Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Cloudy and 82 degrees

We are still working like worker bees on s/v Island Sol.  We have had about 4 days of rain, which has put a stop to our varnish job on what teak we have.  Thank god it is minimal, although beautiful it is a pain to keep up looking shiny and protective of the wood itself.  But only one more coat and that job is complete.  Luckily our Guatemalan "teak man", Marvin, is doing this job.  

I am still cleaning the mildew off of every surface on the boat.  It is time consuming and very slow.  I am sick of the smell of bleach, although faint it is still there, but of course it is doing the job.  After this season we will hire someone to come and clean the boat every month until our return next season. eroom is done and the bedroom is done, so hopefully tonight we will be sleeping in our quarter berth Why has it taken this long to figure this out???  But the galley is done, the main head in our stat and out of that cabin.

The picture below is my "new baby".  It is a Harrisville Design 4 harness, 6 treadle floor loam.  Charlie gifted me this at Christmas.  Again, as last year, he gave me a Kromski Minstrel Spinning Wheel, I had to leave it to come to the boat. I spent last season virtually spinning and becoming a student of YouTube University.  I am still learning to spin, which is so zen and I can not wait to get on this loom.  I am hoping to get into a beginners class at Harrisville Designs in Harrisville, New Hampshire this coming summer.  Classes have not been set yet, so everyday I check my email for the summer session schedule, as I was told they fill up fast.  So that will be another "adventure" for me.  I have never gone on a trip by myself, but I am so looking forward to that experience.   Hopefully I can add that to my blog this coming summer.

                                                                    Still having trouble adding pictures to this blogsite, it is not very user friendly.  This is a picture of my spinning wheel.  I thought I was very savvy with all things fiber, but this has been a very humbling craft to learn.  I had a bag of alpaca fleece that I purchased years ago, not knowing what I would do with it.  But I carded it, spun it and finally knitted a headband.  Although this was a very simple project, it was very rewarding to me to go from fleece to a knitted garment. I am amazed that someone hundreds of years ago could figure these "machines" out.  Anyway, I have had to lay down this endeavor to do the sailing thing.....so back to cleaning the boat!

               

Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Overcast and 80 degrees

We arrived back in Guatemala on January 9th.  Our flight was good, our 7 hr. drive to the Rio was without mishap and a large launcha was needed to get all of our luggage to the boat.  As usual it was impossible to go directly to the boat after an absence of 6 months, so into a cabin at Catamaran Marina & Hotel.

Upon opening my blog, I totally dropped everyone in the grease....so to speak, as I didn't blog about our season in Belize.  So sorry, I will try to redeem myself this season as we are going back to Belize again.  We just didn't get enough of this beautiful country.  We had several visitors last year:  our old time buddies, Chuck and Linda Rinn, our new friend, Leona Marshall (our neighbor in Cat Spring) and our every year crew, our daughter, Haley Lebeuf.

Back to present:  we are, of course, working on projects.  New wind generator with its new stainless steel mount that also holds our Starlink dish.  Starlink has made a huge jump for us to stay connected with the world and of course our family.  Very different from when we started with NOTHING!  So anyone reading this can of course, through WhatsApp get in touch with me through my cell # 713 539-7468 or my email: saundramcdowell51@gmail.com.

Other projects include: new SSB radio, new filters to the diesel generator, voltage problems fixed, located leak in main engine coolant....I'm sure there are more, but that is Charlie's department.  I am working on cleaning.  We used our Ozone machine to kill the mildew and smell and hopefully the roaches, but no, those suckers are still here and the mess they leave is everywhere.  So daily I work to that end.  We have decided to focus on the galley, head, and our bedroom so we can move out of the cabin and back into the boat.  As usual, we both got sick after one day of eating in Guatemala, but since the last 4 days we have been cooking on the boat and now all is well.

