Sunday, April 19, 2009 1:21:28 PM
Location: Santa Barbara de Samana
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It is Sunday already, and the town is at rest.  It is one of the few days
I've seen it so quiet.  All the spring break festivities are gone, the disco
trucks and party goers have gone.  There aren't any cruise ships here
either.  So, there is peace.

Three new boats came in over the past couple of days.  One is a nice
sailboat from Rhode Island with a nice couple on board.  They are heading
north too, so I'm thinking we will probably go together.  We had Pizza
together last night.  One is a big DeFever that is now on a mooring behind
me.  We briefly met them last nigh on our way to the Pizza place and they
seem nice too.  I'll probably go over tonight for drinks.  The last is from
Holland and I haven't met them yet.  They are sleeping off their overnight
passage.

I spent yesterday morning fininshing up the sanding on the pilot house table
trim and got a sealing coat of varnish on.  Then I broke out the Hooka and
dove on the bottom.  My goodness, it was infested with baby barnicles.  It
took until I turned blue from the cold to do one side and the propeller
area.  I bought a 3mm shorty suit when in San Francisco and it is just too
light.  I should have bought a 5mm suit and a hood.  I am surprised the
water here is not warmer.  This morning I put another coat of varnish on the
table and went diving again.  I got the other side done and went after the
poor dinghy.  The bottom of the dinghy is just coming apart.  It looks like
all its skin is falling off.  There were baby barnicles on it too, so I went
after them.

Whenever I'm scraping barnicals, a school of small fish come to feed.  Today
the water was clear enough to see the second tier of larger fish swimming
around and I even caught sight of something about 3 feet long.  Probably a
baracuda.

The weather is not cooperating with a departure this week, so it looks like
I'll be here yet another.  No complaints though. It is a nice place to hang.
I'll change the oil in the genset and dive on the bottom again before
leaving.

New plans and directions are kind of taking form in my mind about the near
future.  I found a small older motorcycle that weighs only 300 pounds and
can be lifted up beside the dingy and tied down.  It is a road and dirt
capable bike that I can use for basic transportation in the states and to
visit the kids and family.  But it is also capable of adventure touring on
the less-than-perfect roads in Mexico and Central America.  That would be
fun.  So if I can get one, I might head down to Guatamala's Rio Dulce and
park Jenny there for a while while I do some inland touring.  Sounds like a
nice adventure if I can pull it off.

For now, the plan is still to get to Brunswick GA and hang around that area
until November.  Then I'll head down around the keys and up to the Sarasota
and Tampa areas for Thanksgiving and Christmas to visit the kids and Mom.
There are enough boat projects to keep me busy until then.  Except for the
refrigerator, they aren't big, just need a West Marine store handy.
David
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