Saturday, May 3, 2014 Changes in latitude, changes…in, well…everything

While we planned and planned, set our course and thought we had the best weather window a discussion with one of the locals made us question our strategy for crossing the Mona Passage. So it was 2am and 3 of our 4 crew were awake and ready to move. So, by 2:45 am we had ghosted off the dock, and headed out to sea. With the girls in our harness PDF’s secured to the jacklines on the foredeck shining for the channel and the boys in the wheelhouse, we made it out of the channel with a minimum of fuss. Turns out the Mona was in an excellent mood and we had a great crossing, with the seas getting only a little bumpy and the highest wave heights we saw at 8ft. The hairiest part of the trip came on Jim’s and my watch as we approached the Domincan Coast. On each of our PFD’s we have a man-overboard device. Someone managed to activate theirs by accident and so we had alarms beeping all over the place that took 3 people to finally deactivate. Meanwhile I had to call in to the marina and alert them to our arrival, and get instructions, and as the water shallowed we began seeing drift net markers…just a few in total, but enough to keep us nervously on the lookout. Then, the last event, as it turns out there are two channel entrances in this area, and while they told us to use the North one that had two dog-legs….we discovered that circling outside the buoy was reading 8 ft (we need 6!) and you could CLEARLY see coral heads all over the bottom. After Frank made a second call in to request clarification on the channel entrance, they graciously sent out a pilot boat to guide us…good thing we waited…they meant the OTHER north entrance…um, the SOUTH one! Still looked shallow, but no rearing coral heads grabbing for the hull…Jim piloted us through the channel, and into the marina basin then frank took over and docked us up along the wall.

Our intended dock space was easy to see as there were two dock hands, and 6 officials waiting for us. 2 in plain dress clothes, 3 in very official uniforms and 1 in fatigues. We docked up by 12:45pm, and when the boat was secure the officials were invited on board and began the clearance process. Coke was poured all around, the paperwork was completed, receipts produced and in very short order and with a minimum of fuss we were cleared into the Dominican Republic.

We’re here! We crossed the Mona, and are on to new and exciting adventures! And although we are tired we tidied the boat and then headed off to the beach! It’s beautiful here, the marina itself looks like Naples, with lovely stonework and beautiful landscaping. We managed to stay up late and have dinner off the boat…but by 9pm, the crew was asleep at the table and headed off to bed.

Thursday, we had boat chores to do, and so scrubbed the salt off and polished stainless, and swept and did laundry and plotted the alternative routes for our next leg, either to Samana 80+ miles north, or direct to Grand Turk…all weather dependent. The forecast is for continuing North swell peaking on Saturday, so as of now, we plan to leave on Monday. 11:00am…After all the chores were done, it was off to swim and relax on the beach. Frank, Denise, Jim, and I are still pretty sleep deprived, so sitting in the shade of a cabana, with the wind blowing off the beautiful blue sea was just what we all needed.

Friday, the Magnificent Crew headed off to spend the day at the ‘Scape Park, an adventure type park located just a few minutes away from the marina. While we could ride Buggies on the beach, horseback ride, or zip line, we decided to take the cave excursion, a 2-hour hike thru the landscape into the limestone cliff, and down into the cave. We had amazing guides, Yasinia and Eva, who were fun and informative, and since it was only the 4 of us on the tour we got excellent personalized care. After we were done, we were hot and tired and so really ready for the second tour which was another hike thru orchid planted paths, but this time into a water filled half cave called the blue hole, or Hoya Azul. The water was an incredible Blue, and so clear we it seemed like we could touch the bottom, a mere 36 feet away. This is seawater that seeps thru the limestone and so is desalinated and loaded with minerals, accounting for the water color. We had a lovely young honeymoon couple on this hike with us who were just great and we so enjoyed meeting them and chatting. Turns out Chris was of Romanian descent, which we discovered on the bus ride home, we could have talked to them a lot more, and very much hope to keep in touch.

Over the past week we have had some significant crew challenges with very different philosophies on the boat. Unfortunately, after we arrived back to the marina tonight the situation escalated to a breaking point and we determined to part ways. The four of us packed up and got a hotel room adjacent to the marina, with me driving a golf cart back and forth shuttling luggage until late then finally, we could crash. So here we are again, the four of us sharing a hotel room, and trying to pack, and repack our floating homes’ goods, into luggage suitable for the airlines. Today was filled with deembarcation chores and making arrangements to head home on Monday. One of which was a trip to the mall so each of us could by another suitcase. A slightly different way to get back, but as a friend recently reminded me…’all plans are made in sand at low tide’.

We are however truly enjoying our time in the DR, and most especially the people. Not only are they beautiful, with unique skin, and light colored eyes, but their warmth and friendliness is unparalleled.