We did all the necessary cool stuff in Placencia. Tuttifruti - yummiest gelato ever, check; lunch at Brenda's - the small barbecue joint by the concrete dock, jerk chicken, potato salad, dirty rice, banana, macaroons, key lime pie and fresh lemonade all for $6.00! and it's yummy!, check; happy hour at Yoli's, check! long walks on the beach, check!

We were to leave first thing this morning but exhaustion took over and we did not pull anchor until 1030 hrs. There was the unexpected 28 knot blow and some seas that kept us up most of the night. It was to a point of almost needing the seasick pills to calm our stomachs. Steve got up to unzip the banging dodger leaf and then he pulled off the tarp covering the forward hatch. A few minutes later, we hear a loud bang - Steve got up and found our dinghy upside down - the wind blew it. We lost our paddles but luckily saved the dinghy seat. The excitement continued till morning. The one thing that solidified our decision to pull anchor is that only 3 hours away is a very calm lagoon in all weather.

For almost 4 hours of slamming around the boat, we reached Sopadilla Lagoon where our friends from SV Contento (Penny, John and Booster), was anchored. We went ashore for our puppies to play for awhile and the rest of the evening was peace, peace and peace....

Contento will leave for Dandriga tomorrow to replenish fresh fruits and vegetables. We tried to hire a taxi to take us there but they were charging us $165.00 US!! Contento will take their boat and anchor out instead. Meanwhile, we will enjoy this peaceful lagoon for one more day and one more evening before we head back to the reefs to do some swimming and snorkeling.

Exhausted but happy, Steve, Marie and Angel