Feeling Free
****
We slowly unhooked courselves from the Marina, knowing that we were definitely disconnecting ourselves from the Ease of Life that happens when being tied alongside.
"Along with all The Work that happens too" I chimed in.
Both Dave and I were feeling the effects of the last few days of extra contortioning as we scrubbed and shined the insides and outsides of Banyan.
We waved "good-bye" and yelled "
Gracias, Mi Amigos" to the guys that came to help us with our lines, as we backed out of our slip.
"All systems are good" said the Capt'N emerging from below, and once the lines and fenders were all inboard we exited the Cut, and turned right.
The wind announced itself, blowing its warm air around the cockpit and we happily inhaled its presence. We unfurled the jib and gave the wind it's job of blowing us along, and we instantly Felt Free, as we settled into the peaceful rhythm that comes with being Out There.
We sailed along the South Coast of Puerto Rico, the peaks and valleys and ridges of the mountainous ranges of the Cordillera Central hovering on the horizon,
somehow overshadowing the industrial buildings spewing out plumes of white smoky gases.
Near Jobos, the wind blew something else our way.
They approached us with daredevil type of speeds, and waved at us as they zig-zagged around our wakes,
before they turned around to head back to land.
"There's some anchorages coming up" pointed Dave, "where we can spend a nice, calm evening."
"Hell, yeah" I said. Isn't it gorgeous?
Jobos Bay is a bit of an Estuary (and a Research Reserve), somewhat protected from the open ocean by lots of barrier reefs.
"The reserve includes extensive seagrass beds, upland dry forests, and lagoons, and is home to the endangered brown pelican, peregrine falcon, hawksbill turtle, yellow-shouldered blackbird, and the West Indian manatee."
We didn't dare risk entrance in the first cut, Boca del Inferno. "Local knowledge only" wasn't enough to deter us, but the huge 7+ foot swell with its white crashing surf as it hit the corally bits, was.
We continued along, eyeing the long line of mangrove islands until we found the second entrance,
keeping a watchful eye for the shallow bits, as we turned in.
Cayos Caribes, Cayos de Barca, Cayo Morillo, and Cayo de Pájaros lay there, welcoming us with their protection of mangroves (salt tolerant tress) and their tangled root systems and green thicket fences, and behind them, the mountainous ranges rising into the sky.
It was a challenge to look away and keep our eyes on the depths as we motored along looking for our "home for the night".
The lines put away and the boat back to order, we settled into the beauty of our location with an Arrival Beer. As the fast, blue-covered RHIB with its "Policija" in large letters clearly displayed slowly passed us by, waving their Hola's, and then disappearing into the maze of green mangroves, we remembered to call C&I to report our boat movements as we'd transited from the East of Puerto Rico, to now, the South of Puerto Rico.
The evening provided an amazing dinner of BBQ steaks, baked potatoes and steamed vegetables.
Dave and I raised a glass of Red, in grateful awareness, the peaceful tranquility and the spectacular colours of the SunSet emerging,
with the grand finale being the bedazzlement of night-sky stars.
"Ahh..." we both sighed. "Cheers".