Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Los Testigos to Margarita







Alarm set for 4 a.m. on Monday, the 17th, hoping to haul anchor and be underway by 4:30. Woke up to rain and wind gusts of 35 knots. Snuggled back in bed for another hour and then left around 6 a.m. in a light drizzle. A very, very long day. It was a downwind sail (which we don't sail very well in) with 4 to 6 foot seas, and an occasional 10 footer thrown in. Who wishes anyone following seas???
Dropped anchor around 4:30 in the afternoon, after turning the motor on for the last two hours just to get there. Richard from Slow Dancing stopped by to say hi and bye. They were checking out and heading out the next day, but he gave us a few helpful pointers. The main one being here - lift it, lock it, or you will defiinitely lose your dinghy, no exceptions.
Had a bit of a rolly night and then headed into Marina Juan the next morning to drop our paperwork off with Juan, who is a charming man and so very helpful. Had to go back at 3:30 so that the captain could sign in and give a fingerprint (the US makes everyone else do it, so Venezuela does it now too), and then wait to pick the rest of the paperwork up at 5:30. Decided to have an early dinner at the Sunset Bar. Fish and chips dinner, two beers and a tip, all for $12 US!
Decided we would take the Friday shuttle in to the grocery/mall. What a mistake - the Friday before Xmas, what were we thinking? Did provision with beer, wine and produce - what amazingly low prices for everything! Wine, $2 a bottle, beer, 45 cents a can. They box everything up for you at the grocery store and it's sent back in a separate truck where either Alvis or Pedro helps you load it into your dinghy. Not a lot of places that are safe to walk around here, but we have walked around a bit. Leaving Monday, December 24th for Juangriego on the north shore of Margarita, spend a day or two, and then head up to Blanquilla for some hiking, swimming, snorkelling and beaches! ~~/_)~~

No comments: