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| Morning in Shimoni Bay |
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Our weekend in Shimoni was filled with excitement about marlins. 2012 had been filled with fish, and we expected that this trip would be even better. We planned our drive carefully, and this year decided that taking paved roads all the way, skirting Mombasa entirely, and passing Tanga and the border at HoroHoro would be the best way. I missed the Tsavo elephants, but timing was right for the easier way and I had excessive pleasure in watching the baobab trees, the sisal farms, the people in the towns and the interesting road signs.
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| Sisal hanging to dry | | | | |
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| Beautiful Flame Tree | |
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| one of the diversions...at least entertaining |
So, we headed up a brand new nice road from Tanga to Kenya, where we did the immigration thing...one place to another. We noticed quite intently that there was a tent where yellow fever vaccines were being given. Busses crossing the border seemed to be full of travelers who did not have proof of their yellow fever vaccines. Let this be a warning to those who try to travel without their proof.! They were patiently led to the tent. (and the cost is USD $50). The experience was much quicker for us however than it was in Holili and Taveta, and for that we were thankful.
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| Kenya side immigration |
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| This lady was opening the gate--notice the gun! |
The drive from the border was short and sweet. What a welcomed difference from last year. We arrived at our hotel, visited the Hemphills and headed off for showers and dinner. Our first day started with excitement. Listening to the lines running out into the ocean. And then the wait.
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| Fishermen working chatting |
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| Bob struggles with seasickness |
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| Greg checking e-mail...things are slow |
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| Look carefully...there is a Marlin bill (little did we know) |
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Things seemed to pick up when Greg got a hit and landed a nice Dorado.
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| Greg pulling Dorado |
Then within moments there was a huge hit and John's turn. It was a Marlin. He fought and fought for over 30 minutes. It was big, but didn't jump and that worried the captain. But they hung in there.
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| Bob and Greg watch the show |
The excitement strong and once John got in the chair, there was movement back and forth, and the marlin came in, very close. We could see the fluorescent color of the fin.
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| John with a big marlin | | |
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But sadly, the catch was false. The hook had imbedded in the flesh and as the fish came towards the boat, he shook the hook off and was gone. And that was that for the day. No more bites, just beautiful sea and close watching. The good news, is that after every day of fishing there comes tea at the Hemphills and then a good bottle of beer at the Smugglers Cove. The boys had earned this day.
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| Very good beer |
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The next day was more of the same. Though I was very excited about the Colobus Monkeys at the hotel and at the Hemphills, the boys were unimpressed, and I was reduced to taking random pictures. Only one near bite and not even much of that.
Funny looking Colobus. They are more like the Red Colobus Monkeys from Zanzibar but black ones. And there are apparently lots of them and not surprisingly they have learned to love fruit.
I suddenly felt inspired by Disneyworld's Pirates of the Caribbean ride (remember the hairy toe?) Very sad
I took a picture of the pretty but empty lures. That says a great deal about the day.
But at the end of it all, we had a nice trip. Good friends, nice excursion. But oh how the boys wanted to catch fish. There is always next year!
I'm so sad about the lack of fish & more fish photos :-( But the trip sounds fun - always adventures to be had!
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