09/09/07 Back in Puerto la Cruz

We stayed three days in El Faro, I showed Linda and Ed the cave on the other side of he island, the cave where "Las Velas de Manuela" are, the two lights I found flickering through the top of the cave. Just as we drove into the cave we were surrounded by dozens of dolphins how cool is that. We also hiked up to the top where the lighthouse is which offers a beautiful view of the whole anchorage and hiked to the fossil cemetery which is on the other side of the small island where you clearly can find
imbedded fossil shells. As every morning we listen to the weather and a tropical low was forming and we knew we would get some of the rain. So Sid and I took the dinghy to the next island Chimana Grande which is 3 miles away and checked out the anchorages there. On our way I saw a beautiful piece of driftwood floating in the water and thought of looking at it closer but we were going to fast and so I forgot about it. We looked at all the possible anchorages and returned to El Faro. The weather was
declining and just about an hour after we got back it started raining and after several hours we had a break in the weather. I went on the bow and noticed something bobbing on the water and couldn't believe my eyes when I recognized the same piece of drift wood floating slowly towards our bow. I kept an eye on it and within 10 minutes it arrived on the bow. Amazing as this piece was around the corner and in front of the other island. So I picked it out of the water. It looks like a snake and so it
is now the Maremares snake and in front of our slip. In the mean time the tropical system turned into tropical storm Felix and brought 65 mph sustained wind to Grenada. We knew we would get the tail end and moved to Chimana Grande to a more protected anchorage. We left early but the wind was picking up already, at least it was only a three mile trip between the islands and so not all too much of a problem. A few hours later the wind laid down and we enjoyed a beautiful day in our new surrounding.
We tried to explore the mangrove that has a passage to the next anchorage but not too many use it or not at all anymore as it was pretty overgrown and we could only go a few feet into it and had to return. In the mean time Felix turned into a very dangerous hurricane. Normally it takes 3 to 5 days for a tropical storm to turn into a force 1 hurricane, Felix made the record of all hurricanes ever and developed into a force 5 hurricane within only 51 hours. Luckily we had the tail end already and were
out of the path. Felix even created waves of 50 plus feet.
In the mean time we're back in a slip at the Maremares Marina, had just about enough time to get the boat all washed down and settle in when the main waterline broke and leaves not just Barcelona, Lecheria and Puerto La Cruz without water but almost most to this State, Millions of people have no water. The newspaper announced no water for 3 days and 7 days later we still have no water. Most of the hotels and condo buildings have huge tanks below the building as the water gets turned off a lot, we
had that problem at the house almost daily. This time it is more serious. The hotel shut down the water to the marina complete and only give us about one hour a day to fill up the tanks, if that long. We haven't been able to take showers as they are turned off too, just good there is a pool. The hotel rooms although have water. Since Isla Margarita we haven't done any laundry and are waiting for the water to come back on. I'm flying to Switzerland next Thursday so I hope I don't have to bring dirty
cloths with me, guess customs will have a surprise if they search my luggage, LOL. Anyway, we're settled in Puerto La Cruz and will be here until the end of the year. We promised Jim and Jenny on Three Keys to baby sit their boat and feed the cats while they are in the States. Also after my return from Switzerland we're planing to explore this beautiful country a bit more and will do inland trips especially to the Angel Falls. Sid will stay here as one of us always stays with the boat. This is our
last entry for about two months. The Boatbumms are taking a break for a while, but we'll be back until then you all take care. Hugs and kisses.