tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33543385478558979512024-03-05T00:48:20.795-06:00Now I seek my own volunteer crew or even better... my permanent sailing companionI bought a sailboat to live aboard.. Now when will I sell my house. John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.comBlogger206125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-57650087974426043012020-01-29T21:00:00.000-06:002020-01-29T21:17:05.465-06:00Lots of Launching Lately<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Over the weeks I’d gotten to know a few of the sailors near to my boat. I’d even begun to join the happy hour gathering a couple boats away. One couple that launched a few days ago is from Kodiak Island, Alaska. They have built quite the off grid homestead up there. It all began about 20 years ago I guess. A huge garden with hoop green house and a ton of fruit trees. Apple trees of course but also plums, apricots, cherries and more. A small hydropower system on a creek is is their primary source of electricity. Anyway they bought a catamaran on eBay here at the boatyard and worked on it 3 winters before the current plan of...continuing the work but also getting it in the water for a bit of sailing. Another guy next to me used to be harbor patrol on Catalina Island at Two Harbors for many years. Two other sailors at the boatyard had also done that work in the past. One lived on her 30’ sailboat when working there. Another neighbor just 10’ away is in the slings ready for a morning launch. That’s 4 boats near mine that have launched in...10 days maybe?<br />
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Many who launch head over to a place called El Mero. It’s affordable docking...with a gate and guard and you pay just $2.50 usd a day.. $75 usd a month. No electricity, no water .. there is a rest room but no shower. There were about 6 or 7 boats when I stopped to have a look. I guess 2 boats are living there long term. Most use it to do final preparations before heading out. It’s a 2 mile walk but about 6 or 7 miles by water. <br />
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The couple from Alaska bought my outboard. Now if I could only sell the other 4 items. My Zodiac dinghy, horizontal aluminum 20 lbs propane tank, 33 pound Bruce anchor, tankless propane water heater. I’ll haul them home if need be...<br />
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-79489535332863347522020-01-09T20:42:00.002-06:002020-01-10T22:46:08.607-06:00First Month Living on the Hard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, I have now been here one month...arriving December 9. After I determined the ‘leaking’ water tank isn’t actually leaking? Or so it appeared and I’ve yet to take the floor access panels up to have a look roughly 3 weeks after discovering it’s not really leaking, at least not enough to be a concern. Soon I will have a look. Next I removed the boat name vinyl lettering and prepped and painted the areas on either side of the bow and discovered I’d made a mistake not to bring enough yacht enamel to do the whole hull toe rail to bottom paint.<br />
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Then I heard about a woman in Tucson who has various boaters needing boat stuff send it to her and she brings it down. I’ve ordered a gallon of primer/undercoat and two gallons of yacht enamel and a few other things. 2 packages have been deliver a third might not get there before her next trip down. That’s ok as I might also order a quart or so of a colored yacht enamel I recently discovered. Epifanes makes a yacht enamel in quite an impressive selection of colors. I plan to change the color of the decorative blue stripe that’s actually in the gel coat otherwise I’d likely just do away with it. I guess it looks nice and I’ll add a matching boot strip the boat currently doesn’t have.<br />
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Of course organizing is ongoing and I’ve reorganized what I’ve recently organized. I’ve installed one V Berth reading light Replacement and will do the other in the morning while it warms up. It was a coolish 46 degrees this morning.<br />
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I’m currently going around the vessel just under the teak toe rail to fill voids in the laminate. I’m not sure why perhaps from a period of time Maintenance was neglected? I estimate about 5 more days doing that... <br />
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I’ve glanced at the task of removing the propane on demand water heater and it’s venting. Then I’ll be totally redoing the propane system to the galley stove. I’m currently using a little electric burner. I must attempt to replace the new ring clamp on the Whale gusher manual bilge pump.. Another task I dread as I know it’s not going to go well? Then I have two new fans I plan to install and running the new wiring and connecting to the DC panel will be challenging.<br />
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I had a couple yard neighbors help me take my dinghy down using a halyard. Then I used the little hoist boom to lower the outboard.. I’m planning to sell both and get something smaller. I can hopefully do that here.. That’s what every body here tells me. I’ll post on some sailboat items for sale on Guaymas and nearby place Facebook groups. But what to ask? Was offered $500 for the a Yamaha 9.9 hp 2 stroke in La Paz.. I wish I’d sold it. New ones that size are listed for $2,500 to $3,000. That model Zodiac dinghy new is listed on defenders for $3,095 but it’s a 2016 year model, although brand new.. I’m not sure how old the dinghy is. The seller seemed to say 2015..bought in San Francisco. Any comments on price to ask feel free to comment..<br />
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I also hope to sand and varnish the floor in the aft cabin it’s in pretty tough shape. I’ll likely do the same to the head floor? I’ll likely sleep in my tent during that project and use the aft cabin mattress too. I’d like to take a closer look at the under berth storage that is taken up with the water maker system?<br />
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I already know I’ll not finish everything on my list by the time I must return to Duluth...<br />
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The new tenants who replaced my second tenant back in late April ended up being the kind you are always warned about when you tell people you rent out your home.. The lease doesn’t expire until May 18 but I may end up beginning the eviction process in February if they remain arrears one months rent. That began with October rent not being paid until November 4 and again and again he has been arrears on rent one month. I suspect he realizes I’m not going to renew the lease with them and plans to short me a months rent.. maybe two by then? Anyway I’ll head back within the first week of April.<br />
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-62163454580788935092019-12-27T10:07:00.004-06:002019-12-27T10:24:28.393-06:00Christmas Pot Luck .. bonfire in the boatyard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On December 25... I noticed a posting in the bathroom. There was to be a pot luck Christmas gathering in the boatyard. I decided to go. I made a salad which was popular and completely consumed. I also brought a bottle of wine...one of several that had come with the boat purchase. Those who know me know I’m not much of an alcohol drinker. Wasn’t sure if the wine might have gone bad but it tasted quite good...I drank enough to know it. Anyway there were about 20 people there. It was mostly couples, one family with baby, a far amount of single men...no single women. It was fun to get to know some other people with sailboats. I think about half of the total number of people currently here working on their boat were there.? <br />
After one nice day...yesterday...it’s again raining today<br />
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-68302893850420240582019-12-25T10:22:00.001-06:002019-12-25T10:32:43.825-06:00A Second Day of Rain 🌧 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The weather had been incredible my first 14 days here in Guaymas. Highs in the mid 70’s and lows in the mid 50’s even upper 40’s. So 2 weeks of no rain and lovely temps. Yesterday, Christmas Eve, it rained a bit pre-dawn and I closed the side ports and hatch. Then it rained quite hard all morning with varying intensity and while it brightened in the afternoon, light showers continued. Now on Christmas Day it is still raining off and on... postponing the drying out I had hoped for. The entire boatyard is unpaved ...just kind of a dusty dirt. So it’s mud 2” deep all over, a bit less in the areas cars drive and compact the earth. I ventured out once yesterday to empty my pee bottle and use the toilet. I also surveyed my work area.. the tarps I put up we’re mainly for shade but certainly helpful in keeping my supplies dry. Some things got wet mostly hand tools but I’d put another tarp over my boxes of boat project supplies. I had worn just my flip flops and it was a task to clean my feet of mud before coming back onboard. It’s a very sticky mud. I even put my wet socks on that were out in the rain to contain my still dirty feet. I dug out my rubber boots for when I venture out today.... <br />
So...another day of organizing inside the boat and increased Spanish lessons with DuoLingo. Of course I’m eager to continue on with hull preparations for applying my new boat name lettering. Let the sun shine 👍🏻☀️<br />
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-34388211370594500252019-12-21T09:22:00.002-06:002019-12-21T22:15:22.663-06:00FREEDOM RIDER IV to OFFLANDER<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Boat names are tricky. I had looked at several boats I’d not have changed the name of and some that I definitely would. FREEDOM RIDER IV was a name that needed changing. Anyway I decided on OFFLANDER. I can live with that even though REEFER GLADNESS received the most votes when I posted about my boat name considerations. <br />
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<span style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I’ve begun to remove the old boat name letters and prepare the hull for the new boat name letters. Coast Guard regulations require the boats name and home port be in characters at least 4” high. Obviously the old home port ‘San Fransisco CA’ was not. It measured only about 2.5” high. The rub rail and decorative blue strip made it difficult to add 4” home port under boat name. I’ve decided to just put the boat’s name on each side of the bow but will add the boats name and home port ‘Duluth MN’ on the stern and it will wrap around the pointed stern of my double elder.</span></div>
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I researched ‘how to remove vinyl lettering from boats’ and found 3 methods. One involved a solvent that needed to be rinsed off quickly to avoid damage to gel coat. The next was a heat gun and plastic scraper.<br />
