April 29 to May 1, 2015 Exploring San Salvador

We got up and ready and off we go for a new adventure to tour San Salvador. Our first overnight trip for the four of us on land. We grabbed the bus outside the guard gate for the resort. We left for San Salvador to Arcos. We changed to a very crowded mini bus to San Salvador. We all were crowded into the walkway and each held conversations with local El Salvadorians. Keith was chatting with an older woman sitting by him. Wayne was talking to a young guy, who had lived in Queens, NY for 9 years and is now back in his home country. We walked from the south bus station to Plaza Gerardo Barrios then Keith and Wayne toured the Palacio National. 

The Palacio Nacional (National Palace) is where the seat of the El Salvadorian Congress sat until 1974. The first National Palace was destroyed by fire in 1899, reconstruction was in 1905 and finished in 1911. The building is made up of 105 halls with 4 main halls.  The architecture is reminiscent of French and Italian Renaissance.

Palacio Nacional 

Red Hall with the oil paintings of the Presidents above the doors.

Pink room originally used by the Supreme Court, El Salvador symbol above the center window

Blue hall were the Congress sat, currently under reconstruction

Courtyard in the center of the building. Both sides are mirror images.

We saw a musical instrument collection and art exhibit within the halls of the palace. Extraordinary art work was displayed.

Off we go on a hike across the City to NIT to secure tax identification should we buy motorcycles or a car while here. We stopped on the way to the National Market and found Edificio Siete (Building Seven) for pupusas. 

Walking around the local market while looking for some place to eat.

While walking to the NIT office we were exposed to some very humid weather and hot sun. The graffiti along the walk was amazing.

Touring the streets

Graffiti along a building

Closer view, even the trash can has artwork on it.  The eye is keeping a lookout.

We stayed in Hotel Villa Florencia for the night at $20 per night. Funky, clean hotel with a cool vibe. We waited for a couch surfer from San Salvador to show us the City. 

View towards our room on the left.

Keith sitting in the central area where we meet.

Keith had posted an itinerary on Couchsurfing for our trip to San Salvador. He received an email Julio Colorado asking us what our plans were and that he would like to meet us.  He picked us at the Hotel and took us to La Doña for an authentic Salvadorian night out and invited us to go to Santa Ana volcano on Friday and he would visit on Lungta with us.

The following day was yet another great day in San Salvador. We stopped next door for breakfast with pancakes, eggs and banana, plantanes. We walked to the Claro office, Iglesias Rosario, La Libertad, La Morazán on then Lunch in Plaza Morazán.  

Plaza Gerardo Barrios

Bronze war relief on General Gerardo Barrios statue

Plaza La Libertad

Iglesias Rosario

Street vendors around the City

La Morazán

Our lunches (chicken, rice and Russian salad, meatballs, rice and steamed veggies)

Restaurant we ate at in La Morazán

Plan to go to water clock, Monumento del Mundo but there was a protest and large police presence. The clock is at the bottom of the monument and would be open to view on Friday. 

Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo symbol of the city,

We had dinner made up of street food, smoothies (leche/papaya), nachos Cuban, fried banana chips with lime and salt and the smoothies were so good we returned for another smoothie this time leche/guineo (banana) and galleta (chocolate). Then we returned back to the hotel.

Friday, May 1st is Labor Day in Central America.  Julio picked us up early and we grabbed a quick  breakfast at Mister Donut. 

Could not believe we found Mister Donut in San Salvador since Wayne grew up down the street from one in South Attleboro. 

The drive to Santa Ana was great, totally different prospective on the landscape and countryside of this small Central American country.  We drove past Coahtepeque Laguna, amazing volcanic lake of varying shades of blue and green.  Travel to CerroVerde and National Parque Volcanoes Santa Ana. We arrive La Casa Cristal at 11:00. We finished our climb and decent at 14:45. Santa Ana erupted in 2005. Beautiful crater lake with clouds and cool air. 

Coahtepeque Laguna, volcanic lake before Santa Ana

Selfie starting walk Wayne, Julio and Keith

Coahtepeque Laguna in the back ground at the start of the hike

Julio, Wayne and Keith with crater lake behind us, huge drop off here.

