Ramble On - 10 Seasons To The Day

November 6, 2022

"Leaves are falling all around
It's time I was on my way
Thanks to you I'm much obliged
For such a pleasant stay
But now it's time for me to go
The autumn moon lights my way
For now I smell the rain
And with it pain
And it's headed my way"

Yes, the leaves are falling like crazy around us here in KC.  We are wearing long pants, long sleeves, jackets (at times) and "real" shoes aka not flip-flops!  We've had to turn on the heat at night!

"Ah, sometimes I grow so tired
But I know I've got one thing I got to do"

We've been stateside for 5 months this time.  We rushed back early in June so we could hold my mother's hand one last time.  We hugged family and laughed with friends.  We've filled our days with work, chores, music, fun, exploration, challenges, and some travel.  But it's time......  

"Ramble on
And now's the time, the time is now
To sing my song
I'm going 'round the world, I got to find my girl
On my way
I've been this way ten years to the day
I gotta ramble on"

As we prep to head home to our beloved sv Honey Ryder, I realized that November 6, 2013 we set sail for the Caribbean.  Making this our 10th season cruising!  WOW!  Link Here and There  Has it really been 10 seasons?  34 countries/islands, 10,000+ nautical miles later....I guess so.  *We should probably be planning to get our sea miles tattoos - more later on that.  

"Got no time for spreadin' roots
The time has come to be gone
And though our health we drank a thousand times
It's time to ramble on"

10 Sailing Seasons.  Are we tired of cruising?  NO.  There is still SO much to see and learn.  We do plan to move on to a new locale.  We've been in the Western Caribbean since 2019.  

"I ain't tellin' no lie
Mine's a tale that can't be told
My freedom I hold dear"

So what is our plan?  Well, we are going to bash our way back toward the Eastern Caribbean with the intent of returning to Trinidad for hurricane season 2023.  Of course the devil is in the details - cruising plans written in sand at low tide and all.....or something like that.    

"I guess I keep on rambling
I'm gonna, yeah, yeah, yeah
Sing my song (I gotta find my baby)
I gotta ramble on, sing my song
Gotta work my way around the world baby, baby
Ramble on, yeah"

I know I failed terribly on this blog the last few years.  I don't know if anyone will even read this.  We shall see.  I will try to do better.  What the hell, at the very least, when I am old and crunchy, I can go back and read it.

**Ramble On - Written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Warner/Chappel Music Inc - I intend no copywrite infringement.  I am artistically quoting some of their words to help share my thoughts and feelings....like all epic songs do for us!     

Still Cruising Season 9

I am so out of practice blogging that I published this blog several months ago but I published it under Beyond Burgoo - my food blog.  Ooops.  Link

March 24, 2022

Hello.  How is everyone?  It's been a long time since I blogged.  2019 to be exact.  Many excuses why, most not worth detailing.  I have missed writing.  I have missed you all.  

But here we are, our 9th cruising season.  Wow!  Can that really be?  

We are currently in Utila, the western most island of The Bay Islands of Honduras, approximately 20 nautical miles off mainland Honduras.  We arrived here February 27, 2022 from Rio Dulce Guatemala.  

We've not been to this particular Bay Island and we were quite keen to see and experience it.  When we came around to the Western Caribbean in 2019, we checked into The Bay Islands at Guanaja, the eastern most island.  We spend a couple of weeks there and then sailed to Roatan, the biggest and most developed of The Bay Islands.  Then we ran out of time and had to skip Utila and head for the safety of the Rio Dulce in Guatemala for hurricane season 2019, 2020 (COVID), 2021.

So far, we are really diggin' Utila.  The people are friendly and genuine.  Things ashore are fairly easy to navigate.  Many business owners who allows us to land and lock our dinghy at their docks.  That is not always the case in places we cruise to.  Easy trash disposal, provisioning, diesel, propane, water, etc....

I am going to keep this first one short so that is all for now. 

 

S2R2 - Well, We Have Come This Far - Santa Marta

Santa Marta water front 

December 31 2018

S2R2 looking sharp

S2R2 meeting

We are finding Santa Marta Colombia a very vibrant city.  I thought I would show you around.

We are staying in the IGY Marina.  This area is very famous for strong gale force winds.  The katabatic winds come screaming down the Sierra Nevada Mountains at night.  It is not uncommon to have winds in the 30's with gust in the 40's and 50's.  The other night it was howling.  I got up and turned on our instruments.  We had a gust of wind to 46 knots!  Nice to be in a marina when those winds kick up.  BTW - the marina staff is EXCELLENT!!!!  We have been treated SO well.

The Liberator Simon Bolivar

Writer Gabo Museum 

Being in the marina has allowed us to explore the city at will.  There are many Colombian's from other parts of Colombia here on holiday as well.

Proper coffee with sv Quicksilver

Shwarma 

Fresh juice - Pic by Samantha Pettitt

Mangoes cut and ready to eat - Pic by Samantha Pettitt

There are lots of restaurants and food stands.  More than once, we've eaten our way up and down various streets here.  The prices are low.  Actually, it is just dirt cheap here in terms of food.  "Cheaper to eat out" has been the general consciences among the S2R2 boats.  Example:  full meal - soup starter, meat, rice, salad, beans, plantain, and fresh juice =$10US for both of us.  Street snacky food is really, really cheap.  And YES, we eat it.  No issues!!  Fresh street juices made from real fruit are $2US for both of us with endless refills.  You can just stand there next to the juice guy drinking as much as you want.

S2R2 boats enjoying the night life of Santa Marta

Sharon sv Quicksilver in the heart of it all

Not far from the marina, there are two or three streets that are pedestrian only.  They are several blocks long.  There is also a "square." This is the epicenter of action at night.  Locals and tourist alike, stroll these areas, enjoying diner, drinks, and live performers.

Tom enjoying the sounds of Funky Band

In regard to the last item, live performers.  We have seen a couple of different live street bands that are excellent and a young tumbling/break-dancing troupe.

Tumbling / break dancing troupe

The street art is kewl.

Along the waterfront near the marina, there are tons of street vendors selling hats, t-shirts, Colombia, woven purses and other tourist items.

Conga line off the party bus

Colombians on holiday - party bus

SO vibrant!!