Today is our son Chris's birthday, so Happy Birthday Chris!

We arrived at Luperon harbor May 10 after a lengthy sail from Rum Cay. Stopped at Great Sand Cay in Turks and Caicos but only for a few hours, and did not go ashore. Way too pricey to clear in and out!

Luperon has been spectacular. From 27 Cascadas (waterfalls) to touring the Rum Factory to pig with the skin on, at a local roadside place. (has to be tried to be believed). For these adventures we had a wonderful guide who treated our group like family, right down to introducing us to his mother! Thanks for everything Joqui! It's been fun practicing our Spanish with the locals, and I've discovered a DR local liquor, called Mama Juana. Rum and all kinds of other spices and herbs stewed in a bottle. Yummy Rummy!

The town of Luperon is very friendly, very poor and very dirty. We had our laundry done once, about 2 loads for 7 bucks. They wash the laundry by hand and hang it on fences to dry. Not much different than we do on the boat. Wash by hand and hang on the lifelines. Hard work! We are envious of our friends with the watermaker and washer/dryer!

We were hoping to leave for Puerto Rico (270 mile sail) today, but the weather doesn't look good. Maybe tomorrow evening. So, today we will go into town to provision, get despachos (clearing out papers) and get rid of the trash.

Leo is having a grand time, except when we have to leave him on the boat! Above pic is our loose band of fellow travelers. Shane, Mike, Kristy, on Moonshine, Silvio and Verena on Blues Breaker, and us at the Waterfalls. (Bob jumped from a 40 ft cliff!)