Kathy, Keith, Julio and Wayne

Kathy and Julio

Sun split through the clouds to shine on the bubbling water below

Wayne and Keith

Walking around the edge in the clouds

Beautiful flora along the hiking trails. We looked like goats climbing the mountainside. There had to be 75-100 people climbing 

We descended the volcano in about an hour.  We walked over to the resort area.  Izalco volcano was still smoking and has not erupted in 50 years. 

Wayne on the overlook to Izalco volcano

Julio and Wayne on the overlook to Izalco volcano

Izalco volcano

Overlook to Izalco volcano

La Casa Cristal grounds

Julio drove us back to Bahia del Sol and had dinner with us on Lungta. He had to work on Saturday and left at 21:00 back to San Salvador. Keith and Wayne brought him by dinghy back to the marina.

Little boy looking out the car window as we passed.

Thanks for reading, glad we can share this adventure with you.

Wayne & Keith

April 24 to 26, 2015 El Salvador, First two days

We crossed the border between Guatemala and El Salvador while sailing south to Bahia del Sol. 

On Friday, April 24th we took the dinghy for a quick exploration of the estuary and then back for breakfast. We took the dinghy over to Ratscullion (Henry and Pamela) got some information for the bus, taxi, local provisioning and costs associated. Then we had lunch at Comedor Mercy up the street from the resort where we had chicken, rice and salad, and homemade tortillas for $3.50.  We had a dog begging for food, Keith shared some chicken with her.  We watched the bus go by and come back, several cows walking up the road. After lunch we walked to the beach side of the resort.

Small palapa that serves breakfast, Chicken at lunch and papusas for dinner

Saturday we start our first journey bus in to Zacatecoluca which was awesome, breeze flying in through the windows, bus stopping to pick people up as we made our way from Bahia del Sol. Upon arriving to the bus drop off zone at Biggest Burger we went to get our haircuts, $3.00 for a cut.  We walked past a large white church, Catedral Nuestra Señora de los Pobres. We continued walking to Claro for cell phones for both our phones and Dan’s phone.  All set with the iPhone 4 but they did not have the micro sym for the iPhone 5.  We walked through the markets looking for food and were directed across the street to a two level building with food vendors on the second floor. We ate lunch at Pupuseria Bendicionde Dios, which was fantastic with a large orange juice, fresh squeezed. The pupusas were queso con loroco and ayote con queso. The people here are so warm and friendly with smiling faces and eyes.  Truly welcoming and delightful. We were watching this woman, sitting on a chair announcing tortillas for sale, she was smiling and giggled.  She got up and went down the stairs, came back to eat a donut with chocolate on it and Wayne asked where she got it, she pointed below and called the woman selling pastries.  We walked to the bottom of the stairs and got this really tasty donut with chocolate and nuts.  Wayne looked up the stairs and gave the woman thumbs up on the treat. With a smile she waved. The women near by were very flirtatious and asked Dan if we were his brothers and Kathy his wife.  She then introduced her two twin daughters, who shyly leaned into their mothers arms. Off we went to the market. 

Empty bus takes us to Zacatecoluca

Walking to the Park after we had haircuts

Catedral Nuestra Señora de los Pobres

Young girl at bread stand in the market, delicious looking bread

Vendors in the one story market, woman on the street with traditional dress and apron we see for vendors

Food courts on the second floor of the food market

Our first big walking adventure in Zacatecoluca

We caught two buses back to Costa del Sol.The first bus was crowded with standing room only. Kathy was able to sit with some of the provisions. The young guy collecting was going around making a sound "Psst, Psst, Psst" and then shook the change in his hand as he passed by every seat and person. Each stop people would get off and on, he would whistle make and announcement then bang on the bus to let the driver know he could proceed. Really smooth operation despite the bus being completely full with many people standing then we had vendors squeezing through the people to sell pupusas, water and cold drinks, assorted pastries and other food. The woman all wore lacy styled aprons to put their money, change and napkins for some.

