So what is it we do when we are on Rory and are not sailing anywhere. Below some of the random ‘things’ that occurs
Have morning coffee; it was ‘cold’ out – 72 degrees
Try to figure out why there is water in the bilge after a hard sail. Initial thought loose keelboats, then made assumption that the vented loop for the bilge goes below the water line when heeled over. Hmmmm, experimentation continues.
Line up all the rums we have and do a taste test. We are aficionados – chose the cheapest one.
Try to take care of gecko who had been on the boat 3 months since Guatemala. He ate multiple bugs and left us multiple poops. He lived inside our companionway hatch door (water inside perhaps) Made a fateful move one day and he & the door collided, very sad day 🙁
Buy, cut up, and eat pineapple. Very good, very messy.
Take pictures of sunrises & sunsets, REALLY?!?
Add things to the ‘bring back to the boat in spring’ list.
Go to a fun beach bar that had horrible food.
Go to a reef resort bar where we couldn’t get food until after 7:30!!! Most of you know that’s our bedtime, Ha!
Shop for things K wants online for next season. IE, I wish I would have bought 10 of those skorts!
D fishes from the dinghy and comes up w/an actual fish. Didn’t know what it was but decided to eat it anyway; had WAY too many bones. Had Charlie & Sandy help w/ID. Came up w/Bonefish, too many bones, get it?!? A large size can be toxic! Decided to always ID fish before eating.
Take pictures of pelicans roosting in the sunset.
Take pictures of moon jellyfish to send to our niece; whose nickname is Moonie.
Go on dinghy rides to look at cool houses.
Look at our crazy track of sailing around Belize.
And that’s just a part of it. And we’re lovin’ it.
9 Feb, 2024
7 Feb, 2024
The Journey…
Peeps
Feb 7, 2024
So far this sailing/traveling season we have met some incredible people – Ken & Sheila on Silver Lining, Bahamas; Françoise & Jean on Helios, France; Miriam & Jamie on (we forgot), Canada; Claire & Adrian on Flyin Low, England; Lucie & Tony on Pocaterra, Canada; all with stories to tell.
We have been traveling w/Ken & Shelia on & off for 1.5 months. They are living on a 48′ catamaran ‘Silver Lining’. She has a very significant meaning to them. They were 90% thru a refit on a previous cat in the Abacos, Bahamas when hurricane Dorian struck. Due to family situations they were unable to move the boat further south to safety. Despite incredible preparation, total loss. Since they have been living on boats for 20+yrs, they were suddenly homeless. Awhile later their current boat became available w/everything on it; dishes, linens, you name it; everything. Thus Silver Lining. They are looking to travel further away than just the Bahamas. And alas they left yesterday for the Bay Islands of Honduras enroute to Panama. Sad to see them go, but very excited for them.
Sunset conch horn
@ BubaWubas
Xmas dinner
New Years Eve
To Ranguana Cay
Dinghy ‘Drift’ happy hour
Crazy Jerk Chicken dinner party send off
We met Françoise & Jean and Miriam & Jamie on the Hokey Pokey water taxi enroute to re-upping at immigration and customs. Françoise is a little spitfire and for being 77 yrs old she puts us to shame and is an inspiration. While Jean at 75 is no slouch captaining the boat in 4′ waves, staying well ahead of us. Her & Jean have been sailing winters for 20+ years and have ended up spending time in Belize the latter few years and keeping their boat in the Rio Dulce. She was an English teacher in France and speaks it well, Jean knows some but relies on her to translate at times. He worked for Air France on the Concorde as well has fun jobs like the pilot union. They moved their boat to the Placencia Lagoon on our referral for peace & quiet. We became closely bonded due to the unfortunate circumstance of their dinghy motor crapping out. (not a Tohatsu Mark). We needed to tow them back to their boat a couple of times and take them, the outboard motor, and D in our dinghy to the repair shop a mile or so away. Pick it up fixed the next day only to have them get stranded in town w/it not starting. Tow #3. They were heading up to the Reserve Marina and we decided to accompany them. Landing in the marina after anchoring out a couple of nites, Ken & Shelia were already there so it was off to the beach the 6 of us. We took a foray to a couple of reef islands w/F & J and enjoyed every minute of it. They are off tomorrow on a taxi/launcha/bus/plane trip to Columbia for a few weeks of exploring. We will miss them. Miriam & Jamie are hellbent to get to Florida to sell their sailboat and hop onto their trawler in Canada and start round 2 of adventures.
