REPORTS FROM THE RIP: Good times in the Turks... no fish but good times

The Blue Heaven clipping along.

Fishing out of Turks and Caicos has been real slow. There has just been no billfish to be found and the other pelagics are not around either. When the fishing is slow ya just have to resort to other means of entertainment. We have been paddlboarding and exploring a bit. The best things we have found are the different local bars and restaurants. Bugaloos, Somehwere, the Flamingo Da conch shak, And Chinsons have provided great food and views that you see on the Travel channel. Chinsons is the best I think. Its a Jamaican Jerk . The Jerk pork chick and shrimp are outstanding. I highly recommend it for any boats stopping here. I eat there much more and I will become a Jerk. One of our old favorites is theDa Conch Shak. John Wayne is the bartender at Da Conch Shak, He is a lively guy and while he does not have the voice that the original John wayne did, He surely has the swagger and style. By the way, Look for Blue Heaven Stickers in all of these places.. Including the womens bathrooms.
A couple of days ago we went snorkeling. We normally do it from the boat and in out of the way places. It was suggested to us that we drive our Jeep to the Coral Gardens in Grace bay. I figured it was going to be a real touristy spot. Its a protected reef roped off with swim buoys and markers. We made our way there and found ourselves on a beautiful beach with a reef marked by buoys just off the shore. Being the typical man, I took off my shirt, donned my mask and fins and swam straight for the middle of the reef. I had been in the water one minute when a man on the beach with a bull horn started blaring a siren and yelling through the bullhorn. I looked up to see who was drowning. It turns out it was my dumb ass he was barking at. If I had read the sigh that I damn near hung my shirt on I would have seen that you are not suppose to swim inside the red buoys. It is a shallow part of the reef that is protected. no one is allowed to enter that part of the reef. So we figured out where we were allowed to go and had a surprisingly great time. Because the reef is so protected, We saw so many types of sea life. Turtles, Spotted eagle rays , lobster and fish everywhere. Its a must see for anyone visiting the island. Just read the signs before you enter the water.
I have to give a tip of my hat again to Belinda Martin. ( she is a consierge for boats ). She has become more like a friend than a business person. Any boat that passes thru here ends up finding an awesome friend. She knows everyone and everything about this island. On a banana republic island like this its great to have someone like her to get things done. I am proud to be considered one of her boys.
Yesterday I found myself running errands around the island. The problem I ran into was that it was Haitian Independence day. There is a large group of Haitians that live here in the Turks and Caicos islands. I found myself stuck behind a couple of parades. They seemed to be having quite a large time of it as they danced and partied down the street. After I cleared the parade, and made my way down the Queens Highway I got pulled over by a cop on the side of the road. I had just been driving alongside of a car full of Haitian boys waving Haitian flags and yelling to me that I should buy some Ganga ( pot) from them. I waved them on but the cop stopped me and admonished me anyway. He said, " Sir ya don wan ta be talking to dos boys. Dey be nuttin but trouble. Na ya be on ya way an keep it clean". LOL I just had to chuckle. Why wouldnt he have pulled them over for trying to sell me pot? Welcome to the islands mon !!!
In a couple days and we will be heading to the Bahamas from here. Im really looking forward to being out island. Some of the secluded Bahamian islands this far south hold some fantastic fishing and diving. Anchoring out off those islands is one of my favorite things on a trip like this. There is nothing like grilling fresh caught Dorado anchored off a deserted beach as the sun sets. Our destination is San Salvador Island. But we will take a few days and fish our way there
When I was a kid growing up in Puerto Rico I developed a second family thru a friend of my there named Cathy Grimes. Her mother and father treated me like the son they did not have. I think Cathy was suppose to be their son...whoops! I developed most of much of my love for the water right behind their house snorkeling daily and catching lobster. Cathys parents were like another mom and dad to me during those years. Sadly Cathys mother had a stroke this week. My prayers and thoughts go out to her and her mother and father through this rough time. Get well soon mom and I will bring you another lobster.