05/23/2013, Providencia
Nathan had to leave early to take care of some pressing business problems. Unfortunate but we did get to do some nice snorkeling.
Peter Robinson and Bill Wickham arrived the same day that Nathan left. They brought some much needed boat items. All day yesterday we patched on the headsail and worked on dinghy water and air leaks. A few more things to do but we can do them underway. Got to get these guys out to some cays. We really worked had yesterday. They are great help and i'm truly blessed to have such wonderful friends. A sailor neighbor loaned us a sail sewing machine. It really helped, but nothing is ever easy on boat repair. We had to tightly roll the jib to barely get it in the arm of the machine. Was not a orofessional job but we 'got er done'. We sort a looked liked the Three Stooges.
Wick brought a tracking device, so you may follow us in real time at iboattracker.com s/v Carried Away.
This morning we pick up our propane tanks, fuel and water, and provisions for our trip up Belize and the Yucatan
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05/20/2013, Belize
Just got back to anchorage in Placencia after spending two days with my son, Nathan gunkholing cays nearby.
Saturday we anchored off Lark Cay which was only about 6nm away. Enjoyed snorkeling the island. Together we snorkeled around the whole island. Someone had a deserted cabin there with huge piles of conch shells nearby. We knew they were there but only found one large live one. Speared a couple of pan fish and taught Nathan how to clean conch. Enjoyed a great dinner. That night was extremely rolly making for a restless night thinking the anchor would drag.
Next day we went to another cay, Colson Cay. On approach to the west side all we could see was mangrove swamp. We motored around the island and found a pass going in from the North side. We carefully motored up the pass and anchored in 15 ft of water protected from the NE trade winds. The snorkeling here was superb. We collected two nice lobster and two groupers. As Nathan was cleaning the smaller grouper the bag containing the large grouper fell off the transom. Neither one of us was going after it after creating all that chum. We had been talking about Belize having salt water crocodiles and needless to say.... That meal was also very very good.
Tuesday our friends Peter Robinson and Bill Wickham are flying down and helping me get the boat back to Florida. Really look forward to their arrival. We will gunk hole down Belize and Yucatan to Isla Mujeres where Nathan will catch his flight back.
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05/15/2013, Belize
Arrived at this pretty little fishing village about 2:30pm. Will pick up Nathan here today then Peter and Wick here on the 21st.
Joe leaves us here and the girls will leave just anytime (undecided yet).
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05/14/2013, Out island off Belize
Sailed half way to Placentia and stopped at West Snake Cay Which is uninhabited. Michelle and Joyce BBQ'd chicken while Joe and I snorkeled. Water clarity was not very good due to a lot of wave action. We built two fires, one for cooking and one for a bonfire. The no-see-ums (chitras in Spanish) were terrible. After dinner Joe stayed on the beach in his bug proof hammock while we went to the boat. It was rolley but no bugs.
The robbers handiwork keeps showing up. They cut off the tail ends off several Halyards and sheets including the roller reefer and dinghy davits. Very aggravating since the Jib tore at the old seam and can't lower the jib without losing it's halyard in the mast.
Off to Plancentia to pick up son, Nathan, tomorrow.
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05/12/2013, Fronteras anchorage
Last night some robbers came aboard and got all 5 of fishing poles, TV, DVD player, $200 in cash from Eleanor and two of her cards. Also took cards from Joyce. Will be awhile before all that's missing is discovered. Luckily nothing critical to sailing appears short.
Must have had someone watching from ashore as we dinghied in. Had to be at least two or three involved. You would not think theft would be a problem here being we are so close to other sailors. We came back about 8:00pm and everything had been tossed. At this point probably $2,000 in missing property.
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05/11/2013, Guatemala
Had a tough time getting into the SW Cays. Chart plotter was way off and almost ran aground. Finally caught a boat and he showed us where to anchor behind a reef. Was 44 feet deed but holding was very good. Left early next day for Livingston.
Was an overnighter and of course the wind died off and had to motor sail. We did catch a fine Big Eyed Tuna. As soon as we got the anchor down a boat load of officials came up to process us in. Another $110us and will cost about $40 to check out.
Rather than staying there we decided to go on up the Rio Dulce. Gosh was it ever beautiful. Shear cliffs reaching several hundred feet on both sides of us. What a canyon. Lots of natives in their dug out cayucos traversing the river close to the banks under the overhanging foliage.
We wanted to visit the hot springs but couldn't find so got close and anchored at the mouth of a lake. The early morning was filled with all kinds of jungle sounds and many species of birds. We took the dinghy and located the hot springs right on the river beside a restaurant. The water was truly hot and smelled strongly of sulfur. You could swim up close to where the water came out of the cliff and mix cool water among it so you could stand it.
Now anchored close to foot of bridge in front of a marina at Fronteras. I can't believe the inaccuracy of the chart plotter. Showed us 1/2 mile in the jungle while we were mid river. Never believe it again!
Eleanor will be leaving us here to go on up river to join a friend. She has been a joy to have aboard. Enjoyed her British accent and verbiage.
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