Baru, Colombia

So tranquil, in fact, our motor on our dinghy has decided to quit running.  So, more than likely, we will have to make a trip in to Cartagena to have it checked.

Then, when we got back to the boat, we decided to go into Baru for some supplies.   Since our dinghy motor is not running, Sonny rowed us to shore, we walked to the village, about an hour walk, got our bread and supplies, then walked back.

Then, this afternoon, Dave and Sherry on S/V Soggy Paws arrived in the anchorage, so we went visiting them and Dave and Sharda on S/V Morgan nearby.   Swimming, of course.   So good to be back in the clear water!

We get a lot of exercise when our motor is not running on our dinghy.

The motor ran very good.  We went to Baru, several miles away, but when we started the motor to return, it was sluggish again.  So, more cleaning is necessary.

Roberto and Carmen arrived back from Cartagena this morning, and invited everyone in the anchorage up to their house for a potluck dinner.  It was very good company.  Carmen gave me a new gecko for our boat.   We named her, Carmelita.

Kay went to Cartagena with Carmen.  The water taxi was supposed to arrive at Valentina at 5:30 a.m., but arrived after 6.   The taxi was full of people, but our next stop, we picked up at least 50 apple boxes full of the local fruit going to market.   The boat was loaded down.
We arrived in Cartagena after 7, and began searching for all of the items on our list.   We were taking the bus back and it departs at noon, so we have a few hours for shopping and a quick stop to Carmen's mother's house.   I got to meet her and Carmen's sister.  Very nice people.
After doing our shopping, we arrived back at the bus for our return trip home.  There were lots of people for the small bus, and lots of bags and boxes to pack.  The people of Baru have to have everything transported to their village by bus or boat.
	There was even a huge, armoire that rode in the front of the bus.
It was an exciting trip home.
After the bus got off the ferry to cross the water, not much further down the road, the bus got stuck in the mud.   Really stuck.
We had to get off, the men went gathering big rocks and took turns digging the rocks in the road with a pitch-fork in an attempt for the bus to be able to pass by.   Finally, after much time, the bus made it past the mud hole.   Then, a few miles later, we came to the sandy beach.   It is about 300 yards of deep, soft, sand on the water's edge.  Slip Sliding Away......we made it through again.    The bus is not pretty, but she is tough.
She got us safely home, five hours later.

It was a long day and I was so pooped.  Bedtime came early on Valentina tonight.

When we had our hard bimini made, we incorporated our stern rail into the arch, leaving two metal plates on the cap rail with a total of 9 holes.  So, we took off the unnecessary plates, filled the holes with bungs, then, started filling bungs in the cockpit.  (Bungs are a round piece of teak, glued to the top of a screw to hide the screw, and to protect from water).  By the afternoon, we had replaced a total of 59 bungs.  

When we bought Valentina, she needed a lot of bungs replaced in the teak cockpit, and we are just now doing it.  Just one of those jobs you keep putting off.

Sonny worked on the dinghy motor again.  It is running good now.

So, back to varnishing......I am out of my varnish from the US, so I am using some Colombian varnish.   I opened the can, and the varnish is thin, and blood red.   Yikes!   I carefully put a coat on the cap rail.   It has a reddish color to it.   Not sure, at this point, what my next step will be.

Sonny went fishing this morning with Roberto and Pelo, but, again, not much luck.   But, he sure had a good time anyway.

While washing dishes tonight, I checked the water gauge, and it did not move at all.   We are almost out of water.

Perfect timing.....the clouds started building, and the rain started coming.  We, again, filled our 100 gallon water tank tonight with the showers. 

There was a break in the rain, so we hung out the sheets, hopefully to dry.   But, just minutes later, the rain began again.  We brought the sheets down below and have them draped throughout the boat to dry.   Cruising is not always easy, but it is always exciting.   We just realize how precious water is, and when there is an abundance, we take advantage of it.

This morning, we arranged with a local lady to make us some huevo arapas.   An arapa is a cornmeal  batter deep fried, like a flat pancake.  Then, removed and an egg poured inside and fried again.   It is not very healthy, but it sure is delicious with ketchup and hot sauce.

Today is Monday, and, in Baru, that means.....potluck at Roberto and Carmen's.   There were two other boats in the anchorage, S/V Que Linda! and S/V Sonjola.   We all had a good time, it is nice to get together with other cruisers and Roberto and Carmen are such good hosts, and good friends.

Another good day in paradise.

Roberto and Carmen invited Que Linda! and us for dinner.   She is a wonderful cook.  We had pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy with a salad.

