Heading South to Nicaragua

Late November into December 2005

Sunday November 27, 2005

We got the dinghy stowed on board fairly early in the morning, so we had time to rest before we upped the anchor at 10:30 AM and headed out of the bocana.  We crossed the bar into the open Pacific at 11:05 and followed our track of three years ago south to the Gulf of Fonseca.  Kimtah (Dick and Gail aboard) crossed the bar just ahead of us and although we cut the corner closer than they did, they were soon way out in front in their power boat.

Today we motored all day, although we had light - but good - wind for a time increasing our speed to almost 6 knots.  After dark we got treated to a pod of dolphins.  They stayed with Lanikai for almost an hour writing pretty designs in the highly phosphorescent water.  We turned into the Gulf of Fonseca just before midnight and anchored Monday morning about 3AM behind Isla Conchaquita.

Tuesday November 29, 2005

Yesterday was a day of resting and repairing.  In the morning Bill fixed a few minor glitches discovered in our day of motoring then we dinghied over to Kimtah for a long afternoon visit and ended up returning to Lanikai in the early evening, just long enough to turn the hamburger that had been thawing into a spaghetti sauce.  We took it, plus fresh bread that I had made, back to Kimtah.  With noodles that Gail cooked and fresh parmesan cheese that she had grated we had an enjoyable feast.  A short time of star gazing and we returned home to bed.

Today Bill spent much of the day cleaning out the freezer cooler which is first in line for the raw water cooling to the engine.  It was quite clogged and he got lots of salts out of it by blowing water through it and soaking it with vinegar.  I constructed a Nicaraguan flag which we will need to fly when we enter that country.

Monday December 5, 2005

We upped anchor on Wednesday morning and explored around Isla Conchiquita and over to the mainland, traveling along the mainland to the little village of Las Playitas which we had visited by car earlier in the year.  The anchorage off the village looked too tight for us so we continued on to Isla Meanguera, anchoring between the big island and its little neighbor.  The anchorage here was much calmer when the afternoon winds picked up.  Thursday we took up the floor in the aft head to get a better shot at the leaking prop-shaft seal and Bill got it to stop dripping although we discovered a crack in the plastic tightening ring. 

Friday we upped anchor at 2AM to move on to Marina Puesta del Sol in Nicaragua.  We had great wind and the current with us as we exited the bay.  The sailing was great for a few hours when we finally shut the engine down and realized that our speed did not drop.  We had a nice 4 hour sail before the wind dropped out.  Thirty minutes later the wind was back up but we were close to the turn-in point to Puesta and were too lazy to set up the jib again so we motor-sailed with the main.   By 2PM we were tied up to the dock and the officials were on board doing paperwork to check us and the boat into their country.

Friday and Saturday there was a big fishing tournament at the marina here.  We met some of our fishing friends from El Salvador and enjoyed the free Flor de Caña rum with coke both evenings, provided by the Flor de Caña folks.  The first evening the marina even provided delicious snacks to go with the drinks.  The second evening was there banquet and awards ceremony for the participants, so we ate back on Lanikai after watching the weighing of the fish with rum and coke in hand.

Yesterday, Sunday, Bill spent some more effort on the prop seal that started leaking again when we restarted the engine after our sail.  It is not leaking much while we sit here at the dock, but any leak is obnoxious, especially as we plan on being off the boat for a few weeks. 

Today Bill wired up the bilge alarm switch so that it would also activate the bilge pump.  Now there are no worries as we travel.  Travel plans are being postponed for a few days as Gail has gotten real sick over the day and we will wait until she recovers before heading out on buses.  Bill and I walked over to the local bar/restaurant and enjoyed a few cheap beers while visiting with the owner.  We also got the bus schedule from him so, now we know how to get into town without using the Puesta del Sol shuttle which only runs on Tuesdays.

Bill also got the hotel’s wireless service working out on the boat although he has to sit in the cockpit to surf the web.

Tuesday December 6, 2005

Last evening two more sail boats arrived from El Salvador, Adventuress and Blue.  We joined them at the beach pool to watch the sunset with a little wine.  When we got there leatherback turtles were hatching in a protected area and we watched the little ones come out of the sand.  They were gathered up by workers from Puesta.  The turtles were sent off to the sea about an hour later, after they were swimming strongly.

This morning Bill worked more on the prop-shaft seal.  It was installed not quite perpendicular to the shaft after out latest haul out and some ridges had formed in the sealing part.  All has been straightened out, but it now leaks a little when the motor is running and slightly less when sitting still.  The seal is getting old and the ring that tightens to the shaft is now cracked in several places.  Bill used a hose clamp to keep it together and tight until we can get a new one.

Wednesday December 7, 2005

Today was cloudy and since Bill has internet working on the boat we are using more electricity than the solar panels can make, so we plugged the boat into shore power.  Bill spend some time today trying to remove the bolts that fix the shaft to its coupling and hence to the engine. 

He got one out cleanly but the second was broken inside of the coupling so tomorrow an "easy out" will need to be used to get out the bolt piece.  This all needs to be done in preparation for installing a new shaft seal that, we hope, can be brought down by cruisers or friends traveling stateside for the Christmas holidays.

Tonight we again went to the beach and more turtles were hatching.  After they hatched we waited around for them to be placed in the sea.  We helped to put them into the ocean and redirect them if they washed back in.  In short order all had disappeared into the waves.

Friday December 9, 2005

We have now been here a week.  Today we both relaxed and took advantage of the internet connection to update our web page and get e-mails sent with photos.  I have spent much of the last two days playing with the many photos that we have taken in the last three months.  First step was to get photos ready for the web page for October and November.  Later I added photos to complete the photo albums on El Salvador.

Bill spent many hours yesterday working on the stuck bolt piece.  It is still there but he is slowly drilling it out.  All the work has left him sore and stiff.  We plan on heading inland via bus in the morning so he decided to leave the bolt alone until we return so that he will not be so stiff that he can not enjoy himself as we travel.