Shallow Thought by Honez

One of the beauties of being a sailor is that you have the ability to hop in a boat and head off to the islands.  Preferably someplace that can be reached on a nice beam reach under a big blue sky with a couple of puffy clouds in the sky and a dolphin or two along side to keep you company on your way.

I spend an inordinate amount of time dreaming and daydreaming about islands.  Sweet Jane, dew drop of my desire, pumpkin of my pleasure and most importantly, she-who-must-be-obeyed , and Sid Satan, El jefe and slave driver supremo, have both accused me of being the king of  "I Saw Something Shiny Land".   For some reason they refuse to believe me when I tell them that the glassy eyed stare means that I am focusing like a laser beam on satisfying their wants and needs.  Besides, if I am the king of anywhere, it's gotta be Isla de Honez.

I'll give you a couple minutes to hop over to Google Earth to check it out...  Okay, you're back and wondering why the heck you can't find it.  No worries, I'll give you the lat and long in a bit but first a few highlights from the cruising guide. 
 
The temperature on Isla de Honez is tee shirts and shorts warm during the day and cools down to the perfect sleeping on deck temperature at night under the pale moonlight.  It rains every day just long enough to wash the salt off the boat and out of your hair followed by nice warm sea breeze to dry everything out.  The water is so clear that you don't have wonder if your anchor is set, just look over the side and check.  The well-protected harbor has a nice firm bottom that will hold your anchor and give you plenty of room to swing.  Coincidentally, the locals have nice firm bottoms and the dance floor at Randy Andy's has lots of room to swing as well.   There is a volcano on the island but it is not for sacrificing virgins.  What with them being so rare and all, everyone decided that would be a total waste of a perfectly good virgin.  Instead, the volcano is for those who break the taboos of the island.  Taboos like the wearing of a Speedo.  Naked we might tolerate and in some instances even encourage but a Speedo will earn you a short swim in the lava pool. 
 
As for as dining ashore, I would recommend the Surf and Sty where it is understood that sauce is a myth. Pork is king and dry rub is the ticket to taste bud heaven, it's the place where blackened tuna meets pork ribs in a feast that will leave you collapsed on the beach staring at the beautiful stars waiting happily for the creator to call you home.  Did I mention the beer?  If you can name it they have it, ice cold in a nice bottle with a layer of cool condensation to cool your fevered brow and slake even the most unquenchable thirst.   You'll be ready for it after a day of trade wind sailing , exploring secluded coves and snorkeling the pristine reefs.  Remember, take only pictures and leave only your wake. There's more but that should be enough to wet your whistle.  
 
So how do you get there?  To find any island paradise you first have to dream it.  For me it's Isla de Honez, for you it may be Isla de Bob or maybe Marla Cay.  JB used to dream of a little island called Margaritaville.   Once you have dreamed it, you have to get to it; and to get to it, you have to take a journey.  So where to start? I would start at Isla de LSA.  It is the perfect jumping off place to Isla de Yours.  It's a great place to talk to other explorers who have been chasing their own isles and, who knows, maybe they spotted yours on the horizon.  If you never find it, it doesn't really matter, because the journey is what really counts.   
 
_/) Happy exploring.  See you in the islands!
 
Honez