The third and most favorably recommended was a round rubber decal eraser. I bought one of these at an auto body supply place in Duluth. I also had my heat gun and plastic scraper. I started with the heat gun but it seemed slow and I worried about overheating the gel coat. Then I tried the decal eraser and it was quickly obvious why it was the most recommended method. Still it left shadows of the old name...in fact I could make out the name prior to that.. ‘CARPA DIEM’ If you look up just under the teak toe-rail you can see it’s pretty messed up so I knew I’d need to repair and paint the hull prior to applying the new boat name letters. That’s what I’m going to do this morning. I hope to finish before the afternoon when port side is the sunny side.<br />
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I finished sanding the areas where the old boat name was. After sanding, CARPA DIEM was more noticeable than FREEDOM RIDER IV... I vacuumed then wiped the area down with Interlux brush thinner 333. I decided to use Interlux yacht enamel to paint the hull above the waterline but I only got a quart so for now just the areas between toe-rail and rub-rail or at minimum where the new boat name lettering and home port are going. I picked a semi gloss white. The color is good match but not the sheen understandably as I’m sure the hull hasn’t been buffed in forever. Reading the paint can it recommends a undercoat of Interlux white undercoat 279 and a 2 coat minimum of the yacht enamel. I didn’t get the undercoat as I didn’t know... I’ll do 3 coats of the yacht enamel and hope it’s ok. I won’t bother posting about the 2 additional coats sanding and wiping down in between. I’ll wait until I’m applying the new letter decals.<br />
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-14704410601154813062019-12-19T18:42:00.001-06:002019-12-20T18:58:14.662-06:00Early Projects.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Now that I’ve discovered my tank apparently does not leak to any bothersome degree, I can get more into projects. Actually I’ve begun a few projects as I was incrementally filling and checking for leaks of the water tank. <br />
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I’ve finished restoration, cleaning and applying teak oil to the two teak cockpit floor panels. I also cleaned the cockpit floor under them and tested the 4 cockpit floor drains. Both to see which thru-hulls they drain to and to check for any leaking into the boat possibly contributing to the suspicion of the tank leaking. All seems good, no interior leaks were found. Eventually I’ll clean, restore and oil the teak cockpit seats. This must be done in place and only one side at a time so the companionway is accessible. Perhaps I’ll do the cockpit seats in conjunction with revarnishing the floor of the aft cabin and head. I’ll set up my tent and sleep there a few nights.<br />
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I also screwed in place the vessel’s coast guard documentation number plaqué. It’s supposed to be permanently installed but I decided not to use adhesive in addition to screwing it in place. I crewed it in 6 places in the routered numbers. A ‘V’ router bit was used to router the numerals. I still need to cover the crew holes with acrylic caulk and paint to match the green numbers. With no screws visible it will seem adequately permanent I think.<br />
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removal of the previous boat name lettering and preparations to apply the new boat name vinyl letters. I actually began that project today on the port side. I’ll do the renaming simultaneously with other projects. Primarily the never ending task of going through the entire boat and getting rid of all the junk I don’t really need.. (until I need it .. haha). I’m starting in the V berth to make some space for future crew to put their stuff. <br />
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-3431766237183186042019-12-18T20:11:00.000-06:002019-12-18T20:51:55.408-06:00The Mystery of the ‘leaking’ Stainless Steel Water Tank<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I’ve not used this blog since my posting about the purchase process of the Fantasia 35, back in March. It was the discovery of the supposedly leaking water tank that caused me to stop.. I’d done plenty of research on what can be done to patch a leaking freshwater tank on a sailboat. In the instance of my particular model with the large stainless steel tank under the floor, spanning the width of the boat or at least extending under the cabinetry and the multiple baffles to control shifting water in the tank..none of the methods I discovered would work. Anyway, now the boat is on the hard so absolutely no confusion of seawater entering via the stuffing box etc. Toward the end of my first full day here, I put the water sanitizing system in place and began to fill the tank incrementally. It would make the most sense the leak would be on the bottom if it’s related to corrosion which is generally the case. I filled it to about 3” deep and marked the level on a dip stick. After overnight I found no drop of water level and no sign of any water on the hull near the tank. Then I added another 4” and again overnight no drop in water level or signs of leaking near the tank. I added another 4” a 3rd time and again overnight there was no drop in water level. However, I did notice a drop or two of water near the tank. Hmmmm.. I added another 4” and this brought it up to about 4” from the top of the tank. Again next morning no drop in water level and the water I’d noticed earlier had evaporated? I’m multi tasking and had removed the 2 teak cockpit floor panels to work on and I’d cleaned the cockpit floor underneath them which included the use of water. It got me wondering if the cockpit drain hoses or around the drain flanges might be leaking? Anyway I filled the tank one last time to about one inch down from the top. Again overnight there was no drop in the water level but I did notice another drop where one had been a couple days before. I’m talking just a single large water droplet? Anyway this morning I bolted the 2 steel, 10” round access ports on the tank. Needless to say, I’m very pleased that the tank isn’t leaking after all? Of course I’ll continue to monitor for leaking. <br>
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Just before dinner I switched on the pressurized water system assuming surely there’s going to be some leaks in the plumbing. So far I’ve not noticed any although the pump runs occasionally indicating there must be some loss of pressure. The pump doesn’t pressurize the tank so no worries there.. it pressurizes a small accumulator tank. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-11647362209615454572019-03-02T22:43:00.004-06:002019-08-23T10:14:01.679-05:00Continuing the purchase process on Fantasia 35’ MKII <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It’s so odd I ended up in the purchase process on a sailboat in La Paz, Mexico. As usual since 2012 I was to spend the coldest part of winter somewhere warmer. With my focus on potentially buying a sailboat this winter, I decided not to seek a volunteer crewing gig or take friends Dave and Amy up on their offer to join them aboard their sailboat Discovery. This fall I had backed out of my ‘offer to purchase’ on an Islander Freeport 36’ in Rio Dulce late September into October. Then I came so close to a mutually agreed price on a well equipped Tayana 37 on Antigua in the eastern Caribbean. The seller ended up having second thoughts after congratulations from the broker of my latest offer’s acceptance. Then I shifted my focus to another Tayana 37 sitting in Venezuala. The plan was to head to Costa Rica, which I did in early December and eventually head down into Panama and fly to Venezuala to meet the owner at his boat. That boat’s owner, who is Austrian, had a health issue forcing him to head back to Austria, leaving his sailboat on the hard in Venezuela. He’d been spending hurricane seasons in Venezuala for his many years of living on his boat cruising the Caribbean. After learning this was not recent and had been 5 years ago and not being able to obtain recent photos of the boat plus the owner being uncertain as to just when he’d be able to travel there...not to mention the ramping up of regime change dreams of the USA... I decided to pass on my boat buying adventure to Venezuala. This was shortly after arriving to check out <a href="http://www.fincabellavista.com/">Finca Bella Vista</a> in early January. I once again started making online searches for used sailboats fitting my criteria and close enough to Costa Rica to possibly go have a look at. This is when I saw the listing for the Fantasia 35 MKII in La Paz. I researched the Fantasia 35, a sailboat I’d never heard, as well as potential lower cost places to keep the boat until I’m free of owning my house in Duluth and can live at anchor. I had previously looked at boats in Southern California and knew Pacific marina’s, including Sea of Cortez marina’s were not the bargain of Rio Dulce, Guatemala marinas.. I began the offering at 25% below the asking price but after several offers and counter offers the mutually agreeable price. This agreement on price was in early February and I was in Nicaragua. I decided I’d fly to have a look at the boat, before making the offer to purchase official. Since arriving to La Paz February 26, I have checked out the boat twice on my own and once with the current owner present. I learned quite a bit about the boat but many questions he was not able to answer. I had the weekend to think it over since brokers office was closed and I’ve decided to continue the purchase process. I will sign my offer to purchase tomorrow, Monday, March 4. Next comes the marine survey, then a sea trial and haul out for continuation of the survey. It’s possible the deal will close by next weekend? Of course it could take longer if I’m waiting for the survey results. Also, if I don’t like the feel of things during the sea trial or any details of the marine survey I might back out or try to negotiate for a lower price.. So that’s where that’s at. I feel a mixture of excitement and anxiety on whether this is the boat fo r me or my offered price is too high? I have a feeling that’s always the case when buying a used sailboat other then those lucky enough to strike an undeniable bargain. Oh... I’ll be changing the name but not at the same time of switching the Costa Guard registration and Mexican Temporary Import Permit to my name... I think? <br />
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-14614158085477738842019-01-27T12:00:00.000-06:002019-03-02T17:24:35.092-06:00Finca Bella Vista 🌳 A treehouse community<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I’m going to write in my blog again, long long after taking a break as I just wasn’t feeling like doing the blog.. I will date them as they happened.. not as I write them. <br />
I arrived to <a href="http://www.fincabellavista.com/">Finca Bella Vista</a> on January 3, 2019, having taken the bus from Uvita. I had reserved a couple nights for a property tour as well as signed up for 3 weeks as a volunteer. I wanted to spend more time there to get a feel for the place since I’m considering buying an existing treehouse or a lot and building my own. The idea was to buy a rental property for more income while I’m living most of the year on a sailboat as well as provide an alternative place to live.. Eventually full time when I decide not to sail anymore. <br />