Jean & Françoise
Boat gift to Aurora from Helios at sundowner party – Francophiles Sandy & Charlie jealous!
Outboard to the repair shop
After repair shop ‘fix’ tow #3; they rowed to meet us
Helios happy hour
Miriam & Jamie
We met Claire & Adrian at RAM marina where their boat was on the hard next to ours; they also stayed at the same hotel as we got our boats prepped to be launched. The boat name ‘Flyin Low’ was on the boat when they got her, appropriate since Adrian’s a pilot. They headed off for the Bay Islands of Honduras; w/a not so fun passage there and a semi not so fun passage back. We’ve met up w/them recently in Placencia Lagoon. We are worried for them – why? They have too many fixed dates to be someplace; 1st week March, Florida, 1st week June, Annapolis, MD. With the weather being as it has we wish them well w/fair winds to get where they need to.
We actually briefly met Lucie & Tony on Pocaterra checking into Belize in Punta Gorda on Dec 8th. According to protocol one is supposed to hail the port captain on the VHF when you are close. After hailing 3 times w/no response from the port captain I hailed Pocaterra for a radio check; something one does to ensure your radio is indeed working. Lucie had some awesome eye glasses that I coveted. We met them again attending a ‘pool’ party at the Reserve w/ Françoise & Jean; how did I know – saw her glasses. Then Pocaterra anchored next to us in Placencia Lagoon, and we went on a dinghy drift with Ken, Shelia and them, not recognizing w/their sunglasses on. Once Lucie changed glasses it was an aha and somewhat embarrassing moment when we realized we’ve met 3 times before. They are French Canadians living in Alberta, Canada.
Commonalities? We all are winter cruisers. While Ken and Shiela don’t own a home, they spend their summers in the Netherlands. And all of us are searching for the next chapter in our lives; keep boat/sell boat, travel extensively, where to ‘live’, where to travel to, what do we want to be when we grow up thoughts that we all admit can drive us crazy. So it will be interesting to see where we end up.
7 Feb, 2024
31 Jan, 2024
The Journey…
Another Day In Paradise
Jan 31, 2024
So, what does one do when one has too many options to consider? Punt! We have been all over the board as to when and where we are going next. Let alone where we will end up keeping Rory & Bo for next summer. Initially it was Grenada, then the Chesapeake, then Brunswick GA, then Panama, then back to the Rio Dulce, and then repeat the entire sequence. We have had NUMEROUS discussions to the above and it is seemingly a moving target every time. Maybe procuring a dart board would suit us better. We talk to friends whom all have differing opinions on the direction to take; albeit they all say “it is up to you”. Maybe procuring a crystal ball would help us. Honestly, we have never been in a position as such. Each of our past sailing seasons had a definitive beginning and a definitive ending. Maybe procuring a psychic reading would do it. Alas it will be a decision that is made-sometime. We have that ‘don’t take it for granted’ ability to bend with the wind and go where it leads us. Anyone want to start up a betting pool as to where we’ll end up? 😉
Meanwhile back in Belize, yep still here. Various adventures have ensued – a river trip, a couple forays to outer reef islands, a splurge in a marina and hanging out w/boat buddies. We’ve seemed to establish a home base of sorts in the Placencia Lagoon as well as Sapodilla Lagoon. Concept is that both of these places offer excellent protection from the ‘northers’ that seem to be plaguing the region these days. Thank goodness we’re not in Isla Mujeres MX (where we were planning on going), the port there seems to be closed every other day due to intense winds.
Monkey River Tour group-Jean, Miriam, Jamie, Françoise, Jason our guide
Anhinga
Big lizard
Little lizard
Big crocodile (7 ft)
Little crocodile (1.5 ft)
Spots on wood – tiny bats
Howler monkey
Fashion runway statement
Inside a bamboo ‘forest’
‘Tourist Tree’ Why? Bark (skin) is red and peeling. Hah!