So, as things move forward we will again make our way to Belize.  This year we have 2 dive cylinders onboard, so we are looking forward to some scuba diving and not just snorkeling.  The water on the outer reef is beautiful as well as our favorite island, Half Moon Caye.  So give me some time to figure out how to add photos to this blog and I will be off and running.  Until then stay warm!

 January 2, 2023

Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Hello again friends.  We have now been on the Rio for 26 days.  Things (as in projects) were rolling along until everything stopped on Dec. 22 for the holidays.  NO ONE WORKS! But today, Chris, our electrician came back to go over our check list of electrical things still needing to be done.  He says it can be done in 2 days…well we will see about that!  Below are pics of a school several of the cruisers went to in order to put new seats and backs on the metal desk frames.  There were 6 of us so we made short work of it. The principal (she is in the blue shirt) and 3 of her teachers came to help.  They were so thankful, which of course made us all feel really good.  

As I understand, the government will give a community a school building and hire a teacher, but after that it is up to the community to provide all supplies and anything else that is needed to teach.  So, I guess teachers get screwed no matter where they are in the world.

On December 23, the cruisers threw a Christmas Party for all the staff at Catamaran Marina.  The generosity of these Guatemalans are amazing.  They learn our names and are always greeting us with smiles. Truly a wonderful group of people.  Tamales were made in town by Mavie’s  mother…Mavie is the Hotel manager here.  They came in a large tub covered with banana leaves.  The cruisers provides cake and ice cream.  We also all pitched in buying gift cards to the local grocery store as well as $$ for our Christmas game.  As nice as it was to make tamales for this large group, let me try to describe them.  They are NOT like our Texas tamales.  There is some type of gelatinous goo with chicken, olives and prunes in them.  Sounds yummy, right?  NOT…the Guatemalans loved them and ate them up, but not so much for the foreigners.  We all sat next to a staff member, which became hilarious as we were all using our translators on our phone to try and communicate.  Next came the Poke Game…made by yours truly!

                     

So each staff member came up, poked a cup and got what was inside.  Some things were pretty good and then some, well just some candy and a small trinket.  But we made sure that all staff went home with a gift card to the grocery store or the clothing store.  Next came…The Grinch.

  

 Steve, our dock manager dressed up along with Chee, his girlfriend.  Mavie is in the middle of the pic and Sharon (a cruiser) is holding, Alan.

Alan is an orphan that Steve is fostering for a month.  He is 18 months old and just the cutest little guy in the world.  He has Cerebral Palsy, can not walk, and only blabbers back and forth with you.  With being a retired Early Childhood Teacher of Children with Disabilities I was all over this kiddo.  He became part of the crowd here and we all just loved this child.  Steve through a “going away” party for him yesterday as today he had to take him back to the orphanage.  A very sad day for us all and I can only imagine for him too as he has been the center of a lot of attention.  There are no schools for children with disabilities here, unless in large cities.  So it is rather heart breaking to know how many children go without learning experiences here.  These people are just trying to survive.

On Christmas Day there were no staff here except 2 security guys.  We cruisers took over the kitchen and Charlie (the chef) prepared 3 turkeys and made corn bread stuffing from scratch.  It was funny to us that many of the foreign cruisers had never had corn bread stuffing.  As well as we had never had Yorkshire Pudding.  Everyone brought either a vegetable side dish or a dessert.  The wine was flowing and we took over the whole restaurant. (Yes the security guards joined us, too).  It was a great evening and Charlie and I spent the whole next day practically in bed.

Next came New Years.  We enjoyed dinner with Jo and Andrew, our Canadian friends on s/v Sierra Hotel, their catamaran.  (Pic of Jo and I below at a Ladies Luncheon)

At midnight there were fireworks all around the River, it was a great night bringing in the New Year.  

So, Charlie and I are wishing you all a Happy Holiday and a wonderful New Year, filled with lots of love and good health.  Until the next blog…..