<a href="http://www.fincabellavista.com/">Finca Bella Vista</a> is a realestate development that began in 2006 when the co-founders heard about a 62 or 92 acre (not sure which) that was up for sale to be clear cut. It was primary rain forest in Cost Rica’s southern zone. They decided to contact some friends and were able to buy it. Protecting it from clearcutting. The concept of an Ewok Village treehouse community began. As the years passed additional primary and secondary rainforest acreage was also purchased and lots were sold. The Finca now comprises 600 acres and is an important wildlife corridor in the effort to connect the wild Amistad area to the north with the many National Parks and Preserves of the Oslo Pennisula.<br />
I enjoyed the experience greatly.. The people living there, working there and volunteering there are awesome, just like you’d expect a treehouse community would attract! One way or another, I’ll be back.<br />
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The Finca BellaVista community garden<br />
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-69006865878029680222019-01-02T09:16:00.007-06:002019-01-02T13:05:36.174-06:00Dawn of a New Year<p>It was a coincedence to end up spending New Years at FlutterBy House next to Marino Ballena National Park. Nothing has really been planned concerning my Costa Rican travels other than where I’m heading next. Tomorrow, 1/3/2019 I take the bus a couple hours for my 3 plus weeks at the <a href="https://www.fincabellavista.com/">Finca Bella Vista Treehouse Community.</a> </p>
<p>I had a pleasant New Years despite being alone. I took a nice walk out to the whale tail for which the National Park is named.. I was amongst an exodus of many others.. The walk ended with a beautiful sunset. After a shower and dinner I talked with a few groups of people.. most were trying to decide if they would go to a party on the beach or the one in the small town of Uvita? The sinks along one end of the bathhouse building had women lined up putting on makeup.. to go to an outside party in the dark... Anyway I kind of expected the FlutterBy House would be a scene of a party but it was not and even the kitchen closed early. People who know me know, I’m not much of a drinker. Oh, I love my water, coffee and natural fruit juices and I will have a beer of some wine or even a rum drink to be sociable but only one or rarely two. When I think back on the celebrations of New Years in my life I remember the ones spent in a place of nature. Certainly I’ve drank too much and stayed up until midnight in the past but it’s been a very long time. I remember going on moonlit skis with friends on the New Year’s Eve but more often the New Years day ski.. Some of the most pleasant memories are the times winter camping out in a nice little canyon on on the Kadence River. In other words.. I’ve developed a well defined preference for experiencing nature on the dawn of the New Year rather than missing it because of the party? 🎉😳🥳🍻😴 .. But, mostly I just don’t like the taste or the effects on the body? </p>
<p>After a very long multi topic conversation with a woman from Colorado also staying in the treehouse dorm and one of the very few at FlutterBy House totally avoiding the typical New Years celebration.. I was in bed by 10:30 and up at 5:00 am...50 minutes before sunrise. As I walked the 500 meters to the beach, the sounds I heard were of howler monkeys and countless birds, none of which were roosters. 👍🏻 Once waking out on the beach the only sound was of the surf. The sky was dominated by the moon and Venus. </p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dZPw3Td3RFg/XC0DyK2X0lI/AAAAAAAAYlc/9dw_svFoKAUc00Ju0I_0kPdM1u_JRcKgACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>I walked to a little creek flowing out of the jungle and spent quite a bit of time there watching the birds... </p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U-s0rRQM0Mg/XC0EF0-xe3I/AAAAAAAAYls/MUPErGPi0zgDuycZgdqxrhonDJQdP9aagCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lOEMK6-a3dc/XC0EUzZH6JI/AAAAAAAAYl8/8K3vYmVJR6gwf3-EoL5WlobnUUVwk75qwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1Cpqd_TZ-SsBWZokY8Sg3ES6HI6F3zBqfxym0VgRS05dwVECK5BqkxqnPuxgCsNrXarwSGhRpN2ly_rBbqSVY7aXd0ZetRVyEfKRWulJdR7fhYbGMgDgbBNKdRpadUcRn7gt920eD6_G/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hPp_gKtrqBI/XC0E9Z_oI6I/AAAAAAAAYmU/OrmXZrnPcXIyMxn6qj-imF-ldJtpbWbzACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuIQv2xGwrBE5POxksgXdaaoP2qdOUmhSZvh7i3Ham8i9X1WCJbR0E2KhOJ4654RNuxn3nMEyLXao0KiDD9aWPnMJIc2EKlqPROJkzEXham7lSokuYp2JO065v0uhITo5pxCxtif6f1Mw/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NtUI3jVOKPk/XC0FZ2AmsZI/AAAAAAAAYmo/FUq8eOLK6dwrOFPIdqnk39djK9jtpY1NwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-baFDGjVDy70/XC0FbDsjuuI/AAAAAAAAYms/HVHctBBEJQ4vjT69ORhqdllMZFOqCDa2wCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>After breakfast I decided to walk up to a waterfall swimming spot they talk about here. It’s about a one hour walk. </p>
<p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCetR1WpetYnvUn0xhUi9Qt2Qq3I68ntZDLOYPPvRftNrqfl0rbHiRMS-Ho9Po6J7lVuMD6_e6FpvGXEroRuv9G6w5jsgwbeGFyvydvRlTflJJGRBHl4Mc4ztAa1brDKDOmsQ4xqmxhPG2/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B8hsHuuDnXo/XC0HhpzK_3I/AAAAAAAAYn4/JWdhsrzhb3khigjSLkJ7DgGoRNQrBefQwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>I got back to FlutterBy just after 11:00. I overheard the usual conversations about how much fun they must have had last night based on how they felt that morning. </p>
John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-76666626129159631242019-01-01T15:22:00.004-06:002019-01-01T15:30:59.705-06:00New Years Eve 🎉 ning <p>I arrived to FlutterBy House in Uvita, Costa Rica about noon on December 30. I’ve been relaxing but have taken a walk for the sunset each evening. I stayed at this hostel back in February of 2012 which was when I first traveled on rental income in winter. Flutterby House used to call itself, FlutterBy .. Hostel by the Sea. It was 4 years old back then as this was the 10th anniversary. It was started and is owned by 2 sisters from California.. It has a good vibe. Things have changed since 2012.. it’s still a cool hostel but I kind of liked it more before. It’s at a great location on the edge of Marino Ballena National Park... named after the ’Whale Tail’ tomobolo formation. There are humpback whales in the area as well and tours are of course offered. Back in 2012 I saw whales spouting a couple times well off shore but nothing this time. There were a lot more people on the beach than 6 years ago. Also, more other hostels and some new private homes. One corner lot that had been for sale in 2012 was well forested with many large trees several big enough to make a treehouse in as well as several large fruiting mango trees.. That same lot 6 years later is no longer for sale but rather than a fancy new home being built amongst the trees... it’s been clear cut? </p>
<p>On New Years Eve.. I took another sunset walk but left earlier and went alone. I walked out to the Whale Tail, along with the exodus of others people. It needs to be low tide to walk out on the whale tail. It’s so nice to walk along these beaches that are part of a National Park with the natural appearance rather then the many beaches dotted with homes, hostels, bars and restaurants. It was a pleasant evening taking photos.
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<p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMm0xX4DUXQuFkHia-1_EuKJxkqEra9ZiBANgn48-MCnvVAMbz_mdHI8709p4_VvejgK-CB9LqOJALDio_FTjvmjHYRzJGXcJvuUTsovq7XdFBb4k7fThKnywWBGi0BsYCstDCju0deYUQ/" alt=""><br></p>
<p>Playa Uvita is a broad fine sand beach and at low tide reflections are as if it’s water not simply wet sand...</p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8EC_O8IcZ24/XCvR6WRBJ8I/AAAAAAAAYOs/yhZzH3R0NokXJ1281p3E4I_vHQLyKNqPQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9kklOKjLhxo/XCvSDcYqyaI/AAAAAAAAYOw/8iCxLjIBbZc_9YYgTYxGSxFJQCWXC8dlACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>Here you can see the tombolo formation. A rock reef parallel to the shore makes up the ‘tail’ and causes waves to break and curve around.... carrying sand out and eventually creating the tombolo. </p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L4B2ArqgGDU/XCvTJEJoYkI/AAAAAAAAYPc/-xiXeCA5-34CeFETCD3IJB-FMzzjNhrNQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2TtvDRAn00I/XCvTR6GJqXI/AAAAAAAAYPg/plT6wUr6M5A5dZ3EcgA6UJPTNF4na33yQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wHUT2-O0lHg/XCvUa9Jpe9I/AAAAAAAAYQY/eNb0A8QGn8IPkaJLcYbHV9jp6fFXdjEqwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw7AouZwc83g1HBuco5QhowTZnXAnDlpfAo7fuZ218x4yNb1wnAshas-EzAt7UORJ1_9pTuNbiL4tc5CZCNMBf-T67shgHE2Ua830vWAHKVIX67fiuSz3coasOlIAYUQfG8VleAZpprCu/" alt=""><br></p>
<p>And then sunset over the Pacific</p>
<p> <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HJgq1jljgu8/XCvU8O4oNyI/AAAAAAAAYRI/64DgJd51LkgkUq5D03nSbpsXNMc_65gnQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3FIJsNFYdoI/XCvVABuR_nI/AAAAAAAAYRM/frZD0pCaQwwy0htiA38pv7m5zNjgFSFsQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""></p>
<p>Dinner solo .. The night before I sat with 2 women also in the treehouse dorm....Heidi from Germany and Anna from Norway but they both left the next morning destined for the Oso Penisila. Heidi had bought a bottle of wine and told me to claim the not quite half full bottle the next evening. </p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SRRgDR_HHXE/XCvaS8SKkyI/AAAAAAAAYR8/Sk2-lZRxgDs4XnxlN1cjARRf-i0gGWO3wCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>I typically drink water, coffee or juice but the wine was good.. the number ‘1’ is to deliver my dinner.. It seemed appropriate as I was certainly the only one eating solo. Afterwords I sat in one of the lounge areas and talked with a bunch of US women working on some sort of social program in San Jose. They were on a break for New Years.. They were all talking about going to some outside party on the beach I think. They were drinking at the ever popular New Year’s Eve rate.. but also eating. Even Flutterby shut the restaurant down early so I know it would be quite here.. I had a nice talk with another woman who had been in the lounge area as well but was not interested in the normal New Years scene.. She was from Colorado and alsomin the treehouse dorm. We were sitting in the hanging chairs under the treehouse.. A third woman also not planning to stay up late had snuck into a hammock behind us and heard our long multi topiced conversation.. I went to bed at 10:30 pm and was up at 5:00 am to celebrate the dawn of 2019. </p>
<p>Still not quite dawn...howler monkeys and birds were the sounds I heard as I walked down to the beach...</p>
<p><br></p>
John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-12894880829670531962018-12-29T15:35:00.008-06:002018-12-29T19:31:51.276-06:00Jaco then Quepos<p>Well I guess I’ll post again.. although I’m not sure it’s worth it. Really, I started blogging about 2012 so my dear old (now deceased) mom could keep up with what I’m up to, such as volunteer crewing and other travels. I had gotten her an iPad and subscribed her to my blog. She enjoyed getting my emailed blog posts even though I was not sure she ever remembered to click the link but more likely just read the email and looked at the photos in the post. As she grew yet older, she lost her ability to use the iPad so was much more isolated from my travels.
