August 29, 2012

You are back, I see.  I guess you love me after all!

Since our last blog, Don has worked on several things.  He finished the bow pulpit and put it on and we have put all the life lines on.  He built the arms that go off the back to hold our solar panels and dinghy.  He did a nice job and today they will finalize the welding on that.  Don had our anchor locker changed when we had the fiber glass done.  It did part in the middle and both sides opened up, but now it just opens up to the starboard side.  He had the locker divided, the back part is for the anchor chain and the front part is waterproof for our generator.  So he had to put metal around the sides and rubber and some of it had to be welded.  It looks very good.  He cut two holes – one at the back where the chain goes and on at the front where the generator will go.  He put a vent in the front part for the generator and another to match at the back for chain to come around the windlass and down thru this vent to the chain locker.  It is very clever and he did a really nice job. 

This morning he went to see the guy that will lift our mast (this has been the fourth time).  They set a date of next Tuesday the day after Labor Day.  I hope the weather holds out for us.  The mast has to be set before they can start on the bimini and dodger frame.  It won’t take too long to build it once all the angles are decided upon.  The part that takes the longest is polished the weld to make it look nice.

Our grandkids all started school this week.  I think they are all happy with the classes and teachers.  Levi and Macie started a new school this year.  They are going to Whitewright!  Good ole WHS.  Levi was so excited that he got a teacher that use to teach Holly and another that use to teach Justin.  Coming home for Justin!!!!! They will be moving in to Granddad and Ganny's house very soon.  Brandi found out this week that she did in fact pass her Med Aid State test.  Congratulations to a very deserving girl!  I know you worked hard and we are very proud of you.

Did I tell you about the lobster?  Caribbean Lobster…….. Also known as langouste or rock lobster,   the Caribbean lobster isn’t really a lobster at all, but rather a member of the crayfish family.  Although it resembles a true lobster, it has no claws and displays long, thick spiny antennae. 

Did I tell you about the Pelican?The Brown Pelican…….The Fisherman’s Friend with a wingspan up to six and half feet, the brown pelican (Pelicans occidentalis) is the largest bird in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Soaring 20 to 30 feet above the sea to spot its prey, the pelican plunges headlong in the water to catch fish in its massive pouch.  Local fishermen are particularly fond of the sight of the pelican, a telltale sign of plentiful fish!  Don and I would watch these birds for long periods of time when we were in Puerto Real.  The pesticide DDT came close to eradicating the brown pelican in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  It was banned in the U.S. in 1972 and the brown pelican was added to the Endangered Species List.  The majority of the small cays and islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands where they build their stick nests in trees are now protected ass wildlife refuges, and in 2009, the brown pelican was removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List.

What’s Next?   The Spanish Virgins….To the east of the main island of Puerto Rico is a small cluster of islands known as the Spanish Virgins, most notably the islands of Culebra and Vieques.  Vieques is pronounced vee-AYE-case.  Our next stop (after our boat is ready) will be Puerto Patillas pronounced as PWAIR-toh pah-TEE-yahs, which is a small town, once a small boat fishing village(still on the South Coast of PR) then on up and around the East End just a bit to Palmas del Mar and then on to Vieques, then Culebra.  We can easily stay at these places for many weeks, if we desire, before going on to U.S. Virgin Islands.  Since our fate was such that we stay in Puerto Rico thru hurricane season we have decided to take our time and really enjoy all of the islands on the way South.

Some friends of ours from Texas (Danny and MaryAnn Smith) who also like to sail, will be coming to the BVI in December to sail for 10 days.  We will try to make it to them before we come home for Christmas.  It will all depend on when we get to leave Salinas.  Hope it works out, but with sailing you just never no.

Hasta la vista, baby

Until next time,

Don and Janis s/v Plane to Sea

August 16, 2012

Buenos Dias Bloggers:

Since my last blog a lot of things have been going on.  Splash day for P2S was Saturday, July 28, 2012.  It was just 4 weeks earlier that P2S was taken out of the water for repair. Just to tell you about a few things that have been going on.  See below:

Went back over to the marina to gather our thoughts and put the boat back in some kind of order so that we could live on her.

a.       It rained, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.  We were already getting a little sick of the rain before Ernesto was on his way.

b.      Wednesday we cleaned and provisioned and turned the car back into the rental place.

