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Marina life is part boat chores, part relaxation. It's an
easy life but a bit monotonous when you're accustomed to being
on the move. Two weeks have passed since our Angel Falls trip
and we're getting marina fever. To our rescue comes veteran
cruiser Pete on Neptune's Pride. Pete recommends a
tour of Chimana Grande, an island just four miles north of
Puerto La Cruz on the other side of Pozuelos Bay.
On the last Monday of August, we head out in our dinghies
in the early morning calm. Our first stop is Cieneguita, a
peaceful mangrove lagoon on the south side of Chimana Grande
and a favorite anchorage of Neptune's Pride. We pull
our dinghies onto a mud beach and hike up a steep hill overlooking
the lagoon. The morning is steamy, with barely a breath of
wind. We carefully ascend, slipping and sliding on shifty
rocks while dodging cactus thorns. It's wet season and the
gnats quickly discover the new menu item.
"Hey guys, over here!" they call to each other.
"These humans are yummier than that dead fish we had
last night. Tastes like chicken!" Our bug spray is, of
course, at the bottom of the hill in the dinghy. After much
scrambling and swatting, we're rewarded with a lovely view
of three consecutive lagoons. The only thing missing from
this idyllic vista is our boat bobbing on anchor.
Our journey around the island continues with a side trip
to neighboring Chimana Segunda. The geological formations
are grand in scale and I find myself wishing I had taken a
college geology course. At sea level, striated rock emerges
sharp and jagged from clear turquoise water. In contrast the
island's hilltops are gently rounded, softened over time by
Mother Nature. The arid landscape is shades of brown with
a sparse freckling of green shrubbery and cactus.
After a few hours of exploring, our rumbling stomachs remind
us that the lunch hour has arrived. We stop at Playa Puinare,
one of several public beaches on Chimana Grande. This beach,
being the nearest to the mainland, is crowded with families
enjoying an outing before school resumes in September. We
rent chairs for $1.25 apiece and find a shady spot to enjoy
our picnic lunch.
Once our stomachs are full, Pete offers to watch our stuff
while Nick and I hike to the top of the hill. Again, the path
is shifting rock and cactus. The view is breathtaking, as
is the hiking. The sun is brutal without any wind to stir
the stifling heat. Below us the sea looks cool and inviting,
so we make it a short hike. Back at the beach, we plunge into
the water. Ah, so refreshing!
By midafternoon, we load up the dinghies and head back to
the marina. It's been a lovely day and a much-needed break
from marina monotony. We can't wait to get back out there
on the big boat.
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Looking across Cieneguita and nearby lagoons.
Looking from the Cieneguita anchorage toward Puerto La Cruz
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