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<p>I was not impressed with Jaco..and didn’t do much other than take a swim in the surf and hike up to a overlook of the beach with some other hostel people. We got to one spot but knew there was something more impressive. I continued on at a faster pace than the other 4 but took a wrong turn.. I climbed and climbed but saw no structure painted with a mural.. Back at the hostel I learned the others had found the mural painted structure and I’d missed out. Oh well. Here is what I saw. </p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RPR39DVK8PQ/XCfiDFMJi3I/AAAAAAAAX5c/d6xKlfd2H-wyCU6R9bwZafRhcY4fRI0-ACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DgqDXWr7V14/XCfvC5gUVoI/AAAAAAAAX70/b_QprrIzGVI-H215vJ6UkiYVEqHp4KcrACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i7fWA7WuBJI/XCfvGkwzs6I/AAAAAAAAX74/DJfHvxZVvlwvnp-CFXdwMds_g_a36tNXwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="">Jaco Sunset</p>
<p>I’d been drinking plenty of tap water in Costa Rica having been told it was fine. I filled my water bottle in Alajuela, La Fortuna, Santa Elena and the build site of Ceiba in Punta Morales....with no problems what so ever. I left Jaco on the 26th and the next morning I woke feeling kind of ill. I went to the bathroom and had diarrhea and felt lousy. After a couple more hours of sleep I went and had the continental breakfast they offered at Wide Mouth Frog Hotel in Quepos. I went up to an upper lounge area to research future travels.. bus routes etc. It wasn’t long before I felt ill again and had to go to the bathroom with more diarrhea. I had been in a single private room with shared bath the first night as the dorms had no vacancies that first night. I had packed up my things and was waiting for the dorm to have a free bed.. I felt so lousy that with the door open for cleaning of the room I had been in, I laid down on the floor. House keeping sent the receptionist to talk to me and she got me a bottle of water. She said just rest and she’d let me know when a dorm bed is open. I finally got in the dorm bed and slept again.. I had my eye on the trash can in the dorm as I thought I might also have started to throw up 🤢 but it was only burping.. Later I went to talk to the two women at reception and discovered they were both from Jaco. They informed me it’s one of a few places were the tap water isn’t safe to drink at times? I slept all through the day and night and felt close to normal the next morning. <br></p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2a5PHYLdJvs/XCfpls6xPvI/AAAAAAAAX7M/GMWGeiqSxn87y7vb2JepvU2fwg1b6aPVACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="">Quepos Sunset</p>
<p>There’s a new resort marina complex in Quepos which was maybe only being promoted 6 years ago when I was last here. Marina Pez Vela is a marina with upscale lodging, bars, restaurants and shops. The marina had 2 sailboats and the rest were fishing cruisers.. with over half of the boat slips empty. There were 2 mega yachts. I checked the website being curious of the slip rates.. A 40’ boat would cost over $1,000 a month or by the day for $120. Fishing for Marlin and Sailfish seems to be the thing all along the pacific coast of Mexico and Central America. There were promotions of several annual fishing tournaments. </p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X-cg8wdG2ok/XCfpo4IQC5I/AAAAAAAAX7Q/jAtJXFGBRhkrsdsxE6UzpzyXmpgv-diagCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>I had planned on going to Manuel Antonio National Park that first full day here in Quepos, figuring it would be the least crazy we’d. Well today it was the Saturday between Christmas and New Years and I decided to take the shuttle bus to the park knowing it would be crowded. There were a crazy amount of cars, vans and buses.. I stood in a line to get the $16 entrance wrist band that had over 100 people in front of me. After the line moved maybe 3 feet in 20 minutes I decided to skip it.. I walked around the beach a little then took a shuttle back to Quepos. </p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0br6b45gfT8/XCfvafnMbBI/AAAAAAAAX8E/P5ZejfEbCQE6OLH0HdZm8_A0aKIVA1Y6ACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""> <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s20W4YCpS7c/XCfvwi4BRKI/AAAAAAAAX8M/EjV8QZ1npY0ikJF6s2JlH6JyCbSDY7tCgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK5Z7feoip2rnB99NmqqoZ8TRg6i6k1HdwJQrehyphenhyphenP1-y2l1DR8gSLtiYNewR25zhH547mq7t4MX96qSOUVWBpUgXCBAMlsi1w1ZkXHa63oD_lAQqbojgQo1bN4U3igUg2XgMWLdLdDs21/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RH8qfWs4QG8/XCfwFoNXAQI/AAAAAAAAX8Y/01Gizo60itgVitDIIWnq-zeslBoTuhOrQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiLFO3lENBUjfWSa5E4qbC0m58f5eTKYmqWys9S-UvJzzTq8mxjtsPt-4iviazf9H181wqqsxDvi98sh-MuGaCie8a2FEl5U0ivZZrAknaUC89_wi4UiIaTpnL7eiQoc-uMhjyNLAXLvG/" alt=""><br></p>
<p>Tomorrow I’m off to FlutterBy Hostel in Uvita where I’ll spend my New Years... I wonder how it’s changed in 6 years? I rather liked it back in 2012.</p>
John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-30865824174747291732018-12-22T13:35:00.022-06:002018-12-24T12:16:36.482-06:00Tall-Ship Ceiba project ~ Sail Powered Marine Freight <p>I think it was sometime last winter while doing some online research concerning sailing and Costa Rica that I came upon the Ceiba project. <a href="http://www.sailcargo.org">SailCargo.org</a> I thought it was pretty interesting so I decided to invest..although at a minimum level. I just wanted to be a part in supporting the project. Obviously with my traveling to Costa Rica this winter I wanted to visit the shipyard. I asked about volunteering for a couple weeks but was told they have all the volunteers needed at this point. Also, I think a longer than 2 weeks period is much preferred. I camped at the shipyard 3 nights. My visit coencided with the winter solstice with a full moon and an end of the year party. I even got a Christmas gift. There are about 18 people living here and working on the project. It’s amazing the high degree of wooden boat building credentials and experience the volunteers have. The team is made up of people from Canada, France, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Argentina and the U.K. I think that’s it...but I’m actually not sure?
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<p>I arrived on December 20 just in time for breakfast, which was great as I’d left Santa Elena well before any chance for breakfast. I had a banana and found a place for a coffee and pastries near the bus station. </p>
<p>Punta Morales is not very big and is not really a tourist destination. There are a few cabinas and a small store is fairly close with a bigger store a bit further. 2 local woman from the neighborhood prepare breakfast for the crew and food for lunch. A guy on a motorcycle with a cooler on the back delivers ceviche daily it seems? Dinner is prepared by the volunteers. It’s a holiday break now.. 3 or 4 volunteers took off before the party for the beach at Santa Teresa on the outside of the Nicoya Península...more are heading there as well. I’m headed south to Jaco for 3 nights. </p>
<p>The company has leased the property for 5 years with about 3.5 remaning to hopefully complete a Ceiba enough to launch. The site was picked for its launching capabilities. They hope for a longer term situation and plan to build other cargo sailing vessels. A wooden boat building instructional non profit is also about to begin. This would be about building smaller boats (about 7 meters I think?) suitable for the locals to learn how to build and use. Construction of the structure to build and store these smaller boats will soon begin. This is separate from the Ceiba project.</p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LoxmhStWkNU/XB6b66NRHdI/AAAAAAAAXZs/aNPSOQyFbMksF0h5otgVPhsXCDWvjsPWACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>The photos below are the lofting floor and expandable building site... The Tamarindo keel is about to be laid on the blocks. Additional ballasted keel will be added underneath this Tamarindo keel, replacing the blocks somehow.? Fascinating ! First staging must be built on both sides as work scaffold and support for the hull as construction progresses.</p>
<p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsSHCKI4LoNbMS-0sj97gtYwI01bhToANxIDAvZnCDDMbNxHMri6gX15_KlMrdtbGG2eI9uEIQ8FMuSZLNbCux9w8inLRTPWFFTgwwNfATPBQWk6z0tB5PzX3utpuBF1TUEEcVIcQBhdZ/" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhl6bfdUGSr7UsxR93Ooyy44Gl95h12BzDSGDiQfJ41z8ezfLcIXSvH63f9xdF41orjvMqx5HUGq95rkRhFwaa7oaE7DRV8Z0jM0WYFBDzNKnNWof57riLJYRvPBH0rDRenSnsb6jsr56/" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTZQtN_Ls9rcF-FACzpVfVqmrBCq_zGvCrwtVG-nttJbZaw_8oBRRWrduM1Fhz2rhjpiHztTafy3NNFaC6peFCH1JzUPb2vmwsvxaTRIgHDf_EP1i5FlArm7j08gcebXUI0Jgpp4a-ZMC/" alt=""></p>
<p>As you can see the build site is just at the water’s edge for the eventual launch of this 45 meter 3 masted tall ship.</p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wycNkz01tzw/XB6hiB0XHdI/AAAAAAAAXaw/Jr_lowoiH3sBYzKqUy2Z1PiiFUwTCvtCwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>Lynx, one of the co-founders built Ceiba’s wheel and is intricately carving it.</p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PaWarY72vh0/XCEiazOX4xI/AAAAAAAAXmI/wPaZ9d3XHmMVgYMod6fXY1zj28q7s0ojQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>Office hangout ..</p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KeNug-RiGls/XB6jkIwrbrI/AAAAAAAAXbE/3J49jojMIag-GrB0VeQIm2gQ33epNT6pACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ov00PtieA1w/XB6j6q_y9MI/AAAAAAAAXbM/LOwU5YLrqNw4y8XDb3DFlCF0Zx10lF_VgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gavfuT8BX2o/XB6kIkfHSaI/AAAAAAAAXbQ/DfS8ChFYB6UDfQqZ3czZjsRIiDRBJbU2QCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>The kitchen, dining hangout and office building.</p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FgEIFbMVIVk/XB6k8ifcRlI/AAAAAAAAXbg/zg5XZoemPeEYxPywRppXJbcriez034twgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bh3ZSfaFfJY/XB6lFhQacDI/AAAAAAAAXbk/mPFwrnNan2A_bz9YWES-6a9wktB269xBQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-79NJCuLcQ3c/XB6lLlWLxNI/AAAAAAAAXbo/9XUiA1YtR5Ix1EP5-qdW_hrSUSxFXWOswCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>A shipping container of donated tools recently arrived to add to those already acquired.</p>
<p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONG2ND9lD2pmQ2zPreIxAQ2E0Pvi7p-HebPHXnvDEQvoFz7fuFhSp-l_rq9tAWU8eYDf4z-hIpUViY36IeiRs5x8xUwhDUnTybvMPkkWuB-2Anx_wpUgpXXOihX_yHkVVv-6SL6oOcd-C/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EyISjqcmono/XB7E1e8rzVI/AAAAAAAAXcE/BIV2p8KhOJ0WbV4ShN6LgBpwd0DOqmbvQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qH3SEuww2l8/XB7E_O9dDwI/AAAAAAAAXcI/hHI77kiGBwQDw3ztn4vjIP_fPaRvFvxIACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gmY4CYswuw4/XB7FQBek99I/AAAAAAAAXcU/igDqylaR2J48eTVC412dOvzVKBmygX32QCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8fsetqEVvvY/XB7FmNbEAPI/AAAAAAAAXcc/6TTiY17-8KgYlBAOKWtI3DZGK6TdogbUgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>Yurt like housing and the shower, toilet, laundry structure.</p>
