March, 2012 - WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK

After weeks at anchor with little or no rain we are forced to forage for drinking water.  This is one of the very few times we wish we had a water maker on board.  To obtain 45 US gallons takes three trips to town.  The total weight hauled is 450 lbs, but it is moved from store containers to boat jugs; store to dingy; dingy to boat; boat jugs to boat tank.  The total weight handled is 4 x 450 or 1800 lbs.  It is an all day job, for less then 1/2 boat tank of water.

Note to potential boat quests.  No long showers!  We are proud to say we can now shower in about 1 1/4 gallons each of water.  I say my super short hair keeps this average down, but Sandra claims that I have more hair overall (face and body).  I think voting on this issue will be split along gender lines.

At the store transfer the water to boat jugs.

Haul to dingy.

Hoist onto boat.

Siphon into the boat's tank.

February, 2012 - MORE ROATAN WEST END

We eat out; we eat in with Bon & Fran.  We do more snorkeling.  Life is good.

Chicken & beer at beach side restaurant.

Dinner aboard SV Passat II.

??? and Blue Tang

West Indian Sea Egg

School of Hog Fish???

Four Eye Butterfly fish.

Common Sea Fan

Pillar Coral

Coral Landscape

Spotfin Butterfly

Queen Angel

February, 2012 - WEST END ROATAN, HONDURAS

We motor-sail the entire way (2 1/2 days) from Puerto Morelos, Mx to Roatan, Honduras in very calm and settled conditions. 

Upon arrival we connect with friends Bon & Fran.  We have known them for over 30 years, but have not been face to face for about 20 years.  It was a great to re-connect with them again.  One thing for sure, it will not be as long before we get together again.

NOTE:  As a learning excercise I will be trying to identify the sea creatures I include in my posts.  This is a work in progress.  Please let me know if I make an error.  If I put ??? after the name I am unsure and would like your input.  Thx.

We set the staysail and triple reefed main and do not touch them for 2 1/2 days.

Sun rise.

Full moon lights our way at night.

Fran & Sandra grace the bow in West Bay, Roatan.

Bon & Fran, with Sandra in background.

Big Fish!

Spanish Hogfish or close relative.

Foureye Butterfly Fish

Stoplight Parrotfish

Harlequin Bass???

Great Barracuda

January, 2012 - TELUM RE-VISITED & XCARET

We take Steven to Telum, the site of the only excavated Mayan port.  You can see more pictures and details in our post on last years visit with son James and DIL Maria.


We then went to Xcaret, Mexico's "Disneyland".   We arrived just in time to float down the "Cenote", an underground waterway, before taking in the evening show. 

Steven at the north entrance to Telum.

Telum guard.

The main temple.

Steven & Sandra outside temple of women and fertility.

Palace of the rich and famous

We don life jackets and drift down the Cenote at Xcaret.   

The start is an above ground river.

A water fall provides a shower.

Steven & Sandra pause for a photo.

Light and air provided by "well" openings every few hundred feet.

As the sun sets we make our way to the auditorium for the big show.  The quality of the production rivals Broadway and the costumes are as good as any Los Vegas show.

Mayan guards the entrance.

Musician for the "pole dancers".

Great legs.

Great costume.

Great music.