Feliz Anos Nuevo

Rio Dulce, Guatemala

 December 15, 2022

Partly Cloudy and 81 Degrees

Ole, again to our followers.  We have returned to our boat, s/v Island Sol on Dec. 7.  Our flight to San Pedro Sulla, Honduras was fine and we were able to get all our luggage out with only one inspection.  They wanted to know if we had food and of course we did.  They had a look at our chicken sandwiches and put them back.  BUT, then they found a Saran wrapped bunch of leaves.  Mind you the drug/weapons dog had already sniffed our luggage.  These leaves were Sour Sop leaves that a friend of Charlies gave him to make a tea for his Prostate health!  I told the officer this and he just rolled his eyes and put it back and off we went to meet our driver, Oti.  Oti has been picking us up here for years and driving us back to Guatemala.  As I have mentioned in other posts the drive back to Rio Dulce is on a 2 lane highway with no shoulders or lights.  The amount of 18 wheeler traffic is mind blowing and at night they are lite up like Christmas trees….so you can see them coming for sure.  So we left the airport around 4:00 pm and made it to the Guatemalan boarder at 6:00pm…or rather we were half a mile from the boarder and stopped in dead traffic.  We sat there for over an hour not moving an inch.  Finally Oti said we needed to start walking to the boarder because he didn’t want us to miss checking out of Honduras and checking into Guatemala for fear the boarder station would close.  So out we get and start walking half in the ditch, weaving around cars and trucks.  We stood in line to for the check in check out procedure for about 30 minutes and then received all the necessary stamps in our passport and back to the car.  There we were able to move about 50’.  Then set until 9:00 when finally we got on our way.  So now another 3 hours to Rio Dulce.  It was quite a trip and of course we arrived in the Rio to RAIN.  Luckily Oti got in touch with the marina and they sent a boat for us.  We went straight to a cabin as we had 2 huge Pelican boxes, a large suitcase, 2 carry on suitcases, 2 bags and 2 backpacks.  The McDowells do NOT travel light!

We are now ensconced in our boat where Charlie has begun finishing up some projects.  Almost too many to mention.  Of course we came back to the boat with our engine needing a new alternator and a new impeller.  Both of our outboard motors are not working and the list goes on and on.  But Charlie moves forward everyday.  We have met new cruisers and have been reunited with old friends again.  There is a Christmas Party planned by the cruisers on Dec. 23 for all the staff and employees here.  Then another party for the cruisers on the 25th.  No date in sight yet for our departure as we still have to deal with the SAT office to get our exit permit and pay our fine.  All we know is that - don’t apply for the permit until your boat is ready to leave the country.  They are giving boats only 5-10 days to get out after permitting.  So I will return to finish this saga.  Hope all of you have a wonderful holiday, don’t stress just enjoy.  And health and happiness to all of us in 2023.

 

Rio Dulce, Guatemala

April 23, 2022

Clear and 88 degrees

I can not believe our sailing season has vanished!  

We are still captive in Guatemala due to government failure to help cruisers overcome their overdue boat permits due to Covid, closure of boarders and personal issues that made it impossible to return to Guatemala.....which is the bracket we fall into.   We have filed a petition to SAT (the governing body in charge of vehicles and boats in the country that are foreign) 3 weeks ago.  We have heard nothing except that we should begin proceedings to "import our boat".  To import your boat, first a value is put on your boat and then you pay 12% of that value plus other fees that are pretty expensive.  We are looking at around 17K+ to do that, which we can not afford.  So we are at a stalemate. 

Several weeks ago a large group of cruisers located here in Rio Dulce met to discuss the issues with Rita, a woman who owns a shipping company here, and whose husband is the mayor of this area was in attendance.  She tried to explain what is happening with SAT and listened to the concerns of the cruisers so she could report back to her husband.  Her husband was traveling to Guatemala City the following day to meet with a Congress woman who is trying to rewrite the laws to help both the cruisers and the local economy here that depends on our currencies. { At present, you can have a one year permit for your boat in Guatemala, but then must leave the country with your boat for 3 months before returning to Guatemala.  Then you are able to apply for another years permit.}  We were told that at that meeting the Congress woman told SAT to have a fine schedule ready for cruisers so we could then reapply for a permit, and that needed to be presented to her on the Monday after Easter.  Well, last Monday we found out that the meeting was postponed until this coming Monday, April 25th.  

