Wednesday 22 October – cool green swimming pool

We decided to go and explore the big lake (lagoon) on our own, we had read about a waterfall to visit, we hoped to find our way there and have a little picnic and relax. It was a stunning trip up, quite a bit of cloud about so not too hot, no wind so a comfy dinghy ride. We were able to use Maps.me app very successfully and found the entrance. Turned out to be a big jetty, nobody about, we tied up and followed the path up which did not look like it had been used in a while. It was a vey narrow gorge climbing up some slippery rocks but well worth the emerald green pool at the end. The gorge comes to an end at a tiny crack with the water trickling down, the crack is etched deep into the limestone. We had a wonderful swim, the water was wonderfully cold, so refreshing after the sweaty climb up. Rowan quizzed me as to what we would do if there was a flash flood, not a lot of higher ground to get to easily, we spotted a shelf we would just be able to sit on. Seconds later we heard thunder and that was it, we headed back to the dinghy swiftly! Once on the jetty it didn’t look quite so threatening and certainly we were in no danger from a flash flood there so we had our little picnic under the awning on the jetty. We read our books and enjoyed an hour or so of relaxation.

A wind picked up, with the lake being so big and shallow, plus being so tidal, it didn’t take long for quite a chop to pick up so we headed back. We wound our way through a maze of small limestone islands, with amazing coral, the water was so clear, it was easy to see. Sadly I suspect there are not too many fish judging from the amount of fishermen about.

We got back into the river heading back to Polepole, it was like a mill pond. We stopped off at a cave Rowan had read about that has some ancient signs of habitation, it was way too precarious to get into, plus the water was roaring by with the tide. Another relaxing afternoon with the usual arrival from the fishermen as soon as it gets dark. The one guy came up to the boat to say hello, or most probably tried to sell us some fish, but there was zero ability to understand each other. His light at the front of the boat was like the old Tilley lamps we had as a child, on the farm I grew up on. They need pumping to pressurise the fuel, he had a big metal guard behind the light to reflect the light back onto the water. I must say they make an eerie picture with them gliding noiselessly around the water with a big orange glow.