We are not alone....

Which leads to the question...if we were alone would we do it anyway?

The Fantasy Island Cruisers Duck races were held on Saturday! Many thanks to Joan and Ted (Panchita) for their coordination of the quacker event (Oh, dear...did I really write that!?). All the ducks were lined up for inspection, the cruising group rallied around and placed bets on which duck would win! Should I admit that these are the (human) winners of the previous race...which means that this has been done before? Should this be embarrassing?Oh, but wait...it's okay because 1/2 of the money raised goes to the Fantasy Island Cruisers Fund...and the other 1/2 is split among the winners. And is it necessary to add that chips and drinks were part of the gathering? Some of the local monkeys came by...of course they were looking for the food and drink...We always seem to enjoy their appearance...I wonder what he's thinking? The time arrived...bets completed...the ducks were dropped...the race began...and we watched...and we watched...and we watched... The Pink Martini started pulling away right from the start...from this angle the nurse was quacking a close second...but the Pink Martini pulled away and "stuck" to the beach first...with the mother duck and ducklings a not so close second...the nurse duck took a little longer route and "stuck to the beach" third...the group continued to watch the entire raft of ducks land on the beach...then to the awarding of the prize winnings...third place awarded first...the nurse with two separate winners...and oh, heavens...is it okay to have this much fun on a beach, where people are watching...and all over a quacking race?? Second place...the mother duck with ducklings...and three individual winners...then first place and three individual winners...including Paul!! A group shot of all of the winners...a few hugs to keep everyone's feet on the ground...to a picture of the whole group of Fantasy Island cruisers that enjoyed a couple of hours in the sun...and watching ducks race...followed up by a BBQ...and potluck...

Thankfully, I can say we are not alone...there are plenty of other "documented" (see above pictures) quackers enjoying the beautiful day, the beach and the company...the question does remain however...if we were alone...would we do it anyway??

Life IS...

"Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life"...an Oscar Wilde quote. But, really this blog is about leaving the Rio Dulce (sweet river) and arriving 26 hours later in Roatan!
He arrives in the Rio...yes, we asked our friend Denny (see St Marteen blog December 2008) to accompany us on this passage just in case any systems on the boat had problems and Capt Paul (CP) would not have the strength or dexterity to fix them.
And as there are two sides to every story...for his view...you can check out his blog at: http://www.annahfoster.blogspot.com/ . The jenny arrived back from being repaired the following morning...

we were off to get fuel...motored though Lake Gofette and into Texan Bay. By getting there and anchoring out one night we were two hours closer to Livingston and freedom! While we were at Vista Rio I had asked Mike (the owner of Texan Bay) for waypoints to get there...he wrote them down for me...and I made sure they were on the navigation station for CP. He chose not to use them however, and, yes, we got lost and had to ask a launcha for directions! Once the anchor was down and the jenny was put back up on the forestay, we went to the marina and restaurant for some chat (well, the guys...beer). The greeting committee that almost licked CP back into the dingy! It certainly is a beautiful, quiet little bay! The next morning I enjoyed watching the kids go to school in their Ulu's...the young man at the back is brushing his teeth...listening to the parrots....the entire morning was peaceful....while the guys slept in a little. So, I have a question...is the above picture about life imitating art...or art imitating life...how about this one... or this one...or this one...okay, now I'm just having some fun with you Denny (UD)...who is actually a wonderful sport for actually trying on the earrings that I made for him!

Back to our departure...we enjoyed breakfast (CP and UD also enjoyed the Antigua coffee that we had gotten) and soon after a Dutch boat that was also planning to cross the Livingston bar at high tide (oneish) weighed anchor. CP decided to follow them.... the seven and a half miles down the river. It actually made for what I thought
were some great pictures...gave a little better perspective on the canyon walls! But, try as I might...this internet connection is just too slow to post a couple of short videos... As it happens...at the highest white rock wall passing CP had a "calling" and I needed to take the helm...CP and UD took Hugo into Livingston to check out of Guatemala with Raul (the agent). Fresh bread and beer are traditional stops as well. Back to the boat...Hugo strapped on deck...we looked up and there was our Livingston bar safe passage fishing boat approaching our port side! CP had already rigged the tip line...we weighed anchor and began our motor out. Not more than 30 feet out in our attempt we mired in mud and UD tossed the tip line. From that beginning we had to be tipped almost the entire crossing! Three times the fishing boat lightened up on the line and those three times we mired back into the mud. The most difficult bar crossing we have had...but successful nonetheless...once a few feet from the buoy...depth was sufficient...tip line was released and we were FREE! Open water!

It started a motor...then a motor sail...then a pinching sail with rough seas...back to a motor sail in calmer seas...and finished up our approach... from the north side of Utila ...to Roatan motoring in calm seas. Entrance into French Harbor was a mix...missing the reef...to plowing turtle grass and getting stuck. Perhaps now CP will remember on his own (because his stubbornness to listen to me rises at the most inopportune times) that in all the approaches before we had made an "S" to miss the turtle grass mound. A big thank you to Wally for his assistance in getting us unstuck and guiding us in where we are now, med-moored at the Fantasy Island Marina. CP's comments..."it's been a while since I've given "evening entertainment" for the other cruisers!"

So thank you Denny...again...you are wonderful...the ole sourpuss loves you, you know! And, while we didn't NEED you on this trip (thank heaven...all systems worked as advertised)...we did need you on this trip! Except for kissing one reef which will remain nameless you helped us reach our destination with a spirit that only you can provide! We are both so blessed and grateful to have you as a friend!

And, back to the art and life imitating thought...the second definition (MW) of imitating is "to be or appear like". Only with that definition would I even maybe agree with Oscar Wilde. It just seems from where I was, to where I'm sitting right now... neither one is true...in other words...there is no imitating....life IS...why complicate things by imitation...just appreciate...life is beautiful!!