So, here we sit. We have corrected all the systems on our boat that failed due to being hit with lightening.  And, fortunately the electric toilets still work....yeah!  And, at this point we COULD go to Belize if we were able to pay our fines and renew our permits. You must have an exit permit to enter another country....so this is the permit we do not have.   But now the hurricane season is approaching, putting us at risk of being in a vulnerable area without protection.  Hopefully I will have some good news at my next post, but this season is a wash.  

On the brighter side, we are here with the best group of cruisers, Canadians, English, French. The cruisers congregate at the marina palapa bar by the pool for happy hour everyday. Steve our dock manager is wonderful and he is an amazing man doing so many humanitarian works for the people in the community.*  The staff here at Catamaran Mariana is awesome.  They are the friendliest people we have met during all our years of sailing.  The marina is immaculately kept and is a tropical paradise.  We couldn't be sequestered in a more beautiful place. Charlie and I are both recovering form a bout of parasite infestation now that we have gotten the correct meds....is this TMI?  Oh well, just part of being in a 3rd world country....LOL.  OK, friends I will keep you in the loop as to our future.  Hope you are all well at home.  We are still praying for Ukraine and our country as well.....what a crazy time it has been so far this year.  Take care!

* In another post I will tell you more about Steve's work here in the area.  Specifically helping families who have a disabled person by getting wheelchairs or whatever is necessary.  He is also helping with new stoves (at the cost of $250.00 US) that funnel smoke out of the homes and into the outside air.  Many children and adults are ill with major respiratory disease due to cooking smoke inhalation....so more on that later. 

 Rio Dule, Guatemala

March 17, 2022

Hot and windy

Hey Everyone, I'm back and yes, we are still here!  So Plan A did not work out and I'm not sure if we are Plan B or C at this point.  I am beginning to feel like a resident of the country.  We are continually saddened to hear of the news from Ukraine and pray that this can come to an end soon.  If you do not read Heather Cox Richardson on YouTube of Facebook you should as she comments 6 days a week on the US and the Worlds issues....all are fact based.  

So, it is now the consensus that our boat was hit by lighting, while it was on the "hard" at RAM Marina.  Due to the fact that all our systems were down that is most likely the case.  And, God forbid we have not even gotten to the toilets (the heads) which are also electric.  Oh me.....well we have sailed for 8 years with hardly any issues this big, so I guess we were due.

Charlie has completed the hot water installation, no easy feat and all while laying on his back or side in our back quarter berth (bedroom/garage).  Everything is an effort (our boat motto), but all the spaces are so small to work in.  We are having a portion of the head space in the quarter berth cut our for more storage - actually all of Charlie's fishing poles, so now whoever sleeps there can actually store items on the side shelf....Haley that should make you happy!  We have had a young woman, Veronica, come and clean all of our sofa cushions.  They look almost new and we are very happy with that.  She also tried to clean the 3 carpets but we ultimately had to hit them with a water pressure sprayer to get all the dirt out of them.  

     Can you tell I still don't know how to move my pictures around. 

                                                                   

 So yesterday Charlie decides it is time for me to go up the mast and sew a leather boot on the end of our spreaders.  Our mast is 53' tall and I am a little over half way up.  The spreader is a horizontal metal strip that separates the shrouds coming down from the top of the mast to the deck of the boat.  The shrouds are 3/8" twisted stainless steel cables.  So there I am "sewing" this piece of leather onto the end of the spreader with a 3" needle and waxed thread.  I was a little nervous as I have not done this for about 6 years.  Then today I went up again and sewed the other boot on the other end of the spreader, not so nervous today and I got it done in half the time.....yeah me!  So we continue to push forward and tomorrow we will know if our electronic parts arrive from the states via mule (friends of our electrician are arriving hopefully with out stuff).  If this happens there is still hope for a sailing season.  Hope you stay well, spring is around the corner.  Hasta Luego!

