Across the Mona Passage to the Dominican Republic

Puerto Bahia Marina

It took 22 hours to get across the Mona Passage.   We left Boqueron and arrived in Puerto Bahia Marina.  We were in Samana Bay for a few hours waiting for the sun to come up.  When we could finally go into the marina I was so happy to be there I took a picture of the clear water with the rocks beside our boat at the fuel dock.   Our passage was mostly good.

Mostly good.  Something got our boat in the night.  The only thing that cleaned it up was good ole Clorox.

Our boat on the right, looking out from the Marina complex.  It is a really nice place with a few pools.  I was most happy.   We met some great people while there.

The road to the marina complex from town.   We had a great walk down the hill.  Such a beautiful country.

The market in town.   We got some vegetables.  

This is the view from our moto-concho which was our ride back from town.   We had quite a ride!

Ocean World

Another passage and we arrived at Ocean World.  

The view of the mountain from the pool

The pool

These crazy little fishes

Another view from the pool

The break water surrounding the marina

I was swimming with the dolphins!!!

Just had to put this pic in.  It is the entrance to the casino.   When we were here 2 years ago with Ross and Diana, we thought they were carrots till we got up close!  so silly

The entrance.   We came in here at 2 am.  Notice the reefs on the side.  ohhhh

Kite sufers in the ocean.   No thank you.

We had a good time at Ocean World while waiting for the weather.   We went out to dinner twice and that was such a treat.

Sunrise leaving the DR.  So glad to be moving on.

Heading West

The night before we left we were visited by good friends from LaLuna and Too Much Fun.  We had such a good time with these folks in St Thomas.

We left St Thomas and did day sails to Culebra, Vieques, Salinas, Ponce and Boqueron.   We stayed in Boqueron for a few days waiting for a weather window and then crossed the Mona Passage to the Dominican Republic.  We left about 9 am and were outside Puerto Bahia Marina in Samana Bay by 4 am.   We waited till daylight and motored in and tied up at the fuel dock.   We were both pretty exhausted, but extremely happy to have that crossing behind us

Since leaving St Thomas we saw a couple different kinds of whales, turtles, dolphins, a sea snake or eel,  ballyhoo and other fish that were just too quick to identify.  We kept a sharp eye out during the day for whales and dodged a few.   The dolphins were fun and came to swim with the boat for a while.

The Bridge in Culebra.  It no longer works but they keep it painted up nice.  We have visited Culebra many times.  Such a nice place.

Next was Vieques.   We were here with Sarah and Nathan 2 years ago on our way south.

Next stop was the port of Salinas on the south side of Puerto Rico.  Loved the mountains. in case you are wondering, that is a little roll shaped like a bunny that our friends gave us when we left.  He is traveling with us but has come down with a mold.

Baren mountains behind mangroves.   What contrast!!  Puerto Rico looks like a great place to hike.  Some parts were green and looked like rain forest and others like desert.   

This wind farm just fascinated me.  It was so cool.  It is located outside of Salinas.

A close up in case you wanted to see more.....

El Capitan at the helm.   I was taking pics.

The port of Ponce was next.   This is the morning we left.    Kirk says rainbows are good luck.

We saw this car in Boqueron.   It was classic.   The seats were so so white.  I want to know how they keep them so clean.  

Sunset from our boat in Boqueron.

Out on the town celebrating Aunt Lisa's B day.   A little too much celebrating for Donna.

More of Water Island

All of these pics Kirk took with his IPhone

Looking past Water Island into Elephant Bay from Honeymoon Bay

We had passed this sign many times in traveling from Honeymoon Bay to Long Bay.  When Nathan and Sarah were here we tried to go there but the wait was 2 hours.  By chance one night we walked there as the restaurant we had planned on going to was closed.   Luck was with us and we got seated right away and had a fabulous dinner.  Do you think that is the moon by the palm tree?

We passed this house walking back to the dingy.   It has no glass in the windows upstairs.  Pretty cool.  Kirk commented on the motorcycle in front.

Happy girl !

Dingy's Bar is a popular place.   Dingy anyone?

Another view of the bar.

Looking out at Honeymoon Bay from the beach.  St Thomas is in the background.

I asked Kirk to take this pic because of the top right hand side.   If you can blow it up (click on the pic) and read it you should get a chuckle.  Island time.......

I loved this little bridge.  Great natural stone work.

We hiked around the island to find the spot where we chartered a boat on our honeymoon 34 1/2 years ago.   The foundation is all that is left of the building site.   Hurricanes Hugo and Marilyn wiped out the charter business and the hotel that the charter business put us in when hurricane David hit in 1979.  A walk down memory lane.   

The path down the hill to Dingy's Bar after our hike.

Our friend Peter (on the right with hat on) playing with the band Barefoot Davis.  It was a fun afternoon with great music.

The New Tramp

We ordered a new tramp as the old one was falling apart.   Kirk did most of the install even though it was mostly weaving.  I did get to help some but certainly not half of the job.

Right side is new   left side is old

Close up of the old tramp.  Check out the edges.  Nasty

Close up of the new....   so pretty and such fancy weaving it into place.   We used the spare halyard to put tension on the cording to get it tight.  Massive tension on the cording.

Mr. Fix-it transformed to Mr. Tramp Installer

The master weaver

Waaalaaaaa   All Done and so pretty

There and Back Again by Bilbo Baggins

Water Island at St Thomas

Kirk is swimming our anchor.  We got to know a particular spot pretty well.

We spent a lot of time anchored in Honeymoon Bay, also known as Druif Bay on Water Island.  It is a lovely bay with a great beach.   There are two beach bars and a cabana.   The tourist boats bring the cruise ship people so there is also great people watching.  This was the first bay we visited on our honeymoon 34 1/2 years ago.  More pics on that in later blogs.

One of the fun things to watch is the cruise ships that come and go.  This one in the picture is one of the biggest.   It really is massive.  Just for an idea, it has a climbing wall in the stern.   At night when it leaves it looks like a moving city.

We left St Thomas and headed home for Christmas.

We had a blast going home for Christmas.   Got to see family we had not seen in a long time which was fabulous.  Was a very fast visit but we are so glad that we went.

Family at target practice   

My dad and Kel enjoying the warm weather and family time.

Kirk and Kel taking pics of the shooters

Sarah, Dad and Nathan stopping for a photo shoot while rifle practice continued.  I think this was the Saturday before Christmas.   It was so warm I was wearing sandals.

View of Jay and Ginny's farm.   It is heaven here on earth.

Uncle Jay in the background smiling at his nephews Christian and Nathan.  We were shooting rifles at Jay and Ginny's.   All the kids had a blast, but I am pretty sure Uncle Jay had the most fun.   Thanks Jay and Ginny.

Looking out at the dock past the fabulous tree and driftwood where Kel and Andrew got married.  Such a special spot.  The driftwood came up in huricane Isabel in 03 when we had an 8 foot tidal surge.