Today, is the second installment of the "WindRocker Puerto Rico Exploration Series", where we head west from San Juan along the northern coast of Puerto Rico to where we eventually turn back around in Arecibo. But that is not all, we then get back in time to go on the BioBay tour. "BioBay" is short for Bio-luminescent Bay...yes this is a super cool experience....more to come shortly.
map of our day 2 exploring (in red)
I failed to mention that both yesterday and today I planned the direction we would travel based upon satellite images of the tropical storm Emily, and used this info to guess where the best weather would be. In the two days of exploring we never really saw much rain, so I guess I did a good job. We found out later that it rained in San Juan both days...so I guess I was more than successful in my predictions.
So, as I mentioned we head west, following the same pattern as the day before, looking for that hidden gem of a beach. We find several beautiful beaches, however none of them had a large enough beach to launch, and all most of them had a land mass blocking the wind from directly hitting the beach. In other words, we first found a bunch of beaches located in sheltered bays. Great for sunbathing and swimming, but definitely not a wind mecca.
However, we were not giving up. Becky had a property we are trying to find, which has a private beach that looks pretty amazing from a google satellite map. So, we at least want to check it out before heading back and giving up on this coast. And it is a good thing we did because while we did not find the property Becky wanted to see, we did find two great beaches that definitely get wind, have a great spot to launch, downwind room for lessons, and there is even a spot that lines up waves for those wanting some surf action.
wish I had taken a panorama pic of this beach!
Around 5pm or so we decide to head back to the condo. We need to be back in time for our 8pm pick up for the BioBay tour.
So we get back, eat some food and drink a few beers, and then catch our van ride to Fajardo where we meet our guides. In the van we meet three other Americans going on the same tour. All very cool katz!
When we get there we sign in, and then have a few minutes to walk around. I eye all the local street meat vendors, and while the smell is great, I don't explore any of it with my taste buds. We do get this great picture of the local restaurants pet parrot.
The guides then fit us with PFDs and give us a quick kayaking instructions.
Becky and I already know the best method for us in kayak together from rowing across to Jetty Island together more than once or twice. And that method is that I paddle, while Becky relaxes. Yes we make better time, and we enjoy not banging oars together every 30 seconds. And trust me when I say that we see a ton of people having serious issues.
brief kayaking instruction for the inexperienced....
So yeah, after the quick tutorial on paddling, we are off. Once our entire group is loaded into their respective kayaks, we head across a bay which also houses a marina, until at the edge of the water we enter a small waterway, roughly the size of a 1 line road, that winds up through the mangrove trees.
Sean and OK paddling through the mangroves in front of Becky and I
mangrove forest is uber thick and dark at night
The trip through the mangroves takes about 1 hour and is roughly 1 1/2 miles of paddling to get to the bay. The mangroves are very cool. We get to see blue crab mingling under the roots of mangroves. We also see a green tree iguana hanging out in the tree branches over hanging the waterway.
A funny thing to mention: on the second night we were in Puerto Rico, Becky notices all the nature sounds that are out and about at night. This happens right as we walk through the Ritz Carlton Hotel property. She then asks me, and is quite serious, if I thought the noises were a recording being played by the hotel. Thus this becomes an inside joke everywhere we go, because as you may have guessed, if this is a recording, it just happens to play everywhere on the island each night ;) Here is a video of the nature sounds you hear...and Becky poking fun at herself.
Roughly one half of the way to the bay, I start to notice the bio-luminescence in the water. Faint at first, but it gets brighter the further in we get. I splash around several times showing Becky, who has never seen bio-luminescence before. We try getting some pictures and videos, but unfortunately our point and shoot light sensor is way too noisy at night to make out the glow.
Once we reach the bay, I am impressed with its beauty. It is amazing, over 2000 acres of a 8-10ft deep flat water bay, rimmed 360 degrees by the mangrove forest. I instantly dream of kiting some night here, bio-luminescent trail glowing behind me, glowing water spraying off the kite after a relaunch. Probably not going to happen, but I can dream.
The bio-luminescence in the bay is amazing too. If you have ever experienced it, say in the Puget Sound, then you know how cool it is. However, the plankton that cause this effect bloom year round and have a density of over 1 million of them per square inch. My guess is that the Puget Sound levels are 50-100 thousand per square inch. So yes, at least 10 times brighter than anything I have experienced in the northwest.
If you hold your arm under water, it really does look like you are in the movie Avatar. Reaching in the water, pulling out a handful, and letting the water drip down your arm and legs is uber cool as the glowing plankton flows down your extremities.
Years ago visitors were allowed to swim in the water, but due to concerns that sunscreen and bug spray may damage the plankton bloom, swimming is no longer allowed. There is a "photoshopped" picture that shows what an extended shutter speed of the bio-luminescence would look like. When you move your arm or oar underwater, this is very close to what you see.
The bay is home to shrimp who eat the plankton, and tarpon who eat the shrimp. Becky and I paddled out to our lonesome and sat still for a few minutes...then I would bang my oar on the kayak, making a loud boom, scaring the tarpon away...which would cause a glowing outline of spooked fish as they zig-zag across the top of the water. Yes, very cool indeed.
We get some fun pictures of the experience....
Ryan working, Becky relaxing....
Sean and OK
Becky and I...
Becky and I really can't say enough about this outfit. The guides were all helpful and fun. They spoke multiple languages so there are no barriers due to language in the group. Becky also did some googling before we booked and they have the highest rated tour. If you are in P.R. and want to take the BioBay tour, then definitely call these guys. www.kayakingpuertorico.com
On the way back, all of us Americans were pretty pumped from this wicked tour, plus we had all connected a bit with each other on the tour..so of course we exchange facebook info during the ride back.
OK. Well, that wraps up the "WindRocker Puerto Rico Exploration Series" and while we got to see quite a bit of the island, I still feel like I need another month here to take in everything there is to do and see. Yes, we want more P.R. in our future.
Next stop, tomorrow....and there better be some more kiting in my future or I will not be a happy camper!
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