A map to where we will be traveling

Well the transmission has been fixed and the cause of the damage re-evaluated.The alignment was totally out and probably has been for awhile. After a major retrofit of new engine mounts and much much more, many days of tweeking it should be done today. The steering has being looked after. It quite amazes me how when a boat sits gremlins begin to occur. I am starting to think this is the boats way of getting back at us for abandoning her for 5 months.

We will run over to Chalone a very secluded anchorage for a sea trial on the transmission and a much needed swim in clear crystal clean water.

I have been watching the various weather reports and I have determined that we will be around for probably another week as a tropical depression/hurricane has hit the area that we will want to transit. In fact it looks like poor Haiti may get hit with a hurricane in about a week. Lets hope not they really don't deserve much more to happen to them.

A hurricane warning has been issued for Barbados,Martinique, St Lucia, The Grenadines.

A Tropical Storm Warning for Trinidad/Tobago, Grenada and Dominica.

Had we made it to the ABC islands we would be preparing for heavy winds and rain. They will not get the hurricane but the winds will be felt here. If you are interested in weather you can check out the hurricane situation (as we must) at www.nhc.noaa.gov or passageweather.com

Hopefully the islands we want to visit will not have too much damage.

If this weather system proves to take the route it appears to be undergoing we may spend the five days in Chalone.

We are more than ready to begin the next phase of this trip which will take us aprox. 450 nautical miles from Cartagena to Aruba. We will spend one or two nights depending on weather in Venezuelan waters at a place called Monjes del Sur. It basically is two rocks that have been joined by a dyke and has just an outpost Venezuelan Naval Station. I would think it would be like a stint in Alert Canada for them. Not much there. At least no polar bears.

From there it is only a day trip to Aruba.

These change of events are putting us back and will not allow us to spend the time we wanted to in some of the places along the way. We must be in Grenada by the end of November as the winds change and the transit would not be fun. Only time will tell.

Picture 1: The Mud Pool

Picture2: Ernie after his massage

Picture 3: Ken after his massage

Picture 4: Faye face down having a message.

Someone Out There Had Different Plans

Sailors are superstitous and believe that you should not depart a harbour on a Friday. Bad things will happen. We finished our boat chores and were ready to depart on Friday. At 0700 we headed out with the best possible weather prediction for the week. Flat calm seas and nothing over 10 knots. About 1 1/2 hours out the gremlins started to begin. They started off rather insignificant and grew. The first was an easy fix time wrong on computer, then came the right engine transmission's temperature rising. We made the judgement call to turn around and check things out. We were almost at the marina when the steering seemed just a tad too loose. You could swing the steering wheel right around and the boat didn't move. To make matters worse when we were just about at the marina, Ken went to put the engines in neutral and the right engine remained stuck in forward. Not a good sign. Luckily we have 2 engines and were able to get Genesis to the dock with the help of marina staff pulling hard on the ropes.

The transmission has been removed and has taken a trip to the transmission hospital. Prognosis will be given tomorrow. The steering was given a transfusion and the air removed. Seems stiff enough now. Special new brackets are being prepared for the new alternators that we purchased in Canada and they will be installed tomorrow. Now one could be dissapointed but you know the cliche when given lemons make lemon juice. We are taking the time to make lemon juice.

With the last 10 days fevorishly getting ready to leave no sight seeing was occuring and isn't that the reason we are here in the first place.

Today was an experience that we may never have the opportunity to do again. We visited Volcan de Lodo El Totumo.

Upon arrival, you change into your seim suit and ascend up the steps to the top of the volcano, climb down a little wooden ladder and then immerse yourself in a pool of mud the sonsistency of chocolate pudding. Before getting muddy, you give hyour camera to one of the locals who manages many other peoples cameras at the same time. Wonderful memory.

The depth of the hole is about 60', yet you are so buoyant that you float on top with ease. In fact it is difficult to get youself vertical.

Now the best part is that some YOUNG, GOOD LOOKING Local (if you are a chica) does a total body massage with gooey mud all over you. It feels great for the guys as well! We figure the temperature of the mud is around 80-85F. After about an hour you head down to the loal lake and get an OLDER LOOKING CHICA wash you down. You are told to take off your bathing suits so they can clean them. Very interesting concept.

What are Mud Volcanoes

At several points near the Caribbean coast between the Gulf of Uraba and Santa Marta in Colombia there are strange mud bolcanoes where warm flows of black, grey or brown mud rise to the surface forming small lakes or pools. Sometines a ridge builds up around the feature to form a cone that can be 20 metres or more above the surrounging area. One of the best examples is the Volcano that we visited.