Splash Day: 

On Thursday, August 2, 2012 Don and I left Puerto Real on our way to Salinas, P.R.  We had a plan and yes that was altered just a bit.

1.       We left our home in Puerto Real at 6:00 am.  We had said our goodbyes two days before when we thought we were leaving and did not get to.  We arrived in La Paguera at 10:00 am.  We did not stop at Boqueron because we had been there, well probably too many times already.  We anchored and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon.  Snorkeled and had a really good time in the blue water.  We had been by car to El Combate or Punta Aguila and seen the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse just a few weeks before, so we continued to La Paguera.  We anchored in 12-15 ft of water off of the Magueyes Island.  We knew if needed, there was a small hurricane hole just 2 miles east of La Paguera. 

2.       Friday morning at 6:00 am we left La Paguera and anchored at Ponce Yacht Club at 10:00 am.  Again we enjoyed a nice afternoon of sunshine.  We did not snorkel because the water was murky.  Ponce is a big industrial center for Sears, McDonalds.  The have a great mall and a really neat downtown.  Ponce is Puerto Rico’s second city, and was quite reserved after being in Boqueron.  Friday evening around 8:00 pm the storm came up and lasted about 24 hours of nonstop rain.  Thank God we were anchored good and without incident.  The rain continued all thru Saturday the 4^th of August.  The word was that the seas were 12 ft, with 55mph winds.  Yes, this was part of Ernesto on the South end of Puerto Rico.  Sunday we woke to a beautiful day filled with sunshine.  This was our anniversary so we decided to stay in Ponce and enjoy the boardwalk activities. (and to let the sea calm herself)  

3.       Monday morning we left at 5:30 am and arrived at our destination at 10:00 am in a marina called Playa de Salinas Marina.  We detoured just a bit, so we could see Caja de Muertos National Park (which is also called Coffin Island).  We really want to come back to Coffin Island. 

It was beautiful and the water was picture perfect. The Ferry from Ponce goes back and forth to the island.  It has a lovely beach and several mooring balls.  

We also did not want to get too far from Ponce, if the winds and seas were still heavy.  They weren’t so we continued right on into Salinas.  We entered Salinas from the inside route and on the northeast course.  We love Salinas.  We have been here probably a dozen times by car.  Several of our buddy boats were here as well.  Both Salinas and Jobos (which is right next door) are both good hurricane holes.   While in Salinas we will be able to visit Cano Matias with our dinghy.  Some people tell us we could probably take our boat over too, if we wanted.   But nevertheless, this will be our home for the next several months.

These people are kayaking right off the back deck of a restaurant in Salinas.  When tide is up the water comes right on to the deck.  In this restaurant:  no shoes, no shirt, there is no problem!!! They have that posted too, but in Spanish.  We go to this restaurant, owned by Johnso, every Thursday evening.  A guy from South Africa and a lady from Germany play the guitar and sing.  We have fun and have a Medallion.  We are back home usually by 9:00 pm.

Today is August 16, 2012 and just one more day one of our grandsons will be turning 3 years old.  This would be our Hunter.  Happy Birthday!  We love you.  My niece has a birthday on the 19^th and by brother; Joe has a birthday on August 24^th.  Happy Birthday to all!

Since we have been in Salinas Don has been a very busy guy.  All of our stanchions were ripped off in the wreck, so he has been bending them and re-welding them back.  We now have them all back on and they look very good and straight.  The pulpit also got torn off, but saved.  It was also bent.  Don and a couple of other guys straightened it back welded new plates and Don and I put it on this week.  Looks like brand new! We got all our cleats back on and Don cleaned and oiled all the wenches and put them back on as well.  Things are shaping up and should be ready to set the mast next week sometime, if we get some calm weather.

Hasta la vista, baby,

Don and Janis s/v Plane to Sea