We kept the car another day so we could do some more exploring, and we certainly filled the day and made good use of it.

After watching the Grand Mariner (the cruise ship we saw in Placencia) weave through the anchorage and pull up to the dock at the back of Fantasy Island, we headed off to take care of business before fun. I dropped off laundry at Frenchy 44 (Stevie and Annie wash, dry and fold it for a reasonable price), Jim and Jim took a jerry can to the fuel dock, and then we all piled into the car for gourmet grocery shopping. First stop – the store in the mall for produce, then the seafood company for shrimp, lobster and crab, followed by Bulk Gourmet and Eldon’s for more yummy products to stock the larder for the next week. I got my hair cut at Zobeida’s beside Bojangles (on Karen and Elda’s recommendation) – another good $5 cut – and we were on our way. This time, we went all the way to the eastern tip of the island – down a dirt road that we hoped would end at a beach. And it did!

We discovered Sirena’s bar and restaurant at Camp Bay – a delightful little place on stilts out over the water. The rum punch was tasty, key lime pie and coconut candy delectable and the service friendly. We’ll go back next year for dinner even though the woman to whom I asked, “Is it good?” replied in a monotone, “It’s fine.” That was a contrast to the words of folks from Wisconsin at the next table who were returning for the second time for “the best meal on the island.”

Jim B and Jeannie climbed the hill to look out over Port Royal to see Guanaja in the distance before we all piled back into the car for the return home. Jim B had been watching the gas gauge, and thought we could “probably make it back” but when we saw the little sign, Goat Gas, we pulled into the driveway and thankfully watched the elderly man pour 3 gallons of gas through a funnel into our tank. The people were delightful, we breathed easier and headed back on our way.

Our change of plans started about then. As we passed through a little community, we got a message on the Blackberry that my dad had fallen, broken his pelvis and is in the hospital. Several phone calls later, we discovered that he is doing well, but will be laid up for about 6 weeks. My bottom line is always that family comes first, and even though we have been having a wonderful cruising season, it is time to go home. We have gotten every place we wanted to go, and are not too far away from our summer base in Rio Dulce, so we will leave here tomorrow to return to Guatemala. An overnight passage will get us to Tres Puntas on Saturday, admitted to the country and up the river Sunday. I’ll be on a bus Monday to Guatemala City and on the plane to Halifax on Tuesday. Jim will stay in the Rio long enough to do the end of season prep and put Madcap to bed.

As our story goes – even when bad things happen, they happen in good places. Dad is comfortable and recovering in the hospital, I am able to get home in reasonably good time, Jim will take care of Madcap, and all will be well.