Making repairs in exotic places at exotic prices has taken on an almost new meaning. We are now into our 4th week here trying to get the steering fixed (we think it's done having put in a new helm pump) and the generator rebuilt after it injested sea water. The generator problem also came with a broken bearing in the raw water cooling pump which, of curse, needed to be replaced. Thankfully we were able to impose on Rob Dehaan's, Southers Comfort, Port Supply (wholesale branch of West Marine) account connection to purchase the pumps. FedEx shipped the first pump thru Curaçao (apparently didn't know where Aruba is) taking a full week to get to us. The parts for the rebuild came in 4 days. Hopefully the new cooling pump will come a little faster now that they have some current, geographic experience.
So, here we sit on the downwind side of a semi-arid (too little sand inland to consider it a desert) island. Reminds we of living in Albuquerque, NM back in the 60's after I flunked out of Oregon State and before I joined the Army. Kuhela is covered in dust as we are: you wouldn't believe how brown a white wash cloth gets when you take a shower. In fact with the one or two short showers, and it mean SHORT, most of it is now mud. Sad, 'cause this really is an interesting place with sunny, warm temps (80's) tempered by the (damn) winds. People are very friendly and speak English better and more universally than in Puerto Rico. Lots of good restaurants at more reasonable prices than Orlando or Honolulu. By the way we changed our home port (printed over out engine hatches) to Honolulu and Hawaii from Monroe, NC. You should hear the comments from a constant flow of people passing by on the dock where we are Med-moored (anchor out front and backed in to nearly touching the dock) and tied off to the dock.
Yup, cruise ship, but only one, in the background. Usually there's two with another out of sight behind this one.We went to the NW end of the island called Palm Beach where the hotels and condos are on the beach (as opposed to Eagle Beach where the high rise hotels and condos are behind the beach). We had Happy Hour drinks on the beach and then dinner (thrice) at some very good places. Yes, a good time was had by all...
We are toying with the idea of leaving here - yes it will happen - and heading straight for San Blas, Panama skipping Cartagena which we saw 18 years ago on a NCL cruise. But, after more research and a blog from Adina we have decided to hug the coast to Cartagena and then cross to San Blas. The wind and waves on a more direct route are not so good, especially off of Santa Marta with her gale force winds.
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