Woman making tortillas on the street side

Vendor from bus

Walked back to the dinghy, provisions slung over our shoulders and back to the boat. We got back to the boat changed and with computer devices in the backpack we set down by the pool to update the blog.  We sat by the pool and updated the blog, while Sam and Dave stopped by from Isleña and chatted for a while about Zacatecoluca, renting a car and land travel throughout Central America.  Earlier we bumped into Don from Permanently Temporary as he was going to his boat to get his car keys as he was off to get chicken dinners from the restaurant we ate at the first day.  Our memory was they only served chicken for lunch (almuerzo) and pupusas for dinner.  He was getting food for Heavy Metal, Irie and themselves and invited us to stop by.  Keith dropped Dan and Kathy back to Lungta and returned. We started to walk back to the marina but Permanently Temporary and Heavy Metal’s lights were off. We walked back to the dinghy and noticed everyone at the restaurant. We stopped by and noticed Debbie, Gail and one of the boys, from Heavy Metal, playing cards. Keith and Wayne sat down to play Baja Rummy with Gail and Debbie.  Great time here and getting to know more people.  Making new friends with other cruisers is really awesome for us.

We were invited to Lin and Lou’s home, two Americans that invite the cruisers in the local marinas to their home for socialization and gathering for potluck. We traveled over with the other cruisers who are in Costa del Sol, we brought brownies for the occasion. Jamie from Lin and Lou’s arrived in a pick-up truck to take everyone. We left the resort with Marianna and Greg (Irie), Harald and Live (sweet Norwegian couple), and several other people. Upon arrival we meet our hosts and Margie and her husband, people on Konza from Australia, then Ron arrived, Gordon and Kat (Dancing with Dragons), Gail and Don (Premenantly Temporary), Rego, Debbie, Henry and Zion (Heavy Metal) and Bill and Jean.  Beautiful property on the estuary with a deep water dock, 3 pools, and manicured grounds in a “gated community” that was started by Palestinian 's leaving Israel for safe location and community. Lin and Lou are from the US and have been in El Salvador for 3 years and are among only 4 “gringo” families in Costa del Sol.  Great day spent meeting new people and having a relaxed day in the pool. potluck lunch was great.

Three pools, upper pool spills into the larger pool and the cool pool is in the gazebo with clay roof

Marinna and Greg from Irie, Harald from Norway and Zion on Heavy Metal. Potluck lunch served in the back with tables and seats for everyone. Great location...looking forward to going back on Sunday

We got back to the boat around 18:00, sat down then watch Captain Phillips.

April 20 to April 24, 2015 Leaving Mexico in flames 3 and a half days until El Salvador

Monday, April 20th, the Port Captain’s Office sends an officer to clear us to leave.  Judy from Moontide stopped over to say “see you later” and took photos of us in front of Lungta then Dan and Kathy. We said our fair wells to Jake and Danielle on Ohana as we watched Isleña pull away. We left Marina Chiapas at 16:30 behind Isleña and in front of Irie. We motored out of Marina Chiapas and as we made our way past the breakers and Port Captain’s Office we started putting up the sails. The mizzen and jib were out first then the mizzen stassel and the main stassel.  The winds slowed enough, 4 knots and put out the main sail. Really sweet being back out on the open water, wind off the beam and breeze in our hair. Looking forward to crossing the border of Guatemala.

We left Mexico in flames with a large fire off in the distance.  Wayne took the helm first shift, Keith stayed up as we both kept each other company on our respective shifts. We crossed into Guatemala at 20:50 when the winds shift right on the beam with wind gusts between 12 to 15 knots, we were moving up to 7 knots.  Kathy came up to check on us and agreed we should pull in the main sail.  Keith and Wayne pulled on the furling to get the sail in, quieting down the boat and leveling off our speed to 5 knots.  During the course of the next 3 hours the winds would shift 90 degrees coming off the starboard stern. We cut our time down to arrive in El Salvador from 3 days to 2 days and 12 hours.  Keith took the helm at 23:10 for the second shift.

