From: John Barbie [jbarbie11@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 1:40 PM
To: rutharras@yahoo.com
Subject: Come A Long Way

Hello from Roatan, Honduras,

Unfortunately (or not) this will be a quick update
because internet is charged by the minute on this
island.  We made it through the Panama Canal without
incident for the most part.  We were rafted to a much
larger sailboat on the way up the locks and despite
flooring it through the actual canal, we got bumped on
the last set of locks and had to spend the night in
the canal along with a group of howler monkeys and a
swarm of flies.  Our second set of locks was slightly
more exciting than the first and the boat we were
rafted to got turned perpendicular to an enormous
freighter prior to exiting the last lock.  It made us
realize how things can go wrong despite our own
seemless transit.  

We picked up and extra crew member (previously know as
one of the Irish -- now just called Barry) in Panama
to join us to Honduras.  We headed out on Saturday
with an anticipated stop at an island some 200 miles
from the canal.  Well, I guess we forgot to look at
the weather forcast because if we had we'd probably be
writing from Panama.  We ended up in  20-30 knot winds
for 700 miles which were compounded with rolling
swells (15?ft at times) countered by choppy waves.  It
was the least glorified sailing experience I have ever
had especially since we were out there for almost a 
week.  We were pounded by waves that crashed over the
bow and drenched everything even in the cabin. 
Cooking was impossible.  Actually everything was
impossible since one hand had to grab onto a rail at
all times to keep you from falling.  Imagine cooking
with one hand on a tilted stove.  

By day 4 we finally caught a glimpse of what the
Carribean is all about -- turqouise waters, blue skies
and a steady breeze to keep us moving at 6-8 knots
constantly with many surfing swells at 11 knots.  We
managed to time our arrival at this pleasant but reef encompassed island at...any guesses?...2am.  Yup.  WE came into a not very well marked harbor at night and once again received raised eye brows from neighboring sailors.  Mild heart flutters when we could only get neutral on our engine entering the harbor and when the jib seemingly ripped completely off the rigging and when we dragged anchor 8, count them 8, times before hooking ground.  

Now we are here on Roatan 700 plus miles later with
only 700 more miles to go to Florida which means we
are winding up our trip much to my own suprise. We are
treating ourselves to a solid week of snorkeling and
scuba diving in what is known as a truely spectacular
reef.  Wish I could tell more of the funny stories
that have cropped up along the way but we have caught
most of them on video which we'll be happy to edit and
share.  We are planning on making it to Florida by the beginning of June (maybe sooner if the winds keep up).  Hello from Roatan and we wish you well.

Regards, 
Ruth, John, Spot and recently joined crew, Barry.



	
		
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