October 2005

Work and Rain

Tuesday September 27, 2005

We left for Antigua Guatemala late Sunday morning in the rain and since we had the fastest border crossing yet we arrived only slightly later at the hotel in Antigua than we usually do with our early morning departures.  Bill has spent much of the last two day at the internet café or on his computer in the hotel room.  He has managed to order a pile of goodies that are being shipped to our friend PJ so that he can bring them to us when he and Loretta visit.  Most of Bill’s time has been spent working on the Unisys project that has been shoved to the background the last two weeks while we worked on Lanikai.  As usual, we are enjoying the great restaurants and so far the rain that we had in El Salvador is still with us.

Thursday September 29, 2005

Bill continued to spend most of his time in Antigua at the internet café in communication with programmers at Unisys.  It has been rainy much of the time during our visit.  We did purchase 20 pounds of dark roast coffee beans to take back to El Salvador to some coffee loving cruisers.  The drive back to La Costa was through many rain showers some quite strong.  The roads had several small rock slides and a few downed trees.  We did not stop at our usual spot to eat but waited until we were closer to home and stopped in San Marcelino so that we would drive only the peninsula in the dark.

Monday October 3, 2005

We have continued to have lots of rain.  Although we had a dry morning on Friday, it rained all day Saturday and Sunday and is still raining as I write this on Monday morning.  Volcán Santa Anna blew out some ash on Saturday so yesterday Murray and Colette drove up to the area in hopes of seeing the volcano.  We tagged along too, but since the sky was completely gray and it rained and rained we could only smell the sulfur in the air as we got close to the volcano.  The road past the mountain was covered in volcanic ash and road crews were shoveling it off the road in the rain.  The roads of the peninsula had many flooded spots with locals even fishing with nets at the in the deeper water at the side of the roads. Many of the side roads were now rivers!!   We took the coast route toward Santa Ana with more downed trees than Thursday when last we passed along the road.  We returned by the main road thru San Salvador and there were even some small mud slides on the main road connecting the city with the airport.  Along the road out to the peninsula there was still lots of water.  Since it was dark, we could see into some of the open doors of the small homes; many had water over their mud floors. 

Tuesday October 4, 2005

We took another drive with Murray and Colette today.  It was raining quite hard as we took off toward San Salvador.  We did not make it all the way to the city as the mudslides off the hills were working hard at closing the road.  We drove back down toward the coast and on to Zacatecoluca for lunch and a little grocery shopping before returning out the peninsula.   We drove out to look over the boca before making the final pass into the hotel parking area.  The bocana looked wild; the rollers were big; the foam was brown.

Thursday October 6, 2005

Wednesday, with the rain slacking off some, Murray made the drive into the city.  He said that there were more mud slides on the main highway into town but there were large groups of workers trying to keep it opened.  There were still areas of flooding on the road and much flooding in the city.  Many manhole covers had been washed off; water was still spurting out of some.  The rain had cut back some in the morning but for the drive back it was pouring again.  He also commented on the poor people who had lost homes to the mudslides.  Their dirt floored corrugated metal shacks were washed down the canyons and families were standing by the side of the road, under plastic bags carrying mattresses and bags of the rest of their belongings.   The mayor of nearby La Herradura had written letters to each and every cruiser, passing them to Colette, asking for any help that we could give as money is badly needed to feed those whose homes have washed away by the flooded rivers.

Today Bill went with Murray and three other cruisers to Zacate and on their way back stopped at La Herradura to give the Mayor some money that had been gathered from the cruisers.  They were greeted by a group of officials that were most appreciative of the gift.  The money would go directly into beans, rice and eggs to feed the families at the evacuation shelters.  This area had received no help from the central government, but then we know that San Salvador and its nearby areas are also hard hit by the storm damage.  Many cruisers in the meantime had brought food, clothing and more money to Colette and Murray’s home for delivery tomorrow.

