Things Are Moving Along

 Rio Dulce

Overcast and 74 degrees

Hola friends.  It is an overcast and gloomy Sunday with rain expected.  We have been very busy since my last post, well Charlie has been very busy.  The new propeller and prop shaft was installed along with the dripless shaft seal.  There are still more things to be done on the inside, but Island Sol can now go back in the water and come back to Catamaran’s where we are able to work with much more ease.  

 Well, again bare with me on these pictures as I am having a great deal of difficulty with the new Blogspot website…it is new and improved…NOT!

So, Island Sol was moved from her spot in the RAM Mariana work yard.  I am always amazed that they can raise this huge and heavy boat so easily.  They then drive this machine into place and drop her slowly into the water - easy pesy.  The new bottom job (copper plate) made the bottom as smooth as can be and as we made our way back to Catamaran’s she glided through the water and we are hoping to add a knot to her speed once we get underway.  The dirtier the bottom of a boat the less speed they make.

The picture below is of Marvin, our Guatemalan handy man.  He is putting a coat of bottom paint on our dingy, Colibri, which is Spanish for hummingbird.  Colibri is 11’ long and we carry her on the back of our boat on an “arch”, which was fabricated here in the Rio by an expert welder, Cesar at MAR marina.  He also repaired a tiny bend in our propeller shaft.  If we decide to throw more $$$ at Island Sol we would love to add a swim platform to her stern…but that will be for another time.  (MY thinking is that this will only increase her value when we SELL her.

                               

This is Solita, our river runabout that is 14’.  It makes for much more comfort since it is how we get around here in Rio Dulce.  Like Colibri, Solita was build her in the Rio to Charlie’s specifications.  Solita stays under a shed when we are sailing, so she stays high and dry.  Prior to being at Catamaran’s we would have to wake up - several times - in the night to bail out the rain water.  So now we get a better nights sleep.  

So tomorrow we begin more projects aboard and clean up.  I will take before and after pictures of the disaster down below.  There will be additions to our water maker and a new electronically panel put in….god knows what else!  So until then….hasta luego!

                                  

 Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Sunny 78 degrees

I am getting a lazy start on the day.  My new iPad and using Mac instead of a PC is hard for this old girl, but I will get there.  I also got an Apple Pencil…more technology….but hopefully I am building new dendrites in my brain.

Yesterday I had the privilege of visiting a young man in a community on the outskirts of Rio Dulce.  Marco is 29 years old, but appears to be about 12 years old in size.  He is, by my knowledge, autistic and I was so happy to be able to meet him and try to make some contact.  He is being raised by his sister, who also has 2 small daughters.  They live in the most sad conditions, no electricity, a stick house with a dirt floor, with chickens running in and out.  Dasiy can not read.  She cooks over an open fire outside with a metal grate.  This is a fine example of the immigrants that are trying to better their lives in the US, but Dasiy, will never be able to escape her life.  _

,

Steve (the marina manager) and his girlfriend Che and I first went to the Mega Paca…the Guatemalan equivalent of a clothing store-filled with used clothes from the US.  We bought Marco some “new” clothes and perfume for Daisy and hair clips for the little girls.  Next to the grocery store for Oreos and other essentials that we thought Daisy could use.  We really didn’t know where Marco lived but with he help of a couple of neighbors we found him.  I had prepared a few pictures of coffee, cookies, and yes/no pictures to try and communicate with him.  I knew he did not talk, but could hear fine.  After trying to work with the pictures Marco had had enough of that and went to sit in a hammock.  He would offer his hands to me and I would swing him back and forth to his delight.  So I threw the pictures out and just signed “more” when I would stop the hammock.  It took about 30 minutes of swinging, stopping, signing and then to MY delight, Marco, signed “more” after multiple times of taking his hands.  So more swinging and stopping and signing.  Daisy has had all she can take of her brother, as you can imagine it is a full time job and she is tired and weary.  My heart went out to her.  Our language barrier was so frustrating, but I did translate through the phone and told her she was a brave woman and I knew how much work Marco was. She just shook her head yes, but there was no smile.  There are no schools here for children with disabilities and there are many children here that fit that bill.  There was a Downs Syndrome little boy next door! It is a sad situation.  As I have always said….All Americans should live in a 3rd world county for several months to have appreciation for our democracy and the abundant privileges we have in the USA. '

         The Guatemalan people (who I have met) are very nice no matter what their economie situation is.  So, if you pray or could send positive thoughts into the universe for Marco and his family I would deeply appreciate it.  Until my next blog….Hasta luego amigos.

PS…hopefully I will learn how to move these pics around soon!!!

Back on the Rio Again

1/5/22

Beautiful evening….75 degrees

Wow, was yesterday a LONG day!  Woke up at 5:00am, luckily we had packed all of our luggage in my girlfriend’s car the night before.  Janice and Colleen took us to the airport - a million thanks to you Janice, what would we do with out you???  We had 2 large Pelican Air cases, 2 large duffle bags, 2 carryon cases with a personal bag each, which we had to drag into the airport as we could find NO baggage trollies.  Luckily Spirit Airlines was the first airline in the building.  After paying over the weight limit we finally were on our way.  

Our flight was uneventful and we landed in sunny San Pedro Shula, Honduras.  Otto, our driver was there to collect us and all our stuff.  The usual 3 1/2 hour drive turned into 5 hours.  We were delayed at the Honduran/Guatemalan boarder as they could not locate the stamp on Charlie’s passport.  After 30 minutes we were on our way again, now driving in Guatemala.  But, there were 4 more stops by the Guatemala Police/Army….all decked out in bullet proof vests and uzis.  Our driver said they were looking for immigrant from Honduras trying to cross the boarder and then $$ to let them pass.  Mostly only checking cars and vans.  We were in a van, thus the 4 stops.  

We finally made it to Rio Dulce around 7:15pm at the municipal dock for a water taxi to take us across the river to Catamaran Marina.  We got all our luggage in our cabin…”Yankee”…all cabins are named for the International Phonetic Alphabet.  We made it to the restaurant for the best pizza and 3 cervezas.  After a shower it was lights out.  

We slept until 9:30 then made our way to the restaurant by the river and had a wonderful breakfast.  Unfortunately the coffee here is very bland for Charlie and I….we like it dark roasted.  They say all the good coffee is exported.  Our first job today is to get the motor running in our 14’ launcha….”Solita” so we will have transportation to town and well, just anywhere we need to go.  Many jobs are to be done and it seems overwhelming at times but we are in our “happy place”….so we will whistle while we work.  Until next time….hasty luego!

(I am desperately trying to learn how to work an iPad….bare with me)