from puerto bahía samana dr to ponce puerto rico to the spanish virgins

Thursday march 15th

after a long day of waiting and watching planes get diverted, flights getting delayed 5 hours, nathan and sarah arrived at 10 pm.  their bags did not which presented a problem for nathan and medications, however with the supplies on board we worked through that.  then we spent all day friday waiting for the bags to be delivered.  there are many hoops and jumps in the dr to go through.  at the end of the whole ordeal, the bags were left at the entrance gate of the marina complex and we had to go pick them up via taxi.  so there were tips for the taxi driver, tips for the motoconcho driver who brought the bags from the town of samana to the marina complex.  it was about 4 pm when they finally got their luggage.  nathan and sarah immediately got into their bathing suits and went for a much anticipated  swim.

we had dinner at the itialian restaurant and then prepared for the passage from samana to ponce puerto rico.  across the infamous mona passage.    the longest passage we attempted yet.  about 185 miles.  close to 22 hours.

goodbye dominican republic   whale watching boats

we left samana at 9:30am  after much hoop jumping.   the comondante was scheduled for 8 am along with immigration, however at 6 am the comandante was knocking at the door.  we then had to wait for immigration and the fuel dock to open.  finally underway.  there were many whale watching boats just outside of the bahia de samana.  we saw whales 3 different times.  kirk saw one come out of the ocean.  i only saw tales and splash.  we tried for pictures but were too far away. was very exciting.

a long night making the mona passage.  thank you nathan and sarah.  i slept most of the day and night.  the motion of the boat puts me to sleep.  i wear the motion sickness bracelet so i do not feel so sick to my stomach but i can sleep non stop.  as crossing the mona goes we had a really good one.  at four am i got up and drank some black tea and then took the helm so nathan and kirk could get some sleep.   on to ponce puerto rico we went and got a few supplies had goodbye dinner with one white tree and left early in the morn to head to spanish virgins.

march 19th 2012

kirk got an email from kel today to call my dad.  we were in the middle of the carribean sea on our way to isle de vieques.  called my dad worried something was wrong.   HE GOT MARRIED. YAHOO  WAY TO GO POPS   we are so happy and proud to officially have carolyn as part of our family.  

more exciting news…..  nathan caught about a 3 foot barracuda.  first fish we caught in the ocean.  we were not sure if it was a cuda or a wahoo but we decided not to take a chance and let him go.  still exciting to reel him in.  pictures on kirks camera.  will post later.

we made it to a lovely anchorage at the town of esperanza in a little bay.  we were between  two little islands. one had an old sail boat hull on it falling apart and in town was a boat leaning up against the rocks with some bracing that did not make it through the hurricane  that came through in august of last year.  we went to town this morning  March 20th and were told he was the only one that did not pull their boat out and he dragged all the way into town.  we got a few groceries,  back to the boat, sarah and nathan went for a swim then we picked up the hook and headed out to sea towards the island of culebra.  

we can see St Thomas in the usvi.  oh my.  

we are now sailing and fishing (a first in this thorny path).  i think kirk is happy.  nathan is trying to catch dinner.  we shall see…