This is a view of our anchorage at Cayos Cochino. It is beautiful and calm here. It is very protected from the easterly trade winds. You do get the occaisional williwass a wind that comes down the mountain in short but heavy blasts. The anchorage here is our favorite of all the anchorages so far. Cayos Cochino is a a magical place.

At the top of the ridge on Cayos Cochino there is a lighthouse and the veiw from the top is spectacular

The jungle trail that leads up to the lighthouse on Cayos Cochino is narrow and quite steep in a few places. In some places it is hard to tell which way to go. We did not get lost but we did have to double back one time on the way down when I took a wrong turn into a dead end.

JD enjoying swimming with the fish

Just one more beautiful fish--they are all around you

A frequent sight when diving and snorkling

Just another example of the beautiful fish and coral here. Scenes like these are easily seen snorkleing too

Yes fins are a pain to put on but I do better sitting in the water at the shoreline.. Notice JD is ready to go and waiting on me

This is a swim thru at the Lions Head sight just off the point of Cayos Cohino

This morning we went to Mr Sherman's Iguana farm. He has a passion for wildlife especially Iguanas. He has devoted his property to protecting them. The Hondurans as well as the Guatemalans like to barbeque them. They also like to eat the eggs. This puts a big dent in the Iguana population. The Iguanas on Mr. Sherman's property seem to be thriving. He makes sure there is no shortage of whatever they need here.

The tourist are leaving lets go back to the trees

My belly is full. Time for a nap.

This is another cut behind the reef there are markers on both sides of the shallow canal. It makes the passages easer if you follow a Dory thay all know where the shallow water and coral heads are.

You never know what you will see when you round the corner in one of the most famous pirate islands in the Caribbean. Guess the name of this vessel post it in comments.

The Hole in the Wall restaurant/bar/cruisers drinking hole or whatever you want to call it. They have all you can eat bar-be que on Fridays and Sundays. The bar-be-que is actually all you can eat lobtser and steak, complete with mashed potatoes, beans and cole slaw and if you are not too slow a dessert. On this day our table was too busy stuffing ourselves with lobster and missed the lemonbars for dessert. Oh well we were too full of lobster anyway.

JD is making Cuba Libras using one of the lemons he picked at the picnic on Cayos Cochino. Yes that is a lemon not a grapefruit or orange. It was really juicy and made an excellent drink. And yes that really is JD. He shave his moustache for the first time in his adult life. Most of the people who know him now have never seen him without it. I am getting used to seeing him with a hairless upper lip but it was quite a shock at first.

The mangrove trees form a canopy over the canals and birds of all kinds live there. The canal is a couple of miles long with only a few sections that have cuts to houses. the canal opens up to become a small lagoon in one spot. The canal connects two harbors that both have access to the open ocean. Traveling the canal makes you feel like you are on a disney land ride.

A number of people have built home along the mangrove canal and in the small lagoons that the canals connect. Some of the houses are huge mansions and some are small shacks but I think this little cottage is especially nice looking and of course it has a fabulous view of the canal and the Caribbean fron the front deck.

Here is one of the mangrove canals that you can dinghy from bight to bight. We met this boat and of course we had to pull over next to the mangrove roots so they could pass. We saw all kinds of birds and the water in the canal is shallow and chrystal clear. The boat in this picture is called a dory and is the main source of transportation in this area.

On the Garifuna island of Chachauate our food was prepared on this clay stove / oven. The pepole paddle their dugout canoes to a neighboring island about three miles away for fresh water and wood.

This is part of our picnic at Cayos Cochino. We had caribbean rice and beans, garlic shrimp, baked zucchini casserole, and lemon bars. The guardian gave us some coconuts for coconut water in trade for some beer. After lunch the gaurdians showed the guys where they could pick lemons and sour tangerina. We all had a great time and of course the food was delicious. cruisers really know how to picnic

This is JD at the waterfront on West End. You think he is having a good time?

This is Linda in West End Roatan Honduras. The day was sunny and hot and we had a nice lunch at a restaurant across from the waterfront

This photo is for our cruiser freinds. A wonderful stop between Omoa and Utila. It is called Lagoon Diamante or Tinto. From the approach the view is misleading leave the island in the center of the entrance to your port side. When you get close it becomes apparent that is where the deep water is. Any boat with 7ft or less draft can enter this lagoon and it is well worth it. A nice quiet spot and well protected. Do not try this entrance after dark or in raging seas we think it would be unwise.

Inside Lagoona Diamante as it is known in some cruising guides. Our charts called it Lagoona Tinto. This is Suenos Azul at anchor one of the four boats we were traveling with. She draws 7.2 feet and is a beautiful vessel a 52ft Amel Super Maramu owned by our friends Maude and Casper . We are anchored in 8 ft. A well protected and beautiful place to spend the night when traveling between Guatemala and the bay islands of Honduras. Approach 15.540 N 87.394W . Note the rocks to the right not to be entered from this side.

This is Martina's first swim in the ocean. She loved her swim with Daddy. Since this picture she has become a real pro.

Three of the Captains going to Roatan left is Russ of Rock and Roll, center is Gaspar of Suenos Azul and of course J.D. of 2nd Priority. All with charts way points and navigational fluid. A must for planning a great trip. After the meeting we closed the plans with a nice Cuban cigar

This is the crew of Mar Mar they will be traveling with us to Roatan. Marina, Marcello and baby Martina. Great family and Martina is learning to sail at an early age.

Back from our cold Christmas trip and ready for a new adventure. This is a pow wow meeting of all the crews going to Honduras with us. A meeting of great minds sharing way points for anchorages along the way. We are all pretty jazzed up about this trip.

Jenny and Kathrine with the bracelets they made using the french braiding technique we learned.

This picture was taken from my sister Cherry's front porch after sleet, a snow thunderstorm and freezing fog. It was beautiful but cold so we stayed inside for a couple of days and played games and watched movies. Thanks Cherry for a warm spot and lots of good food.