<p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK0fyIvq06pwyHdow92EzAGPaRJ_eKv_up0ijBFAyMccv6CZstzQd-VGqk-EuSMiruppPMltsCF9mzjzQg5rrKx2XGJfez-1cv4LtoRqLzo8gEgMJP9lziYCK1jlmg8zctiZmbjQByDKH/" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4XmXV0Go4f6IKGfvwYEV6P5SfR23qE8Km8vJyUuPQF5ydW_DEqQ4DyWEZhqWt0q_1cazggBiZB-3r2nE42HpIngvPVB8OorRe0N_WoIMjOUvE6Noyj3B2pvNSj0NRquE2CeK-54Va6Bc/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sGd1t34w3uI/XB7I62PcKZI/AAAAAAAAXc0/9iyJAuyY5UQ7g0ZVb9_fi4gNCp2b8biIACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
<p>My tent site . Misc photos and nearby Playa Blanco</p>
<p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QVZk_zhBY5v5IFD-TPx8EBna-eQklkF8qOnIflRDAljs8hvVkZfGXiojhKlGWvyz5TMWCAHhegjSEsnfvCYZOcuDM0v7Hrkf-b2zT3bB_pgH7r2IcKWa34EjXodzHhmOMXgBxNts83Dj/" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1xzQ0msxPnJU9krFmy-EqeyCyqcrNhxAyskTL12GzrcG2W9udlzEA5TCtZDla4kabH12DgKHmqhcSnTrT_7m7eCPCMH438uCootvnFrt4rRnkBN09s1xImNzuJTh0wvgrBkE5s72gWhO/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f5pyRmmtTB8/XB7KfyJy2sI/AAAAAAAAXdM/BAOaI32rKv41Acm1L-ZwM-i2c6M_dVYxQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5e6rgL6i494/XB7KoJniWEI/AAAAAAAAXdY/yXskE8mQRngTUqFfgo2kf_xXI34geTT5QCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-34702222201630814552018-12-18T20:06:00.007-06:002018-12-18T20:49:35.078-06:00Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve<p>Today, I took the 8:30 shuttle to another Cloud Forest Reserve. This time no one else from my hostel was with. I walked around the bigger outer trail and came upon a group of 5 or 6 people looking at somthing...monkeys! For a change, a naturalist/guide did not spot the monkeys. They really do have an eye for spotting wildlife. It was actually just a gathering of couples or 3 friends, not all one group. I was told about the monkeys by a woman heading the opposite direction of me. I was just a few bends in the trail away and she had just seen the monkeys but decided to leave. She said she saw one brown with a white face although didn’t know the kinds of monkeys.🐒 I told her it sounded like a white faced capuchin. I got there and finally saw the the monkey everyone was looking at. It was lounging on a branch not too far from the trail but up in the air at least 50 feet. Looking with my binoculars, I could see it was a spider monkey. It was only partially visible using a plant growing on the branch as a nice resting platform. It’s body was a reddish brown but it’s arms and head were dark brown. You could not see the legs or tail. It would turn its head to stare down at the gathering of people.. now maybe about 8 or 9. There were other monkeys further from the trail climbing about in the branches but were in silhouette so hard to know what kind...perhaps white faced capuchins? I didn’t bother trying to get a picture but it filled the field of vision of my binoculars almost completely. The spider monkey was certainly the highlight.. I took the 1 pm bus back to town. I’m staying 2 more nights here to have laundry done. Then it’s off to Punta Morales to camp a few days at the build site of the tall-ship Ceiba, a wooden cargo sailboat project.. www.sailcargo.org
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<p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguP223zNgfRp7S81Ec06KiGtauUh_FnMSaOzRPLgKbLkfOR8QYH64QPDKWx9i1KT9cH5V936t6iEtamSZEvFBkvwAFCkCBtP6eSwdUppjiMHNSNamIZwCpnrYqs18CZU6pU3OS7NLQCTLy/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gyDgjkwM1M0/XBms-ZYHD-I/AAAAAAAAWvk/M68C5ADfuDIJRl3ekKHOmtBR_5RQ5A_GACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X2TYvzXwSVU/XBmtDcuQARI/AAAAAAAAWvo/lc9DI3kOEYYbPvJsQ0i0wWr0CnpKDMTHwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mOUhCjyyC2o/XBmtVZtaGAI/AAAAAAAAWv0/8lEdS8hJZskTyjb-3eLkuAadbL2KkRNKACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w9DxPdqMFnw/XBmtakPJQBI/AAAAAAAAWv4/X_EypVlN0CgSj-xdU6KzI9-bEOenSy_WgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kSKsjeNlRx4/XBmt4Zd6QXI/AAAAAAAAWwQ/WO2U8WIj7qYmc49NofJ_ik25fqj3gbNHwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZZLCBlupCBt82weU6pBrcTgWkWAkjhFPJfRns0gzxtC8tbh-cI0oPY_oOkZeJQlOkA8JHD7E_LppMrbYjnqvS7-_dXesCqITXmLgwzgn1J_5nicLe2BBRxUQ1MeYUZbYODkdr6e9oPi7/" alt=""><br></p>
<p>This is a walking stick insect about 6” long (above) that’s me below.</p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lHdb9xYfsg4/XBmuPyE1vFI/AAAAAAAAWwk/eJ4_jSQvFhgo1yQO4NSkkpA2gxcXYM-UACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-49264818475531079722018-12-17T20:46:00.008-06:002018-12-18T19:47:16.068-06:00Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve<p>Three of us from the Mi Casa Tica Hostel took the 7:30 am bus to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. I joined Julie and Lea from Denmark and Belgium hiking to the overlook. After they were anxious to make the 11 am bus back to go zip lining so we went our separate ways. As it turns out soon after we split they happened upon a guided group who were viewing and taking photos of a pair of Quetzals. That’s the bird every body wants to see in the cloud forest. They managed to get great photos of the male Quetzal which was perched quite close to the trail and not very high. I ran into them and they told me where it was so I went but the male had flown off. I did see the female but only through the guide’s spotting scope. Tomorrow morning I’m going to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. You see and hear a lot of birds in the cloud forest. I didn’t even try to take pictures. Lots of warblers. One large bird I forget the name of but had also seen over in La Fortuna during the volcano hike.
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<p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1Oabxf8Uy30ZNZ_-kSQePyPurI5F-JiNlUW90MvOTIngO3CrVSemISyt22lx0fLbYTo3jnOnV_fcaoK27TKGSsi76jKIV8hnDzPGxrzA3nhrR5XWmT8msIFpuWZS6yHlLjYFcHGc_tf7/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tybgBdBIQWM/XBhfIsxRmDI/AAAAAAAAWj8/GTgtB7SKVaopY776hrSC00GCBuHROfK2ACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkTbvqKKYVRrGgiIOzr7ILd6iIACRBFkK-59TRFT0-2AMpO50pApHVN9HoZ2wke4HJDys09XTPWWBXFKp96k4TgNdGb9OiSQSSbA0nTS7nzXJ_ZZxyfLd0EuW_jrixEr7VqwYOLCppou_/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vH9Dqc7iJis/XBhgFy7zRBI/AAAAAAAAWkc/qJ91sQ4Q56MirwYylV7UPvoVzCh3YOQggCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJvFcvz93JxIl1fPNpqmUBfBGazg0DJ3o9qJiwml8hPfluq-Vlcwlvrgt1REBg93tgDOR4GHzI3KLdrG30rDke2X3r0IU60SDRtpbAWPiibD41E-RXSSeSibg_ev5KkRqWSSBU7p6vL4W/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mjpBzoJliLs/XBhgQP7nRuI/AAAAAAAAWkk/1ILvz10LmdECO_CGxJMcC2KuHx4mhYf6QCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oi8hBqm7nYM/XBhgTyzObkI/AAAAAAAAWko/aX7Ra2_4V_0ch1G63NmvbDRSA8mZ0YVKACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4KT4RVZL-Ts/XBhgZ1zTheI/AAAAAAAAWkw/7Gu4OxNQHYEKqyuC5NvFXKVdugy_ZnMAACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IfAkdZ_O-BQ/XBhiA4uy40I/AAAAAAAAWlE/qn-YA4jiRnQzTiwGcueZdcBNGeti0tmvwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""></p>
<p>This male Quetzal photo (below) is courtesy of Julie, who took the photo and Lea who shared it with me as Jukie had already left.</p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7WdJ_3nUsFs/XBmBcdMarDI/AAAAAAAAWqQ/hwDX4jFA2t00UI6tIlfT2qgaPo_-DLrygCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-81800222760444842262018-12-16T11:26:00.006-06:002018-12-16T11:50:15.921-06:00Jeep Boat Jeep ?<p>I’m in a very basic and cheap hostel in Santa Elena. I took the so called a Jeep Boat Jeep Transport from La Fortuna to Santa Elena-Monteverde. It was great to see Lago Arenal on the 45 minute crossing. Lake Arenal is a reservoir and generates much of Costa Ruca’s electricity. The boat ride included a bit of history of the 1968 eruption of Arenal Volcano 🌋 The boat had a captain and 2 deck hands and it was one of the deck hands who pointed certain things out during the crossing. One was as we were above the location of the town of Arenal which was abandoned after the eruption. It’s predocesor, Nuevo Arenal, was visible in the distance on the shores of the artificial lake. He mentioned an annual fishing tournament on the lake for Rainbow Bass. He pointed out a house and vast amount of land on the lake owned by a wealthy Nicaraguan. There were a lot of birds (egrets and anhingas mostly) which he pointed out. He mentioned a certain area on the lake that seems to attract the most caimans.. related to alligators. <p></p></p><p>This is difinately the way to go to get from La Fortuna to Monteverde but the ‘Jeep’ aspect is only marketing to make it seem like more of an adventure. There is a lot of ‘Adventure’ for sale in Costa Rica. I was picked up at Hotel La Choza Inn in a mini bus.. we drove on the paved main road, including over the dam, to a parking lot with restrooms. Several tour boats waited. We and out luggage got on the boat and enjoyed quite a nice ride. It was mostly cloudy and sprinkled briefly but sunshine increased throughout the day. On the other end it was much more remote. Just a narrow gravel road led to the place the boats would nose up to where a set of steps had been set. Here we got in our assigned tourist vans depending on the location of our lodgings. The road was mountainess, gravel and fairly rough in places. The vans were not 4 wheel drive nor did they have increased clearance. It was quite scenic with 2 stops. Once for photos and once for photos and restrooms. There is much grazing and agriculture and areas with preserved cloud forest stand out strikingly. </p><p>I was dropped at my hostel about noon. Out and about looking for lunch I noticed prices were a bit higher in general than La Fortuna. Always the frugal traveler, I hoped to find a place like Soda La Casa de el Hormiga (House of the Ant) did not see a single ant. This restaurant in La Fortuna was quite a stand out and a third to a half the price of any other restaurant I tried or glanced at the menu. The 2 German sisters told me about it. Yesterday, in Santa Elena, I decided to eat at a chicken rotisserie where all customers were ticas. I got a Empanada De Pollo Con Ensalada that was only 1500 colones ($2.50) but then added a bottle of jugo de naranja not priced on the menu and it ended up being 1,000 colones . I later stopped for an Americano and it was 1,400 colones. My favorite restaurant in La Fortuna sold good coffee for 500 c. Large natural fruit beverages were also 500 c yet coke and other bottled drinks were 1,000 c. Beer tends to be $3 to $4 usd for the local big brewers but Costa Rican craft beers were $6 or $8 depending on size. Fortunately drinking beer is something I only do socially and even then rarely. Most menus I looked at had entrees ranging from 3,500 to 9,000 colones. I noticed the coffee shop I had the 1,400 Americano at had a ham and chees sancwhich on the board fir only 1,500 c so I’ll likely try there today. Besos Espresso.. the name. </p><p>I had planned to take the $2 shuttle to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve this morning right after breakfast but decided to hope it’s less windy tomorrow. There is another shuttle at 1:20 but it’s still quite windy. I felt it might be hard to spot any birds with so much noise and movement in the trees. </p><p>From the Bus Boat Van transport yesterday ...