Thursday October 13, 2005

The rains have finally stopped.  There has been now rain since Sunday night and that was a fairly light shower.  The sky continues to be somewhat cloudy but plenty of the sun’s rays get through.  Monday Murray made it to San Salvador and picked up the repaired head to our genset and a special cell phone so that they can have e-mail at the house.  Bill tried to get the internet connection set up Monday night with no luck, but Tuesday after a call to the cell service center he got it up and running on his computer.  It took awhile, but by mid-afternoon he got it up on Tarazed’s old Windows 98 system.  Later in the afternoon Bill started the reassembly of the genset motor.  The reassembly was completed late morning after much hassle over the circulating pump for the antifreeze system.  It refused to run; after fluffing around with the pump the culprit turned out to be the switch!!!  The engine ran beautifully!!, yesterday and again this morning.  I am now looking for a replacement switch so that we can reliably know that the pump has power. 

Today Bill is spending the day on an overdue document that he promised to write for Unisys.  He has been steadily fixing bugs for them but has neglected the document part of the contract although the bug fixing has eaten up more time than he had planned when he signed the contract to work 1 or 2 days a week for them.

Tuesday October 18, 2005

We had a little rain Thursday night and then again (although even less) on Friday night; since then it has been dry.  Bill spent Friday morning again on his document.  In the afternoon he went over to Tarazed’s home to try to get a mail program working on their computer but failed totally.  It was decided that they really do need a modern computer.  While he was there and I had the boat to myself, I repaired both the mizzen and the main sail covers.  Since I had time left and the sewing machine out I made new covers for two of our cockpit cushions.  Saturday, Bill managed to fix the bad pump switch with a little WD40.  Then he tackled the dinghy light.  After cleaning it up, a little solder repaired the broken lead, four new batteries, and it again will light our dinghy at night.   I fixed a cover for the light so that it can be left installed on the outboard.  During all our rain water had gotten into it through the bolt hole where it attaches to the motor.  Leaving it attached to the motor seals up the whole, at least so we hope.

Yesterday (Monday), Bill dove into the water at high slack to fix the prop installation.  When the prop was reinstalled while we were out of the water Bill had somehow not gotten the cone insert and the prop lined up just right so the prop ended up being loose on the shaft.  Of course this was not discovered until he was running the engine after we were dropped back into the water.  We set up our little compressor so that he would have air below and started the genset to power it.  Bill removed cotter pin, and the nut just hand spun off.  He got the prop and its cone aligned correctly and the nut hand spun on, then ran out of air.  The compressor had died!!  He used the wrench to tighten the nut some and got a cotter pin in part way before the current and his lungs gave out.  This morning he repaired the compressor and again went under the boat to finish up the job that he started yesterday. 

Thursday October 20, 2005

Bill and I drove into the city yesterday.  He again spent several hours at the internet café while I read.  Bill continued a conversation with PJ about a computer for Murray and Colette, PJ had found both a laptop and a desktop style in their price range that he was willing to transport south.  Bill asked at the internet about purchasing a computer here in San Salvador and the café owner said that they had a line of computers that they put together, and yes they could install the English version of Windows XP.  The price was good and PJ will bring down an English keyboard, so the computer was ordered locally.  At the grocery store I purchased more than the usual amount to start stocking up for leaving the bay.

Hurricane Wilma is heading toward the Yucatan but so far has only produced high thin clouds and high humidity for us.  She is the strongest storm on record with 175mph winds.

Sunday October 23, 2005

Friday, Tarazed’s computer was not ready when we arrived in San Salvador to pick it up.  We walked over to the big mall to enjoy a coffee and finally a nice lunch.  We then returned to the internet café where Bill set up his computer to do e-mail and surf the web while waiting for the new computer to arrive.  The computer finally arrived at 2:30 but it was not completely set up.  Bill spent the next six hours downloading Windows fixes and getting them installed but windows had still not been “activated”.  Since the office was closed to get the license information and they could not figure out a way around having it, we left for home at 9:30 with no computer. 

