Rio Dulce

Rio Dulce

Rio Dulce means Sweet River, and in fairness life here is pretty sweet.
I don't think that we will ever get used to the high humidity, and some of the daytime temperatures are well out of our comfort zone. However, in spite of the climate, we are finding our marina based rhythm.

Our wonderful marina home for the hurricane season

 












For the first couple of months we have made an effort to tackle all the small boat related jobs we had been putting off until our arrival. Perhaps some could have been done at anchor, but it helps that the boat is not moving around and we have shore power.

Some of the jobs have been simple like our flagstaff that needed sanding down and re-varnishing, and a free pair of replacement oars from a fellow cruiser that needed the same. The end result looks pretty good, so maybe it was worth enduring the heat. Our marina has a small area with a few seats and a space to do some work which is really useful.

Flagstaff done and oars next

 
















We also had some new cockpit cushions made with slightly thicker foam for extra comfort, and contrasting white piping also in sunbrella fabric. We are very pleased with these and the price was very good at 2000 quetzals (approximately £200).

New cockpit cushions

 














We have put an extra 5 micron dock filter inline for when we fill up the rear tank. After a rainfall the dock water which is sourced from a well, contains a fair amount of sediment and we did not want a layer in the bottom of the water tank. Also, we are using this water to back flush our watermaker every 4 days as we did not want to pickle it. Sadly this water is not potable, so we are buying our drinking water in 18 litre containers and decanting it. The tank water is fine for dishes and showers. Before we leave the river we will top up with potable water from the fuel dock at Ram Marina. Talking of fuel, we have opted to keep the main tank full to help prevent condensation, but have left the jerry cans empty for now. We run the engine up under load once a month, and same for the generator.

Our rib has been away for repair as the rubber side bumper strip had become detached in a couple of places. We have some hypalon glue on board but never had much success with it, so it was time to get a proper job done. So far so good. Next for the dinghy will be to get some chaps made. These are a protective material cover for the tubes and made to fit in such a way as to stay on all the time. It should help to protect the tubes a little from scuffs and UV damage.
We have been quoted about US $250, so much better value here than in some other areas of the Caribbean. From the ones we have seen so far the quality looks really good.

We also took the opportunity to re-waterproof both the bimini and sprayhood.

 

Bigger than they look when off the boat

 
















So far we have avoided the dreaded mould inside associated with this climate. When we arrived we took all the contents of the cupboards out and wiped the woodwork with a mild white vinegar solution. In addition we are running the air con most days, and we also have a dehumidifier on board.

As well as going through the cupboards, we have taken the contents of both rear cabins out and had a spring clean. The spare genoa and mainsail along with both cruising chutes are now in storage, and it looks like we will be able to have one spare cabin when we leave. The only way we can do this is to part company with our waterproof bean bags, but we hardly ever used them. We have found a charity we can donate them to, to help local children, so they will go to a good cause.

Our fire extinguishers, of which we have 3 automatic models (engine, bow thruster and Webasto diesel heater), and 4 dry powders, all need servicing. The gauge on the dry powder ones are in the red. You are supposed to give them a vigorous shake every month to move the powder around, but we mostly forget. A local company will get them to Guatemala City for us, and they can be checked over and refilled.

Time to get refilled

This week we need to get an extension visa for the boat to be in the country, as we have been here nearly three months now. Fortunately our Agent comes here to save us a trip to Livingston at the mouth of the river. It will cost about 2100 quetzals (£210) for the boat and that will last for nine months, taking us up to the end of February.

We have decided to stay here for Christmas, and will probably have a short season by heading up to nearby Mexico. Lynne has been getting frequent vertigo attacks and we just don't want to consider a long ocean passage after Panama whilst they carry on. We are hoping these just die down, as it can be debilitating when sailing and we don't want to become land lubbers just yet. Time will tell.

Shopping in the High Street in the local town of Fronteras is an interesting experience. The main road is not very wide, with no discernible pavements and large American trucks going to and from the mine. There are also Tuk Tuks, motorcycles with whole families on them,  interspersed with pedestrians trying not to get run over. The noise, sights and smells makes for an interesting experience!

Our supermarket is not what we are used to by European standards, but it has many of the things we need.

Just a few photos below, more to come in following updates.

Little and large

Smile please

Health and Safety?

No problem to find beer