We received an invitation from Dan and Kathy to return to Lungta which we gladly did on February 1. After a relaxing and nice vacation with Keith’s sister, Robin and her husband, Jon, instead of taking a plane and the costs associated with flying we decided to take the bus from PVR to Barra de Navidad. This has always been our preferred mode of transportation to see a country and immerse with local population. The bus ride was uneventful, really easy to do and the landscape is fantastic. Unknowingly, we arrived in Melaque not knowing it was the wrong town, we found the Arena Hotel (Sands there). After walking around we realized we were in Melaque and had to catch a cab to Barra de Navidad. We arrived in Barra de Navidad with our taxi driver asking other drivers where the Sands was located. After one taxi driver said Delfin and he set his course finding the Sands and we found Dan and Kathy.
After dropping our bags on the boat. We took the dinghy back to town, 250 pesos for dinner which was great. While we sat enjoying each others company and conversation it started pouring rain we tried to stay under cover while running of to secure some provisions and slowly back to Lungta dodging rain and flooding stress, no matter what we did to stay covered or from walking into ponds and rushing rivers in the streets we looked like 4 drowned rats. The best was not over until we got into the dinghy back to Lungta and became completely soaked still with smiles on our faces and in our hearts for the lives we have.
Welcoming sunrise in Barra de Navidad lagoon
We sailed back into the Tenacatita Bay anchorage under full sail. We were hailed by Harmony (Robert and Virginia) as we made our way in putting smiles on all our faces. While in Tenacatita, we continued working on the butterfly hatch and refinishing the varnish, sanding in between each coat bringing the hatch back to life. The brass was sanded to perfection by all of us. What a great experience and way to live, making improvements in our life and making new friends. We stayed another two weeks with Lungta dreaming of coming back in 4 weeks if the stars were aligned.
Sailing back to Tenacatita
Sitting out on the bow sprit while sailing, amazing!
While in Tenacatita we met Pam and Richard from Tish Baby, Jeff and Janey from Adagio having both couples over at different times for dinner.
On February 14, Saturday we woke at 7.30 to the sounds of the boat creaking and popping to the wind. Breakfast is granola while the winds continue at 10 knots.
Turned out to be a nice day, strong winds at times with the sun peeking through while Dan and Kathy finished up the shelf / storage door and Keith and I sanded the front windows on the pilot house and the rail. Lungta keeps looking more and more beautiful everyday, :). Port side of the pilot house has the first coat of varnish, looking classy and very nice. Feels great to see all our work coming to fruition.
Borscht for another evenings dinner, Kathy used the magic WrrWrrWrr to pulverize the veggies in to this deep dark beautiful reddish purple soup. Instead we had baked potatoes with chili and cheese for dinner with incredible dark chocolate walnut cookies. We watch Love Actually for Valentines Day, really feel good movie. Enjoyed the evening together and then to bed.
Kathy and Dan making chocolate chip cookies for Valentine's Day
Sunset over Tentacatita Bay taken from the galley
Sunday morning came and Into the water to clean the hull. Clean the hull and finished the job by all four of us. I had a couple of scrapes from the barnacles but never found Sponge Bob Square pants and his other buddies.
Keith and Wayne then took to scrubbing the deck from bow to stern while Kathy remained under finalizing the cleaning. Wayne sanded the varnished port side modeling on the pilot house. Late lunch and some relaxation tuna fish with romaine lettuce and just chilling out while Lungta rocked and a slight rain started.
Sanding the brass for the butterfly hatch
Four o'clock welcomed Jeff and Janey from Adagio, Janey was ready to teach and play a new card game similar to Hand and Foot but requires two feet and 8 decks, deal 3 hands of 11 cards set two the left and right and middle you keep. We learned Baja Canasta fun game with a lot of different strategy to make runs of 2's and straights with some of the same rules as Hand and Foot. Judy brought a ton of food to snack on which turned out to be dinner, duck pate, shrimp, pickles, olives, and Melba toast. Game ends at 20,000 with Keith and Kathy the victors in the very long game.
After Jeff and Jane left we sat around in the galley talking when Dan fell a sleep and then Keith started nodding off.
Our time in Tenacatita went by fast, another two weeks have past. On February 16, Monday before setting sail to Barra we said adios to Robert and Virginia on Harmony, really cool people. We would like to see them again.
Sailed out of Tenacatita with little wind but still sailed out past Roca Central at the mouth of the bay. What a life sailing untethered with the wind in our sails and picking up some speed. Sailed out with all 5 sails up. At 15:30 we arrive in Barra de Navidad in the lagoon and anchored.
Owners of Bliss stopped by Todd and Jolanda with Tessa, their daughter. Really nice family, he is from Ohio and she from Outside Utrecht originally but has been in the US 18 years.
Off to Barra for dinner, pesos and provisions. Docked the dinghy at the Sands Hotel, looking forward to hamburgers but they do not serve dinner tonight. Walked to the ATM but it did not have money to dispense. Walked around finding carnival rides and people setting up food tents. We stopped at a restaurant for stuffed potatoes.
Found out it was Carnival as Lent starts on Tuesday. Watched the people and an interesting crowing of Princess and Prince and Queen and King, all 4 were white "gringos".
Back to Barra de Navidad
Entering the bay to Barra de Navidad
Carnival amusements for the beginning of Lent
Tuesday, February 17 woke to the sun, packed our backpacks and split out clothes to leave behind on Lungta, time for coffee and await The French Baker. Sadly, no chocolate croissants, but we had plain and almond and a olive baguette.
Leaving Mazanillo airport we flew over Barra de Navidad and could see the anchorage and the double masts of Lungta then Tenatacita anchorage and La Manzanilla. What a spectacular view of the places we visited, lived in and sailed.
Arrived back in Boston near midnight, got home to Sutton to see giant mounds of snow along the streets and had to climb over the snow piled in the driveway and down below in front of the garage doors. Keith is not getting his car out until July.
Welcome home, at least it was plowed to the bottom. :)
