Bay Islands of Honduras...

After Chris Wooley came to the rescue

and sorted our Clutch Cones on our sail drives (Chris really was amazing!)

we finally left the Rio Dulce.

We sailed as far as practical from the Honduras border and cleared in at Utila (the Bay Islands of Honduras – Utila, Roatan and Guanaja)

Clearing in was a simple procedure, only costing $20

We then made our way to Roatan, where we snorkeled and dived various locations, starting at West End.  We stopped at French Cay, where we enjoyed a few beverages with Aussie Pete and the Cruisers there.

Guanaja was really different…

All of the dwelling are build on rock or have piles directely in to seabed.

We met “Hando” who took us on his “regular” trip around on the island

“Books on Wheels”

Hando has found that the children (and adults) are not learning English,

so he pushes his wheelbarrow around the island swapping 3 books a time to each child, 
trying to encourage to keep up their English.

We had also crossed paths since leaving the Rio with Luc & Aline 
a French Canadian Couple.  Richard went for a lovely hike with them

Richard went up the mast to take a photo of our Spinnaker Halyard Sheath as we need a replacement from South Africa which is being sent for us to receive before our Pacific crossing 
sure is a long way up there

Just before clearing out, we again caught up with Hando, who took us to see a Cuban boat that had just arrived with 26 political refugees

Unfortuately, I did not have the camera with me, however what they crossed the sea in was nothing more than an oversized shell of a hull, a motor and no cover.  It was extremely primitive!

We cleared out of Guanaja – meeting a really lovely customs and immigration guy and headed off to Providencia Columbia.

The forecast was favourable, however the first 24 hours or so was like being in a washing machine!

When we finally had some gentler waters, we stopped briefly, as we had managed to get a line around our starboard prop.

Luckily Richard sorted dived in and sorted it with no problem with the saildrive.

Providencia was a lovely stop – we hired a buggy and drove the island

(3 times actually)

The public seating and bus stops have all nautical themes – just great

I started some bottling with Christmas in mind

“Boozy Christmas Mince – actually has Brandy, Rum and Amaretto in it

and Beetroot Chutney.

We left San Andres and had a really lovely sail from Providencia to San Andres – what a change – lots of “Perfumeries” etc – a place Columbians come for holidays.

Change is the Constant...

On arrival back to the Rio Dulce
I found that instead of getting hauled out in a week as planned,
that Richard was joining Bill from Out of the Bag, along with Jono who was coming from Norway and Brett from Seismic Wave to help sail a boat through the Panama Canal, with the view of Jono continuing on to Australia with Bill (with Brett & Richard coming back to the Rio).

What had happened, was a friends of Bills (the owner of the yacht), had been diagnosed with the late stages of cancer.  His wish was for his boat to return to Australia.  Blue Dream was on the hard and had to be prepared for leaving as soon as possible.

There was of course the rugby to consider while preparing Blue Dream for her journey
(watching in Our Rose)

Within a couple of days of my arrival home Jono arrived...

then by the end of the week, Blue Dream was heading off...

It had been an extremely hectic week getting Blue Dream ready, so once they had left, the girls went out to lunch (which turned into a very long lunch, lots and lots of wine, then singing and dancing back at the palapa at the marina)...

I also babysat "Quinn" - a person in a fur coat for a few days while April and Cain went on land travel with overseas guests...  Quinn is just gorgeous!

Very sadly, Bills friend did not last long, and the news came through that he had passed away.

Bill pulled into San Andreas to await further instruction from Australia

No, they didn't drink all this wine...

The news from Australia was to continue on, so Blue Dream made her way to Panama Canal

What an experience that was...

 During the trip, it was decided that Jono would not continue on the trip and would get off at Panama with Richard.  Richard headed back to Rio Dulce and Jono headed to NZ for a visit (having not visited for 4 years)...  Brett decided to continue with Bill.

On arrival back to the Rio, it was full on for us again - time to haul out...

Richard watches closely as the guys set the lifting points for the trailer...

and out she comes...

Just before going back in the water - isn't she looking beautiful with her fresh bottom paint,

 all little nicks in fibreglass repaired, complete polish, sail drive seals replaced and ready to go...

One of the things Richard learnt from the Panama Canal, was that Our Rose large side windows would not survive the Canal unless we made something to protect them.  

So, he along with advice from many quarters, designed these awesome covers, which will be used in February when we transit the Canal.  They are marine ply, which has soft underlay glued together to create a thick buffer that in held onto the ply with fibreglass strips.  These soft buffers hold the marine ply away from the gelcoat.

Obviously the rugby world cup continued and we enjoyed watching all of the games in the Tiki Bar