Going Back HOME!

1/29/2020
Rio Dulce, Guatemala
hot and sunny

Well, friends and family, I have received news that my sweet Daddy has a brain tumor which has caused all of his mysterious symptoms since Christmas.  I will be making the trip backwards again it seems.  So leaving in the morning at 8am for San Pedro Sula, Honduras with our wonderful driver, Giovanni.  My flight lands in Houston at 6pm and my sweet girlfriend, Janice, will pick me up and take me to Katy.  There I will get my truck and head back to Cat Spring for the night.  Next day off to Georgetown.  Our son, Sean, will be in Austin with his sister, Haley tonight.  Needless to say I have such mixed feelings running amok.  I will keep you all informed as to how things are progressing.  Please keep Milton in your thoughts and prayers.  Hasta Luego!

Haley and her Daddo at their joint birthday party

October 2019

Work, work, work

1/28/2020
Rio Dulce
sunny and hot

Yes, it is sunny and hot.  Evidently we came in to the Rio on the last couple of days of extended rain.  We have done nothing but work on this boat.  The list is long and we are slowly marking off things that must be done.  We have gotten our jib and staysail up and in doing so had to pull out some ropes that were stored under the setee.  Well, wouldn't you know it, there is a leak and all the ropes are mildewed and wet.  I can't even begin to tell you what is all involved in cleaning these, plus fixing the damn leak…..but that is a boat for you.  I have done some bright work....little job compared to all the bright work we did in Panama a couple of years ago.  So I have sanded the helm seat and the toerails.  Now for the varnish and Charlie says the more coats the better.  We can only do 2 coats per day, so at this point it will just depend on the weather how many coats I put on.

I have added a few photos.  Bomba is the marina dog.  He is so sweet and just makes me miss having an animal so much.  So I am loving him up while I can.  A new complete boat cover is coming on Friday....but you never know for sure if that is real or not as we are on Guatemalan time.  So back to work!

 My helm seat is sanded and the toerails are next. Thank god I have an electric sander on board.

                                                             Poor Charlie he is always
                                                              working on the motors.

Back in the Rio again!

1-18-2020
Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Yesterday was a day!  Got up at 6am, at the airport by 9am, on the plane at 11am, arrived in San Pedro Sul, Honduras at 3:15 and were met by our friend and driver, Giovanni.  It was a long ride to Guatemala.  Only stopped once by the federal police in Honduras, checking passports and luggage.  At the boarder of Honduras and Guatemala we were able to get through immigration without a problem.  I always wonder how these countries feel about us Americans since we are so unwelcoming to their citizens.

Our boat flag, seems like a metaphor for our

our country now....not the best it can be! 

I had to go to the bathroom and had to pay 5 Lempiras to us it, that also pays for your toilet paper....and of course now that I am back in Central America....the toilet paper goes in the trash.....just one of my little pet peeves. The roads here are 2 lanes with no lighting and no stripping on the edge of the road.  And if you think the number of 18 wheelers are bad on our highways....well just double that.  Driving at night is not for sissys here.  Finally I just had to stop looking ahead, and then there are all the motorcycles with no back lights....it's crazy!

Got to Rio Dulce around 7:30 just as it was beginning to rain and we had 5 large bags, 2 backpacks, and 2 "personal items" to unload.  We had a quick dinner and at 9pm, Fernando, picked us up in the "launcha" and got us back to our boat before the "bottom dropped out again"!  We managed to pile our bags in the boat and fall into bed.

Today....well it was another day from hell....no food on the boat and our outboard motor (for our dingy) would not start.  Our marina is about a mile from town, but we lucked out and got Roberto, the owners son, to take us in to the NEW grocery store, La Torre.  Oh my were we in heaven.  It is air conditioned and has a produce case that is larger than 5', which was what the Dispensa (old grocery store) has.  So tomorrow is more work to get everything  put away, then get to working on wiping all the mildew and mold off of EVERYTHING!  Do I sound like I am complaining?  So stay tuned for more fun in "paradise"!!!

Time to Leave is Approaching

1/2/20
Cat Spring, TX
60 degrees and rainy


Well, time to leave for s/v Island Sol is quickly approaching.  January 17th is our departure date.  There have been so many things keeping us here, but we both are chopping at the bit to get out of here.  My parents health is questionable and being an only child is making it very hard for me to leave, but they are being well taken care of and of course I will return it there is a turn for the worse.  Sean and Charlie are rebuilding a service truck for Sean to start his own business and that needs to be completed.  But all in all we will board that Spirit airplane and fly off to Honduras, then take a private car/driver to make the 3 1/2 hour drive to Rio Dulce, Guatemala....then go to sleep on our boat!

We don't really know what our plans will be this season.  Thinking of Isla Mujeres again, as we have several friends there now, then spending some time in Belize on our way back to Guatemala.  I will try my best to stay up with the blog.  So stay tuned.  Wishing you all a Happy New Years and that 2020 brings you health, love and prosperity.  "see ya on the beach"!