</p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S2XttRHBZT4/XBaLCKCAUZI/AAAAAAAAWQc/PLEcjFznI_MOaGnOXgHK4F_e2zLmeMWQgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KrgJqBFI6iI/XBaLU6_-1LI/AAAAAAAAWQk/PM0qoW5aF585_W7-nqdehT9oARjZb1z2wCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_TPA7pOJUbj1de8_OF_x_izWqbQsbp9ax-afpF7UQTcn5bcXzfB5OEKh1U8PBX8WtzQYjdEsNHFqPQb2JLv5m4AOabyc1MTdxC9ceqdqLIz8pHnQ_F3mtnjAgkWbpiQfWjZBS81-7X0c/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WXF3B6XVw-U/XBaLh5h3vCI/AAAAAAAAWRE/GgIXvE1bE2Y-KwyVci97i8pF-A2xFwqbQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5XAKUDOkaBM/XBaLwbuMybI/AAAAAAAAWRQ/ZDC6r5Rwm4UWsqfrNroCS3-PSdCMl65iQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ebubmsYxs9c/XBaLzczjMFI/AAAAAAAAWRU/BtgD9M0md-wgck5oHNaHUMRA0I8aTT-6ACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RLHe3s0TTYMjQTzA5CsXUAz9avdUOxxDs1DFeXuXqoy3PR9ykeVomWuNRt6wBR_Hj5XjGzKSipPsfDrevlgY939DYcZjrhiAedJ7TlwUbxc5fYEb463kC1r4E_ViK-ll9jdASO6qj7E-/" alt=""></p><p>Scenic stops along the van ride to Monteverde </p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eA7S3JpwZEQ/XBaMrDo1mUI/AAAAAAAAWSI/WopG49qej4ogGjZIXoMdne3GvM9DFZFPQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PNsbEfgEPZokBWJAnzRU55VQ4tYmKYz8-VtRzWc65XceRAV3uYckH5nWVvInaSEap0OTZLw9JZpVtNcsKXWgYU16DFGMSsy6A86KDhel345LIWQN2r1X6Ot1K7TIBry_tqo1XPfjbGVV/" alt=""></p><p>Mi Casa Tica Hostel.. $5.60 per night breakfast included. Not nearly as nice as Hostel La Choza Inn at $7</p><p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifukPJ5duR4BVNacLvEaD8O-Oxc0J9Vs8EUQTS2hpuYcjjf_AqKws3XjZEifZxY6147gn1t-tpR4X2OfMo8Rc8rJNjBeunM6qUf531qTHIKF8d1oSqkFJWceLbHRd03yeE-DO2vrvPfP-/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2A3JyR7E8Nk/XBaM7yrO1II/AAAAAAAAWSc/NV78fqb7l5gcL0Bd1dpZ-bTR-Gp0JkeDwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-36329280469786517142018-12-14T10:49:00.009-06:002018-12-14T18:32:11.431-06:00Travelers traveling<p>It’s always interesting to stay in hostels at 64 years. On the rare occasion you see another older traveler traveling frugally. The majority staying in hostels are young college age travelers but some 30’s and even 40’s. One thing you noticed and I’ve noticed this for a long time is that those from the USA are more likely on a vacaction of a week or two. The Europeans I’ve met at the 2 hostels I’ve been at are usually traveling for a few months. 2 German sisters were 2 months into their 6 months of traveling the Caribbean, Central and South America. It is a break between the end of college and the start of their careers which are already assured and waiting for them. Of course they also have no student debt. 2 other sisters .. dual USA and Canadian citizens, were near the end of 3 months of travels. They both work as teachers at private schools, one in San Diego and one in Vancouver. They told me they just needed a year off so told the private school administrations and were told.. enjoy your vacation, your jobs will be waiting for you? Of course I have met more travelers from the USA than just the dual citizen sisters on vacations longer than just a week or two, but it seems all Europeans I meet have a different concept of what it means to be traveling. I’m very happy to be traveling for longer periods of time even if it means being frugal. </p>
<p>So far I’ve stayed in just 2 hostels. Alajuela Backpacker’s Hostel, which is very near the airport with a free shuttle. I cost $13 per night for 4 bed dorm with en-suite bath which I chose. The cheapest is $11 for 10 bed dorm with shared bath out in the hall. This does not include breakfast but they do have coffee available in the morning. In La Fortuna I decided on Hotel La Choza Inn which is very popular. I chose the 6 bed male dorm with en-suite bath. They’re pretty flexible on that make dorn thing as there’s a guy and 2 girls from Netherlands and Belgium in here right now. The La Choza has very nice included breakfast of scrambled eggs, pineapple and banana, rice and beans, toast, coffee or tea and orange juice. It’s $7.50 per night. I decided to add another night ... tonight and they only charged me $6. The two dual citizen sisters who I talked to on the free shuttle to the hot springs (each guest here can take one time)..told me about a hostel in Monteverde..Santa Elena for $5.50 that was quite nice and also included breakfast. I booked 3 nights there on Hostel World this morning. It’s called Mi Casa Tica. </p>
<p>Last post I mentioned I’d decided to take the long slow local bus around to Monteverde...so I could see the whole Lake Arenal. When I stopped at the bus station to ask about schedule and cost I was easily convinced to take the much more sensible Jeep-Boat-Jeep transport. It takes about 3 hours and they pick you up and drop you off where you’re staying. It cost $25. The local bus requires a bus switch with an hour and a half wait in a Tilaran. It’s about 4 hours to Tilaran, then another 5 hours to Santa Elena..Monteverde. It sounded like it cost $12 total. Arrival was said to be about 8:00 pm. </p>
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<p>I marked the two hostel locations with ❤️ hearts. I have no idea of the actual Jeep-Boat-Jeep route.</p>
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-12682763543940841382018-12-13T14:05:00.005-06:002018-12-13T14:34:28.547-06:00Arenal Volcano hike<p>Yesterday, I decided to take a $50 full day guided hike referred to as the 2 volcanos hike. <a href="https://g.co/kgs/5Bk5WC">Arenal Volcano National Park</a> Cerro Chato is the one long dormant volcano that now has a lake inside the remains of its crater. That ones 38,000 years old. It is Arenal Volcano, just 7,000 years old, that attracts your attention when in La Fortuna area. There were 15 in our group, 4 of which were also at this hostel. This was 2 German girls part way into 6 months of traveling. A break between the end of university years and before beginning their careers. Also a guy from London who was in my dorm. He too had an impressive resume of years of travels. He is next heading to Monteverde then some beach time before flying to Cuba to meet up with family for the holiday. It sounds like they’ve been doing this annual Christmas gathering different places in the world since he was quite young. He too will soon be beginning his career. </p><p>We were picked up at 9:10 am and dropped off about 7:45 pm. Lunch was included at a camp with a multi storied struction with a lot of tents. After hiking a couple hours with breaks we reached the destination of a lava field from the 1968 eruption. The peak of Arenal was still a long way off. Hiking back to that camp, we cooled off with a swim in the laguna nearby...then lunch was served. There were several other groups served. At least 40 people? I sat with an Asian woman and her daughter. The mom came here with her parents from Korea and turns out they lived in Minnesota a few years and her daughter was born there. After lunch those doing only the half day option split from the full day people. Now there were just 6 of us but we shared a mini bus with another full day group and ran into them several times hiking to the various sites.. There was entrance into a plush resort with an amazing observation deck.. Then we then hiked to a waterfall and swam behind it. Next was more hiking and another view of Arenal and Cerro Chato Volcanos together. Lastly and after dark, we went to a hot springs, all the groups were there. There must have been about 50 people. We stayed about 2 hours.. cold drinks were served and several guys were moving around the natural pool offering a mud facial out of cups they’d brought. So I had one, first time ever. Once back at the hostel, the 4 of us went out to find a not very expensive restaurant. After looking at several they decided to buy food and cook back at the hostel which they had already done before. I ate out alone and spent about $7 usd in colones. I slept very very well. All 6 bunks were full last night. I think I’ll stay an extra night... I’m booked for just one more. It’s quite a bargain.. I’m in a 6 bunk male dorm with en-suite bath. It’s only $7.50 usd...and it includes a quite nice breakfast.. I’ve decided I’ll take the local bus around Lake Arenal so I get to see the whole lake. In Tilaran you switch buses and I think wait about an hour and a half for the one to Monteverde. </p><p>I’ll spend about 3 nights in Monteverde and hike the 2 cloud forest preserves, which I did back in 2012 and quite enjoyed.. Then it’s down to the sea.. I’m shooting for getting to Punta Morales on the 20th. Specifically I’m going to visit the wooden tall-ship a Ceiba project.. I invested in the project at the minimum level just to be a part if it. I’d requested to volunteer a week or 2 but was told they’re maxed out on volunteers. When I asked if I’d be allowed to camp at the site a few days and partake of the volunteer meal plan they said sure. In fact they said try to come for the 22nd as they’re having their end of the year party.. Cool.. <a href="http://www.sailcargo.org/">Ceiba Project</a></p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iD_V-zFKLZY/XBLAVRJBfYI/AAAAAAAAV_Y/SNxrrrF4-Ro96MFScqMUX8jFSilpzBEJACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-THRoXGgv5zE/XBLAagRFhnI/AAAAAAAAV_c/YMkdw3BZxPwNujgME0A-sbQC2C8vIcekACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nVUb2HwJuyM/XBLAf-a5ZkI/AAAAAAAAV_g/5Be1G_BuRfc9vOBFrJQiTjE-xrkBQvfLgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zRi6hhbSadU/XBLAioD4IJI/AAAAAAAAV_k/ugo4Ga19fQI7NeRFcHwTb2Ywq3B0V9BdwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSwVhzPy_u1h9mQ8GPB4KYLOAPRUSlHrIYRrlMgFNwstBfulEzRXVBaWHK86YkPRSmwMJxNENhkEnYLYL5pZ-7VKU5viITY33Vu52RY38aZ-8yMXJTS9aeZM0vyQ51hGR-rH4mcuL-bq2/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZhEI4k2p6lo/XBLB1o8rMNI/AAAAAAAAWAg/K66HeZvKYMc8VMONSMLC2A0jTigNP87OQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SX5iKcVlua4/XBLBh_aO8uI/AAAAAAAAWAE/yAl8YGeB4rguHe5nqcMgWYhjY3iucEDZgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sjNenM3P5-4/XBLBjZOsUMI/AAAAAAAAWAI/t4JB-KVFJV4_MS2gXiOovlZ1kQVaok-ZwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fa5Ui73PM_A/XBLBnI_D-iI/AAAAAAAAWAM/3ypOPuHQBUseplO7qTyCl5jHH2v25A4bQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bZ7sigNojXQ/XBLBnpXP2wI/AAAAAAAAWAQ/PNh-jx4Jb7UU8As8AK51C7mHDuYw_sMygCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""></p>John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-67759349204711377662018-12-11T18:25:00.001-06:002018-12-11T18:26:21.357-06:00La Fortuna <p>During my final night I had a nice talk with the 3 other dorn roomers. It was a couple from Ontario on a 10 day get away and a Venezuelan man who’s lived in Costa Rica about 2 years. He was heading back the next day to Caracas for just a couple weeks, then returning. I think he was doing some kind of graduate? Considering my plan to possibly travel to Venezuala to meet the owner of Allegro and look the boat over to possibly buy..it was great to get some travel tips and reassurances. He gave me his email in case I had questions and would put me in contact with his uncle ... a Venezuelan travel agent with good English abilities. Now I just need to have it work out for the owner of Allegro to travel there. <p></p></p><p>I walked to the bus station using my backpacks function for the first time.. feels good. My travel backpack has the feature of concealing the shoulder straps and hip belt in a zippered compartment. I’ve traveled with it several times but only as a duffel. The bus ride is said to be 4 hours Alajuela to La Fortuna. It was exactly that. I’d heard at times it can take 6 hours? I’m in a 6 bunk men’s dorm with ensuite bath and there are just 3 of us so far anyway. It’s always nice to have a bottom bunk. The German guy invited us to join him and his friends out to dinner but later.. 