Fishing in Shimoni

We are ready for the 10 hour drive to Shimoni

Less than a week after arriving back home to Moshi, our fishing group of eleven + our driver Jesse headed out to Shimoni, the small fishing village in Kenya on the Pemba Channel.  We had no idea that the drive would take 10 hours but there you have it.  Between the police checks, the two border checks (which of course included our Ebola checks) and our one bathroom stop, we did not arrive at Betty's camp until after dark, but thank heavens they were ready for us and had dinner. The next series of pictures display all the dramas of the trip!

No Hurry in Africa! But the next display the hurry that never happened.

Abnormal Wide Load vehicles were everywhere.

Considering the drive from Tanga to the border, this picture's irony was not lost.

Stopping for physiological needs just beyond Mamba..always a joy, but at least it was clean!

Jesse's interactions with the police were amazing.  This one was for the emergency brake not being strong enough--The police wanted a big fine but strangely did not have a receipt book!

John and I got the smallest room at Betty's Camp, but "it was good enough for us" as my sainted father used to say.

With great hope the gang leave for fishing day One.  Sadly, the storms had churned up the water, it was rough and everyone spent the day trying to avoid nausea, so no Marlin caught but some Dorado that we had for supper.  At least that part was delicious.

Bob Avoiding Nausea

Quail avoiding nausea

Everyone avoiding nausea, and chatting away.

At least one fish was caught and it was delicious.

End of the first day....ever hopeful for better days to come.

Nikoli has his Dorado!

The delicious dinner with Tom, Greg, Quail, Sylvie and Nick

Day two featured more Dorado

Pat and Nick have long conversations about yesterday today and tomorrow!

Tom gets his Marlin--YEA
Meanwhile, Pat, Terrie and I went out for a wonderful snorkling experience.  Though the water was churned up, it continued to be pretty great.  We saw amazing coral (wish I had a good underwater camera) tons of fish all colors and happy it seems, swam with porpoises (I have never done this before and it was strange but incredibly great.  Saw an interesting coral island, baobaob trees, and had a delicious lunch before setting off back to Shimoni.

Ali swam with us every step of the way.  He was terrific.

Pat happy on the boat.

Terrie happy on the boat

There were about two or three pods of eight porpoises swimming around the Marine park.  They were so close when we were swimming that I kept feeling the fin moving by my legs and looking at them directly.  It was amazing.

A coral garden

This great Muslim island with no power, people fish and live for tourists and fish...

The lunch bunch.  It was so fresh and delicious it was just amazing.!  Who would have thought (of course there were some interesting things like no drinks provided (and we were dying of thirst).  But all in all it was fascinating and what an incredibly fun day.

The third day of the trip was my day on the boat for Marlin and while everyone might have thought that it would bring luck, it just did not.  One Dorado was caught on Pat Hemphill's boat, not even a bite on ours.  But, we had a great dinner again, and I put together a quick movie on the trip to show so that we would always remember it.  I will perfect said movie and put together with music for everyone involved.  It was truly special to have so many families who got along well.  Don't see how it can be ever repeated!

Bob's magic picture from his friend President Kikwete came in very handy at strategic police stops.  We all wish we could be so lucky.

And finally, Nothing would be complete without the Hindu Crematorium in Tanga. We thankfully were not quite ready for it, though we were all exhausted, a bit disappointed in the catch, but happy that we were all still friends.  These are the trips that can make or break them, and I think we are probably all friends for life.