info@robinesrock.com
ROBIN ESROCK - BESTSELLING AUTHOR, SPEAKER, TV HOST
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • BOOKS
  • SPEAKING
  • BLOG
  • TV
  • PARTNERS
  • MEDIA
    • PHOTOS >
      • Favourite Photos
      • Esrock in Photos
      • Download Bio Photo
      • VIDEO
  • CONTACT

Anguilla:  No Filter Needed

7/25/2013

0 Comments

 
Instagram needs a new filter to turn any picture into a Caribbean island paradise.   They should call it "Anguilla."   I'm here for a few days to explore its dive sites, and learn a little about this understated, off-radar island that attracts celebrities, honeymooners and urban escapees with opulent villas, lavish resorts, and 13,500 inhabitants who are so laid back even their trigger fish are uncoiled.  
Westjet flies direct from Toronto to San Maarten, and it's a short 20-minute boat ride to the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla.  The tax haven is only 26km long by 5km wide, with one main road running through the middle.  There are no mountains, and hardly any traffic.  What it does have is 33 mind blowing beaches, dreamy tropical weather, fat mangos and proudly, no chain hotels, burger joints or coffee shops. 
"This is what everyone wants the Caribbean to be," says Patrick Lynch, who owns Roy's Bayside Grill.  "White sands with nobody on it."    
The sentiment is echoed by Jim, a television director who's been visiting the island with his family for 15 years.   Celebrities love the island's lack of pretentiousness and relative privacy, which explains why actress Annie Potts gave me her sunscreen.  A strong summer sun was baking my back onboard Dougie's boat, returning from our incredible couple dive at Dog Island.  Every dive delivered the goods, be it the 200ft wreck of the MV Sarah, the dozen turtles who played with us on the 75ft Oosterdiep wreck, or the lobster, barracuda and countless fish feeding off the MV Commerce. The island's three dive companies - Shoal Bay Scuba, Special D and Vigilint - were knowledgeable, professional and fun to hang out with. Like other locals  I met, these guys love what they do, and love where they live.   Dive sites, including a half dozen amazing wrecks, were easy to get to, and ideal for recreational divers like me.  
Anguilla has three, pricey five-star resorts that are extraordinary:  The Viceroy, Cap Juluca, and the sprawling CuisinArt, owned by the same chap behind the appliances.  Picture infinity pools, white brushed villas, expensive cocktails and swept powder beaches.  I stayed at the more affordable Anacoana Boutique Hotel, centrally located, comfortable and rather less flashy.   Their packages are worth checking out. 
I'm not exactly sure how Anguilla came to be a foodie island because I spent too much time eating to find out.  Standout meals were at the Straw Hut, Jacala (my new friend and fabulous underwater photographer Nadia Aly swears their mahi-mahi is the best thing she's ever had), CuisinArt's Le Bistro (the lobster was sensational) Roy's Bayside Grill, Smokey's and the Firefly.  Deep fried Johnny cakes,  fresh fish, peas and rice and that sweet hot Caribbean sauce...no wonder locals are always smiling.  
I found myself swimming under the stars, and scuba diving with bioluminescence under a bright supermoon. At the exotic Birds of Paradise villa, I lived like the 1%, for a couple hours at least. I also found great companionship, true local characters, a new appreciation for air conditioning, and late night fun with banana rum.   Each photo I posted to Twitter or Instagram screamed:  Don't you wish you were here?   No photoshopping, just a little something I call the Anguilla filter.  ​
Find out more about visiting Anguilla here.  ​
0 Comments

