TURTLES OF RANGUANA CAYE (BELIZE)

turtle in hand

NEWLY HATCHED HAWKSBILL TURTLE

Last year was an amazing year at Ranguana Caye. Max and I were fortunate to be the managers of this Belizean jewel. Situated in the southern region of Belize, Ranguana lays 20 miles offshore east of Placencia. My commute was an hour boat ride out and an hour back. Luckily, Ranguana has 3 Cabanas for overnight guests so I get to stay out here 3-4 nights a week. Even more exciting when Max joins me!

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SHHHH! MAMA IS LAYING HER EGGS

Starting in June, 2016, we had our first turtle egg laying of the year at Ranguana. One of my staff woke me up late at night to let me know a large Hawksbill turtle had come ashore and is digging a test nest. She crawls over the island testing the sand to see where she wants to lay her eggs. Finally, an hour later she digs deep then lays over the hole and starts laying. It takes a lot of patience to wait for her to find her spot and then nestle in. I sat next to her and watched with my iPad. Awesome! I dug out more of the hole from the side and took pics and videos of the eggs laying. You would think it would bother her but once she is laying she is in her zone.  The first turtle laid 138 eggs.  So cool to watch.  It was a lot of work on her part and she looked exhausted when all was done.  She then covers the hole over and moves slowly back to the sea.

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WATER SPOUT PIZZA (OFF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COAST)

With full fuel tanks and jerry jugs, we departed Mexico from the southern port of Zihuateneo. Those first few days heading south to Costa Rica and Panama were uneventful with not much wind or excitement. Even the dreaded Bay of Tihuanapec in Southern Mexico, which can have gales of 80 knot winds come up with no warning, was tame. The seas were flat and there was very little wind as we moved down the Central American coast. We had both sails up but at times, we were moving at only 2-3 knots. We would start the engine to charge the batteries but needed to conserve fuel as much as possible. It had been a slow boat to China, or Panama to be precise. Whenever conditions are so calm, it is a perfect time to cook up a meal that you wouldn’t normally attempt while under way. A pizza sounded just perfect to us. (more…)