136 NM FROM ST MARTIN STARTING YESTERDAY
Our night run was peaceful with calm waters and around 4:00 AM we were skirting south of the twinkling lights on the Island of St. Thomas. We pulled into the anchorage of Ensenada Honda back at Culebra in the Spanish Virgins around 8:30 after traveling 136 NM. After napping we were ready to tender ashore and explore the town of Dewey. We found that the ferry from Farjardo on the northeastern tip of Puerto Rico had just arrived and day tourists flocked ashore looking for vans to Flamenco Beach. We stopped at Zaco’s Tacos for a most delicious lunch then deserted the island for a serene swim off Luis Pena’s Cay, a Natural Reserve island just west of Dewey. The waters are so lovely and warm this time of the year! I don’t even have to brace myself to jump in.
TUESDAY 04/03/2012 ON TO PATILLAS IN PUERTO RICO
49 NM
This morning set of for the southern coast of mainland Puerto Rico. The waters were so calm and beautiful; I had almost forgotten how blissful it could be.
Our destination, Patillas, was void of any anchored boats. We crept in between the submerged reefs, dropped anchor then went ashore to check things out. The homes were neat and tidy and there was a lovely park with permanent kiosks that looked to be open on weekends. After our walk we ambled through the park and found several tents right off the beach and stopped at the one open kiosk for an evening drink before returning to Quest. Well, at least that was our plan. A group of locals were singing, laughing, visiting and having a great time. They quickly took us under their wing and soon we were communicating through broken English/Spanish and signs. Thankfully Milli, who works for Jet Blue, came to our rescue and things got much easier for us. Our new friends operate a restaurant in San Lorenzo and have invited us for a good time on Thursday. It was well after dark, after a couple of drinks and after a night swim before we made it back to quest. This evening was truly what we wish for in our travels and we enjoyed every minute. And yes, Cheryl, I am going to learn Spanish this summer so pass on that information about the Guatemala language schools!
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| THE PATILLAS BEACH |
WEDNESDAY 04/04/2012 A NICE RUN TO PONCE, PUERTO RICO
39 NM
The good thing about returning to previously visited ports is that you kind of have the hang of it when you get there. Earlier in the day we had called the marina on the phone requesting a slip. Dan gave the fuel dock a call on the radio as we approached and found them busy fueling-up boats for the upcoming busy holiday weekend. No problem, we just dropped the hook and waited our turn. While Dan was pumping the fuel ($$$$), I headed for the office to check in and see if Enterprise had a car for us. By the time we had finished pumping the liquid gold into Quest and gotten her to the assigned slip, the Enterprise guy was there to shuttle me to their office while Dan finished hooking the boat up to power and water. Talk about efficiency! We got it down, folks!
THURSDAY 04/05/2012 PONCE, PUERTO RICO
Today was filled with the chores of laundry, provisioning and finding some extra engine oil in case our Quest develops an unexpected thirst. By early evening we were ready to take off in search our new found Patillas Beach friend’s restaurant.
Milli had written out the address and her phone number on a napkin that Dan proceeded to tuck into his pocket just before we all took a dip in the ocean on Tuesday night in Patillas. Off we went with our tattered and ragged direction for parts unknown. We opted to go east along the coast then up the windy little mountain road that would take us to San Lorenzo and Vicki’s restaurant, El Escondite. Traveling higher and higher up the mountain brought us past a lake, huge stands of towering bamboo, lush foliage, rivers and charming homes. All this was accompanied by the welcomed cooler temperatures and the chirping of the tree frogs. This was some of the most beautiful sights we had seen and we were so grateful to have chosen this route to our destination.
We made it almost to their doorstep but couldn’t quite find it, even after numerous stops to inquire from passersby. Finally we gave Milli a call on her cell and she talked us right to it. Don’t think we would ever have found it without her! Vicki and her husband treated us to some truly scrumptious Puerto Rican food. Nothing was pre-packaged or purchased frozen. The fried tostones patties were made from fresh plantains and the mofongo were rich with garlic and oil. Thanks so much for our taste of real Puerto Rican culture as well as its delicious foods.
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| VICKI AND HUSBAND WORKING IN THEIR KITCHEN |
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| JUST HANGING OUT WITH THE LOCALS |
FRIDAY 04/06/2012 PONCE TO JOYUDA ON PUERTO RICO’S WESTERN SHORE
47 NM
With a great weather window approaching on Saturday for crossing to the Dominican Republic we moved on to the western coast of the island to be ready for an early start. We did wake up to quite a surprise in the slip nest to ours. a boat was tied up in the slip next to Quest when we returned from our escapades last night, all nice and tidy. Well, this morning things were not looking so good. Sometime during the night, unbeknownst to us, the boat quietly sank and flipped. Holy cow! Let me remind you that it is Good Friday of Easter weekend and that even the marina office and fuel dock are closed today. Everyone is playing on this lovely Friday but this guy is really going to be unhappy when he arrives with his friends and family for a day on the water. We were off before anyone was able to make contact with him and Dan was bummed that we would miss all the excitement of raising the boat.
It is so nice to be back out on the water again and doubly nice to have the prevailing winds of the winter done and gone. The conditions are once again calm and delightful for a day’s sail. We are expecting our crossing of the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to be much more pleasant than the crossing from the west two months ago.
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| OOPSIE! |
We anchored in Joyuda, took a dip from the swim deck, barbecued on board and made an early evening of it in preparation for our long journey that will begin at sunrise tomorrow morning.
SATURDAY 04/07/2012 A LOVELY DAY UNDER NEAR-PERFECT CONDITIONS
Our long day began early as we pulled up anchor and were underway by 6:20. The weather was most cooperative and the seas were a lovely, boring calm. At one point this morning four dolphin joined in escorting the Quest for a brief period and we sighted yachts, fishing vessels and ships throughout the day.
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| OUR ESCORTS |
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| EVENING APPROACHING ON THE OPEN SEAS |
SUNDAY 04/08/2012 HAPPY EASTER TO ALL AS WE ARRIVE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
228 NM TRAVELED OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS
Throughout much of the night we were within sight of the lights of the Dominican Republic coast. It gives you kind of a warm feeling to see the welcoming lights. This is so different from our rough eastward crossing just two short months ago and I thank the “sea-gods” for making amends.
Before noon we were tied up at the Ocean World Marina’s fuel dock, waiting for DR Customs and Navy before taking on fuel to replenish our thirsty tanks. After their visit to the boat, Dan did immigration right at the marina office and we were ready to satiate Quest then move on to our slip.
The cooler temperatures (probably just under 80) with cloudy skies made for a comfortable afternoon but we did succumb to the inviting pool as we took a quick dip. Being Easter Sunday, we were not sure if our favorite little local restaurant would be open. Not to worry! As we approached Ahora on the beach we found it opened and welcoming. The beach was bustling with local families swimming, playing games and just generally enjoying their time together. We found a spot overlooking all this activity, sipped our fabulous mojitos and enjoyed an early supper. By 6:00 the beach had totally emptied out and everyone was heading home after a wonderful Easter weekend.
Back on Quest we made sure all the windows were closed and the hatch down in preparation for the anticipated rains. Good thing because the skies opened up and it poured down most of the night!
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