Burning on the coast with heavy smoke in the sky

Tuesday, April 21st,  Keith was at the helm while Wayne kept him company until 1:30. Keith stayed awake to 3:30 before giving over the helm to Dan. Winds had died down and we slowly made our way to El Salvador. Kathy was at the helm as we all woke from our sleep. We were doing 1 knot and would make our destination in 5 days leaving us with limited opportunity to get across the sand bar into Bahia del Sol. We turned the motor on since we had a short window with the tide to get over the sand bar at the entrance since we needed more than 10 feet to get over, Lungta’s draft is 10 feet.  We spent the day on deck reading and taking some siesta time to prepare for the evening shifts.  Keith brought in a Pacific Crevalle Jack (aka Jurel). It put up a great fight but was not something to eat so we threw the fish back in. We did not weigh the fish before letting it go back but figure it weighed 12-15 pounds. Within 30 minutes the line on the port side was off and Wayne tried to bring this fish in.  The fish was a strong fighter and started to dive under the boat. As Wayne’s hands and arm were getting tired Keith took over for some assistance, the rod was given to him then back to Wayne for final catch. With a little more fight we were able to get the fish from under the boat and to the side, finally identified the fish and “YES’ another Pacific Crevalle Jack , ugh, possibly a little bigger than the other one, maybe 15-18 lbs.  Keith took over the helm at 19:45 after dinner, finished the delicious cannelloni Dan had made.  Keith maintained the helm to 22:00 then Wayne took over.  Keith slept on the settee while Wayne was watching for wind and boats, but mostly pangas in the distance fishing.  Caught a good gust of wind around 23:00 and maintained speeds of 3.6 to 4.1 knots then at 11:15 we were moving around 4.5 consistently for 35 minutes.

SV Irie and SV Isleña in the distance

As early morning came, we were maintaining our course when Wayne was able to hand over the helm to Kathy at 1:00, all sails were out and traveling at 3.2 knots.  We woke at 7:00 with Kathy at the helm, Dan was sleeping on the settee. We were traveling at .6 knots. With us all up we motored for an hour since we needed 3.8 to 4 knots of speed to meet the weather and tide window.  We had smoothies for breakfast and still no wind. The “fleet” ( and Lungta) spoke to Bob from Nirvana to catch the weather and let him know we would plan to be into Bahia del Sol by late high tide on Thursday, which was also Selena’s plan.  Nirvana was already at Bahia del Sol in the marina. We are now 91 miles from our destination at 10:00 a.m.. Slow going day with minimal wind. We were entertained by terns flying by the boat doing figure eights around the bow then sweeping around the boat while chatting to each other. They would then take a floating seat on the sea and hold what sound like a “coffee clutch”, chipping up a storm.  Just as the day was closing and the sun started to set we saw several “fish boils” in front of the bow on the stern and port sides. Hundreds of birds diving into jumping fish making the water look as if it were actually boiling.  This subsided within an hour.  We were hailed by Isleña, they just caught a Stripped Bondito and asked if we had our lines out.  We did but no fish today. We sailed into El Salvador waters at 18:50. Wayne took the helm at 19:00 and Keith stayed up to teach him more about the electronics and use of the wind.  We sailed our way off course to get the wind and then did a jibe. Port of Quetzal in San Jose, was in the distance with a very busy commercial shipping area. We had 5-6 ships in front of us at one point with Momi Arrow approaching from the starboard side at 12.5 knots and slowing.  They passed in front of us, about 4 nautical miles ahead and then anchored. We heard them hale the port captain granting them permission coordinates to anchor.  We were looking at the chart when we notice our course was taking us close to Saucosa Rock. This rock was 5 miles off shore.  Dan came upstairs and we discussed that with him, we decided to go away from shore to go around the rock and other buoys out there, The charts on his tablet were warning of dangers in these waters with rocks off shore and reef that came out further from shore. We saw blinking lights off shore and finally passed one of them, a buoy with a 9 second strobe light about 3 miles off shore.

Photos taken during our crossing from Puerto Modero to El Salvador

04/23, Thursday woke to us moving fairly quickly at 5 knots but needing to motor some to get to Bahia del Sol at evening high tide around 16:00.  Spoke to Isleña, they were ahead of us 7 miles off shore. Irie appeared to be at the destination and would let us know how the approach was this morning for the 8:00 high tide entrance to Bahia.  We motored for an hour to get us back on course since the wind was coming directly off the bow.  Took in the sails using only the main stassel and the mizzen stassel. Caught a fish which got away, we could not identify it either. Damn!  We made it to Bahia del Sol at 16:45 and over the sand bar by 15:42.  Checked in to immigration and port captain.  Welcome to Bahia del Sol, Costa del Sol, San Luis la Herradura in El Salvador. Great with rum punch drinks and a group of familiar and unfamiliar faces greeting us to Bahia.