8:30. I’ve already walked, pretty much the whole town today stopping for a coffee. It began to drizzle at the last half hour if the bus ride. It stopped by the time we got there long enough for me to finally eat as I’d skipped breakfast with my early start. After my 11 am breakfast I walked the 4 blocks to the La Choza Hostel at the end of a street the final block of which is unpaved.</p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6LLi8HegFdI/XBBRDeJLeJI/AAAAAAAAVr8/HkTq7s25_44h-ZMYvPAqvgkJi_M_n8WUACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""></p><p>This is where the included breakfast is served 7 am to 9 am. The kitchen is available to use from 10 am until 10 pm.</p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2EMqJ5PzTYs/XBBREzyKC0I/AAAAAAAAVsA/ZXRjTOWIJSE3-Y9z7IshlbuOgh037R4LQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hYMwTOM8F0o/XBBRFk1YvmI/AAAAAAAAVsE/obzTeSXKZvAg1wYwauN8K74tuTsbTUOqACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p><p>Of course La Fortuna is a popular tourism place with no shortage of ways to spend money. I will splurge and take the $50 .. Full day, 2 volcano hike which includes lunch and a stop at a hot springs and swinging bridge. I’m still decided whether to take the local bus around Lake Arenal to Monteverde with on3 required bus change.... or the 3 hour shortcut 4 wheel drive .. boat ride .. 4 wheel drive for $25. The local bus route to Tilaran and on to Monteverde would likly cost about $6. But, It’s more the decision on which is more scenic and interesting. I’m sure the bus ride offers some great views of Lake Arenal but maybe the 4 wheel drive shuttles and boat ride a short ways across the lake do to. Now if only the skies will clear enough to see the volcanoes 🌋. This hostel also offers a shuttle to the Free hot springs....once per guest, per stay. </p><p><br></p>John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-43284239544017973052018-12-10T16:14:00.006-06:002018-12-11T19:51:20.352-06:00So close to a deal...but seller changed their mind <p>It’s been over a month ago now.. In fact it was before the end of October that the broker...after several weeks of offers and counter offers, sent the email. “Congratulations your offer has been excepted!!” Sadly, while waiting for the seller to return the e-signed agreement, the broker messaged me the sad news. The owner had reconsidered and taken the Tayana 37 off the market. I told the broker to increase my offer to the maximum I had in mind, but to no avail.
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<p>After a day or two of feeling sorry for myself, I contacted the owner of the Tayana 37 sitting on the hard in Venezuala as to if it’s still available. It had been months sense I’d told him I was probably going to buy an Islander Freeport 36 in Rio Dulce. He was happy to hear of my renewed interest. This Tayana 37 in Venezuala is 1 year newer than the Antigua one but has the original wooden spars. Although, they’ve been well maintained by the looks and sound of things. The owner is an Austrian who had been living on his boat ‘Allegro’ for some years.. He was in Venezuala when a health issue caused him to give up his sailing life. It’s been on the hard 5 years which is not ideal so I’ve requested recent photos to be taken and emailed by the owner of the boatyard. He’s a Frenchmsn with a Venezualan wife and also owns a resort hotel next to it. With the owner of Allegro not able to say exactly when he would be able to travel to his boat, but February at the earliest....I’ve decided to spend time in Costa Rica. Likely about 2 months..then I’ll take the Ticabus down to Panama. Flights were cheaper from Panama City to Caracas than San Jose and I was curious to see Panama anyway. So hopefully in February I’ll go meet the owner of Allegro and see his boat? If he’s unable to travel due to his health or what ever problem I guess I’ll have to pass. But if it’s in as good a shape as it appears, it can be a very good deal due to the non ideal location of the boat. If I end up buying Allegro, I’ll have a year to hopefully find a couple friends to help sail and enjoy a classic voyage up through the eastern Caribbean then west and on to Rio Dulce. The shorter alternative would be the more direct route heading west to the ABCs, possibly a stop in Colombia and/or straight to the Bay Islands of Honduras and on to Rio Dulce. Any friends let me know if you’re interested and able. </p>
<p>So here I am in Alajuela, Costa Rica one extra night due to my lost baggage. Spirit Airlines did well to reconnect me with my backpack the next day. I’m off to La Fortuna on the public bus in the morning. </p>
<p>Some photos of the Tayana 37 named Allegro below.. taken 5 years ago.. </p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0J7DCVM_43c/XA7uVG83xZI/AAAAAAAAVlg/d-b6palpltc-AYv8qPwAWjPj92tF0tVlACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GMpn-opnV1o/XA7uWIPtK_I/AAAAAAAAVlk/324yYolz5hsii39C7qiLawIHn7Tewy8dACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6UDxhnlE55A/XA7uXNquWaI/AAAAAAAAVlo/St6B9L4hvZ05Yk2osozh1Q0Afswak4uYACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRneF7_HIqgiB9aUrJyShzjO-5fvJGpQdKgOBtNJOs7NWFElid2vzMC2CC2z9GMOqKltLFt6qxtyuFZu5y3xxbHVDwQ7Ga2PIWv99IffORUh1OfiD6t7YrgqM-xoOwaWLkQ4m23GSEuU9P/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8i_Y4poChDY/XA7uYuIVjoI/AAAAAAAAVlw/I6nLpjsQVkAiJkeqwQ6kvDUefDzuHKPKgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dZnQAMdPB3k/XA7uZvPyblI/AAAAAAAAVl0/ceGmhPl-pEQb0nZNaj4aXADOJkwD0iuMwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JYD0Y6PAM4U/XA7uahmTBwI/AAAAAAAAVl4/yjNOdaqEGpIwtmT_bB1FFOvuB0HJoGY9wCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sMYydHYVF1E/XA7ubdzMh5I/AAAAAAAAVl8/eY7FUcj1otMHoFXBsdeUaKhJrtFcdytfgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDEAy5oqyTnmGjRdF5vg67IhGOuG6kq5qHfMsUi9m-xnMLRvBKQ9KLZ453kuTP32llxqZHdsRdjzBm-8t0JkwEmo06glOUpBEzSz5hU3EwQGbzN80kWwZcifjFn5S4MjYXfglW-Xwpwmb/" alt=""><br></p>
John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-68677886211049282072018-10-28T18:52:00.002-05:002018-10-29T11:04:51.582-05:00From one boat to another?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was quite certain I would end up buying the Islander Freeport 36 down in Rio Dulce, Guatemala. I had an offer to purchase price much below the asking price and the location was good as it is where I plan to keep the boat much of the year..hurricane season. Granted I had hoped to find a boat closer to Duluth but was planning to head south in a year or 2 anyway. I searched online for a bluewater sailboat on the Great Lakes in my price range without success. I widened my search range and found several Tayana 37s and several Islander Freeport 36s...in my price range. Both of these sailboats were designed by well known and respected Robert Perry. Needless to say, being a true bluewater boat, a Tayana 37 was my preference between it and the Islander Freeport 36 just in case I might want to eventually cross oceans? Two Tayana 37s stood out as both in my price range and in great shape with a list of extras. However, they were not ideally located. One was in Antigua in the lesser Antilles and one in Venezuala. I had difficulty getting in contact with the broker or seller of either of these Tayanas but received good response from the broker on the Islander Freeport 36. Also, airfare to these 2 locations was almost 3 times as much as to Guatemala when I was checking. This is when I turned my focus to the Islander Freeport 36 in Rio Dulce.<br />
The Islander Freeport 36 is a very nice liveaboard known to sail very well. It’s a very sea worthy coastal cruiser, though not designed as a true bluewater sailboat. The bluewater liabilities are the fairly large cockpit lacking a bridge deck with the companionway going almost down to the cockpit floor. It makes for ease of going in and out of the cabin but could allow a large wave astern flooding the cockpit flowing into the cabin as well. The other liability are the large windows on the raised cabin which creates great headroom and lots of natural light in the main cabin. However, if crossing oceans and hammered for extended periods with heavy seas these oversized windows could implode, quickly flooding the boat. Still, with modifications, people with these boats have crossed plenty of oceans and a couple have even circumnavigated the earth. My costs on traveling to check out the Islander Freeport 36 added up....the airfare, marine survey and haul out plus a little more for lodging and meals. Oh well, I had a good time. As it turned out I decided against buying this sailboat. This decision was after the haul-out and discovering some bubbles in the hull. The bubbles or blisters weren’t really a deal killer. It was that during the 3 day wait on results if the survey, I decided to once again contact the broker about the Tayana 37 in Antigua. Surprise surprise..this time I received a response right away and confirmation the boat was unharmed by last seasons hurricanes. So I decided to go for the boat that was initially my first choice. As it stands now I’ve received a second counter purchase price to my initial offer and counter offer. The price was agreeable to me but I decided to try one more counter to that offer. If they hold fast I’ll take the deal but maybe they’ll come down a bit? It’s always a buyers market so they say. Airfare to Antigua in early December has also come down substancially from earlier searches.<br />
Assuming I end up buying this boat I’ll need crew (2 people would be ideal) to help sail the boat to Rio Dulce. Anyone interested in joining me on a Caribbean voyage beginning in Antigua stopping in the Vigin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Haiti... from there it’s either Jamaica to Cayman Islands and the long stretch straight to Rio Dulce or if time allows the south side of Cuba and across to Mexico with a few stops in Belize on the way to Guatemala. It’s not too early to contact me if you have that freedom of time. I’m guessing it will be about 2.5 months January, February and into March. Use the contact form on this blogger site.. or friends who already known Contact me by phone, email or facebook. Obviously friends come first in seeking crew. But anyone intesered should introduce themselves. <br />
