Full Circle

I'm writing this post while sitting in our new boat in Fajardo, marina Puerto Del Ray, back at square one, back to where it all began...

We've spent the last couple of weeks slowly making our way along the Puerto Rican coast while making a ton of work on the boat. 

A partial list:

- During the passage from the Dominican Republic one one of the cables keeping the mast from breaking when the main sail is up poped and broke. It had to be replaced in a 3 step plan: take the rest of the cable off, find someone who can make a new cable, and finally install the new cable. Sounds easy when it's not you going up the mast or pulling the father of your children up the same way. 

We kept true to Tim and Stephany's old saying "nothing says I love you more than 3 wraps on the winch" 

Yes. It is scarier than it looks.....

But hey, mission accomplished!

- We ha to take down the Jib (front sale) and get it repaired and the put it back up

- during the vicious passage we realized almost all the hatches leak. We're almost done scraping off the old gaskets and gluing in new ones, guaranteeing dry beds

- endless engine repairs, let's just say that thanks to Oren's skills and resourcefulness (now that's a long word!) our engines now start with a turn of a switch, don't heat up, don't leak water and actually report RPMs and temperature. 

On the upside of having so many issues, I can tell you you learn to appreciate everything that simply works! 

We also used the time to do some major shopping and are finally the proud owners of a new espresso machine and an inflatable standup paddle board. life is good!!!

Of course the minute we inflated the SUP Oren used it to go under the boat for yet another repair

As we were moving along the coast we got to see some beautiful places such as Isla Caja de Muertes where we were all alone, and where we got to see our first Dolphines!!!!

No. Didn't have time to take any pictures. It was either going to get the camera or enjoying the moment... Sorry my friends.

Just before getting back to Fajarfo we've decided to make a short D tour and visit the island of Vieques. Those of you who've been following us might remember we spent 10 days there shortly after the accident with our friends John and Vicky. 

I remember us standing on amazing beaches looking out at catamarans anchored right in front of us and thinking sadly: "that Should have been us..." 

Actually getting there with our new boat made me feel so strong! For me that was a huge triumph and quite a closure. 

We were that boat in the water!

I paddled to shore with Mika and Gur while Oren rode with Arbel on the dinghy. We ended up chatting with a couple of very nice locals while the kids played with their kid. Turns out a year ago they lost their boat right there in Viequese when their chain broke and the boat drifted off off the mooring and on to the rocks in a matter of minutes. Total loss. 

We told them our story and Id like to think our story helped them continue following their dream and getting a new boat. 

         Sun bay in Viequese

When we were here in January I went with John and Vicky to see the Bio luminescence Bay. A unique phenomena which makes the water sparkle when moved at night. We anchored just before a new moon and I realized the bio bay is just around the corner and since the phenomena is caused by tiny creatures who live in these waters we just may be lucky enough to see it from the comfort of our boat. We turned off all the lights used the paddle to move the water and as though tinker bell herself sprinkled some pixie dust,  the water starte to glow. Magic! This was declared Mika's first birthday gift!

Yesterday we got back here. To Marina Puerto Del Ray in fajardo. The place where, back in December, our trip has begun. The place where only 2 weeks later a salvage operation ended with what used to be our boat laying 'on the hard' with a hole the size of the hull torn in her side. 

Yesterday we docked our new boat here and got to load it with all the toys, books clothes, tools and gadgets that waited for us  in storage for 4 months. We got to take some last items off the boat and say a final goodbye. And today, exactly 4 months after the accident, we signed the boat off to its new owner, a local guy who plans to repair it and sail it. Yes. Prairie Dream will sail again. 

Fairwell, dear boat. We finally got our closure and can move on. 

Good night,

Darya 

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Exodus

Where did you leave us? 

Oh yes, we were just getting ready to head east, from Marina Zarpar in Boca chica, to Casa De Campo in La Romana, both in the Dominican Republic.  I don't know how long ago it was, but it feels like months have past...

So much action! 

It seems fitting that I'm writing this post just before the Jewish Holiday of Passover. You see, the story behind Passover, is the story of the people of Israel, who were slaves (in Egypt) and then at some point decided they don't want to be slaves any more, and that they want to go back to the promised land. It took some struggling, ten plagues, and one miraculous crossing of a see before they got out of Egypt, and then another 40 years in the desert before they finally made it home. 