And the Work Goes On

 

 Rio Dulce, Guatemala

3/3/22

Windy 80 degrees                                                                                         

It has been a month since my last post and there has been some progress in our effort to get out of here and begin our “adventure”.  In regards to our boat:  the new water maker has been installed and is working great.  We will actually be making more 4X the amount of water per hour as our old system.  The old hot water heater has been drained and removed, unfortunately revealing a few new issues that need correcting.  Our electronics are coming along, depth finder is working now but radar is still down.  The varnishing and waxing is finished and she is looking beautiful.  Next week we will have a couple come to clean our upholstery and carpets.  The new AC has not arrived and neither has our solar panels which seem to be lost out there somewhere.  Even though we would love to have both these items it is not essential to our leaving.  Both the engine and generator have new oil and gosh some other things I can’t remember.  But both are in good working order. Charlie along with some outside help has worked long and hard, with frustrating stops due to rain or lack of parts.  But he perseveres!

The week after my visit to Casa Azul, the orphanage on Lake Isabel the “Poptun Girls” came to Catamaran Marina.  The group of missionary doctor, who have been working in the area for the last 2 weeks, were staying in cabins here at Catamaran.  Poptun is a community about 2 hours drive from here.  “Mama Connie” runs a home for young mothers who are pregnant or who have had their babies.  These young girls, some as young as 12, have had babies by incestuous relations/rape.   Catamaran hosted the girls so that the doctors could open their clinic to them.  Many of the cruisers volunteered.  We began  the morning, before the girls arrived, making 120 cupcakes….from scratch I might add!  We set up tables for; bead making, coloring, hair braiding and nail painting (this was my station).  After all the girls were seen by the doctors, it was pool time.  Then the marina prepared many pizzas for lunch and a cupcake icing station.  Then back in the pool.  Finally, everyone was out and had dried off and redressed.  They were then off to Boatique.  This was the marina/hotel that Charlie hosted my birthday at.  Boatique treated the girls to dinner and then they stayed over at the hotel before heading back to Poptun the next day.  Needless to say it was a treat for them to just be kids for the weekend.  My heart went out to these brave young women, who were all too young to face motherhood.  But thanks to Mama Connie they are housed and loved.

We have seen several of our cruiser friends leave for their season of sailing in the last week.  There are still issues with the government and boats that have over stayed their permits.  We are waiting for our boat to be in running order before we attempt to send in our letter and documents.  We don’t want them to say, OK you can go NOW….and then not be able to actually leave due to essential things still needing repair. So here we still are, but we had no idea the condition of Island Sol after 2 years of sitting idle.  So, I am hoping our next post will be out in blue water….but we will see.  Thanks for hanging in there with us on this journey with us.

                        

 Rio Dulce

Sunny 82 degrees and windy

2/17/2020

Hey everyone, hope you are all well and enjoying winter!  We are still here and wondering if we will ever get out of here.  Seems the Guatemalan government is not letting boats leave the country who are out of their exit time, which would be US! We are allowed 90 days on our visa, but our boat can stay for a year + another year extension.  Our boat was here in January of ‘20 when we arrived for that sailing season, but my Dad got ill and I left for home on January 28th after being here only 2 weeks.  Charlie remained another 2 weeks to move our boat to Catamaran Marina and close it up for the season, as we knew we would not be returning.  So we are assuming that our boat was here in May of 2019, the end of that year’s sailing season.  So we are, at least, a year over our exit date.  But of course Covid hit in February of ‘20 and the country was locked down, so the government is trying to figure out how to fine people who are over their time.  Since this is a law and they need to change the law and come up with a fine schedule, we have no idea how long this is going to take.  We have been told to write a letter and explain why we are over our exit date, which will then go to Guatemala City to be reviewed on a case by case basis.  So, who knows when we will leave.  Then, once we do leave we must be out of the country for 3 months.  So right now everything is up in the air.  We know we will be paying a fine, which we had expected, but we just don’t know what it will be.  So here we are….

