While We Are Here....

We are in Central America and they are on" island time". It is just how it is here. We are waiting for our 6 batteries and we cannot leave here without them. Patience is the mantra in these parts. For excitement and shopping needs we take our small dinghy to the town of Fronteras. It is a bustling town. We are dodging dogs, kids, street hawkers, big cattle trucks and speeding tuk-tuks.  

Big speakers are part of the landscape. Usually there is a competing set on the other side of the street. 

Along the way we stop to check on our canvas work. Up the stairs is Hector's shop. He is an up and coming canvas man. He and his staff are hard workers as are most of the Guatemalan people we have met.

When was the last time you conducted business with Western Union? Right, we haven't either, ever.  This is how we pay for our batteries. There are lots of people here wiring money to someplace?

After a day of shopping and wiring funds we make a visit to the Jake Brake  Saloon.  A cold beer taste good while we listen to the Jake Brakes of the big trucks coming down off the bridge.

 While we sip our cold beer we decide that we might as well take our boat to the boat yard. We had planned to do all the maintenance on our boat once we got to Florida but here we sit anyway waiting for our batteries. Lucky for us the boat yard has room for us. A few days later we cast off our lines and head upriver to Abel's boatyard.

Our friend Craig volunteers to go along and help with the haulout. It is going to be a tight squeeze. Our boat measures 23'7" at it's widest point. The boatyard bay is only 24'5" wide. Not much room to spare. Aren't they cute! They decided to dress alike for this outing. Maybe they thought it was a yacht race?

On the way to the boatyard we pass under the Jake Brake Bridge. That's not its real name but it could be.

We pass locals fishing with hand lines and nets. Finding dinner is a family affair. Some have outboards but many use the locally made dugout canoe with home made paddles.

No matter how tall a bridge is, when you pass underneath it you think you will hit it with the top of the mast. We have tons of clearance here.

But the power lines are a bit closer. 

On our way we pass the local water taxi stand.

There are small marinas tucked into the jungle. 

Boats are beginning to leave the Rio. Once hurricane season ends at the end of November, many sailors head for new distant shores but we are surprised by how many sailors stay put right here in Guatemala. 

OK, here is the small space we have to squeeze into.

No room to spare.

It is so tight we are holding our breath.

And unfortunately one of the straps on the boat lift has a little metal protrusion that catches on our fiberglass and peels it back as if it was a can opener. Ouch!

No other mishaps and we are on our way to our temporary dry dock spot.

Chilo, the yard boss operates the travel lift with this little remote control box. A guy's dream for sure.

The work begins. 

The bottom is treated with Diablo, a chemical paint remover and then scraped.

We have a few coats of paint to be removed. Two days of scraping and sanding and we finally see the original primer paint. Whew, glad we didn't have to do that!

First coat of primer and then three days of rain

In this work yard there are no safety requirements. Steve should be wearing a hard hat and steel boots. He doesn't but at least this time it is only a stubbed toe.

Some people live on their boats while they are in the boat yard. We tried that once and decided we would rather tent camp in the Mojave Desert in August.
So lucky for us, there is a hotel within walking distance of the boat yard.

It is a short scenic walk from the boat yard to the hotel. The little village we walk through is called San Felipe. It is the home of the historic Castillo de San Felipe, a historic Spanish Fort dating back to the 16th century. It was built at the narrowest part of the river to protect  Spanish ports from Pirates, mostly English pirates.

Hot, freshly made corn tortillas are available for purchase along the road

The hotel restaurant

 Hotel views of Lago de Izabal

Pool water is a bit chilly but pretty to look at.

Excellent limeade.

The room decor is our favorite.

Outside our room....

 

Back to the boatyard, it has finally stopped raining and we can paint. 

 Wax

 And get our new graphics applied....oops

 View behind our boat at the yard

The night before we put the boat back into the water we decide to stay on the boat. We give up our air conditioned room and move back onboard. Our boat is dirty and we know there are lots of insects about but we have no idea until that night when the yard security lights come on. Thousands of Mayflies come out to enjoy their very short lives. By about 8pm they are dropping like Mayflies all over our boat.

 

 Fortunately we have our screens up and they remain outside....everywhere!

 The next morning is splash day. We do not even have time to wash away the dead bugs. We sweep as many as we can off the deck and then we are back in the dreaded travel lift. We are on uneven ground and the boat hangs too close to one side. We pack as many of our bumpers as we can fit between us and the lift

 The high side has plenty of room. Fortunately as we are moved forward it all evens out.

 And before we know it we are back in the water and sitting on Lago de Izabal where we go for a much needed swim. We get our water maker up and running and wash the bugs off the decks.

 And then a much needed nap.

We are now back home at Mario's Marina. We are still waiting for our batteries but we heard they are in customs in Honduras. No inkling how soon we can get them but while we wait we are going to Tikal to check out some awesome Mayan Ruins. Photos coming soon.

Adios 

Steve and Anne

S/V Fine Line