Hangin

Luperon is a friendly place that Dave and I have been enjoying greatly - But it is time to start moving on! Our next stop will be in Turks & Caicos. We will probably only be there a few days before heading to the Bahamas.

Today we are hanging out in a bar called Steve's - you can do laundry, buy meat, pineapples, play pool, take a (cold) shower, swim in the pool, eat and of course drink! it is like the Walmart of the states - one stop shopping for boaters!! Here are some of the pictures I promised yesterday!



Traffic gets tuff in town! This is the view from the resturant we had lunch at (we ordered chicken BUT got goat)




Big beer for $1.30

 Looks like I was lucky to get these 2 pictures up!! the internet is on island time here!
Weather is looking good for us leaving Thursday - we will sail another 24 hours and start our turn towards the North! we are getting closer to the states!! Ok well not yet. We are only about 45 miles from Hati! But closer then we have ever been to the states in the last 8 years!

I (heart) Luperon

Sunday around 07:30 we dropped anchor in this awsome harbor called Luperon. We left Samana at 07:30 on Saturday. It was not a great sail over. The night was rainy and the wind was right at our stern and not blowing very hard and the seas where choppy but it got us here! We heard the "Luperon Net" around 08:00 and heard that there was a marine swap meet at the lil (tiny) marina in Puerto Blanco (just a different part of the same harbor) We where tired but wanted to go in and explore things. We both got a great feeling about being here. We have always heard stories about cruisers coming here and never leaving. I can see why now! The other boaters are very friendly and filled with lots of local knowlage. The harbor is VERY different then Samana. I am glad to this was the case. Samana was a bit sketchy. After the swapmeet we got in the dinghy and headed across the harbor into town. Life here is sooo different. 3 world country. But the locals are friendly here. Amimals freely roam the streets. Lots of dogs chickens and goats. (I have pictures but the internet connection will not let me upload them!) The town is all dirt rocky narrow roads. There are little houses and stores. We had lunch at a newly open place call JRs. The food is cheap around 100 pesos for a sandwhich - comes out to be about $2.70. The beer to drink here is Bohemia Especial. It comes in a 20oz bottle and cost around  $1.30 - 60 pesos (we are having one right now!)
We will be here for a few days. Today we went back into town to use the internet and explore a little more. Tuesday is when people come into town to sell thier fresh produce. We could really use some fresh veggies and frruit. The freezer is full but the fresh local stuff is always better! I will keep you posted! I will also try to get some pictures up!!

0700 I weigh the anchor and Kirsten took Cat’s Eye out of the Bay of Boqueron. Our weather window was now or wait till next week. Now it was. One reef in the mainsail should do it to start our longest leg to date, 147 miles should take us roughly 24 or 25 hours. As we entered the Mona Passage it was quite tranquil. That didn’t last long. For the next several hours until we made the turn to the southwest of the Island of Desecheo the seas were either breaking on the deck or Cat’s Eye was  burying her bow into the 12 foot plus north swell. The wind direction was a perfect  15 to 17 knots with  occasional gusts of 27. Kind of makes you feel more alive when you’re watching the knots climb. Well, we made the turn and the tip of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic was only 49 miles away. Although the seas still up, were now hitting Cat’s Eye at a much more acceptable angle.  All of a sudden about  Smokey came alive barking and charging the netting on the lifelines. There they were, dolphin after dolphin coming to the starboard side and riding along side. Then they went to the bow and seem to lead Cat’s Eye. (took a couple of pictures).

We’ve seen lots of dolphins in the Caribbean but these were larger than I’ve ever seen before. There were at least seven  that stayed with us for a good five minutes.  As they departed, two of them turned swimming sideways and looked right up into my eyes. I hope it was more than they  can’t believe the crazy humans are out in the middle of the ocean in a little fiberglass tub. It always  a great feeling  when those beautiful graceful creatures bless me with their contact. It’s 1640 and no land insight when Kirsten says, “what’s that floating, a refrigerator?’’ it was white and about 50 yards off the starboard aft.  All of a sudden, the blowhole exhaled and the whale turned right side. The whale was a small humpback. We watched it play for a couple minutes and the humpback bid us farewell with a slap of its tail as it sounded.  Two hours later off the starboard another blowhole. What a day. We were finally able to see land as the sun set over the Dominican Republic. Night was falling and we still had another 13 or 14 hours of sailing before we anchored in Samana. A most beautiful star filled cruising night was on us. Of course the sunrise was another spectacular beginning of the day. After anchoring in Samana we needed to clear in, so I raised the “Q” flag and lowered the dinghy. My attempt to clear in became very clear to me that they do not want you to find their offices. After a brief runaround I returned to Cat’s Eye and waited for our friends we met in Boqueron to arrive. Before they were able to lower their dinghy, they were approached by four men  in a very small dinghy. One was in military garb. Then the dinghy came over to us. They requested  to come aboard. Denied. Then they advised that they were the Department of Navy, Port Authority and National Drug Agency. They did have proper ID and said that I could either have my boat search now or after I cleared in. They were welcomed onboard but only after they removed their shoes.  (I’m still the Captain). They sat in the cockpit taking down information until they seemed to be satisfied. I excused myself and returned with three bottles of Cruzan Rum. I thanked them for their hospitable welcome into their country. They were very thankful and told me that they didn’t think they would find anything even if they did search the boat.  We all went into the town and did have a great afternoon. After being up 39 hours, one more scotch was all I needed to tuck myself in for an early evening sleep.  After checking the weather we will leave here Saturday morning for Luperon. Only a mere 130 mile sail. Kirsten will return to the blog after this long winded session of mine.

