After our land travel, we had three more weeks in the Rio Dulce before Maggie returned to the States. Bob stayed with the boat for another two weeks.
It was fun to be with Tashmoo again. John and Cindy had left the river for a few weeks and returned to the slip next to us. Unfortunately, John is allergic to cats so Rosie couldn't be a guest on their boat. (Once though she did sneak on; guess she can't read signs.)
During these last weeks, we explored a creek off the Golfete with Angelina, and admired the farms and cows along the way.
Happy hours became a regular activity at the marina, along with Thursday and Friday Movie Nights on the deck. Rosie escaped from the boat a few times, with Maggie frantically running down the dock asking anyone in site "el gato? el gato?" She returned safely each time, scampering back to the boat on her own or after someone scared her almost to death.
Elder, Tortugal's bartender and resident tour guide, brought us on a day-trip to a river canyon. Along the 2-hour ride, we had a flat tire. Fortunately, the van just behind us pulled over to help - if they had not we would have been there without a car jack until a chicken bus came by and took us back to the marina. Even with the jack, help was needed to get the van raised enough to put the replacement tire on.
We were in awe as we rode the cayuca through the canyon. The scenery was spectacular! Plus we now know what it is like to ride in a dugout canoe which are pretty common along the Rio.
April and May are the hottest months of the year in the Rio. We joined some others from Tortugal doing a 5-mile morning walk, and it would take most of the morning to cool off. By 8:00 in the the morning you were already dripping wet from the humidity. Much of our mornings were spent down below in air conditioning until a early afternoon breeze blew in. We could then open the hatches and work outside enjoying the pleasant weather. Maggie often brought her computer into the cockpit to work (and to keep her eye on Rosie).
Bob had arranged for some work to be done on the boat by local workers. He contracted with Hugo to have our table sanded and varnished with a dozen coats. After several tries, Hugo finally enclosed the table so that the dust and bugs wouldn't get on it. We had the dinghy covered with chaps, and have arranged for new dodger and bimini to be done when we return in the fall.
We were thrilled when Jon and Heather on Evergreen came into the River and were fortunate to get a slip in Tortugal only two away from SeaTryst .
It took days to pack, since we were leaving the boat in Guatemala and flying, not driving, home. Rosie knew what was about to happen and tried to stop it. We wondered if she has a fear of flying.
On May 16, we boarded a private van to drive us to Guatemala City. Pets are not allowed on the first-class buses, plus we had to book a room at one of the nicer hotels, since few allow pets. All for Queen Rosie. In the City's Zona 10 (the only place recommended for US citizens), we were amazed to discover malls, high-end shopping and restaurants. So different from Fronteres and the smaller villages we had seen on our inland trips.
Rosie and Maggie flew to Cincinnati to
be with Peter for a week before returning to Mystic on May 24.
Bob
went back to the Rio to see what the rainy season was like and finish
packing up the boat. A few days later a microburst hailed the
beginning of the rainy season. The wind clocked to 70 knots and two
boats had to be rescued after having broken their moorings. It then rained for 6 days straight. Bob returned to Connecticut June
11 driving up from Florida and Georgia where we had left his
car.
At home we found baby robins in the nest over the light at the back door, which Rosie liked to watch. She's a housecat for now. Both of us were happy to be back and away from the heat and humidity of the Rio. The weather in Connecticut has been perfect.
It was fun to have Jan and Rich on Slip Away sail into Mystic on July 20. We got together for dinner with Robin and Michael from Seabiscuit; they spend their summers in New London. We were all in Belize at the same time, and we had not met Robin and Michael there, but talked to them on the radio; they also left their boat at Tortugal, and returned to the States in March. It's a small world.
SeaTryst is safe at Tortugal, with Russ and Janet watching over her, waiting our return in early November.