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.