Preparing for the voyage back to the U.S.

After our friend Christine left Puerto Rico, Andrew and I had two weeks to prepare for the 8-10 day trip back to Newport, R.I. The first week we explored a few new anchorages, one not far from the Puerto Del Ray Marina and a popular weekend spot for the locals. We left the marina late on a Saturday afternoon hoping the day trippers would be leaving the anchorage. When we arrived, there were less than a dozen boats and by nightfall only three. The next day however, was the Sunday before Memorial Day and everyone and their uncle was out! Our quiet anchorage had over 30 boats in party mode by noon, but at sundown, less than a handful again. 

We spent the days resting, reading, and planning for the voyage back to the U.S. I usually like to swim everyday but in this one particular anchorage the current was so strong, I had to tie myself to a line, swim along one side of the boat and without going anywhere, pull myself back on board when I got tired.

Bt June 6th, we were back at the marina in the anchorage, when our first crew, Jon Sauer arrived with his girlfriend Marlene & her son, Aidan. They stayed one half hour away in a nice condominium community called Palmas Del Mar, with a private pool and views of the ocean.

Fortunately for us, they also had a well stocked kitchen which we used to prepare a number of meals for the trip home. The rest of the week would entail finalizing meal plans, cleaning out bunks to make room for crew, making grocery lists, cooking, looking for locals to help cook (which we never found), shopping for dry stuff, then shopping for fresh, defrosting the fridge & freezer, storing 10 days worth of food in the boat in the order of planned usage, etc. etc. And that was just my stuff! Andrew tested all the communications equipment, downloaded the appropriate charts, cleaned the topsides, hired Jorge to install the new wind instrument & check the mast, etc. etc.

On June 10th, the rest of the crew (Doug Firth & his daughter, Casey and Bill Read) arrived, along with Bill’s significant other, Barbara. Over the next few days, they all chipped in on the aforementioned chores and we celebrated with an outstanding dinner (with Arturo & Katie, as well) at La Estacion, a fabulous barbecue joint in Fajardo.

On June 14th, I flew home to be with my mom on her 91st birthday and Andrew took off with the crew and Bermuda in their sites. Since there was a storm brewing in the Atlantic, their weather advisor suggested that they plan a stop and 6 days later, that’s where they are, enjoying rum drinks and the Bermuda hospitality, I’m sure!

I’ll be writing more about their trip when they arrive in Newport and I can can interview the crew, but in the meantime, you can follow Billy Ruff’n at https://share.Garmin.com/CharwynPartnersLLC.

Note: If there are any inaccuracies in this publication, it’s because my editor is offshore and unable to comment.

Adventures with Christine - Last days!

On Wednesday, May 27th, Christine and I decided to spend her last day of ‘vacation with the Armstrongs’ doing some touristy stuff. Andrew suggested that Chris take a hotel near the airport since she had an early flight and she took him up on the idea for 3 nights. I guess she anticipated needing some R&R after playing with us on the boat for five days! Anyway, the day before moving into her ocean view room at the Courtyard Marriott in San Juan, Chris and I set out for a self guided tour of Old San Juan, a bustling town steeped in centuries of Spanish culture & history. 

At the suggestion of the Marriott concierge, we started at the top of the hill to see El Morro, a fort ordered to be built by the King of Spain in 1539 and finally completed in 1783. It crests the expansive San Juan National Historic Site, a popular meeting place for children on school outings, families on vacation and people of all sorts strolling, sunning or flying kites. 

From the fort, we walked downhill through the narrow cobblestone streets, popping into art galleries and shops of interest, while perusing menus to figure out what we wanted to have for lunch. When we got to the end of a street and weren’t sure which way to go, I used my tried and true technique of asking a local. We were directed to a spot I had in my notes of “places to try”, so we set off toward a restaurant called Raices. Upon discovering a 40 minute wait, we opted for tropical drinks in a breezy walkway at an outdoor cafe called Puerto Criollo. The people watching was so good that we decided to stay for the frutos del mar salad and skip the fancy restaurant.

After lunch, we walked the Paseo de la Princsesa, a promenade built behind a protective wall along the sea where Spanish gentry used to enjoy the balmy evenings. From there we found our way to Raines Fountain,  the large bronze statute of Amerindians, Spaniards and Africans with dolphins cavorting at their feet, symbolizing the roots of Puerto Rican culture. 

The day was capped at the Marriott beachside bar with a pina colada (or two), putting a close to the delightful adventures with our good friend, Christine.