ISLA MUJERAS 2/4 - 2/10/2018

As most of you know, Chip, Ted and I made it to San Pedro, Belize late Sunday afternoon. The total distance was a little over 200 nm, plus whatever zig-zagging we did. On Monday I met with  Immigration, Customs, the Port Authority and Agriculture/Health, so we're all checked into Belize. We stayed in San Pedro the rest of Monday, all of Tuesday and headed for Cay Caulker first thing Wednesday morning. That was an easy 2.5 hour beam reach inside the reef. We're in Cay Caulker now.

What the Isla Mujeras to San Pedro trip reminded me of, is that although I'm grateful for ALL the people who have and will visit. Those who are willing to go on the "passages" are really special. They are volunteering to put themselves in situations where the weather, seas, boat and decisions, which are almost all beyond their control, can determine whether they have a boring trip at best, a completely miserable one, or worse. Of course, there is also the off chance it can be a very cool once in a life time experience. So far the passage makers have included the Hart's (3x), Al (2x, plus from the Gulf of Mexico to Hudson and half way back), Walt, Kathy R, Goose, Chip and Ted; with Delana, Kristy and Dayton's passage from Belize to the Bay Islands of Honduras coming up.

The week of 2/4 - 2/10 was one of transition at the marina. Eagle and it's crew of Bob, Lynn, Bobby, Kenneth and Sabrina took off for Cuba on their way to crossing the Atlantic and spending the summer in the Med. Gannymeade with Ron, Paul, Steve, Mia and Hunter are going to the Cayman Islands and then Panama; Terry on Sandman moved to a marina on the other side of the lagoon; and hotel guests, Jane and Victor, went back to their home and restaurant in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Plus, several other boats came and went after a day or two and a couple boats with younger people also arrived. Along with the latter, came some drama to entertain us older types while observing from our chairs at the hotel.

Some other stuff:

1. First of all, I want to thank Scott Jones' dad Joe. Joe spends his winters in Mahajual, MX. He looked into whether we could check-out of Mexico there, as well as planned on meeting us for drinks/dinner. Unfortunately, between me getting sick and too high of winds/waves that wasn't able to happen. We'll try again on the way back.

2. Quite a few cruisers, as well as some of the hotel guests, have had dental work done while down here. They've all gone to the same dentist and said she's great. Cleanings run $35, crowns $195 and one guy had a crown replaced and ten small cavities filled for $360. The savings in dental work could pay for a nice vacation.

3. It's been 11 days since I last worked out with Tabitha. That's going to change today.

4. I still haven't started my Spanish or breath holding classes. No real good excuses, so that has to change too.

5. Although for over two weeks we've had great weather, though a little windy at times, I'm reminded of the nights when the winds were gusting to 40 kts at the marina. If anchored, boats automatically turn into the wind. However when docked boats are stationary so the wind comes at some weird angles. Because of that, plus with so many boats in close proximity, you can lay awake at night and imagine hearing everything from moans to screams to talking, as the wind roars through all the rigging. Sometimes on Starship, if the wind is just at the right speed and direction the rigging and mast will begin to vibrate, which causes the entire boat to shake for just a second. All kind of cool.

This female sailor is on top of a mast on a classic sailing ship. She's probably around 200' above the water.

She's on top of the center mast. This was a German training ship that was anchored in the bay before and during Carnival. Two similar ones joined her, but I was sick then, so didn't get any photos. Coincidentally her name is Thor Heyerdahl, who is the adventurer/author that got me interested in sailing when I was in Junior High.

Besides these very different vessels, the bay has ferries, party boats, dive boats, more catamarans than I have ever seen in one anchorage and an assortment of monohulls, from ones worth up to a $1,000,000 to others that will never sail again.

I saw a documentary on this. This guy created an island out of plastic pop bottles, built a few buildings on it, added soil and planted plants. However, a storm pushed it up against a real island a few years ago. The guy still lives in the building with the blue tarp on it, but the government wants him to dismantle and dispose of it before 10's of 1000's of pop bottles break free.

