This was not a case of “I wonder what to do today?”.  It’s a common question being retired and sometimes lacking goals.  However, I already knew what I was going to do today, having decided last night.

The plan: to get up early, head East with ma dawg and complete the maintenance of the Onima beaches and cliff tops.  Some time ago, Margot and I had cleaned the southern stretch of Onima, leading up to the Boca (or mouth), just down from the Cave Paintings, and then, with the help of Artie, we had cleaned the Northern stretch up to the beginning of the Wind Farm.  Since then we have cleaned Washikemba cliff top and the hinterland, Margot is maintaining a beach north of Lac and we have now embarked upon a massive cleanup project north of Lagoen.

But these days, when Sara needs a walk and Margot is busy educating the Bonairean Youth, I set off and revisit previous sites  for a spot of maintenance, picking up newly deposited plastic that has blown ashore.  Considering that each time we visit our Lagoen site we fill at least 2 bags each, my last 3 maintenance trips have resulted in less than 1 1/2 bags in total. I think most of the debris is from untidy locals rather than seaborne waste, which is a little disappointing.

But anyway, Sara gets a damn good run, I get some exercise and a feeling of having accomplished something.  So with my pleasingly half empty sack in the truck,  dog watered and rewarded with a biscuit, we set off for home.  As I passed the cave paintings, which I have visited countless times with friends and guests, I decided to explore an unmarked turnoff a few hundred metres further on.  It turns out to be Mati Mati, a cave with a hole in the ceiling.  Apparently at Christmas time, you can see the “Christmas Star” through the hole.  Having looked at Wikipedia, I can’t identify which star this could be, possibly Jupiter, so perhaps I have a job for later this year.  Could be interesting as life enhancing forces flood through the hole to renew the tiring island, or so the legend says.   As I get older, every little helps.

Then we went off to explore Fontein, which as the name suggests is a water source.  I have passed the signpost, pointing up a dirt track, many, many times as it is on the main Kralendijk Rincon road.  So we bumped up the track and at the end found a windmill pumping water.  Not a great sight, but interesting as water is such a precious resource on the island and this has been one of the main wells, together with Dos Pos which serves Rincon.  Sara had a really good sniff here, perhaps smelling feral pigs who probably drink here.  I tasted the water, which seemed OK, not very mineral but if I do not post again, maybe it wasn’t that good.

Then we headed back to the main road, plodding along in no particular hurry, noticing that a lot of the tree had just finished flowering.  These were the Kibra Hacha (ax breaker) trees which, after a period of substantial rain concentrated over just a few days, will flower before they put on any leaves.  Their brilliant yellow flowers shine out, providing dashes of colour across the landscape.  At the moment as it fairly dry, these are yellow flashes against a brownish countryside.  However, the Kibra Hacha show only lasts 3-5 days and they were at their best a little while ago but still some flowers remain.

So on down the main road, turning at Felt di Snip (Field of the Snipe – the landing site of the KLM Fokker Tri-motor which landed here in 1934), up over Seru Largu, the first of the hills to the north of the island which gives spectacular views right down the South of Bonaire, heading home.  It’s a steep descent and I had to be extra cautious as some kids (baby goats) were playing in the road. However, one bleat from Nanny and they were off to safety.  If only all children were so obedient!

So Sara is exhausted, lying on the cool tiles, I have to hang up the washing, then clean myself up as it will soon be time for the Friday Steak Lunch, overlooking Klein Bonaire and the Bay.  After a  siesta it will be time for Friday Night beers.

I have been visiting this island for 19 years, living here over 4.5 years and still I find so much pleasure and enjoyment here.  I haven’t even mentioned the American Oystercatcher or the mysterious dead bird which I still have to identify.  Must rush..