Monkey River Tour
This was a 6 hr boat tour which included lunch. The people we went with were the ones we did the immigration and customs day. Jason our guide was incredibly knowledgeable in the flora and fauna of the area. And since he was from the area he told us of things he did as a kid in the jungle, different life. All guides in Belize have to undergo a rigorous training program; they pay $1,000 BZ for the class, if they pass they get it back, if they don’t pass, nada back.
Google pic of reef island, notice the reef extending either direction
Reef island anchorage
Reef island sunset, sorry 🙂
Two guys fishing
Dinghy landing
Snorkel 1
Snorkel 2
Snorkel 3
Snorkel 4
Evidence of K snorkeling
Squall
After squall
Reef Islands
The main reason for sailing to Belize is for the reef islands, atolls and snorkeling. Belize is a part of the 2nd largest coral reef system in the world, actually a double reef system in places and has 3 of the 4 atolls in the Western Hemisphere. Our ‘goal’ is to get to at least one of the 3 atolls. Can’t say we haven’t been trying.
The Reserve Marina
The proposed development
The pool
Weirdest Marina Ever
Not sure how to begin to describe the Sanctuary Reserve & its Marina. A 15,000 acre development site planned for 1,500 homes, a hospital, an international airport, shopping mall, etc. that went belly up and shut down by the FTC for fraud. The developer was planning the site from prison. US investors built roughly 50 homes before realizing that the promised amenities were never going to show up and chose to report & sue. The developer bought some of the lots back at a discount, and sold them again to others. The site looked like a well maintained ghost town w/various houses strewn about and massive amounts of infrastructure to support them. The marina was very nice however; great docks, shower & laundry facilities, a ‘bar’ that was never open but used for happy hours. Typically there are 3-4 boats there. We came in for norther protection along w/5 other boats. We also thought it would be nice to treat ourselves because there is more than adequate protection in the the lagoon outside the marina. Plus our friends Françoise & Jean were there. More about them later…
31 Jan, 2024
15 Jan, 2024
The Journey…
GO PACK!!!
Ready!!!
Read the color, no really!!!
Outside Yoli’s Bar
Inside Yoli’s bar for the game.
So what’s the (K’s) obsession w/the Green Bay Packers? One of my fondest memories as a small child was Sunday afternoon Packers games. My dad seated in his Lazyboy & my uncle on the rocking chair; each sipping a beer. I, 4-8 yrs old, would be seated on the floor between them sipping a 7-Up and eating popcorn. I believe I learned some adult language during those games. I also learned to ‘hate’ the color purple (Vikings) and ‘hate’ the Dallas Cowboys (Tom Landry & the perception they played ‘dirty’). People in WI ate, slept, drank the Packers and in most part still do; since it’s a community owned team of over 500,000 shareholders. To top that off I went to college at UW Green Bay and was further immersed in the Packer culture. My college roommate/soulmate Chris put in for season tickets when she was 16. She received them 41 years later and only due to the fact that Lambeau Field expanded its seating. One more step after moving to the Twin Cities was to meet a fellow Packer enthusiast, RobinO. We’d go watch the games at his house and there would be Packer paraphernalia EVERYWHERE! I contributed a bunch that I had from my parents, Packer cookies were baked, pizza had the GB symbol, the moon-dip was green & gold, I could go on & on. The very fuzzy picture at the top was a cake that I baked for Robin’s Bday a few years back. Including an edible cheesehead, yep, that’s how bad Packer fever is. So when they beat the Cowboys yesterday it stirred a bit of the childhood memory and is henceforth in the blog.
D? He’s a Packers fan ONLY if they are not playing the Vikings, then he’s a flipflopper. However if the Packers beat the Vikings; “My team won”. Insert rolled eyes emoji!
So now I have to keep the ‘Aurora Borealis’ on my toenails for the duration. Note: it can also be used as a paint chip filler on Rory in an emergency 😉
15 Jan, 2024
12 Jan, 2024
The Journey…
Musing – Françoise
Scenario: K sent newly met friends Françoise & Jean a WhatsApp msg in regards to getting together later in the afternoon. D stops by their boat unaware of my msg and gives a vaguely similar but yet dissimilar msg.