In the meantime we are still working away at all the issues s/v Island Sol has, after sitting in the water for 2+ years unattended.  Electronics are still being worked on, as a part had to be shipped in.  A new water maker is being installed and should be complete tomorrow.  The new hot water heater is still waiting to be installed and we just found out the AC is dead and needs to go.  In order to get the AC out of the boat a carpenter had to come and cut out a panel behind our settee.  It was refitted so we can remove it at will now….or whenever the new AC arrives.  A new water pump has been installed and all the varnish is complete.  Then just the clean-up.  Oh and our EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)…just a little instrument that if we sink it will show our position….kinda important….is dead and needs to be replaced.  We can only buy it in the US and then have it air shipped to the Rio Dulce.

So, for anyone out there that thinks we are enjoying cocktails in the cockpit every evening in paradise….WE ARE NOT!  Also, remember  B-O-A-T means, “break out another thousand”.  So we are just plugging along, one foot in front of the other till we make it.

The pictures below are of a woman’s luncheon here at Catamaran’s.  There were about 20 women from other marinas that are here staging for the sailing season and most are all in the same boat as us (pun intended).  Also, last Monday I got the opportunity to take all the school and art supplies I brought to the orphanage, Casa Azul.  Doctors from the US on a medical mission were there that day seeing the children and then people from the community.  I have a zillion pictures of the cutest kids. The majority of the people in this community speak Ketchi - a Mayan language.  So not only doctors but interpreters and a pharmacist.  These doctors are staying here at Catamaran’s.  Tomorrow the “Poptun” girls will be here to see the doctors and have a day of fun.  These girls are in a home for abused pregnant young girls (12-16 yrs, old) and will be coming with their babies.   I will post that blog next, as this one is getting lengthy.  Finally, our bread delivery.  A young woman in town bakes breads and other goodies, also Kefir and “special brownies”.  She takes orders on Wednesday and delivers to our boat on Friday.  Needless to say, everything is delicious and “special”! 

Until next time friends and family….Hasta Luego!

   The gate to the orphanage compound

 Sailing women’s luncheon

BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN

SURPRISE…it’s my birthday!

 2/4/22

Rio Dulce

72 degrees and cloudy

Well, as my 71st birthday was only a few days away, I began bugging Charlie about buying a birthday cake and taking to it to the marina bar/pool area and share it with all the cruisers who arrive every evening for happy hour.  A day went by then another and again I said we have to go to town and get a cake.  Finally, on Jan. 31 I was adamant about going to town for that damn cake.  He then told me, “I got a damn cake already”!  So I was shamed back into my place.  The next day, Feb. 1, he told me to be ready at 6:00.  ?? At 6:00 with a dress and lipstick on, we did not head to the bar but to our launcha.  We did not hang a left out of the marina for Perico (the closest restaurant) but headed across the wide Rio Dulce.  So then I figured there are only 2 restaurants there.  We ended up at Boatique, a beautiful restaurant/marina/hotel in the jungle.  The owner, Pamela, met us as I was tying up Solita (our launcha) and asked me if I was ready for a romantic dinner with my husband.  Well of course!  Then all the cruisers (18 of them) came around the corner singing happy birthday.  I was totally surprised…and that is hard to pull off on me as I am somewhat of a sleuth.  But he did it with a ‘I gotcha’ smile on his face.

We had cocktails and a lovely dinner of river prawns, Arrachara (beef), baked potatoes and beans.  Found out later that Charlie had requested Arrachara and the owners did not know about it.  So Charlie bought some went to the restaurant and they fired up the grill and he taught them how to prepare it.  So, for those of you who know of Charlie’s chef secret powers, he was in his element.  We had a great time with many conversations flying around this huge table of 20. 

