After a couple of windy days at Grahams Cay, Guanaja, we moved over to El Bight. Cruisers agree that the name should be El Bite - the bugs are wicked!
On Tuesday, April 1st, the winds finally diminished and we weighed anchor bound for Port Royal, to celebrate a big birthday for Patrice (Mango Creek owner). We enjoyed several days at Mango Creek, and were able to have Dalia's wonderful fish tea soup again - the one served in a coconut.
Unfortunately while at dinner feasting on our soup, the wind piped up to probably about 35-40 kts, and we returned to the boat to find the wind generator flown off and was dangling from its pole, held by the electrical wire. Best we can figure is that one of the support bolts came loose, and a blade got caught, tearing it apart and it flew right off.
It's a loss to not have this
source of power, but fortunately we have the generator and solar
panel to keep the batteries charged. Wouldn't you know it the
generator now has a problem overheating. Once again we are watching
our amps and conserving power.
Semana Santa - Easter Week - is a huge celebration in
Central America, a time for natives
to party. It seems that every beach is cleaned and bars are put up; people spend all
night partying. We had made the decision
to hide out in Port Royal
for the week, which was good for quiet, but bad for wind. Most days were
20+ kts with whitecaps in the harbor; we observed that it picked up
every evening and layed down again at dawn. Our mooring held nicely, although Bob
noticed that we had moved the 55 gallon drum of cement that secures us. One one of the few
quiet days, John (Tashmoo), took a dinghy ride with us ride
through a canal to the north side of the island, and around to the eastern
tip and back along the southern side. We saw beautiful beaches and
outcroppings. This is the most remote part of Roatan, with no
roads and a small fishing village. With Semana Santa over, on Easter
Monday, April 13, we left Port Royal entrance into the pounding surf to
head to
West End. Once we got out,
we were on a broad reach doing about 6 kts all
the way. It was nice to be sailing. We hooked up with Slip Away
and Tashmoo came into the harbor on Tuesday. It's
nice to be in a neighborhood with our friends, enjoying their company.
We always though that Jan on Slip Away may be a Parrothead, but here's
the proof. > Our flights to return to Mystic are
booked for May 23, and the reality is sinking in that we have work to do
before leaving the boat for another season. In search of bottom paint, we
rented a car with John and Cindy and spent a day checking out various
stores on the island. We were surprised how much more there is here than
we had seen before. A new supermarket has opened in French Harbour - it
looks just like one in America.
And back at West End, we get our produce from the trucks
that park along the side of the road.
With so many dive shops, and dive spots around West End, Bob
was able to have his regulator repaired and went on a couple of
dives. Early one calm morning, we went for a dinghy ride out to the reef
and got a couple of pictures from above the water. We saw colorful fish
and a turtle, all from the dinghy. You are looking down about eight feet
in this picture.
Maggie is a Net Controller again,
for the last few weeks before going back into the Rio Dulce. For the
most part, she spends her days working, but loves to take time out to
have special time with Rosie, who snuggles when the moment hits her.
We found out about a good dermatologist
in LaCeiba, a city on the mainland, so Bob has made an appointment there.
What has cost him about $600 with his doctor in Connecticut, will run
about $45 here.
We'll be in West End for another
few days, and will take SeaTryst to a marina in
LaCeiba on Monday, April 27, and
then start to make our way the 120 miles to the Rio
Dulce. We need to be back in the River in early May to
have the boat hauled and bottom painted,
and close it up for another season.
