Turk & Caicos south

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JAN. 18, 2004
Turk & Caicos Islands
It's Sunday, 18 January. We departed last night about 11:30 pm from Mayaguna, Bahamas and made the passage to the west end of the Caicos Islands. We had 3-4ft seas, winds out of the east-southeast about 12-15kts.( same direction we were going in). There was a swell from the Dominican Republic but all in all not a bad motor/sail.
We staged from Georgetown, Exuma and hopped along the Thornless path south.
This is a milestone for us. Making good time. We will stay a few days, cross the banks and head 80miles south to Luperon, D.R. Maybe by next weekend. We want to spend some time there, then head across the Mono straight, in only the best conditions and take in the southern coast of Puerto Rico to St. Thomas. So give us a month to get there.
Dave is checking us in right now, then I can go to land also. We are doing great. Hope to do some fun diving here. Will write soon.
Be well, Fran and Dave

JAN. 22, 2004
Luperon, Dominican Republic
Just a quick note to let you know we are in Luperon. Had a fantastic trip over. Light winds and no swell. We left Wednesday morning and arrive today at 9 am. We arrived, set the anchor and were board by customs, agriculture and immigration officials. We are now walking through the town. We changed dollars for pesos-50 to 1. Dinners cost $2.50 US for chicken or pork, beans rice, spaghetti and el Presidente beer.! I don't have to cook while we are here!!
Have to find a guy named Jose. He will set up some inland tours for us.
I will keep you updated.
Be well, Fran and Dave

Feb. 5, 2004
Dominican Republic

We found our man, Jose, and took a couple of side trips with him and a group of friends. One trip was to a fantastic waterfall just outside the town of Imbert. Once at the falls, the guides actually pull us through the water chutes. Then once at the top of seven levels, they told us the only way down was to slide back down the cascading falls. It was exhilarating, to say the least!! After that, we went to a comedor (small eating establishment with a fixed menu), where we devoured a wonderful typical buffet style meal. Rice and beans, fried plantians, vegetables, chicken, beef and pork, salad w/carrots and tomatoes, fruits and juice or cervezas. Muy delisioso! Back on the guagua (bus) and to a ranch to climb onto a huge bramha bull for pictures. From there to beautiful botonical gardens where we hiked through the flora and fauna. Saw the mills where they crush the sugarcane and process it. It was a long and wonderful day.

On our next trip, we went to Santo Domingo, a very old city with many firsts...the first street of the Americas Calle las Damas, named after the ladies of the court who would traditionally promenade in their finery in the evenings. After landing here in 1492, Columbus created this city as his outpost and it is from here the conquistadors and other explorers set out. The people are friendly and very proud. The dollar buys a lot here. We really enjoyed the 12 block area called the Colonial zone. It is a bustling, noisy district with narrow cobbled streets, lots of shops and restaurants and tourists. We also took off to the side streets to see how the residents live. There are so many museums and churches in the area as well.

Currently, we are in Luperon waiting for a weather window to make our way east toward Puerto Rico and on to St. Thomas. Will keep you posted.

Feb. 17, 2004
Samana, Dominican Republic

Our strategy now is to follow the coastline of the Dominican Republic until we can jump off and cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico.

We departed first light out of Luperon bay and arrived in Pto. Escondito by the next afternoon.
We anchored in Pto. Escondito with its beautiful, palm lined beach. It is the closest place to Bora, Bora or Tahiti that you can find in the Carribean. We were visited by the local coast guard in a dugout canoe rowed by a fisherman. He checked our papers and welcomed us to his bay.

We decided then to go ashore by dinghy. There were good size waves and suddenly one got us good, capsizing the dinghy and sending us rolling in the waves!! I stayed under until I didn't hear the motor anymore. Trying to right the dinghy was exhausting until some locals came over to help. We then had to recover everything that fell out, get back in the dinghy, and travel back through the waves to get to the Sorrento. We were just thankful we didn't get hurt and we'll think twice about surfing in the dinghy next time!

We left Pto. Escondito at midnight heading for Cabo Samana (sah ma nA) about 36 miles. We stayed close to the the shoreline of high cliffs and mountains. It was a rolly but not an uncomfortable crossing. On the way into the bay, we saw numerous humpback whales breaching, two of which sounded by our boat. Tomorrow we will explore Samana and go to more waterfalls.

Will keep you posted on our progress.
Fran & Dave

March 7

Palmas Del Mar, Puerto Rico

We are anchored in a bay near a resort area, which encompasses a pretty large area. There is everything from huge single-family dwellings, to condos, to time shares with docks for their yachts. There's a tennis club, golf club and beautiful palm tree lined beaches. We are enjoying our stay and taking walks around the complex. We rented a car and went to El Yunque, the rain forest and had a great hike up to a waterfall. We've gotten in a couple of movies too.

We will be leaving tomorrow for Culebra and St.Thomas. We should be there by Thursday.

Be well, Fran and Dave
s/v Sorrento
Puerto Rico

Headed for St Thomas and the BVI