journal

Sat Jan 31,09

 

 

Late yesterday afternoon Jim and I took a cab to the small airport about ten minutes away. We were told that “yes Laura Ann Matthews is on the next flight” which would be arriving shortly. The time passed quickly and in no time the little plane landed and a small group of passengers, including Laura, stepped down and onto the sandy landing strip. After dropping off her bags in the room, we went down to the hotel bar for the local beer, a Belikin, the only beer allowed to be sold in

Belize

. Good thing we like it!

Kathie from My Jo, who is also Laura’s boss back in

Toronto

, joined us for a wonderful dinner at Rum Fish, a newly opened Tapas restaurant. Following the delicious dinner, a trip to the Tutti Frutti, the best gelato in the world, then Yuli’s, a beachfront bar, for a final Belikin. Laura and I watched as Jim took the dinghy back to Margoline, from our porch.  Within minutes we had a radio confirmation that he was safely back on board, as well as Kathy on My Jo. With everyone safely home, Laura and I chatted for a while, and after getting all caught up, fell asleep.

As I predicted, the rooster kept Laura up all night. She had the worst sleep ever. She even dreamt that she killed it! I kept thinking Mary Martin was perched on our veranda railing in a little green suit and tights….now that Margoline has water, I think we might go back on board sooner, rather than later!

You may have noticed a bandage on Jim’s hand in recent pictures. We think he was bitten by something, as he acquired a huge blister, surrounded by swelling, and redness. Now a week later, it is much better due to exceptional nursing care! (From Nurse Ann of course)

It is pouring rain today and doesn’t look like it’s going to change any time soon. Jim has all sorts of jobs on the boat to do, so Laura and I plan to watch a movie, and then walk into town and treat ourselves to a massage and some serious shopping.

 

Friday Jan 30th - continued

We have water! It seems that as soon as I checked into the hotel, bought a few items in town for breakfast and snacking, and showered ( ah bliss! ) Jim called on the radio to tell me that the water problem was now fixed! and....we still have 40 gallons on board...so things are looking up.

Cathie from My Jo is on the balcony with me and we are both emailing like mad. Other than very obnoxious and persistent  roosters that crow continually ( is it a myth that they only crow in the morning to wake you up? ) this place is perfect and I'm sure Laura will be happy here until we are back on the boat.

Jim will be here soon to taxi with me to the airport to pick up Laura, who arrives at 5:30 and take advantage of the unlimited hot water shower....six days of only salt water washing, just doesn't do the trick...you feel crusty all over, and I won't even go into what happens to your hair....ech!

Friday Jan 30, 2009

Yesterday we had a quiet day around the boat and town, followed by a wonderful dinner on board and a movie.

Today is very hot and humid. The weather report says a cold front and a storm is heading this way...I hope not...Laura, my daughter is also arriving today.

We checked into the Paradise Inn this morning, and our room is fantastic...it's not what we planned for Laura's visit, but it's better than three people on board Margoline with workmen comming and going at odd times and no running water! Jim will use the facilities but leave Laura and I to sleep here...hopefully in a few days, we can take Laura out sailing!

Wed Jan 28, 2009

The past few days have been very hot and sunny. We took Margoline over to the Shell docks and put 140 gallons of water into our holding tanks on Monday. With no reverse, we had Cathy from My Jo on standby in her dinghy, for mini type tug purposes, with Len & Brady on the dock to receive our lines.  The landing was not too bad at all, and other than a really slow water flow, we were refilled within an hour. Jim and I re-anchored back in the same spot we were in with no problems.  Two days later, and with very limited water use, the tanks are empty again! So, we look for another leak......
Other than that, and waiting for service men to fix the transmission and the final electronic parts to arrive, we are doing the daily chores of laundry, shopping, walking the sidewalk, internet in the local office depot style store and drinking! Time for a swim.....

Sunday Jan 25, 2009

This morning we woke up to a beautiful sunny day. Cathy and Dave spent the night on shore, so we met them at their cabin and joined them for breakfast at the Crows Nest which was just behind the cabin. Afterwards we walked the beach, checked out a nearby resort, shopped a little more and said good bye to them as they packed themselves into a cab and off to the airport. It was a fun visit and they were great ship mates…we’ll miss them!

