knew this was an unusually big barracuda because even the DM was giving it a WIDE berth. Very cool siting. I got pics of this, so I hope they turn out.

Restaurants visited I had not been to before were: Mona Lisa, City Cafe and It Rains Fishes. All were good and highly recommended.

Now I'm back to the frozen tundra of Minnesota and working on my Post Bonaire Depression. Pictures to follow soon. Until next time Bonaire.....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott and sharon barlass on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 10:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Glenn,
Thanks for the trip report...sounds like once you got settled in, you had a great time. I always worry about delays due to snow when leaving Minneapolis, but never thought about the rain in Chicago!

Scott

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie Hughes on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 10:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Great Trip report Glenn!!!!! Looking forward to the pictures.....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger {Martini} on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 10:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glenn, great story! Remember, the only cure for PBD is returning to Bonaire... :)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 11:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Enjoyed your report,Glenn Masha danke for sharing!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rusty Clark on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 11:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Houseboy! Glad you saw some new stuff and got in a lot of dives AND got to see Rtshineto and Boo Boo! Imagine having friends a half a world away! Hope your pix come out for you!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Snorkelguy {Scott} on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 11:45 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the report. I know just how you feel I have so many stories about being stuck in San Juan that I think the people at the hotel are beginning to recognize me. That’s why I’m trying Air Jamaica this November! I figure if I’m going to get stuck some where at least it would be somewhere I haven’t been stuck before. Then I can rationalize it as an adventure instead of dreading that same hotel/casino with the cardboard food and droning slot machines.

Hope you share your pictures with us.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 11:53 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glenn, Thanks for the nice trip report! Sorry you got off to such a slow start but you finally made it to paradise!!! I am looking forward to your pictures.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Deborah Campbell on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 12:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Super report, Glenn! Thanks for sharing... can't wait to see your photos. --Deborah

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Deborah Fulton on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 1:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glenn,
After a slow start it sounds like you had a wonderful time. Can't wait to see your pictures.
Debbie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 1:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Anxiously awaiting your photos, Glenn....great report and trip! You look so handsome standing there in front of the StreetCam! Twice in one year...you lucky dog. Keep your memories fresh in your mind for the Minnesota winter ahead. The barracuda sighting sounded exciting...Big Mama B....she can do whatever she wants to do. Can't wait to see Rtshineto and Boo Boo's pics, too! Thanks for the report. Ayo. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sarah on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 8:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glenn, nice trip report..

ps: all Barracuda get a WIDE berth from me!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Annette Bursey on Wednesday, October 23, 2002 - 5:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Good report Glenn. Glad you had a good time. Thanks for sharing. Annie B.

 


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