I measured on the chart and it was over 9 miles.  We walked down the single land dirt road from Baru towards Cartagena.  An occasional motorcycle taxi would pass us, but you must have a four-wheel drive vehicle for this road.

Saw lots of lizards, forsaken flip-flops, crabs running to their homes, different birds, pelicans, sea shells, and deep sand. 

He picked us up at our boat at 6 a.m. and we arrived in Cartagena around 7 a.m.   The launcha returns at 9 a.m. (supposedly), so we had two hours to shop for everything we need.

The only problem was that nothing opened until 8 a.m.   So we felt like we were on a game show, with one hour to shop, in three different stores.

But, we got everything we needed and were back at the water taxi in time.

Sonny pulls the boat around with a line, so we are in the direct sun for our solar panels to get maximum solar energy.   When he pushed the up control pedal on our windlass today though, it did not work.  So we took our bed apart, (of course, the controls are under there) and started to try to find the problem.

Today, our priority is the anchor windlass.   We have a Lighthouse windlass and installed it five years ago and have been very happy with it.  But now, the foot pedal to raise the anchor on the windlass is not working.   So, we will need to go to the internet and get an email or phone number off the web, so we can contact Lighthouse. 

We did.  We called them and they were most helpful.   They called us back and told us exactly what to do to correct the problem, and we did.  Thankfully, we do not have to order any parts.   And, it is working.  Very good customer service.

It rained last night, so again, we filled our water tanks, so today I am going to wash our sheets and dirty clothes.  One advantage out here, you just don't have a lot of dirty clothes.   But, that is my least favorite chore while cruising.

We swam and then, Don, on Wind Dancer purchased a new Garmin GPS and came over for some of our waypoints to Panama.

Then, a new boat came in the anchorage, S/V Mikai.  We had briefly met Kenny and Jessie before in Baru.   Kenny said he plays the harmonica and Jessie plays the keyboard, so we have been planning on getting together when our paths crossed again.  

When we were swimming over to welcome them, they asked to come over to their boat later.   So, we did.

They have a 1978 54' Formosa, that has been completely restored and just beautiful.  (She is also for sale).

We continue to be amazed at what people have on their boat.   Under their large settee table, they have a full size electric piano keyboard that slides out.

Kenny plays the blues harmonica and bends the notes.		Sonny has been wanting to learn to do that, so Kenny showed him how.   It is so good to get with other musicians and play together.
	Jessie plays the keyboard beautifully, and accordion.   She is from Belgium.

So, no we do not get bored.   Our days are filled, or.....as much as we want them to be.

In this photo, Roberto's house is on top and the Caballero's is on the water.

They came out to the boat to visit, and also Jorge and his guest Julio.

Martha invited us back to their house for lunch.   They were having....tongue.   After I gulped, we accepted the invitation.   She said it was one of her favorite foods.   I told her we would try it, we have never had it.

So, Martha and I swam to her house, and the guys followed in the dinghy.  She needed a t-shirt to protect her from the sun while swimming, so she traded her hat and cover-up with Gilberto and she took his cap and t-shirt.  He was a good sport.

Jorge said his favorite parts of the cow are.....the tongue, and the tail.   Not sure I am up for the tail, yet.

Very, very good people.  We are so thankful we have met them.   If, and when, I ever have to have surgery on my neck for my herniated discs, I would have Dr. Gilberto do it.

Today, we took our dinghies and went (20 minutes) to Playa Blanca.   It is a very pretty beach, lined with shade tents and chairs.

We played in the beautiful water and ate a fish dinner on the beach, with patacones, rice, and salad for 15 mil. (~ $8 US).  It was very good.

You could even get a massage for 20 mil (little over $10) also.

We enjoyed the beach, then headed back to our boats in our dinghies.

The sunsets have just been beautiful lately.

So, today, we just stayed on the boat and read and relaxed.   Did not even get our dinghy down today.

We went to S/V Runner tonight for dinner, along with S/V Que Linda.  Very good meal, spaghetti, salad, and toast, with Key Lime pie for dessert.

We went out today for a sail....but, the wind forgot to show up.   So, we sailed a little, then motored a little.......before we headed back to our anchorage.   It is good to get out again though.

We wanted to catch fish, but only caught a big power boat, who passed near us on our stern and snatched our lure.   The line sure did whiz loudly before it finally broke.

Life is good, we are so thankful to be able to be out here, living our dream, enjoying life each day, and admiring God's creation daily.

Thanks for cruising along with us.