We attempted to sleep in this morning, but were unsuccessful. Something about going to bed when it gets dark or shortly there after. So, when the sun comes up we pretty much start waking up.
It is a bit foggy, and a little cool (lower 60’s). We will get the dinghy out later and go ashore in the mean time it is laundry time. Generator on, washer running all three A/C units working to warm up the boat, water heater heating up, and the battery charging running.
Well, we got the dinghy down, got the outboard setup and went ashore. We remembered to get the wheels for the dinghy (they are a really cool setup, they have a single bar for each wheel, it slides into a rack on the transom and can either be up (so the wheels are pointed up into the sky), or they can be down the wheels underwater. The idea is that when you get to the beach, they lift the back end of the boat and that way you can go to the front of the boat and pull it out of the water. Great idea!
But, our outboard weighs about 100 lbs, the dinghy probably another 300 lbs or so, the sand is a bit soft, and the result is that the wheels actually work well to keep the motor from hitting the bottom. In fact I was able to drive the boat with the engine while the wheels rolled on the bottom both going in to the beach and out. But, we were not able to pull the dinghy out of the surf As a result, I was not convinced that I could leave the dinghy where it was and go to the store and or restaurant. So, I sat on the beach, and Renee’ went to the hotel and got a cab and then to the store.
After about a half hour, I pushed the dinghy back into the water, got in and ran around the area for a little bit. I was concerned that the tide would go out while I was sitting there and we would be unable to get the boat back in the water, or that the tide would come in and the boat would float away. (Yeah, I know I should know when the tides are). So, I sat there and drifted around for a while, eventually Renee’ called and I brought the dinghy in and got her and we went back to the boat. All in all a pretty long, involved trip to get a few groceries.
What we have decided is that in the future if there is no dock, then the kayak will be the mode of transportation. Because this was just too frustrating. Another thing, we will not anchor a mile off the beach, and further from the hotel/business district of the little towns.
Oh yeah, we didn’t take any pictures today. I did see a bunch of seals, and birds. Lots of birds.
Renee’ said there were a lot of green houses, growing tomatoes and she only went to the grocery store. Calimax, pretty big.