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-40010329428352900882018-09-04T00:32:00.005-05:002018-09-04T01:59:57.045-05:00Weeks away from finally buying my own sailboat...probably<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For about a year, I’ve done a lot of online browsing for used sailboats and took a closer look at 5 different sailboats. I blogged about and almost bought a lovely Tayana 37 in Kemah, Texas last December. Now I feel I’m very likely to be buying my own sailboat in the next few weeks. An Islander Freeport 36. Her name is Samarang and the owner and I are traveling down to Rio Dulce, Guatemala at the end of September, just weeks from now. Once there I will have a marine survey done, including haulout and take a sea trial. </div>
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If the deal works out, I’ll return later on this December to spend some time getting familiar with the boat and the area. Perhaps adding a few things I know I’ll want on my boat or at least researching the costs. Samarang is a 1979 Islander Freeport 36 .. a Bob Perry design. I’ve been watching the listing for about a year. </div>
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John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-41528199857145113322017-12-25T10:03:00.001-06:002017-12-25T10:03:56.677-06:00Christmas Eve at the DTW Terminal<p>I certainly would have preferred to be sailing now... perhaps nearing the Rio Dulce or passing through Belize? I booked my flight to Thailand looking only at the price and one fare, from an airport along the route my friends would be driving to visit mom stood out at $200 less. I finally took the time to look closer at the itinerary on the drive north. After a short flight from Saginaw, Michigan to Detroit Airport I had a 22 hour layover. I did manage to get some sleep. Just as I was getting kind of cold having decided to pack my jacket in my checked bag...an airport employee was handing out Delta blankets to the dozen or so terminal over nighters I noticed around the terminal end I’d chose. I had found couch type seating in an open air restaurant seating area. </p><p>The wait is nearly over. We should start boarding in a little over one hour. </p><p><br></p>John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-63783840205450103112017-12-24T20:20:00.003-06:002017-12-24T20:30:27.140-06:00Old news... I almost bought a sailboat<p>It’s been a few days now since I looked at a 1978 Tayana 37 in Kemah, Texas. The Tayana 37 is on my ‘boats of interest’ list. I’d been doing searches on various boats for sale including Tayana’s going back a couple months. While at my friend’s Arlo and Jan’s, I decided to do another search for Tayanas and was surprised to find 3 or 4 I’d not seen before. One was a real stand out especially considering it’s asking price. It was in amazing shape and had obviously been well maintained considering it was nearly 40 years old. There was also another Islander Freeport 36 also in east Texas, with a lower asking price than the nice one in Pensacola. With 2 boats to look at I rented a car and drove to east Texas. I first went to see the IF 36 near Dallas, which was on a reservoir. The owner was living aboard and the boat smelled of tobacco. It was not nearly as nice as the higher priced one in Pensacola. It did have a very new engine with only 218 hours but it needed all new sails and running rigging and expected problems with some of the standing rigging as well. Trucking it to Duluth was calculated at $4,350 but add to that hiring a crane to load it on the trailer, stepping the mast and packing it for transport plus the unloading on the Duluth end and it could end up totaling $8,000? <p></p></p><p>Next I drove down toward the Gulf staying at a Motel 6 just past Houston. The next morning I drive down and meet the broker. The Tayana 37 was just as it looked in the photos. Now going back to my first call with the broker I was informed the low asking price was due to the ‘original wooden mast’ was in need of repair at the very top. I decided between me and other carpenter friends I could deal with fixing the top of the mast. Replacing the mast and all standing rigging would be great but way out of my budget. When I met the broker he immediately told me they’d received an offer on the boat but since he knew I was on my way he decided to wait to see if I too would make an offer before then submitting both to the seller.. Was it just bait? He obviously knew I was very interested having rented a car and driven 16 hours. He could have kept that to himself and just let me look at the boat and decide if I would make an offer... I didn’t doubt the boat would receive offers but I wondered why he filled me in on the whole ‘other offer from another potential buyer’ I made an offer .. owner countered and I countered that. The owner accepted and a purchase agreement was prepared and signed and a wire transfer of deposit was paid by me. A survey was set up for the following day due to my insane time window. I spent the rest of the day excited yet a lingering concern was there. Was I too rushed due to this other interested party.. I booked another night in a Super 8 this time but didn’t sleep well. In the morning I decided to back out. Were it not for my desire and plan to truck the boat up to Duluth I’d have gone through with it. After a couple years I’d sail south and live aboard full time. I had told myself I wouldn’t limit myself to only looking at sailboats for sale on the Great Lakes. But I certainly did and do plan to look at boats I can sail home. I had been seduced by this lovely Tayana. Anyway I called the broker in the morning and then the surveyor. I stopped in to sign the termination of purchase agreement and hit the road for the 16 plus hour drive back to Bryson City, North Carolina. My deposit was transferred back to my account a day later. I went from feeling excited yet concerned to feeling sad yet relieved. </p><p>5 days later I checked the listing again and there’s no ‘sale pending’ from the other interested person and the price had dropped...but only by $500. </p><p>Here’s a few photos of the sailboat I nearly bought.. the killer was the way transport costs were adding up.. $10,000...$12,000 who knows. </p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7P6s5aITmMk/WkBhNwb9wbI/AAAAAAAARDs/g-UXE2kTK-AHVkr1N9GBnApNktGSOKl8wCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R_AlLAIs0fQ/WkBhU4xAWHI/AAAAAAAARDw/zfV-zFcFG-E_RaOYQmu_CNj6bi1feJHkQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdQ3e6KTHeoUOW9hLhK9DtYch2nRAArpVx8KqixPos36RTp2PA0AwbhrEmJruQOlcbDC4W3ZkkInWL9vor_MQ_wjCAA_ZBUsz4HrP7uVnAlOpEXcuOOZcevNw8R_PC0iBmLVKKQhHhfeq/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hIp_gd9iajg/WkBhcFKMYJI/AAAAAAAARD4/rPBumgqnJyskJThOrBGlUtL48NbKpFhKACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CaWCA5q7-ok/WkBhjVGBKGI/AAAAAAAARD8/kSZVBpn6jc0OEndSmostMtZTwhQjIqe4gCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VMvtUNwOeE4/WkBhk_hWB6I/AAAAAAAAREA/4IDhwTvAIb8iSNPcGRwfEK0FpoN-AvnMgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SfecMQvcql4/WkBhpeA84XI/AAAAAAAAREE/R3-o7Tg0aakyR3DMq_cvDRYmgqOM4iungCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6FuApy3b1sU/WkBhqnOSP7I/AAAAAAAAREI/6BhAHU1gz-YB2cpfRADrFlfLQTCDAoRQQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VFlTebYly38/WkBh27s2K8I/AAAAAAAAREQ/2mhE0rgccwQSAnzfIgEC_Ts6pcrx0CerACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WF3tO13uAgg/WkBh4WjFA1I/AAAAAAAAREU/acmA7TZfPR0Oqpidmbc8lBtd3lHrKOyrgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2UZhwWbVgdM/WkBh6PuU6CI/AAAAAAAAREY/OApPMpcO0JYrJ6P6yLWaoqdeKGYFOfhBgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><br></p>John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354338547855897951.post-77203367680520275302017-12-12T18:43:00.012-06:002017-12-12T20:39:36.611-06:00Corbin 39 . Center Cockpit . Cutter Ketch rig<p>After the Chaos at the Atlanta Greyhound Station, I was in somewhat of a zombie state when picked up by my old high school friend Arlo. That was on the morning of the 10th and my last real sleep was at the hotel the night of December 7. Anyway, I caught up on sleep that next night...beginning at 2:45 pm haha. After a relaxing next day and a lot of talking about sailboats, I mentioned a Corbin 39 CC I’d been looking at online that was located on an inland lake about a 2 hour drive away. Today we decided to drive down to meet the broker and see the boat on Lake Lanier. We could not figure out why the owner would have moved this true bluewater sailboat up to this inland lake? It had previously been down in Stewart, Florida. Lake Lanier is well away from the coast northeast of Atlanta. One of the first things the broker talked about was the cost of moving the boat to the coast. It’s estimated that cost would be $10,000 to $11,000. It’s clear why the boat remains unsold. Also the boat’s running rigging is due to be replaced and the time to do that would be when the masts are down. I’m not really interested in either a ketch rig or a center cockpit boat but I’m looking at a few other aft cockpit Corbin 39’s so I’m glad to have had a look. It was a nice drive but I won’t be making an offer on this sailboat...</p>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-irWUE-L0a8A/WjCB3UTj8LI/AAAAAAAAQ_U/vUL564xq_q0Zv4ooibWYMEvgCwxJo4yhACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h79mVNfXPwY/WjCFcO0MjnI/AAAAAAAAQ_Y/N4_qVuyX87YP_fPIl8ggRfueqcSs_58TQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D9Ehbkctwh8/WjCFeu-j4PI/AAAAAAAAQ_c/hR6I0xWQgG8fGupgIHoAKyWfImikFk_7ACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DoMssbjHRyg/WjCFoDf0EKI/AAAAAAAAQ_g/hEb7PqTcyzMy9W4_-R8C2bAKwkXwASE6wCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3KyrN4hDdOp3Y39VHNf3vvQNPtWWaFftJ-8UKB1vNTxGb-oGAepjaStgFa6ydNj7RIRuAv17hamphjTmWxaZoIO72OB95FbIU1YyocOps7JODi_d8PrivOYbfFAnnMA1gTx6diFMQRR5/" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_bhzokY8GKM/WjCF4cRpuKI/AAAAAAAAQ_o/O9RbUS9n-wQNdyvLG4xmcLuWcP757O2xACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_2wJcPJeC0U/WjCGDB6zuoI/AAAAAAAAQ_s/wX_wjC7MyyMC_JbiyLGViVNIGhq6Ehm_QCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F4HZ5KhF4sY/WjCHJP7xBRI/AAAAAAAAQ_w/cBK4LdrlpYQUbTas3Z5c4Xn8VkxYQS6JACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7uEYCt_jjl0/WjCHaa_puPI/AAAAAAAAQ_0/gX71qYXoR_kuJeN7bAYu_QEqRkyjuw1ZwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FaK4mVPLwRk/WjCHeILrEtI/AAAAAAAAQ_4/e2mK4UG2Il8ZjjHy5dMl66CFZCd9nIzagCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QgFYQThb4UM/WjCHf87gSXI/AAAAAAAAQ_8/Wc5XMCIQ8b8nEmpBk_sDYqfEAogPySEvgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l5azHhUitA4/WjCH6dDo5JI/AAAAAAAARAE/OUbD4jDo9q8KiJ98z8IueZljoP8DbTg-wCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt=""></p>
John Amrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18396323834993710796noreply@blogger.com0