Françoise responds to D, “You had better go and check w/your government” and claimed “haven’t you learned over the years that this is better”?
Now I’m (K) the govt! 😉
12 Jan, 2024
10 Jan, 2024
The Journey…
One Month in Belize; Already?!?And we’ve gone a whole 146 NM!!!
Time sure flies when you’re having fun! The above picture was taken 2 days ago-and believe it or not it is the first time this entire season that the mainsail has been up and w/enough wind to make a whopping 4 kts! We took it and reveled in the silence. Rory’s motor has been getting used entirely too much. The kicker is that to get to some of the smaller islands (and I mean teeny tiny) on the barrier reef and specifically to anchor there one needs calm winds. Sailing & calm winds=nope! Unless you take into account the time we were coming back from Ranguana Cay and the ‘calm’ winds picked up to 25-28kts; with 3/4 of the headsail out only, going downwind, we were doing 6-8 kts in steep waves; a lot like Lake Michigan on a windy day.
So, let’s catch up. So in the last posts we’ve introduced Ken, Sheila & Jenna on Silver Lining; we’ve been pretty much hanging out w/them since Dec 14. Caught music @BubaWubas, traveled to Ranguana, Laughing Bird & South Long Cocoa Cays, celebrated Xmas Day & New Year’s Eve, traveled to Pelican Cays and are now back in Placencia. It’s a real treat to share experiences w/like minded souls. Being w/Jenna makes one feel young again (think her thoughts are different 🙂 )
Ranguana Cay, w/an awesome beach bar.
D’s first attempt at free diving and taking pictures w/the GoPro on South Long Cocoa Cay
New Year’s Eve back in Placencia, where subsequently all the women in the group caught awesome colds 🙁 Yes, I’m the geek.
Motored north to the Pelican Cays and stayed on a mooring ball in 60′ of water. The meals at Hideaway Caye in the Pelicans were wonderful; Dustin & his 11 yr old daughter Ama dive for & spear all the fish and lobster and ‘grab’ all the conch. Kim does all the cooking, they’ve been on the island 20 years now.
Dustin giving a conch cleaning tutorial.
And drum roll please!!! D’s first fish caught of the trip per Dustin’s guidance. They are Lane Snappers and were caught w/conch bait on the bottom @60′. Did they ever taste good! However, 6 days later and we’re still finding fish scales in the oddest parts of the boat.
Now we’re back in Placencia to do ‘chores’ as Sandy(HBDay!) put it. Us & Rory only get a 30 day ‘pass’ into Belize; you need to re-up every 30 days, and pay a whole bunch more $$$. It is not inexpensive to sail in Belize. Our day consisted of taking the Hokey Pokey water taxi (can’t make it up); getting a taxi ride w/Papi, a gentleman whose dreads are hip length and was a wealth of knowledge of his community; taxi was shared w/4 other cruisers, 2 Canadians, 2 French. They were initially checking into the country and needed to do immigration, port authority, customs, agricultural health and personal health stops. We only needed the first three. We waited for them; then Papi took us to his neighbors place for lunch, a true Belizian meal. Chore #1 done! D needed to procure some diesel fuel to feed Rory since her motor has been working so hard. Fuel is also needed for the generator to make electricity when the sun isn’t shining and equal in importance to make water. Chore #2 done! Taxes prep (D) and blog prep (K) round out chores #3 & #4. Chore #5, provisioning will take place in the next couple of days.
The French couple from taxi ride, Françoise & Jean moved their boat to the lagoon where we are anchored, too many boats out in the main anchorage and like us, they did not enjoy the roll. Had them & Ken and Sheila over for sundowner hour last nite and had a wonderful time. You remember what we always says ‘this traveling by sailboat is ALL about the people!’
Do we have any pictures of the above – nope. Why, cause we’re idiots?!? We will try to do better.
10 Jan, 2024
26 Dec, 2023
The Journey…
HappyMerryHappy – Holidays Xmas New Year!!!
Want to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season filled w/love, joy & laughter; family & friends; food & drink.
Never take anything for granted and seek joy in everything you do.