Jim and I spent a leisurely day, strolling down and around the town, enjoying the sun and wild surf. We ran into the two Cathie’s and Len numerous times and will have dinner with them tonight. I can’t remember the last time Jim and I had a “nothing” day…it was so relaxing and peaceful….a perfect day in paradise.

Thursday Jan 22, 2009

 

We left Cabo Tres Puntas at

9:00

Monday Jan 19^th, with no problems. The day was a perfect day for our passage to

Placentia

in

Belize

. We motor sailed until

1:00

making great headway, when noticed we were losing RPM’s for no apparent reason. Down came the sails and into the engine room Jim went. Three problems were evident, a leak, possibly transmission issues and possibly dirty gas….great…the time gained was now lost and it was evident we might not make it to

Placentia

in time to check in. We also had Dave and Cathy Beattie waiting for us to arrive as guests on our boat…so far we were already one day late. We did make it to Big Creek, where customs was, just in time. Within an hour we were checked in and winding our way back out to narrow river to the anchorage in front of the small town of

Placentia

.

We dropped the anchor at

6:00

, exhausted and fed up with all the on going problems on Margoline. Cathy on My Jo, was on the look out for us, who was anchored nearby and made radio contact as soon as she saw us in the entry channel. We finally made phone contact with Dave and Cathy, who were happily settled at the fabulous Turtle Inn, just around the Bay.

I went to bed, Jim talked with Cathy, who dropped by to hear our story and tell hers, which was of a similar nature. The day ended on an all time low.

The next morning Cathy, Jim and I took the dinghies over to the Turtle Inn to pick up Cathy and Dave and join them for breakfast. The resort was spectacular, and breakfast long and relaxing…just what we needed. Following that, we put their luggage in the dinghy and headed for Margoline. After unpacking and Jim making new arrangements for yet again another mechanic to check out poor Margoline, we headed back into town in the dinghies for lunch and some light provisioning.  (No fruits or vegetables were allowed to come into the country, so I had none on board)

Placentia

is a delightful little town and our lunch a wonderful Creole treat with lots of local beer! It was the day of the president’s inauguration (a huge event here) and all the bars and restaurants had TV’s on, and parties planned, so we decided to eat dinner on board and just relax. (Some of us not being Obama fans!) Believe it or not, two mechanics came at

5:00

worked some magic and said they would be back the next day to finish. Unlike any where else we have been, they came on time, spoke English and were very nice!

The following day they came at

9:00

and reported there was still work to be done, but it could wait, as we were anxious to get Dave and Cathy out sailing to some of the outer cays. With the boat declared in relatively good working order we left at

noon

for the small

island

of

Ranguana

, 16 miles s/w of

Placentia

. With not much wind, we did manage a short sail but then motored the rest of the way. We arrived at

4:00

, picked up a mooring ball, and discovered we had no reverse! At this point, it really was too much. The island is a small paradise with white sand beaches and swaying palm trees. We couldn’t get off the boat fast enough to start drinking! We watched a magnificent sunset, from the island and then headed back to Margoline for a wonderful shrimp pasta dinner and lots of wine…who needs reverse anyway!

Today was another beautiful day, so we decided not to go anywhere, and let Margoline rest and not stress out Jim. We hopped in the dinghy, snorkeled, slept on the beach and had a wonderful lunch on the boat in the cockpit, a great dinner on board, lots of good music and another wonderful sunset. A lazy, stress free day in

Belize

.

Sat Jan 17, 2009

 It has been pouring rain for the last two days. No sun, just constant steady rain, and getting much cooler. We left Tortugal Marina yesterday, with the crew from Destiny, Len and Cathy, and boarded the launch for Livingston at 9:30. The launch turned out to be a shuttle for the entire Rio, so after many stops and pick ups, we arrived at Livingston just before 12:00. The first thing we did, was hand in our exit papers and while they were being processed, enjoyed a wet but very good outdoor lunch on the pier. A quick shop around town, with a few good purchases, then back to customs to pick up our papers and back to the launch…we were home, soaked and chilly by 4:30. Thankfully we had on our foul weather gear, so it really wasn’t that bad. Bob continues to work on board, so once again we slept off the boat. Last night we had one of the bungalows, complete with our own washroom…what a treat! I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. Today it’s once again, pouring rain and very chilly. We are madly getting the boat ready to sail tomorrow….the rain makes it much more difficult and the fact that Bob is still here trying our patience. That being said, we’re grateful he’s still here and determined to finish everything on our list. In fact, he’ll sail with us to Livingston tomorrow to make sure all the systems are working properly…now that’s dedication. ETD is 7:30 tomorrow…I’m crossing my fingers…..

