Anegada report

[Walker]

We got up this morning at 5:00 AM to take part in the Caribbean Wellness Day "health walk". We did a 5km walk with locals - and met some people that we didn't know. This is a pic of Nancy just as she finished the walk.



They were planning on having T-shirts for everyone that finished, but there was no funding. The only T-shirts were 4 that were left over from last year's walk. They gave the first two of those to Nancy and me.

This a pic of the award being given to the oldest person to finish. I came in third in that category. (She is 67)



There was a softball game scheduled at 7:30 AM, but it was called off because no one on the island knew how to play baseball/softball. I was very disappointed - I had packed my glove down. Playing on the diamond has been a passion of mine for my whole life, and I was ready to take the field with any of the island's young studs.

So, we drove back home after having bush tea and coconut bread with the group that did the walk.

Yesterday's ladyfish were still in the bait bucket. Anyone that knows ladyfish knows what I am talking about.

I carried the bucket down to the water's edge and threw the contents as far as I could. Then, I went back up under the palapa to watch and see what happened.

The ladyfish were way bloated, floating belly up, and very visible on the calm clear water.

The first customer (of course) was a sea gull. It attempted to fly off with a whole ladyfish, but could not lift the load. So, it went to the next one - same story. And the next one.

Finally, it sat beside one of them, pecking away.

Then the frigate bird showed up. They are so cool. I thought I should run in and grab the camera, but I knew that by the time I got back out the action would be done.

The frigate made a dive and picked up the ladyfish that the gull was tending, ladyifsh hanging whole from its mouth. The gull was right on the frigate's tail, wailing loudly now.

The frigate realized that it really had something nasty in it's mouth and dropped it to the sea. The gull went for it, but before the ladyfish hit the sea, a second frigate dashed in and grabbed it midair, flew maybe 15 feet, and swallowed it whole. The second frigate was a male - the first one was a female.

Meanwhile, the gull and female frigate are dashing for the next ladyfish.

Second verse, same as the first.

And same for the third (and last) ladyfish.

The male ate all three.

A helluva show.

But food for thought.

A male WILL eat anything - especially if he thinks something else wants it.

[Nwilkins]

Nice walk, sorry about the game, what did the eldest to finish the walk win?
Can't tell what's wrapped up with the nice bow?

Love your stories, why are you living in the islands? retired? fishing? peace and quiet?

[Walker]

The prizes were gift baskets made by the son of the local bakery owner. A basket of goodies and fruit.

My wife is retired. I am not retired yet, but tapering off. We live here about 1/4 time. Two weeks every other month. The rest of the time we are in Houston, where I still work. So, we live on Anegada and commute to Houston for me to work.

Another interesting story from today...

Our island nieces came over this morning after we got back from the walk. They love to go out on the kayaks with me and were begging for some yak time.

So, I got them all PFD'ed up, put 10 year old Janesha on one yak, and I took 8 year old Trayesha with me on the other. We paddled out to a spot about 200 yards from the shore between a couple of patch reefs where there is a shallow spot - only about 3 feet deep. I set the anchors and we all got out to swim and look for conch.

OK - so I have seen many, many sharks, but have never ever seen one swimming like in the movies with its dorsal fin sticking out of the sea.

Until today.

We were swimming and having a good time when I looked up out over one of the patch reefs just next to us and saw a dorsal fin MUCH larger than the dorsal of any shark that I have ever cleaned. It was about 30 yards away, weaving back and forth - but making its way in our direction. There was a huge dark body below that big fin, and the tip of a tail following.

I pointed it out to the girls, saying something very nonchalant line "DAMN!".

We were about 20 feet from the yaks.

Janesha flew across the water and was in her yak in a matter of seconds. Tray, however, flew up around my neck and was all over me. I could barely move, much less get us back to the yak quickly.

The shark came within about 40 or 50 feet, then turned and headed back across the patch reef.

We got back into our yak and watched it lazily cruise away.

So - fins out of the water is no longer a "just in the movies" thing. I saw it for real today.

[coachlaw]

Man do I love these stories. You're good at tellin' em. I felt a little adrenoline flow as you told the shark story. I think I also faintly heard the John Williams score being played in the background. Glad it all turned out well. We all know that seagull vs. frigate bird ain't a fair fight. - Sandy

[Nwilkins]

Yea me too, cool stories, I heard the rock lobster there is huge?
How big is that island? population etc? I want a job like yours

[Walker]

Lobster typically run 3 to 7 pounds. A friend of mine caught ten-pound one on a spinning rig a few months ago.

The island is about 15 square miles, and has about 200 inhabitants. It is very flat - highest point 28 feet above sea level.

[Milkjug]

Cool experience, thanks for sharing. I saw a frigate swoop down and pick up a sand trout I had thrown back that had floated up. It came down from really high up, cutting back and forth as it descended, picked up the whole trout, and carried it off. I've never seen one of those birds hunting on their own. Only scavenging and robbing other birds.