Those were 30 seconds about maybe the most important Jewish holiday. Now Back  to our story...

In the Dominican Republic you can not sail anywhere without a dispacho. A piece of paper signed by the police, coast guard and national security all these guys have to come to your boat right before you head out. Not a day before, which means that if you plan to leave at 6am, you have to arrange for them to meet you at 6am and then hope they get there... 'Tip' them (mandatory) and off you go. Unless they don't come...

We were ready to leave at 6. Pedro, the local Marinero who was to join us was there on time, but the police and coastguard guys simply weren't there. 

They missed an amazing sunrise 

At 7 Pedro and I drove down the street to the police station. I was surprised to find the policeman who promised to be on my boat at 6 sitting at his desk. Why didn't you come? I asked. He replied calmly that his colleague headed our way and should have already been there. The station is on the end of the road. The marina is on the other end. We just drove from A to B and didn't see him headed our way and yet we turned around, drive back to check in the Marina and guess what? He wasn't there! Long story short he finally arrived non chalant an hour later. It took 3 policemen to write down our passport details and we were off. The long way was uneventful except for an unlikely encounter. After we bought the boat, our broker sold our seller a new boat which he was supposed to deliver to him from Puerto Rico. Against all odds, the only sailboat we crossed was the new boat captained by our broker.... 

Remind me to tell you about my theory about the production budget of this movie we live in...

transaction completed full circle. 

When we got to casa de campo we finally took out the hammock I've been optimistically carrying with me for almost 4 months and could finally relax!

And as things always go with this trip, coincidence and good people found us again :) about an hour after our arrival, while we were busy scrubbing the deck a family walked by our boat and stopped when they heard us speak Hebrew. Turns out they're Israelies who live in te capital, but own a house in La Romana. Ten minutes later it was agreed that we will spend the following morning with them ;) 

The kids were excited to play with other Hebrew speaking kids and we all had a great time! Thanks guys!

La Romana is a huge complex including the Marina, a complex with restaurants and stores, luxury houses, beaches a hotel, golf courses and even an old restored village. We rented a golf cart and explored for a couple of days. 

Amazing place !

Altos de Chavon

As you may recall, our old boat, or what's left of it, as well as a lot of our stuff, are still waiting for us in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. And so our next destination was  to cross the infamous Mona passage and get to Puerto Rico. We've made a decision to use help for this passage. We knew it would be rough and long, and wanted to make sure we could tend to the boat and the kids. So we called Ciro. Ciro was the surveyor sent by the insurgence company to inspect the dammage after the accident. We liked him, both as a professional and as a person and when it was time to do a surey before buying this boat we hired his services. He was happy to assist with the passage. We are so happy he joined!!! The passage was VERY rough! The wind was on our nose the whole long journey. the waves were high and we were pounding through out. Everyone (except for Captain Oren) was sick, but 26 hours later we arrived in Boqueron Puerto Rico!!!

We were tired, dirty and weak, but we made it! And it felt good!

The next day, after Avery good night sleep we went to shore were we mat Cito's wife and daughter who came to pick him up. It took about 30 minutes for the ice to break and the kids became great friends, they spent the morning playing on the beach, jumping off the jetty and collecting sea shells while we got to know Ciro's lovely wife, Laura of whome we've heard so much. Such fun! We hope to get together again soon!

Mika and Gur jumping in hand in hand

We ran into another cruising family who came onboard as our first guests! They also have 3 kids and we spent a nice afternoon together. 

Calm seas, Happy Chaos!

Obriens and Eliases playing Set

So why excudus you ask?

We lost our boat in December. For almost 4 months we've been vagabonds, leaving out of 5 bags, drifting with the winds looking for our new home. Then came the crossing of the see, and now we are finally cruising!!!

It's been a week since we said good bye to Ciro. Our first Solo sail came 3 days later and I'm proud to say we've been doing well! Now in Ponce, PR we are slowly making our way back to Fajardo. The original starting point of this journey. Like the people of Israel, we're learning how to be independent again, and know for sure, that if we really want something, we can make it happen. 

Thank you all for your support,

May we never be slaves!

Happy Passover!

Darya 

And the floating Eliases

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