Luperon, Dominican Republic

It was a long night.  We were basically in bed from mid afternoon yesterday until this morning.  Not sure how much sleep we actually got but, so far … I think I am feeling a little better.  The cramps are just ever so mild now.  Larry, on the other hand, I’m not quite sure about yet.  He managed to get himself up this morning and has headed into the government offices to see about clearing out.  We really want to get to cleaner water … new destinations.  Being stuck here for a week was not in our plans!

The harbor here is not “clean” water.  There is no smell to it and no oil sheen or anything like that but the muddy bottom, mangroves (and herds of boaters I’m sure) make it a dirty place.  You can’t see 2 feet into the water.  It’s just muck!  We definitely will NOT make water in this harbor … SO … we are conserving.  Whatever water we have, needs to last until we can GET somewhere CLEAN!  We are only using it for the essentials (quick showers, wash hands, brush teeth, coffee … etc). 

Oh … Larry just came back to the boat.  He survived the trip ashore.  He said he thinks he’s feeling quite a bit better too.  Thank God!  AND … the trip through the bureaucratic process actually didn’t cost us ANY $$$’s this time.  Wow, what a surprise!

Not sure what we will do the rest of the day … it will depend a lot on how we feel as the morning progresses.  But our plans are to leave tonight for Rio San Juan (arriving Sunday morning).  Sunday night, we will leave Rio San Juan and head for Escondido (arriving Monday morning).  Then, if the weather permits, we will leave Monday night and cross the Mona Passage (a body of water much like the Gulf Stream with high winds, currents and waves) and be in Puerto Rico on Tuesday night.  This schedule will depend greatly on how we are feeling … and the weather of course!  We may take a day or two to go to Samana if we aren’t feeling well.

We will try to write as soon as we arrive so everyone knows we are safe.