We both woke up before the 4:45 alarms went off. Workers were coming for our bags at 5 AM so we needed to be dressed and have everything packed away. The predicted thunderstorms were still flashing off in the distance but the water was calm. We knew that they would be able to run the boat shuttle. At 5:15 we stared our descent to the pier. The haulers were there with flashlights to help us on the stairs. We sat and watched them retrieve the floating platform and get the boat into position. Then we walked the plank and then the duckwalk ramp to the top of the box on the floating platform. It was easier than we thought it would be. But that was mostly due to the calm seas. We were joined on the boat by eight or so workers heading into town. Perhaps they are going to enjoy their days off. Once we got to El Nido it started to rain a bit so we scurried to the van that took us to the airport. We were at the gate, there is only one, with two hours to spare. We were lucky to have been early enough to get some of the few chairs to sit in while everyone else had to sit on wooden benches. There were four flights that arrived and took off again. Each time the exhaust world come in through the door and through the AC units. Ooof, that was a nasty smell. Finally we boarded the plane and watched all the little islands pass by underneath.
The boat delivered a worker to the raft and actually pushed the raft a bit
So light is beginning to arrive
The worker is maneuvering the raft
We are off in a whoosh
It looked like a fire out to sea
Passing the front of the island
More light as we motor along
We even see some color
Almost to El Nido
Cool fog rolling over the bluffs of El Nido
All the workers had fallen asleep
Making good time
A very detailed picture on the men's room door
The women's room had similar details
Looking out the window at the airport
We are up in a medium sized propeller plane
Cauayan Island
A heart shaped island
Lots of little islands
So many secluded beaches
Nice reefs around them
Getting to the Coron Island area
Coron is big
A spit of sand connecting these two islands
Our destination Dimaquait island
Lovely islands
Mountains too
This maybe a lake
We have arrived!
