Ram Marina – Rio Dulce, Guatemala

We got back to the boat on Thursday. I know you are all curious how the boat fared while we were away. Well, there was a ten minute hunt through the cockpit for the hidden key. Finally it was located, Randall opened up the door and a thick mass of trapped moldy air came rolling out to say, “Welcome Back, Suckers.”

Randall sanding Foxtrot’s bottom paint

“Remember that smell,” he says. “Yes. Oh yes,” says I. We stood a minute, me considering escape but Randall, ever brave in the face of hazardous air, water or food, went in for the initial assessment. “Not too bad,” he called from the dank interior. It took us two full days of full-on cleaning but Foxtrot is looking herself again on the inside. We are about half-way through the bottom job.

More sanding

At least we aren’t doing something like this.

Best news of all, there is an English lass and lad about Lily’s age at Nana Juana. Lily will be spending her afternoons playing while we finish up boat projects. I try to stick around the boat so I can be sent on errands to purchase supplies and simultaneously mangle Spanish past the point of recognition. Still, I find this fun.

Also I downloaded pics today in order to post a few of the boat-work-in-progress and found a bunch of family pictures which I had forgotten I took. It was fun to re-live our fun family time. I do keep wishing I had taken a photo of Jake and Kelsey holding their new kittens and a few of their very cool Taos abode. Alas, the Taos weekend went too fast with me losing a day sleeping off a two-beer hangover. Yeah, I know. What sailor can’t drink two beers?

The wheelbarrow might not be baby-proof but Lily kept a sharp eye on her Ryder.

Mom, Dad and Ryder

Apple picking crew at work

Vinny, Rachael and Ryder three wheeling.

Tiger Paw, Lily and Teardrop

Earthship under a pretty sky.

Toni about to soak her feet at the hot springs.

Walking back from the hot springs to the John Dunn Bridge, Taos.

Lunch Time