Momma Duck with Ducklings, or Boats in a Row

We see some odd things from our patio. Today’s photo looks like a mother duck with her ducklings following behind but in truth it is a bigger boat with smaller boats tied behind.

I wish I understood the logic, maybe someone can tell me the reason for this set up.

My neighbors in San Clemente Paola and Bart have given me the explanation to this mystery, I have cut their comments on Facebook and posted it below:

Maria Paola Bravo Centeno el grande es un barco de pesca y los mas pequeños se les llama pangas y sirven para descargar las pescas osea llevar el pescado a tierra sra Nancy Kowalczyk Levin

The big one is a fishing boat and the smaller they are called pangas and serve to download the fish I mean take the fish to earth Mrs Nancy Kowalczyk LevinAutomatically Translated

Like · Reply · 1 · 11 hrs

Bart El Unico Maria is right, the smaller boats take the fish, shrimp etc off the larger boat and take it to shore. Many times they buy it to resell and also take supplies to the bigger boat. I used to go out to a boat with Ramon at 5AM. We would eat breakfast on the boat, drop off supplies and buy shrimp and fish.

Like · Reply · 1 · 9 hrs

Just Hanging Out At The Beach

There is a beautiful stretch of beach just south of Centro San Clemente where the fisherman have their boats. We have seen a great deal of pelicans as well as the blue-footed boobies just hanging out.

They look pretty happy and are not disturbed by people walking by or the fisherman working nearby.

 

“Follow Me, and I Will Make You Fishers of Men.”

The Catholic church at the entrance to San Clemente recently received a new coat of paint. Today I noticed the beautiful painting on the entrance wall. This is a wonderful tribute to a fishing village.

If anyone knows the artist please let me know so I can give him/her credit.

Building a Boat Next Door

Several months ago, Oscar – who owns the house across the street from ours – started working behind his house. I finally took a look out our window to see a boat taking shape.

I will never get used to how things are done here. It’s a great spot, out of the sun, lots of fresh air and close to his home. Couldn’t get any better.

This past week the boat frame was finished and several men carried it away. Good fishing, guys!

Reflection

When the fishermen are pulling in the nets they start out with as little as five guys to each side. By the time the nets are hauled in there can be as many as 50 people and hundreds of frigate birds and pelicans ready to share in the haul.

I felt that the reflection of the wet sand made for a very interesting photo. Hope you enjoy your day as much as we will.

New Boat Motors

Back in Early October our friends Keith and Becky Williams sent me this information and photos of new boat motors being handed out in San Clemente. I am going to reprint their email below:

One weekday recently, I was driving down the Route Del Sol of San Clemente and I suddenly saw over 30 pickup trucks lined on both sides of the road. I also saw a tractor-trailer unloading giant boxes while over 100 local people watched. I immediately pulled over to check it out. I was shocked when one family opened one of the large boxes to see a brand new, 100% Japanese made, Yamaha 40hp Enduro outboard. I know all about these outboards. They are super heavy duty outboards made especially for third world countries for salt water fishing. They are built to last 20+ years ! They are not sold in the U.S. because they last too long ! If one ever was sold in the U.S., it would cost over $5,500..I was shocked again when a fisherman told me that 70 of these were delivered and each one was sold to a fishing family for only $1700. I learned that the Ecuadorian Government subsidizes these outboards to help the people stay employed. I didn’t see large sums of cash paying for the outboards. Instead, I saw a table where three men registered each family wanting one and the family signing for them. I was impressed and amazed at how happy the families were and that their government really cares about them. now, I get to watch the fisherman use them almost every day. Ecuador is an adventure !

Best, Keith

thanks Keith and Becky for a great story and pictures.

Nuestros Perros de la Calle

There are three dogs that protect the street we live on, The alpha dog Café is not as sociable as the other two. Beethoven and Baby Dog (my name for him as he has none that I know of) will sometimes come with me on my walks. That can be a good or bad thing depending upon the other dogs that are out and about.

This picture was taken from an empty lot near our home that overlooks the water. Joe and I bring our coffee many mornings and sit here just enjoying the water. This day the fishermen were dragging in their nets and two of our street dogs were very interested in the catch – or could it have been the birds?

They are working dogs and do an excellent job of informing all the neighborhood if something is not right. I did find that they do not like yellow taxis, have a true hatred for certain cars or maybe a driver who is driving too fast. Caution is necessary as they are not friendly. A friend from San Jacinto dropped by to visit one day while Baby Dog was sitting at our gate – Ken went to pet the dog and was snapped at. Thank goodness his reaction was fast or he would have gotten bit.  Because we have been feeding them for some time these two are very friendly towards both Joe and I. As soon as they realize it is us walking the street or disembarking the dreaded yellow taxi, they stop their barking and go about their business. It is good to be accepted!