Lazy Day!

So yesterday (March 21st 2011) was one of the first days since Dave's retirement (and mine) that we had no place to sail to - no place to HAVE to be - and it was a totally new place! We had lots of down time in St.Croix but there was always something happening - since we had lived here in the past it also did not feel like we were starting a new chapter in our lives (yet). It felt like we had just stopped in to see some great old friends! Yesterday was the first day of a new place with nothing to do! So what did we do!?......Laundry!! Wheeeee!!
We did decide to walk around town now that most of the people where gone from Sunday. It was much quieter today. A lot of the shops and restaurants were closed. My new favorite little pizza place was locked up tight! We returned to the restaurant we had dinner in the night before and decided to have a late lunch. Dave ordered the conch with salad and it was amazing - there was so much conch that he did not even try to stab my hand with his fork when I went searching for a piece off his plate! (if you know Dave, then you know he has a problem with sharing food - especially when it is on his plate and you just reach over with your fork and start stabbing at it!)
The day was quiet and easy. A nice thing. Can I do this every day? You bettcha! Although the quiet ends tomorrow. We had a little change of plans - We are crossing the Mona Passage tomorrow. We originally were going to go straight across into the Dominican Republic , about 77 miles. This would have taken us about 10 - 12 hours. We would still have to the next day sail around to Samana and check into customs, which is another 70 or so miles. So we decided to just sail straight there. We are going to leave here tomorrow around 07:00. This should put us arriving in Samana around 07:00 Thursday morning. Once in the DR the internet connections will only happen when I load up my dry bag with the computer – dinghy to shore and search for a WiFi connection! So do not be alarmed if you are not getting daily posting from me – I know you all will wait and keep checking to see if something new has been posted!! I promise as soon as I can - I will get a new post up! Let you all know how the 24 hour sail went!!

Boqueron Puerto Rico

We leave Ponce Round 06:00 March 20th 2011. The moon is sooo bright. It it beautiful.



Moon at 06:00 in Ponce

So we sailed on! The seas were up a little but stil was not a bad ride! Now this being a party town -often compared to Key West and it is spring break time - we did what anybody else would have done - we party! We started with a lil local place for pizza (my favorite food) and a drink. Then out to the streets - now on Sundays they close off this lil town and street vendors come out and put up tables seeling everything - food, beer, clothes etc etc. oh and the Puerto Rican music is loud and thumping! So Dave wanted oysters. 5 buck got us a dozen oysters. After oysters we went to a local bar had some drinks and conch for dinner. Then back to the boat for us! Today will we do some exploring around town. I can see why spring breakers would choose this place - the beach is white sand and the water is calm and beautiful. Not a bad place to be stuck in to wait for the right weather!

Yummy!

Full Moon in Ponce Puerto Rico

We left Salinas Puerto Rico at around 08:15. The sail today was a short one so we did wake up at the crack of dawn to leave (or at least I did not - Dave is always up) It was like boating on a lake! 3knts of wind - soo not great sailing weather but at least it was calm enough to be VERY comfortable! Also made great conditions for reading ( I am burning through books!) The Jib did go up for a while but I think it was just so Dave could say we were sailing!

