June9. Salinas, Puerto Rico

Yeah, we finally left Ensenada, about time, we were stuck for 6 days. While in Ensenada Stacey and Toni were happy to finally get some full rested sleep as they were rolling from ear to ear in the last two anchorages. Sid tweaked his back and needed some rest as well, so as much as we hated the bad weather it helped. You must think that the weather in the Caribbean is just absolutely awful, it's not really the sun is out and it's hot, hot, hot, it's just the wind that gives us grief. As we arrived Welsh Rover and Paradise were out of fresh produce and meats, Stacey and Manuela went shopping. Toni dropped us off ashore and we started walking to the little town of Ensenada, not even underway a couple hundred yards a pick-up truck stopped and Louise gave us a ride to the Super Mercado in Guanico, that was nice. Louise had served 17 years in the Army and was very proud of it, he said ever since the Army he knows how good it feels to get a ride anywhere. It was Christmas for us to go through the Market and we found anything, plus, we needed. The problem now was getting back to the boat, so Manuela asked the cashier if there were any taxis here. There weren't but we were told that they deliver the groceries right in front of your door step, well that's nice, if you have a house here, besides we go with the groceries and passengers are not being delivered. One of the cashiers was just going on break and offered us a ride to the Guanico Harbor, which was no problem as it is on the other side of out anchorage. A couple of days later we were still waiting for the wind to subside, but that wasn't gonna happen for another few days, so we rented a car for two days. Again as Sid, Stacey and I walked to Ensenada to catch a Taxi, there was none, but a friendly guy at the gas station told us that he would drive us to the rental car place. Of course we didn't even know yet if there was one and where, but that was no problem for Junior, he had his cell phone handy and called a few of his buddies. While waiting for them to call back with info, we stopped to pick up a buddy of his, then they drove us to Yauco the next city of and dropped us off at a car rental place. I tell you we are just so impressed with the friendly helpful Puerto Ricans, they really go out of their way to help us. No matter where we went, they were eager to help, we have never seen so much friendliness anywhere. The first day it was Sid's day to chauffeur us around. He drove us to Ponce the second largest city in Puerto Rico with Walmart, Sam's Club and oh yes the Home Depot. We shopped till we dropped all day long while Toni boat-sat. Then it was Toni's day while Sid kept an eye on the boats. The highlight of my shopping trip was Home Depot where I bought a new no-slam toilet seat. Yes, Toni and Stacey gave me a hard time too! But I have a perfectly fine explanation for it. Imagine being underway in a little boat, it's a rough day, the sea is raging and the boat is bobbing back and forth and up and down, you have to hold on for dear life. You're dressed in foul weather gear to keep dry and now and than you have to go tinkle. Well for the guys it's an easy deal, sipper down, lid up, pee, lid down, sipper up and flush. For us girls it's a bit more difficult. As we struggle to keep balance in the bathroom, which by the way is just big enough to turn around. We have to open the toilet lid which will slam shot again as soon as a wave hits, then at the same time hold on for dear life while also taking off foul weather gear than pulling pants down, now they are around your knees and make it even harder to keep balanced, now up with the lid again which slammed shot several times already as you try to turn around and sit down as fast as you can while lid is still open and do now your well deserved business. Than stand up, while one arm reaches behind you holding the lid, balance with pants still wrapped around your knees, turn around to hold on for dear life. Oh yes, the darn lid just slammed shut again. Now while still holding on for dear life pull up pants one-handed, keep balance then flush. Get on deck and recuperate from the whole ordeal. Now with my new no-slam toilet lid it's almost as easy as lid up, sipper down,...... except I still have to sit down.
The weather finally cooperated and we left Ensenada last night at 11 pm. The seas was still with 4 to 6 foot waves but apart enough to make it tolerable. The wind blew between 8 and 12 knots and some occasional squalls tried to pee on us. Considering what we've been dealing with in the last months, this was a piece of cake and we arrived happy in Salinas at 7 am. We found out that our mail has arrived, well out of three large envelopes only 2 arrived. Haven't received mail since February so we hope the missing one is not all too important. Well here we are again in another place, new people to meet and once more waiting for good weather.