Sunset leaving Guatemala

Changing the courtesy flag from Mexico to El Salvador

Costa del Sol beaches and Bahia del Sol beach

Waves on the sandbar waiting to cross

Just before we take the sails down to enter across

Inside the estuary after successfully crossing the sandbar

Safe and sound

We checked into immigration and secured our Visa for 90 days for four countries, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala.  We checked in with the Port Captain to registered the boat and all of us on the boat.  Irie and Isleña checked in at the same time. Back to Lungta for dinner, Dan and Kathy went off to bed while Keith and Wayne grabbed the opportunity to get some internet.  Hung out with Dave and Sam from Isleña while at the restaurant.

April 10 to April 20, 2015 Huatulco to Chiapas, MX

On Saturday, April 10th we spent the day playing Hand and Foot, had a great meal prepared by Dan. Keith and Kathy helped with stuffing cannelloni shells. While dinner was cooking was had unexpected guests drive around the boat a couple of times and then came on board. The Mexican Navy came to do a boat inspection and check all our papers. The officer in charge made a comment in Spanish, that the smell of our dinner cooking was making him hungry.  All went well, it was interesting to have 3 Naval personnel on board, one had a camera with an extended arm to look in the holds. Many photos were taken, one of the guys was drenched in sweat from crawling on the floors and looking in the holds.  After they left we set down to a fantastic dinner then a movie, An Unfinished Life with Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez and Morgan Freeman, nice drama.

The following morning Keith was up early, Wayne woke to the sound of the anchor coming up. We all prepared to set sail across the Tehuanapec and Bahia Ventosa. While leaving Salina Cruz and looking back to the sky over the City, we could see pollution above the bay from trash burning.  After getting around the point that protected us while we were anchored, we saw oil refineries and Bahia Ventosa but not the mouth of the Tehuanapec River. At 9:30 we were more then half way across and just below the beginning of Laguna Superior and along San Mateo del Mar (photo taken). We had fruit salad for lunch at noon, Keith was at the helm then Wayne sat at the helm for a couple of hours. We watched a naval vessel approaching in the distance, 1.54 miles away, then swung starboard across of bow and sail off ahead of us. It looked like a small frigate patrolling the waters of southern Mexico.  We were traveling at 4.4 knots and cruising southeast to our next destination Puerto Modero and Marina Chiapas. At 14:55 we were passing the mouth of Laguna Superior and Laguna Inferior. At this time we were 1.3 miles off shore and traveling at 4.8 knots with Dan at the helm. We were listening to some great music from Dan’s play list, reflecting tastes of an abundance of artists from the Bee Gees, The Beatles, The Buffalo Springfield, Allman Brothers, Billy Joel and Alan Parsons Project. A song was playing and Dan said to Wayne you will not guess who this is, low and behold yup got it, Buffalo Springfield.

Set sail across the Tehuanapec and Bahia Ventosa

Heading away from the Tehuanapec River mouth

Sunset on the gulf

Wayne caught his first fish, a 5lb Spotted Bonito. Keith was bringing another fish, this one that out a lot of line, and just before we had the fish to the side of the boat he pulled off the hook getting away. An hour later another hit on the line, this time a Jack.  We let this fish go.

On Tuesday, April 14th,  Keith was at the helm at 2:00 while Kathy stayed with him until 4:00 due to erratic wind patterns. Wayne was up at 5:00 while Keith stayed up as the wind shifted to the bow then Kathy came up to assist. We ended up having to tack and lost the wind while facing land. Finally auto pilot corrected to turn us and we started to move when Dan got up at 7:40.

The current started to take us at about 1 knot with half a knot of wind. We could see a the Sierra Madre mountain range I the distance as we were passing El Majagual towards Solo Dios with Pijijipan (pronounced Pi hi hi pan) in the distance. We have 81 miles until we Chiapas and it looks like sometime on Wednesday at this moment.

Pleasant morning sail, rolling along slowly waiting for the wind in the distance to come on shore. We have the sails set for wind off the beam. The coastline has changed to denser foliage and less palms with grey sand beaches, reminiscent of volcanic soil beaches. Heavy wave breaks seen from 3/4's of a mile out. We are approaching some small coastal villages, Tolomita, El Boqueron, El Pasito and Masgual. 

Photos taken 6 miles before Tolomita along the coast from Mar Muerto south. At 14:30 we were traveling at 7.3 knots passing Tolomita quickly with consistent wind speeds of 12 with gusts of 15 knots. We topped out at 7.5 knots.  

We were only 51 miles from Chiapas when Wayne went to bed at 20:00. We clicked away a lot of miles today with strong winds pushing us south east. 

