Post Hurricane Earl - Salinas, PR

Well, we made it to the mangroves at Jobos in plenty of time: that is it wasn’t dark yet. Just inside the barrier islands and channel is a large 50+ acre lake with branches off it driving deeper into the mangroves where we’d normally hide. Listening to the National Weather Service we thought that Earl would keep heading NW of Puerto Rico and not be much of a threat to us on the S side of the island. We were right…winds never got to 40 kph even in the gusts, and we were able to stay in the lake away from the mangroves and their resident mosquitoes and no-see-ums and light airs. While we have “no-see-um screens” (very tight mesh screens), they also cut down the breeze that can pass thru so badly that we don’t like putting them up unless it’s absolutely necessary: hot, hot, and hotter! In the lake they, thankfully, weren’t necessary. At least twenty boats were snuggled down in the mangrove fingers with the skeeters and no-see-um. We went to bed with a stiff breeze and rain bands coming over every 20 or so minutes: no big deal, again very thankfully.


It seems at least that my children don’t understand about “the mangroves”. They lie behind barrier islands (Cayos de Barca) and inland another mile from the sea. They are trees with extensive root systems that thrive in salt water. Boats are able to get in-between the root systems (like into a cul de sac) and tie to them in multiple directions with multiple large lines. Add to this several anchors in the direction and counter direction (the winds switch as the ‘cane passes) of the winds and one is as snug as a bug can be it its rug. The trees block the wind and the roots not only break up the waves but also hold you gently – they are quite pliable - as you move (are pushed) up against them. Definitely better than a marina with all their risks: boats breaking lose; rigid dock lines over-riding the pilings; docks breaking up; etc.

Another question is what do we do when we need to evacuate from the boat to the nearest casino/hotel: hay, gotta go first class in these conditions ya know. Well we have our “Ditch Bag” with all our necessities: insurance and boat papers, cash, credit cards, passports, medicines, toiletries, etc. We dress as if we were going to make a run for it and make sure the dingy is ready to go. Then when we make the decision to evacuate to higher ground we step into the dingy with our bag and make a run for it to the nearest dingy dock and transportation further inland.

I forgot to mention our car accident: yes, Crash Arnold did it again. For those of you who do not know where this moniker came from, let me take you back to the 2004 and my Aunty Sally’s 90th birthday party in Honolulu. Seems I had a little too much to drink there and backing up was a challenge. At Coco Isle where were staying at my sister Suzy’s condo, I managed to back into the power distribution box for several of the condos across, thankfully, the street from my sister’s. Oh, did I mention it was Super Bowl Sunday morning and all the freezers, frigs, and TVs went out! I think you can guess how popular I was that day. So back to the present and we are headed to COSTCO and Homo Depot for some things. Three miles out of Fajardo I decided to change lanes around a PR driver (really, he was doing 30 mph in the 55mph SLOW lane).  I looked in the mirror and even turned my head (as Linda will testify) and missed seeing the car in my blind spot. Kias have a very, very tight turning radius and I managed to over steer when Linda yelled “Car, Car!!” As we spun to the right, we went into the concrete bridge barrier, bounced off and headed down the road backwards for maybe 20 feet. The air bags deployed (that’s for you, Jack) and Linda was sure she was in Heaven. She had the wind knocked out of her from the seat belt and the air bag and all she could see was white. In a moment she realized it was just the white air bag in her face surrounded by talcum powder. We both were bruised and Linda discovered a torn intercostal muscle or a broken rib three days later. She’s wearing a back brace that gives some support making the pain mostly bearable. Best part, it was a one car accident and no one was seriously hurt.

Gaston is looming E and S of us, but is having a hard time getting organized. Looks like it’ll just be a tropical storm when it passes S of Puerto Rico. But TS is just one mph below a class 1 hurricane so we’ll keep a wary eye on it over the next few days.

Happy Labor Day to all.