Dinghy and little piece of Paradise

If you read the title you would think they belong together, but nothing is further from the truth. The Dinghy Union must have heard me complain one time too much and have pretty sure told our small boat named Alexander (after our master dinghy captain Alex van Heijningen) not to take it any longer and do something about it!!! So after we had a very nice thanksgiving dinner, in our best clothes and even the home made silver jewelry, we returned to Lady Hawk and just like that Alexander dumped me without any warning in the water!!

Luckily only lost my sunglasses. I had them so very cool on top of my head (hip, cool and boating is not the best combination!) I am now the proud owner of a painful but wonderful colored upper arm. But the war is on and I am going to fight with that dinghy every day for at least half an hour till he knows I AM THE BOSS!!!!!!!!! I think the deeper problem is jealousy, because I had three glasses of wine with the dinner and he had to wait, chained to the dock.

 

Today we went a few blocks further on our road and landed per accident in a little piece of paradise, we saw the Baja from afar and it looked really good, so we turned left and arrived in a very clear, wonderful little bay, surrounded by sand and beautiful rock formations, and nobody there! We felt great. And to make everything perfect, when we went for a swim we discovered a small reef full of the most fantastic fishes, I think they were all there, even Lion fishes. We know they are dangerous, but they looked beautiful. We had a great, great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Love to all, Ria

Esperanza and camera

We are already a few days in Esperanza. The trip was a little bumpy, but as soon as we were under the coast, it became much quieter. We feel like home here. It is our third visit and it is still my favorite spot. I have also already visited my snorkel spot.

As a birthday present I got a video camera for under water and yesterday was the big try out. After one more reading of the instruction booklet, I was ready to go, I thought. Putting on my bathing suit, snorkel and mask, took the camera and I went. "Push the button and go slowly back and forth," the booklet had said and that was exactly what I did. 

I gave the camera to Jacques while I full of excitement climbed on board. And, and......well I see nothing, was Jacques's response. I was somewhat disappointed and after drying myself, went back to the booklet. I had done everything right, so I figured perhaps the camera shut down, if you wait too long and it did (was very proud of my technical understanding!) This time I was completely ready to go before I switched the camera on. 

When I came out of the water and looked, I saw ten times my face with goggles!!!!!!!! Did I really called this blog "old and WISE"! To make a long story short, I am now the proud owner of a minute film with sea grass, sea grass, my foot, more sea grass, the swim ladder and more....................... I don't think the discovery channel will be knocking on my door anytime soon.

But I liked the swimming. Till next time, Ria

First anchorage

We are now really on our way. The first trip was only two hours, but we are anchored at a beautiful spot, with only one other boat. The naked swimming will have to wait till dark, but that is already here at six. This is the first blog I will try to send with my phone. Been on it for more than two hours, so it better work!!!!!!!!!

Ria

Isla del Encanta

This is the name on license plates in Puerto Rico. The island is a little confusing to me, the distances are in km and the speed is in miles, gasoline in liters, water in gallons. The cars must be made different here, they don't have handles to show a change of direction, but the horn is very centrally located, you use it to show when you are unhappy with the other drivers and to thank another one, because you give him right of way, when you are too slow, too fast, the wrong direction etc.

The music is loud and sounds happy, but the people do not make the most happy impression. It must have something to do with the intertwinement with America. Nobody can clearly explain to me the exact connection, I have tried to ask so many people, but it is still unclear to me.

The boating scene is something else, there must be an official rule: the smaller the boat, the bigger the motors and even bigger the sound installation, you hear the things before you can even see them !!!!!!!!! Especially Saturday nights are horrible, they think they have the god sent duty to entertain the whole world with their music.

But we are still very happy to share their beautiful country.

Ria

Getting there

We are on the road! The alarm clock went off at 3:00, was very early, and discovered first that the fridge had been dripping water all night, I was at least immediately right awake! The big bag was still too heavy (I don’t know if we had expected that that would change overnight), so we transferred some stuff in our hand luggage, we are now dragging four pretty heavy bags around the airport. 

We had expected all kind of scrutiny with the “no-water, coats off and shoes in the bin” control, but we just flew through, with that we had lots of time to get a very good breakfast. In the waiting area were a couple of guys very loud discussing the elections and politics, I was so hoping not to hear anything about this for a long time!!!!!!!!!! 

After an uneventful flight we arrived around two in San Juan and were soon on the way to Salinas. The Lady Hawk was peacefully floating in the water and we were happy to see her. It was a little messy inside so the thought occurred that the launch had probably not gone very smoothly. But suddenly we missed the bikes and two toolboxes and an emergency light, there had been a break-in! Jacques sent some choice dutch words out to all the people of Puerto Rico, we all know the sound of that.

After the first clean-up we took a good drink on our arrival and even with the stolen goods we are very happy to start our third season on our Lady Hawk. 

Ria

Drying out