Day 3 - Thursday 17th
August 2005
Day Three started with a bang at 07.30 to
the distant sound of rolling thunder and the pitter
patter of gentle rain which had practically
evaporated before reaching the ground. It is the
first rain since February and even though it did not
last long it was appreciated for its efforts. As a
result, the temperature plummeted to 23 degrees.
Our first job of the day was to drive
into Puerto del Rosario to purchase a smaller rod,
one that I could handle more proficiently.
On our return the fishing frenzy was already in full flight and the temperature
had shot back up to 30 degrees.
High tide was at 13.00 hours so not a moment to
lose, just three hours to procure enough for
dinner.
After receiving many tips and
instructions on how to cast the line and after many
aborted attempts at getting the float and hook as
far as the water I at last managed to get my line
wet. First cast and up comes the first fish of the
day!!!! Not exactly a whopper but large enough not
to throw back and sufficient for an entrée.
Subsequent efforts merely acted as
ground bait but then a second bite. This time he
probably should have been thrown back but as my
bread moulding talents have not been perfected it
was thought he would make better bait. Alas No.
Today's evening activities were
dedicated to the younger elements of the area - it
being 'Young Thursday'.
Games had been organised which we can
only surmise were based around a treasure hunt as
two groups of twenty or more juniors raced from one
end of village to the other. The winning team got
the opportunity to dive into a large carton of
sweets, the runner-up got second pick.
Next came the Gymkhana. This title
had intrigued us for days as quite obviously there
was not going to be any influence connected with
horses. This game was played by various age groups,
in pairs, and one team set off at a time.
The “obstacles” were tasks that seem
to go out of their way to humiliate. It involved
initial piggy-back riding to a far point where one
was blindfolded and tasked to apply lipstick to the
other. Items had to be taken, by mouth, from a
bowl of something unpleasant and a paddling pool
full of sea water, at various points on route. Some
dubious liquid had to be consumed, which did not
fail to cause projectile vomiting, a water filled
balloon was carried between team mates (without the
use of hands) and exploded before they could move
on.
Whilst moving between stations, space
hopping and wig wearing was obligatory. The final
two indignities were: hair removing wax was
adhered to one member of the team and various forms
of agonising verbal exclamation were forthcoming on
its removal, and a raw egg had to be broken between
foreheads. This last activity resulted in several
head butts leaving one member of the team dazed and
disorientated.
This whole course was done against
the clock and eventually delivered a winning team.
No prizes were seen to be awarded; the ambiguous
pleasure of taking part seemed to be sufficient.
By midnight the stage had been
invaded by numerous items of electronic equipment
and a “band” had been brought in to entertain. This
was the point that we decided to move on as although
the instruments were many and varied none of them
appeared to be playing the same music.
Day Three was over for us.
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