Friday October 28, 2005

Wednesday we finally got Tarazed’s computer.  They had promised to put an English Windows XP on it but, of course, the copy they found was stolen and they had no key for it.  They did not understand the new Windows XP activation process.  We spent all day Tuesday in at the internet café before they finally admitted that they had no key.  Again we returned back to Lanikai after 11 PM.  Wednesday we went back and Bill used a good, legal copy of XP to get the machine running.  By 2:30 he had all the updates downloaded and we took the machine home to Murray and Colette.  Bill then spent several hours getting it set up to work on the internet thru their cell phone before we retired to the pool for an early evening swim. 

Monday was engine day as Bill topped off the diesel tanks, changed fuel filters to both engines and changed the oil in both engines as well.  Yesterday, Thursday, we worked on the kayak, sealing it up so that less water can get inside.  We left it in Tarazed’s yard for another day for the sealant to dry.  Progress is being made on getting Lanikai ready to sail again. 

Sunday October 30, 2005

Yesterday Murray arrived with 270 feet of new 3/8” chain for Lanikai.  He put it on his beach for us so that we could measure out 30 foot lengths to mark.  We then took it to Lanikai’s deck to add painted spots to the 30 foot markings.  Bill also spent some time readying the wind vane steering for use and I took the spinnaker halyard up the mast getting it into its mast head block.

Today was a day for relaxing.  Breakfast at the new restaurant - the Galley - and then back to the boat for reading and computer typing. 

Tuesday November 1, 2005

Yesterday was a day of problems.  We got the chain into the anchor locker and moved off the buoy.   After anchoring, with the engine still running to continue charging the batteries, its temperature began to climb.  No salt water was coming out the exhaust.  While Bill waited for the engine to cool down he tried to deploy the wind vane steering and discovered the rudder shaft was frozen into its tube.   To get the rudder unstuck the entire wind vane had to be dismantled so the tube could be taken into Murray’s shop for repair.  While dismantling it he discovered that one of the support pads was weak under the top layer of fiberglass.  Well, it took Murray with a torch to get the shaft out and while Bill was off getting the shaft out of its sleeve I checked out the bad pad.  The inner wood core was completely decomposed.  I removed the fiberglass top and cleaned out the sawdust left behind.  After Bill returned to check it out, I began layering fiberglass cloth in the shell to form a new pad.

Today we went into the city.  Bill spent some time at the internet café and I made a run over to Price Smart to stock up.  I mostly purchased meat but added a few more cans to the larder as well.  After our return from the city we enjoyed a few  beers with other cruisers at the hotel.

Saturday November 5, 2005

The wind vane is back on Lanikai except for the leg to the bad pad.  The pad has been repaired and a new block of wood cut so that leg is ready for installation this morning.

Boats are again leaving Bahia and the bar is cooperative this time of year.  We were even on the bar in our dinghy while Windsong and Soy Libre left.

Thursday we ran into Zacate to top up the propane, and get the oil changed in the car.  I did pick up a few more groceries and Bill spent a little time at the internet café but most of the time was spent getting the car serviced and ready for travel when PJ and Loretta arrive.   They are flying in Monday morning early.

Tonight we are to stay at Murray and Colette’s place to watch it and the animals while Murray made his every-90-day crossing of the border.  Bill is all set up with his two computers and great plans. 

Sunday November 6, 2005

Bill got his time on the computers and with the internet last night and this morning.  I took the opportunity to do some boat chores while I had the boat to myself.  Murray and Colette arrived home mid- afternoon and we sat around and visited and sang until late in the evening.  Bill from Mitä Kuuluu, with his boat in the yard, was there with his guitar.  Bill and Murray at one point took off to move Murray’s truck back to the hotel and got trapped for over an hour visiting with Marco, the hotel's owner.  Colette cooked up shrimp for all, but since the guys were gone, Bill (Mitä Kuuluu), Colette and I ate them all.