Fly-in Fishing in Northern Manitoba

7/3/2013

0 Comments

 
The float plane took off as I held my cup of piping hot coffee.  According to Scott, an editor at Outdoor Canada, that's the typical cliche opening for any remote fishing lodge story, so I thought I'd stick with it.  Only there was no piping hot coffee, and I was rocketing a Ford F-150 at 160 km/hr across the flat Manitoban prairies.  Through fate and circumstance I was invited to Eagles Nest, a fly-in fishing lodge located on the Winnipeg River.   My fishing experience: 
  • Catching a barracuda and wahoo in the Cook Islands
  • Catching bloated salmon on a river in Alaska
  • Catching piranha in Venezuela and Brazil
The pursuit of trophy fish is a serious business, and much like football players, anglers judge each other by the size and weight of their tackle.   The abundant waters of the Winnipeg River, cutting channels through hundreds of islands, are a world-class destination. Eagle Nest, a family-owned lodge in operation since 1966, offers 18 staff for its 30-40 guests, 30 boats, fully equipped cabins, gourmet meals, and hard-won knowledge on the best spots to catch fish.   The stars of which are:  smallmouth bass, northern pike, wall-eye, sauger, perch, and to a lesser extent, sturgeon.   Fred Pedruchny, who took the lodge over from his parents in 1977 and has been here every summer since, tells me the largest pike caught in these waters was a 50 inch monster.   But it's not just about the harvesting and catching of fish.  Escaping the city, being in the wilderness, hanging out with friends and family - this is true Canadian wilderness, where you'll be an hour's boat ride (or 20 minute floatplane ride) from anywhere. 
Jason, one of the bronze leathered fishing guides, says there are only two things you need to pack when you go fishing: a raincoat and sunglasses.  When it rains, water whips across the boat. In the sun, skin quickly sizzles.  Rain or shine, mosquitoes and horse flies take their pound of flesh. 
In the capable hands of fishing guides and far more experienced fishing buddies, it takes no time before I catch my first wall-eye.   Sport fishing is strictly catch and release, but we keep the right size wall-eye for the shore lunch.  Pike's flesh is not as desirable, so we throw them back, even the ones that can feed a small family.    I learn to jig, cast and troll.  Demetri Martin is right:  fishing should be called tricking and killing.   Or tricking and letting go.   There's a healthy respect here for the fish:  barbs are pinched to minimize damage, the biggest catch is gently handled, and always released to give future anglers a similar thrill.   My trophy is a 31-inch pike, and in one session I  haul all the species above save for sturgeon, including a healthy sized smallmouth bass.
We gather on an island for lunch, the guides making short work filleting the fish, which are rubbed in spice, or dunked in flour and cornflakes, served with deep-fried or fire roasted potatoes.  Fish has never tasted better, or fresher.  
In one of the world's largest flowing rivers (by volume), Winnipeg River boasts abundance.  Abundance of water, clean enough for hardier anglers to drink, and warm enough for late afternoon dips.  Eagles fly overhead, mink, bear and deer roam the shores.   Casting with new friends at sunset, I share Fred's sentiment that fishing is just an activity, something to keep you busy while you ponder life, staring over calm lapping waters under a big prairie sky. 
Special thanks to Ford Canada and Travel Manitoba for hosting my visit to Eagles Nest. ​
0 Comments
    Greetings. 
    ​Please come in. Mahalo for removing your shoes.


    ​After many years running a behemoth of a blog called Modern Gonzo, I've decided to a: publish a book or eight, and b: make my stories more digestible, relevant, and deserving of your battered attention.

    ​Here you will find some of my adventures to over 100 countries, travel tips and advice, rantings, ravings, commentary, observations and ongoing adventures.

    Previously...

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012


    Categories

    All
    Adrenaline
    Adventure
    Africa
    Airports
    Albania
    Alberta
    Anguilla
    Animals
    Antarctica
    Arctic
    Argentina
    Art
    Asia
    Australia
    Backpacking
    Bali
    Beaches
    Belgium
    Bike
    Boats
    Bolivia
    Books
    Brazil
    British Columbia
    Bucket List
    Bulgaria
    Cambodia
    Canada
    Caribbean
    Central America
    Chile
    China
    Climate
    Colombia
    Commentary
    Contests
    Cook Islands
    Costa Rica
    Croatia
    Cruise
    Cuba
    Czech Republic
    Denmark
    Diving
    Ecuador
    England
    Estonia
    Ethiopia
    Europe
    Family
    Finland
    Fishing
    Flying
    Food And Wine
    France
    Galapagos
    Gear
    Genealogy
    Georgia
    Germany
    Gift Guide
    Great Britain
    Greenland
    Halloween
    Hawaii
    Hike
    History
    Holland
    Hong Kong
    Horse
    Hotels
    Hungary
    Iceland
    India
    Indonesia
    Industry
    Interview
    Iran
    Ireland
    Islands
    Israel
    Issues
    Italy
    Japan
    Jordan
    Lakes
    Laos
    Latvia
    Lithuania
    Malaysia
    Malta
    Mancations
    Mauritius
    Mexico
    Mongolia
    Mountains
    Movies
    Myanmar
    News
    New Zealand
    Nicaragua
    North America
    North Korea
    Norway
    Nunavut
    Panama
    Papua New Guinea
    Peru
    Philippines
    Photo Galleries
    Portugal
    Quirky
    Rafting
    Reviews
    Rivers
    Road Trip
    Romania
    Russia
    Sailing
    Saudi Arabia
    Scotland
    Ski
    Slovenia
    Snowboard
    South Africa
    South America
    South Korea
    Speaking
    Sponsored
    Sport
    Sri Lanka
    Sustainability
    Sweden
    Taiwan
    Technology
    Thailand
    The Netherlands
    Tibet
    Tourism
    Train
    Transylvania
    Travel Tips
    Tunisia
    Turkey
    Ukraine
    United States
    Usa
    Vancouver
    Venezuela
    Victoria
    Vietnam
    Volcanoes
    Water
    Weird
    Winter
    Zanzibar
    Ziplining

    RSS Feed

Picture

Subscribe Now

​
​Subscribe to my newsletter for infrequent inspiration
​

Enter specific and clear language on the intended use of the collected information.

Latest Tweets

Tweets by robinesrock

Quick Links


Books

About

Speaking

Media

TV

Photo

Contact

 Copyright Esrock World Media 2005-2023 

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • BOOKS
  • SPEAKING
  • BLOG
  • TV
  • PARTNERS
  • MEDIA
    • PHOTOS >
      • Favourite Photos
      • Esrock in Photos
      • Download Bio Photo
      • VIDEO
  • CONTACT