Thurs Jan 15,2009

 Yesterday was a great day. Jim and I went into Porto Barrios with Janet and Russ, the managers of Tortugal Marina to pick up our transmission cables and finish provisioning. We left shortly after breakfast in the Tortugal pickup truck. Russ is a good driver so the 1 ½ drive was pleasant and scenic. In Porto Barrios, the DHL station was right beside the spot where Russ needed to drop off his alternator for repair…which would be ready the following day (today) so they would both return and pick up our final part, the electronic compass, and Russ’s alternator…perfect! Lunch at Pollo Campero, Central America’s answer to KFC, shopping in a real mall and real grocery store…we thought we’d died and gone to heaven. Upon our return, reality quickly set in…the boat was a mess…again, poor Bob was knee deep in tools, oil, bilge….you name it….but he had a brilliant solution. He would work all through the night, and we could get a hut for the night (the marina is also a small hotel and hostel) With brightened spirits, we moved a few things up to the cabin, and enjoyed a very lively dinner (Jim was at his particular best and had everyone in stitches) Our house monkey made a stellar appearance…I’m sure the staff will not forget last night for a long time! Sleep in our thatched hut was filled with sounds of the rain forest which we don’t hear onboard…so it was a delightful treat. Today, I cooked some more for the freezer stock, cleaned and actually went to a yoga class run by an Australian who just sailed in the other day. Jim picked up the final part, in Porto Barrios, and once again, Bob will have the boat to himself tonight, to continue working. Its movie night tonight and we’re hoping the rain stops (it’s been raining on and off the past two days) as its outdoors. Our spirits rise and fall like the tide, but for the most part, we’re optimistic, happy and having a good time. But I am beginning to think Margoline’s a bit of a prima donna and craves attention…..hmmmm

Tuesday Jan 13, 2009

The best laid plans….tomorrows departure is once again delayed. Yesterday, Jim and the marina bartender ( who has a car ) drove to Porto Barrios, a one hour, hair raising drive away, to pick up the cables that we were informed had arrived. They had arrived, but in Guatemala City…still in customs…they would arrive in Porto Barrios the following day. The other part, our compass, that was to arrive by Wednesday, we just found out, is still in Florida. So we have to wait for that to come in now and probably make two separate trips to Porto Barrios. I stay on board while the rest of the repairs continue with other jobs like canvas work, air conditioning and fridge repairs…all we want to do is sail!!!! We are meeting friends who arrive in Belize this Sunday, so our deadline to make it to Placencia Belize is getting shorter and shorter. It’s nail biting time for sure. Last night at dinner, we were informed that we can take a launch to Livingston to check out before we actually leave with Margoline. Livingston is the port of entry for Guatemala. By checking out beforehand, which we’ll do on Friday, will save an enormous amount of time. If luck is with us, we will leave at high tide Sunday at 1:45 and arrive in Placencia by 6:00 p.m. that’s all going well…we are crossing our fingers!

Saturday Jan 10, 2009

 

The time is slipping by and we find ourselves anxious and excited to make our exit from Tortugal Marina. It looks like we should be able to leave by early Wednesday morning!

The varnish work is completed and looks fantastic, they are now washing the boat and it sparkles! Bob list is dwindling down and the rest should fall into place over the next few days.

I’m still cooking and filling the freezer while Jim is pouring over the charts. Our neighbor “Destiny”  ( Len and Cathy ) have changed their plans from heading south to

Honduras

and will now join our regular gang in

Belize

…the more the merrier as far as I’m concerned.

We have had some rain, but generally the weather is remaining hot and sunny. Trips into town are made either early or late to avoid the mid day heat. Yesterday’s trip was going from bank machine to bank machine…everyone of them was empty. It seems the locals get paid on Fridays and clean out their accounts…and then they get drunk….time to leave town!

Hopefully they are refilled shortly and we can get more “Q’s” as most places don’t take American dollars, of if they do, it costs quite a bit more. ( spoken like a frugal sailor! )