Gundaga Island

Taken from Chapter Four. “Ahoy there mi little shipmates” bellowed a voice from far aloft. It was Mr. Winkle waving at them from the cliffs above the beach. He had come to wish them a safe voyage to the island and with fair weather in the forecast they were sure of a great day. He has previously given them instructions to row straight across the water and to head for a rocky point in the middle of Gundagas’ cove. Crossing the small area of water from the mainland wouldn’t be a problem either as there were no dangerous rocks hidden from view beneath the aqua blue waters. “We had better get going” said Christian as they had promised Lizie to be back for no later than six o’clock. Adventure bobbed over the gently waves as one by one they call climbed in. Caleb was the last one aboard as he had been making sure that the boat kept clear of the sandy bottom with the extra weight that had been added. “Haul up the anchor” said Christian laughing (there was no anchor!) and with that he heaved back on the oars Adventure slowly leaving the shore. Mr. Winkle grew smaller up on the cliff top, he was still waving with all his might! “Oh this is so exciting” exclaimed Abbey, “I feel as though we are going on a pirate adventure.” “What were those songs that sailors used to sing?” asked Sam. “I think I remember Lizie telling me about sea-shanties” Maddie added. “Yeah, didn’t the sailors sing them as they rowed their tall ships” Caleb suggested. “Think so, and then there is that one toddler song about row row row your boar” Cole proffered. Row row row your boat Gently o’er the sea Merrily merrily merrilee Life is but a dream. They all kept on singing as Gundaga Island came nearer looking so much more different than what it did from the mainland. Still rowing strongly Christian showed no signs of fatigue, the excitement probably staving it off. Adventure had proved to be a goof boat as she shimmied up the beach, finally they were on Gundaga Island. Lizie’s trip into town with Kenzie and Camden turned out to be much fun. After sorting out the registration for the boat with Mr. Winkle she took the little ones down to the warf where many fishing boats were moored. All kinds of colors met their eyes, reds, blues, yellows and whites. Yards and yards of netting folded around the boats put to good use when trawling for fish out in the vast open sea. The fishermen were all busy with their morning catches of fish, gutting and cleaning, storing on ice ready for the market. Then the boats had to be hosed down and made ready for the next morning to dawn when they would all head out to sea again in the hopes of yet another good catch. Their yellow plastic suits were awash with water and fish guts, the air having that salty fish smell which was attracting the many squalking gulls that hovered overhead. Waiting for their next meal be it edible or not would swoop down at intervals to get what they could causing fights between them. What a frenzy! Lizie also explained to the two children that the rubber tires on the sides of the boats stopped them from repeatedly banging against the side of the stone pier. The thick slime green ropes kept the boats firmly at their moorings. Gundaga was a smallish town but boasted many colorful houses some three storeys high, the usual gift shops which always reside at coastal places and some eating places too which Lizie thought might be a good idea for supper tonight. Port Camjas on the other hand was a much larger town than Gundaga and had to offer anything for the locals and tourists alike. It housed a bigger fishing port and with many hotels/motels for the annual vacationers. Mr. Winkle was born in Port Camjas, spending all his boy hood there, the passion for boats always with him, hence he was a fisher man all his adult life. Generations of his family before him had also been men of the sea, it ran through their veins. His wife of many years had sadly passed away two years ago and unfortunately were not blessed with children. He was now three score and ten which put him at age seventy. He was proving to be a good friend to Lizie and was kind of taking her nine grandchildren under his wing, especially the seven out on the island right now. *************