Ponce was uneventful. Dave cleared us "out" of the US at customs and that was it. I stayed on the boat never getting off. It you can believe it we did join in with the loud, very loud Puerto Rican festivities. Ponce has a boardwalk with lots of lil bars and it got loud and fast. Sounds like fun was had be all on shore and on Cat's Eye. It was nice to relax one night - knowing that again in early morning hours I would hear Dave say "Kirsten, it is 05:30, time to get up" ugghh those words want to make me throw a pillow over my head and say "five more minutes PLEASE!" But I knew once we left Ponce the next stop would Boqueron Puerto Rico - this place is like the spring break central of PR - I also knew we will spend a few days there waiting for the "right weather window" to cross the Mona Passage over to the DR. So it is worth getting up at 0'dog thirty!

Salinas Puerto Rico

We go an early start leaving Vieques heading towards Salinas - this was going to be one of the first stop of a place we have never been! Living in the Caribbean for the past 8 years gave us lot of opportunities to explore the islands. We would have to return after a week or 10 days for work but we enjoyed every chance we got to get out and experience different places! Now we where onto new places!! Wheeee!!
The sail over was very calm and relaxing - I love my Kindle!! I have been plowing through books. The seas and winds have been so calm that (thankfully) there is not a whole lot to do once we get underway - but relax and read. Even the furry crew members are relaxin!


Lil' Charlie on his Thrown!

 We pulled into Salinas around 14:00. You can tell this was a boatie community. Lots of live aboards. Dave and I set out to explore the lil harbor filled with boats and the marina (which we kinda knew would have a place to get a beverage). It did not take long to meet friendly boaters and find a bar with a great happy hour. $1.25 Medallas! Dave was in beer heaven! after we swapped out some DVD's with a local we headed back to Cat's Eye to get some rest. Tomorrow we are heading to Ponce, Puerto Rico. This is where we will clear out of the U.S! Yea!! We are getting there. Pretty soon we will be crossing the Mona Passage over to the DR!

Hello Vieques!!

We set sail on St.Paddy's Day at 06:30am. Good Bye St.Croix! We are fully provisioned (thanks Rum Runners for the help with that!). We had a fantastic start - 48 miles of great seas and easy winds. The trip was a breeze! All crew members on board are happy! Esperanza, Vieques around 14:00 -




Cat's Eye happy at anchor in Esperanza!

Once we anchored I gave Maggie a call - a good friend from St.Croix who was vacationing on Vieques with her sister. We motored into town and meet for a drink!


The day was great - We enjoyed a couple of cocktails and a good dinner then headed back to Cat's Eye for some rest. Tomorrow was another day of sailing - next stop Salinas, Puerto Rico! We are on our way!! 

We are off!! Sort of!

We take off on time! February 26th we depart St.Thomas! We head straight to St.Croix!! Since Dave and I lived in St.Croix for a several years we are coming here to say "see ya later" to good  friends. So OK we really did not make it to far and we still have one BIG project that needs to be completed. So as we wait for the new radar/chartplotter to arrive we set up many "see ya later" gatherings! I seem to have a knack for this! The radar is ordered but it is back ordered till March 7th. Since it will be over nighted to us we know we are "stuck" here till at least mid March. Since somethings you can not control - we decided to just sit back relax and catch up with great friends.
Once the radar arrives we now have to install it - oh fun fun!! Thanks to good friends the install goes VERY smooth.

So now with radar installed! The To Do list is small and we set another departure date - March 17th 2011!  We will have the luck of the Irish with us!!

The journey begins!

It has happened! Dave has retired! After many years of friend and family listening to us say "this year Dave will retire" He finally made the decision that he was ready! I personally was ready years ago (just kidding). Now that the choice was made there was a LOT of preparing to do before we set off sailing! Dave had some major projects to do on the boat - I had lots of goodbye parties to plan! We are going to be busy!!  Dave's retirement day happens! December 31st 2010 - of course there was a party. Dave then started working on the boat. We had some of the To Do list done already. A 16 a gallon an hour watermaker had been installed. A small apartment size washing machine had been installed. Dave took off on Cat's Eye to Tortola to get hauled out - we had a dirty bottom. Dave took that opportunity to redo the drive shafts. I stayed behind in St.Thomas - I was still working after all! I really could not get off to spend days in a hot sweaty boat yard!
Dave returned and did LOTS of engine work. Getting these lil Yanmar engines ready to go proved to be a HUGE project but he got it done! We kept Cat's Eye on the dock in Frenchtown Marina, this is also where I worked. It made a very easy commute to work every morning (and yes I also worked everyday that Dave had the engine pulled out! It was safer there!) This also proved to make it easier to get home after all the "See ya Later" parties we had lined up!
As February rolled in the To Do list got smaller - parties where often and we felt if we did not set a leaving date we might never leave. We decided on February 26th (our anniversary) The date was set and we where sticking to it!