11/13/2008, 16 04.18'N:88 45.83'W, Sailing toward Punta Gorda, Belize
Thursday 13 November, Porto Barrios was interesting, the markets were mobbed but we did get a market basket as well as the parts. Don Abel showed us the Port and the port of Santo Tomas, the largest in Central America. He was a proud and wonderful host. On Monday Joy decided she needed to return to Belize and we suggested Half Inch go with her. He was pleased to be able to accompany her home. Tuesday at 6:00 A.M. they left to catch a bus to the ferry which would take them to Punta Gorda for a bus to Belize City. This left us alone for the return to Belize. No problem. We went into Fronteras with Juan Abel and saw his paint store as well as the house he is building. This guy has lots of big plans which are good for his family and good for the area. On the streets of Fronteras, I bargained for dish pans, a broom, and a bucket, all in Spanish. I was quite proud of myself as it was this first time I went shopping alone. I even went to several shops for fruits and vegetables. Tue sday evening Mark installed the final belt on the starboard (right) engine and I made spaghetti. We went back to Fronteras so I could bargain for some pottery. I got a few pieces at a "good price, best price". Wednesday was "Splash Day". It was amazing to ride the boat down the way and into the water. We hated to leave, they are a wonderful family but we were excited to be on our way. We motored down the Rio with a 2 knot current with us and signed out of the country. We got as much diesel as we could with our remaining Quetzales and anchored for the night. Today finds us out of Guatemala and headed for Punta Gorda to clear back into Belize. Once done we intend to head for the Sappodillas for some diving and swimming. I can't believe we have been here several weeks and have only been swimming in the river. Mark wanted to swim on our way to Guatemala but Half said the crocs were particularly aggressive in that area. Needlessly to say, he did not go in the water. We will be o ut of internet range for a few days but will resume these entries soon. Also hope to be able to mail our post cards but so far the Post Offices have been closed, a common occurrence. The sailing is beautiful, the sun is shining, and now we can begin to relax and have fun.
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Comments [2]
11/09/2008, 15 35.368'N:88 59.944'W, On the hard at Abel's, Rio Dulce Guatemala
Saturday. 8 November, Well, tomorrow we go to Porto Barrio to get the parts - it seems they never made it today. Fortunately we found out before going. Instead, we spent most of the day on a wild goose chase trying to find a new prop and engine mount. It was extremely frustrating and discouraging. In the end, however, all is good. We found a welder, Carlos - just under the bridge, who fixed the motor mount with a new stud "good as new" and Half Inch found a prop in the shop @ Abel's that is much better than the damaged one and with a little touch up will certainly serve to get us home. So although the day was frustrating and exhausting, at the end of the day, all is well
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Cheryl [Your work sister!]
Friday, 7 November. One of the issues with Half Inch and I spending all day every day working on the boat, is what do Deb and Jay (Half Inch's wife who is with us) do? The answer is: enjoy the children. Jay misses her two young children (1 & 6) and Deb is more than ready to be a Grandmother. Today Deb taught a gaggle of local kids how to do embroidery making little bunnies. Of course this was a trans lingual experience as Deb speaks very minimal Spanish and the kids spoke less English. By the end of the day, she had them singing the alphabet song (in English) and they had produced some very respectable stitcheries!
Meanwhile work progresses. We finished rebuilding one of the saildrives today and got it re-installed. The diaphragms for the other drive will leave San Pedro today by plane for Punta Gorda (Belize) and then be picked up by a water taxi who will deliver them by tomorrow morning to Porto Barrio (Guatemala). We will ride about an hour with Don Abel (founder of Abel's marina and father of the current manager) to Porto Barrio to pick them up. Hopefully we can get the other saildrive rebuilt and re-installed Sunday. Today we also dropped both rudders and the workers ground down the gelcoat to expose minor cracks that will be repaired tomorrow. By the time we leave, we will have a very sound boat!
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11/06/2008, 15 35.368'N:88 59.944'W, On the hard at Abel's, Rio Dulce Guatemala
Tuesday, 4 November, US Election Day - we will have to go to a bar with Internet tonight to see the results and post these messages. This morning we took the dink into Fronteras and wandered around the town, buying fresh fruit and vegetables from the open air vendors (but NOT the "open air" meat!) Returned to the boat for Gibnut Stew for lunch - actually very tasty! Although we were originally promised to be hauled out this morning, when we went ashore to verify, it was "this afternoon", then "by 4:00 PM", then "manana por la manana". We will see. Right now I'm going to take the computer to a marina to post these blogs and try to get info on the election.
Wednesday, 5 November, Congratulations Obama! And us too! We were hauled out of the water @ 9:00 AM today. After slowly motoring into the cradle in the water and having the boat secured to it, the actual haul-out was very anti-climatic (A GOOD THING!). We are now still living aboard, but instead of the gentle rocking of the water, we have about a 15 degree tilt (bow up) to contend with, and of course, no water. The yard has a fine shower, toilet facility, the workers all are great and Deb is having fun teaching the local kids English in return for Spanish - quite a sight to see her trying to explain Sudoku to an 8 year old!
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11/02/2008, Anchored in front of Abel's, Rio Dulce
Sunday 2, November - Rio Dulce is as magical as we remembered it! We motor sailed to Livingston against light SW winds, crossed the bar with no problems, tied up to the municipal peer (a huge cement affair that we managed not to kiss). By the time we had tied up, a local had notified the Port Captain of our arrival and soon the whole entourage (Port Captain, Health, Immigration, and Customs Officers) came aboard, filled out the paper work and left with our papers and passports. We followed in a half hour to get money at the ATM and then retrieve our documents from Immigration, Customs, and Port Captain in that order. Total cost just about $100 US. We spent the night anchored at the mouth of the river as we had to return in the AM to get a receipt from the bank which was not open on Sunday. No hassle, no "overtime" - some different than Belize.
Monday Morning we motored slowly up the Rio Dulce. It is still wonderful and overpowering. We anchored in front of Abel's shipyard where we will haul out as soon as a way is available. Initial plan is to stay on the boat, but that may or may not be tenable - we will see. After we are anchored, I FINALLY get to swim (first time after being here for two weeks!) - and the water is SWEET. It is so strange to dive into the water from our boat and not have it be salt!
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