This is at the resort next door, where I watched the last quarter of the Super Bowl. I was rooting for the Patriots. I like how they routinely stick it the NFL.

This is Juan who comes by every morning selling freshly squeezed orange juice, as well as watermelon juice; green stuff, which is pretty good; and purple stuff, which is terrible. He charges $2.50/bottle. Not a bargain, especially since I think he waters it down. But it is good and convenient.

I can't remember what these are called, but one of the hotel guests and his buddies bring back a bucket of them everyday. They are good. Fishing is one more thing I really haven't gotten into yet.

This rag is tying the lower power line to the upper one, so that trucks are able to drive underneath the lower one. I've also seen lines adjacent to sidewalks where pedestrians have to duck in order to get by.

Now and then the hotel staff will go to the fish camp next door and bring back what's left of the lobsters after the tails are removed. They get quite a bit meat from the heads and legs, but it also takes quite a bit of work.

This is for Don O.

Camouflaged bases, what a concept. If the Hudson Boosters ever need a place to donate old equipment I can look into it.

This is the softball complex. Really not too bad.

More wildlife at the marina.

Kids all stopping at the local convenience store for after school snacks. This entire culture seems to be big snackers.

This small lionfish was also found at the marina. They are an invasive species and are really hell on the reefs. The spines are poisonous. They're trying to develop a market for the meat, but as you can see they aren't very appetizing.

Live entertainment on the 7:00 AM high speed ferry from Isla Mujeras to Cancun. I was on it to go shopping. I hate shopping under the best of conditions and this was probably the worst (i.e., foreign language, foreign currency, not knowing where to go, six stores, two ferry rides, four taxis, etc.). Plus, my success rate was less than 50%.

View of downtown Isla Mujeras from the ferry.

This is Michael and Manuela from True Grit downloading movies on Starship. I think I have over 200 now. Michael, a German, is a huge John Wayne fan and has over 80 of his movies.

Mike lives in North Carolina. He bought Shirley from a local guy several years ago and comes back here to use it for a couple months every winter. He's the one who catches the buckets of fish.

This is Whipper Snapper, a Wharum homebuilt catamaran. Clay, Hudson and Brit (unfortunately not pictured) sailed here from Key West. They plan on staying in Mexico awhile and then heading down to Belize.

These Texans were at the marina for less than 48 hours, but were a lot of fun. They had taken their 35' power boat from Key West to here, via a fuel stop in Cuba. By the time they figured in all the fees, 220 gallons of gas cost $1500. I had never seen a six pack on a beer belly before.

This crack in the Texan's hull was most likely caused by hitting steep waves at the 30 mph they cruised at.

This is Lynn, Bob, Kenneth, Sabrina and Bobby aboard Eagle before departing for Cuba, across the Atlantic and summering in the Med.

This is Zbyszek (Steve), the Polish anarchist;Australian Bri; and Vitto the Italian onboard Workshop. They are also headed for Belize but are going to spend more time in Mexico first.

This was probably the first day in Starship's life that it had a positive cash flow. The hotel owner asked if I would take these ten Lutherans from Mankato, MN on a 3 hour sail. The wind was perfect and the water was beautiful. They had a blast and it was good to see what I'm doing through their eyes. It reminded me how grateful I should be.

Some fellow cruisers, along with the hotel owner in yellow and Inga in the upper left. "We" use the communal kitchen to make dinners three or so nights a week for 6-10 people. I do dishes, which is about the only thing in a kitchen I'm good at.

Since I have been regularly taking people snorkeling, this is the get up I wear, so I don't have to mess with sun screen, and/or if I have the urge to rob a convenience store.

From the Isla Brewing Company.

Chance and Katie talking to the brewery owner.

The Isla Brewing Company.

Sunset from the hotel roof. The sun has since begun setting behind the trees and masts.