The cause of these mud volcanoes is controversial. Most of them are associated with underground petroleum oil and gas deposits, shere bolatile gases combine with wter shales and mudstones and ooze to the surface. Many are found under the sea and have been an important hellp in the search for marine oilfields, such as in the Gulf of Mexico. Some recent explorations have been in the Caribbean near the coast of Panama and the NW of Colombia. Maybe there might be something similar in Fort McMurray and Canada would have a new tourist attraction.

Ken and Ernie both figure we should return for the mud treatment when the transmission gets put back on. All and all lemonaide was made from lemons in the form of mud.

The Genesis has been undertaking a major reno. The teak boards all the way around the decks have been torn up and new fiberglass with anti-skid have replaced the old thinning boards.

Doing the work this time of year has its challenges. We are in the rainy season which means that there are torrential rains. Finished it now is! We have brand new decks a new propane tank container and a new freezer container.

We have been spending 10 hr days to try and get the boat ready for departure. The fibreglass dust was everywhere, so everything needs to be washed. Unfortunately there was a major leak (not sure if from reno or previously) that took its toll on several books. We no longer have cruising guides for Central America and Panama and will need to repurchase before the return trip.

Ken now has the outside of the boat painted and had the workmen here at the marina and fellow cruisers awed that the boat could be painted in one day. They all approve of the quality. Having 34 years of painting experience helps some!

The teak handrails will have to be a work in progress as we travel as will be additional painting of the upper white portion of the boat. We would never get out of here if we had to have everything done before departure. In fact no boat would get away from the dock.

The outer equipment took some beating with the rains and high temperatures. We didn't get the mold on the inside but not true on the outside. I have cleaned as much as possible but the mold leaves a stain. We will probably have to replace the seats once in Florida. While living aboard you continually are wiping them down but leave them and those spores take over. I really could have used the clean team this week.

We are still on the hard and hope to go into the water tomorrow. There doesn't seem to be space at the dock however so I am no so sure that we will be having the splash. We need to be in the water to test the engines, generator and we will test the water maker in clean water. Things should be alright but it is a boat and those that own boats know how that is! Other critical things needed to be tested out are the radio systems, radar and chart systems. Without these functioning properly we cannot depart. Receiving weather is critical in this area. The rains come down so hard it is like traveling in fog and there is a lot of freight boat traffic.

Provisioning still needs to be done, so today I have to make a loose menu plan to figure out what I need to buy. We have an empty freezer ready for the fishermen but that won't feed us at the moment. We will have to make several different stops to get the various things needed. Just stocking up and repackaging so as to have no garbage can take a full day if not 1 1/2.

Once Ernie is here we must get him added to our crewlist and get our Internation Zarpe to continue on to the next country.

Well, I better get going on the boat. We have hoped to be departing by Friday if things go well. I am telling myself I will not be dissapointed if the date is a few days delayed.

For all you armchair sailors consider yourself lucky that you do not have to participate in this part of a boaters life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tying Up Loose Ends

Lea and I wanted to get our geocache finds up to 50 before I depart for Colombia so it was off on a small road trip. We had planned on taking the grandchildren to this area in the summer but time got away on us.

These rocks known as Okotoks Big Rock is the worlds largest erratic rock. Erratic rocks are rocks transported far from its place of origin by glacier ice.

These rocks were dropped here as the glacier melted over 10,000 years ago. The rock weighs 16,500 tons and measures 9 metres high, 41 metres long, 18 metres wide.

The rock consists of hardened layers of sand, silt and pebbles. The heat and pressure generated by the weight caused it to become a durable rock called quartzite.

What is amazing about this rock is that it is in the middle of the prairies. A long ways away from any mountain.

I will be returning to Colombia with 5 Travel Bugs to place into caches throughout the Caribbean and Colombia. This will ensure that we get out there and hike getting our exercise in.

Well as I write this I have 2 sleeps left before I depart for Colombia and the next phase in our journeys.

This winter will see us traveling the Caribbean an I am sure that things will be very different than traveling Mexico, Central America and Colombia.

We will be reintroduced to English, French, Dutch and again some Spanish.

This week found me doing a little running around to meet up with friends, Alanna, and getting last minute things to take back with me.

Ken and I must thank Ed, Angela and Mark for the use of their vehicles during our stay.

We need to continually thank Paulette and Kenny for keeping our mail for us and the running around that Kenny did to make sure Ken got the proper Screws!

Finally a very big thank you goes out to Lea whom opened her home to us. We were very much a part of her family and will always appreciate everything. I will miss the grandkids they were fun. It is nice to do things you really want to do but can't because you are grownup! When you are with kids anything goes and no one questions what you are up to.

I am looking forward to getting home. Genesis is home. One month without Ken has felt very strange after having spent 24/7 for 2 1/2 years together.

The next blog will be us back on the boat, reprovisioning and getting ready to go. After some sight seeing of course. Stay tune.