We sailed from Trinidad for 3 and 1/2 days arriving in Bonaire on September 2nd. We were able to test our new Papillo set up. Basically that is wing on wing with 2 headsails. There just wasn't much wind in the beginning, so we motored, and the last 24 hours the wind really picked up, and we had to slow the boat down. 

We arrived in Bonaire to Crystal Clear waters, you could see 50' down to the sand just below our boat. This desert island couldn't have been more different from Trinidad.   After a couple of days of rest I was ready to Celebrate my 61st Birthday!

Blair and I rented a car for a few days to explore the island. We started the day by heading south to see Flamingos and go to a Donkey sanctuary.

It was wonderful to see that someone was taking care of these Donkeys that had been brought to the island and then left to fend for themselves. There are still many Donkey's on the island, but they are brought here, when they are sick or injured or old. I was definetly in my happy place being around these adorable creatures.  The day continued with meeting some cruising friends to go landsailing. They have a small track, and it was fun to see how fast you could go, without tipping over. Naturally Blair pushed it to the limit and went so fast that he ended up on his side and broke the mast.

The next couple of days we took advantage of having a car, and went to explore the Washington-Slagbaai National Park. With our friends Cindy & Robert from Juno.  It was fun to see all the birds. I was finally able to see wild Parrots and Wild Flamingos  We hiked and snorkled at a couple of spots on the north/west side. 

The next week continued with Bonaire adventures. I went snorkling everyday once at mid-day and then again at Snorklethirty...Approx 4::30.  I saw my first Sea Horse and Octopus not 50 yards from our boat! Turtles were also around. Sadly I decided not to bring my gopro because I thought I'd seen everything, at the snorkle spot right be our boat, so  I didn't bring my GoPro and didn't get photos of Burr Webfish and a Sargassum Frog Fish. I learned my lesson NEVER go into the water without your camera.

On Weekday afternoons,, I enjoyed seeing the local kids sailing on their Opti's getting pretty close to us, and a few near misses while we were on our mooring ball. 

5 days after a full moon, you can see the Octocods ( Bio-luminence). So a few of us Cruisers took our boats to Klein Bonaire to see.  Most of the cruisers had dive gear, so they went down just after sunset. Blair and I and a couple of gals from another boat waited until 45 minutes after sunset. We were able to see the Octocods rising up from the soft coral in pearls of light. It was a good experience, which was impossible to catch with my gopro camera, but something fun to do regardless. 

One day I went with Cruisers from Juno & Mira to Salt Pier, they all went diving, but due to problems I am having equalizing, I stayed on the surface to snorkle. It was very magical snorkling between the piers just at dusk and looking down 50' feet below at my friends diving.