When ‘The Cake’ arrived at the end of that wonderful meal it was adorned with many candle, but thank god not 71.  Due to one of our fellow cruisers, Mike, who was back quarantined with Covid…I told the party that due to Covid I would not BLOW the candles out and proceeded to wave my hand above the cake trying to extinguish them, one was left and the young Guatemalan waiter, pulled his mask down and blew the last candle out.  We all died laughing and figured this waiter was thinking…these stupid gringos don’t even know how to blow out candles.  Our friend Jon, in his dry sense of humor said, “I’ll take the cake on the right, please”.  

A fun night was had by all.  Thanks to Sheldon and Pamela @ Boatique for making a lovely table and meal.  AND of course to my Charlie for pulling this absolutely fabulous surprise party off…I love you longer than the sky!

                     

Boat Maintenance Hell

 1/28/22

Rio Dulce, Guatemala

73 degrees and a beautiful day

A lot has happened since my last post.  Our boat is now tied to the dock at Catamaran Marina which makes it easy to get to work.  Our Guatemalan work crew is headed by Marvin and they have been sanding and varnishing since the boat arrived.  We put on 7 coats of Latonkawa with sanding in between each coat, so it is a long and arduous procedure, but it is looking really nice.  Then there is below decks…a disaster.  Our back (stern) cabin, which we refer to as our “garage” was totally dismantled in order for the new prop shaft to be installed.  This was all done while Island Sol was “on the hard” at Ram Marina.  So our salon and forward berth was trashed.  Charlie and I have begun the job of organization and disposal.  It has been 2 years since we have sailed, due to Covid and the death of my parents, so all the food and spices left on the boat are now in the “Basura” and that feels good.  Charlie is installing an inverter/charger which is essential to running many systems: 12 volt and 110 volt systems, refrigerator and freezer and well, just everything electric.  This 70 lb. Machine We are also installing a new water maker and water heater.  Then there is the electronics (the all important electronics) are not working.  As it turns out is one little pin in a fitting that has shut everything down.  But we are told there are a couple of solutions which we are at present working on.  

I started growing nutritional sprouts to supplement our diet.  This is the first batch:  arugula, spicy salad mix, broccoli, and radishes.  They actually turned out pretty good.  When we harvested them we added them to a salad at the restaurant.  So a new batch is growing now.  Will be back soon with another addition soon.  Hope all of you are well!

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)

 

 12/16/21

Cat Spring, TX

sunny and 72 degrees.....ahhhh winter in Texas

Well, 20 days from now we will be heading to Guatemala via San Pedro Sula, Honduras.  So, let me catch you up since my last post....1/2020.  The sweetest father in the world, my Daddy (Milton Schreider) passed away just 3 weeks from returning to the states.  There are no words to convey what this man meant to me.  He is the father every girl wants.  He and my mother were both in hospice together in beds next to each other in the living room.  He passed away on Feb. 21, 2020 with us all around him easing his passing.  My mother, Beth, lived another year without her soulmate, so hard to see her sadness.  But she joined him on Feb. 8, 2021.  I was the luckiest girl in the world to have the parents I had.  Total love and devotion, giving me so many adventures, opportunities and support.  What more could a girl ask for....oh a great husband and 2 fabulous children.

So, OK...back to the "adventure".  We have begun packing for this next sailing season.  Charlie has boxed up and shipped our new solar panels and all that is left is a million things to do to close our house down until we return in May.  Our plan is to finish work on Island Sol which is adding a new prop, completing and installing some new electrical panels and god knows what all else has to be done.  We are expecting to be in The Rio for about a month completing all of this.  Then we are off to Belize this season.  We have only passed the outer reef going to Mexico, but now we want to see the beauty that Belize has to offer.  So stay tuned for more.....Living For an Adventure.

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.