Wednesday, April 15th, Wayne took the helm from Dan at 2:00 stay 1 mile off shore, if winds get to 10 knots call him. Stayed on course for 40 minutes then the wind started to push 1.25 miles away even with corrections. Woke Keith for help and we maintained until 4:45 when we tried to tack and Dan woke. We tacked and just started to turn toward shore when the winds picked up. We were near our course but stayed off shore with a 10 knot push which increased to over 12 while Dan and Wayne pulled in the main sail. The Lightning show we were watching and the storm forming ahead of us on radar turn quick in 18.6 knots of wind. We then took in the jib.

After that storm and wind event we had cloudy skies and clear sailing while closing in on our destination Puerto Modero (Chiapas).

We entered the Marina Chaipas at 11:00 after a comfortable cruise after the storm. Greeted by the Marina and Enrique. Judy from Moontide, then Phil and Danielle from Ohana greeted us.  The Port Captain came to inspect our papers.  After checking in we take the dinghy for a ride back to the Cruise Ship dock and up and estuary to see the local area.

Men fishing in the lagoon along the Cruise Ship docking area

Entering the estuary, to the left bank people live along here

Many fishing boats at dock

Hundreds of rays around the dinghy, an amazing sight

We were able to watch the Travel Lift in operation on Friday while we were at the Marina. Enrique the Marina manager told us about the sail boat, Algo coming out on this date.  We went over to watch the Italian boat come out of the water for dry dock.

Owner operating the boat to the travel lift.

Boat has been lifted and getting ready to move onto land.

Power washing the underside before moving to dry dock area.

Saturday came quickly and we spent the day getting the boat ship shape for Enrique’s son’s 6th grade graduating class, they would be entering High School at 7th grade.  On the way back from the shower, Brenda (Enrique’s wife) stopped us to confirm we were with Lungta and the time she would come over with the graduates only.  Each of the graduates were having individual photos taken by a photographer.  21 students came over to the boat for photos, Ohana gave the photographer permission to go on their boat to taken photos from the bow sprit.  Keith ran on board to show them how the graduates could sit and stand on the bow sprit. What a great time, smiles all around from the students.  At 15:30 the students and some parents came on board for a ride into the lagoon and back.  We were sailing out for about an hour before returning to parents standing on the hill of the restaurant waving and taking photos.  Other owners of cruise boats came over to the dock to add to the charm and share in the event. 

6th Grade Graduating Class

Keith's idea to have the group photo on the bow sprit, brilliant.  It looks great!

On Sunday, April 19th on our walk out from Marina Chiapas. A woman with her three children who picked us up in her car and dropped us off at the airport.  We rented a car rental Europacar from the Airport, we traveled to Izapa Mayan ruins first then off to Tuxtla Chico. We grabbed lunch at  Chinese restaurant and walked through the Sunday market. Back into the car, traveling in elevation and explored Cacohoatan, Santo Domingo and Union Juarez. The road had tight turns which turned amongst themselves further up as we continued to climb elevation to the volcano. Once we were through Union Juarez town we got to a part of the road we decided not to climb further since the asphalt was splitting to the left then a complete section to the right collapsed and a 2,000 foot drop.  We turned around back into Union Juarez and stopped for coffee at Rustico in the clouds near the square.  We then stopped for ice cream at Walmart. We dropped off the provisions and put all the freezer and refrigerator items away then off to Playa Linda to see Dave and Joan.  We had dinner with them at a palapa on the beach.

Izapa Mayan ruins

Mirimba players at local market in Tuxtla Chico

Local market in Tuxtla Chico

Woman begging approaches Keith

Union Juarez

Park in Union Juarez

On Monday, April 20th check out time, we went to immigration in Enrique’s pick-up truck with Sam and Dave from Isleña, Ken from Irie and all of us from Lungta, back to Lungta and breakfast which turned into brunch then lunch with David, Joan, Kathy, Dan, Keith and Wayne.  Keith and Wayne were on the internet by the office earlier in the morning when they met Mason Willaims from Terrapin.  Keith and Wayne went over to Terrapin after lunch to visit with Mason and Catherine. The boat is registered in Morehead City, NC. Cleaned up a little and waited for the Navy to do the inspection of the boat to allow us to leave for El Salvador.