Found on the Beach – WHAT Is It?

Now if you are going to start to ask what this is, I am going to let you know right off, I have no idea. It was on the beach one day while I was walking, it looked to me like half sting-ray and half fish…maybe half shark.

I did not get too close, I know it was already dead but again I did not get too close. Sometimes when the fishermen are hauling in their nets things get tangled up and end up in them that are not of interest to the fishermen. Usually within a few minutes a frigate bird has scooped it up. And the beach is once again clean…works for me!

Here is a close up to help you name this fishy for me.

My first email and comment came from John and Mary MacDonald our neighbors here in San Clemente. See what they wrote”

John Macdonald	8:38 AM (50 minutes ago)

Nancy,

I did a little reading on the guitarfish after Mary found the picture in our book and learned that they are in the ray family.  Google search has a lot of material on them and notes that the body is sort of a blend between shark and ray.  I think if you saw this swimming toward you near the surface the dorsal fin would convince you that it was a shark.

When I was out whale watching we saw some fish that I was sure were large sharks, but the fishermen told me they were Manta rays.  They have a large dorsal fin that looks like it came straight out of “Jaws!”

Have a great day,

John and Mary

Thanks John and Mary, I am learning so much about our new hometown.

Nancy

Trouble in Paradise Part 2

If the people who live and work here are not happy about the prospect of an elevated highway being constructed on the beach, who is? What is the motivation for a huge project like this? How can anyone think that putting something as ugly as an elevated highway right on a beautiful stretch of virgin beach is a good idea?  This is a poor pueblo- where is this money coming from and who does it really benefit?

Follow the money trail! Everything comes back to those with the money, wanting more money! How sad. And shameful. Hope its not folks from the old country behind this………

Trouble in Paradise?

Yesterday morning while walking downtown we spotted this graffiti.

Roughly translated it reads: no beaches, no paradise. No! the road for the beach. Long live San Clemente.

We have read one article in an Ecuadorian paper http://www.eldiario.com.ec/noticias-manabi-ecuador/250024-con-vista-al-mar/ and heard from several folks that there are plans in the works to take our beautiful pristine beach and ruin it with a road.

Roughly translated, the article reads as follows:

Friday, December 14, 2012 00:00
eldiario.com.ec

“OCEAN VIEW”

A road along the beach from the mouth to Bahia, drawn on paper seems harmless, as argued by its operators serve to promote tourism in the area.

But what is the reality?

According to the plans of the road contractor of approximately 12 meters wide would be built on the beach, from San Clemente to Bahia, cutting in some places the mountain. A path of about 50 miles long, located in the sand stretches and close exposure to sea flows is surely an expensive project not only in terms of construction, but also the subsequent maintenance.

The unfortunate effect of this work is expensive loss and / or reduction of beaches, which have been and are the main attraction for domestic and foreign tourism. Beaches near the villages which have grown as San Jacinto and San Clemente that for decades has been welcomed with warmth and traditions to countless visitors. People who would be directly affected by the highway traversing the beaches.

Is it valid to spend so much money for a road deteriorates the main tourist attraction and also do not respond to any pressing need of the surrounding towns? Priority needs of these populations are such basic services, security or improving roads but a new road to Bahia exist primarily as a good way to that city.

I think the fanaticism that the waterfront is “ocean view” leaves out of sight cheaper alternatives and profitable for responsible tourism and the enjoyment  envisions only a few.

A less expensive alternative, more productive and inclusive is: first, to enable current paths from the road to the beaches (routes that would also benefit small farmers / rural dwellers) and, moreover, sensibly invigorate tourism infrastructure in San Jacinto and San Clemente. This way you could preserve the irreplaceable value of these natural beaches yet where – without pollution and danger of a highway – could be developed with this charming tourist spots dwindling pristine in the world.  END OF ARTICLE

I am distressed at the thought of a road right on the beach. We have a perfectly usable highway going into Bahia running on the outskirts of the downtown area, and IMHO it is a waste of money and of a perfectly beautiful beach putting in another one. How will this road affect the fishermen who have worked these waters for so many years?  How will it affect folks like us who have moved here anticipating the use of the beautiful waters and clean beaches? How will this affect tourism, the environment? How will it affect those owning rental properties right on the beach? Where is this road going and who is paying for it? I hope to have some answers when I attend a meeting today.

There is a huge development being planned past the bluff towards Bahia that may have something to do with this. Hopefully it’s not  just another person from the states looking to make money by paving paradise to put up a parking lot scenario that so many of us tried to leave behind………

But the most important question is: Is the sun setting on our Paradise?