Adios Guatemala

Happy Holidays!  Another year is about to end and so is our stay in Guatemala.  We had hoped to sail down to Panama last year, but things do not always work out as planned, especially on a boat.  Ka'imi and crew are in good shape and looking forward to the cruising season.  We should cross the Rio Dulce Bar before New Years and head to Belize, Roatan, Providencia and then Panama.

We have met so many wonderful people her in Guatemala and it is always bitter sweet when you leave.  You are looking forward to new adventures, yet we leave many friends behind.  Today we took our last trip into Fronteras the town in Rio Dulce.  I was happy I might not have to walk through that crazy street again, yet it was always an adventure just to do the shopping.  We made our last trip for fuel and our last trip for ice, where the guys know us and all we have to do is hold up one finger or two to get how many bags of ice we need.  Our friends here are heading out also, and some heading in the same direction as us so we will see them again.

This year Mike got a quad copter or drone so we can't wait to have more videos of the places we visit.  This one is Christmas 2017, we spent it with Jerry and Susan on Vida Dulce.

Christmas at Tortugal Marina
Christmas at Tortual Marina Part II

Hoping all have a very good new year, and will check in when we can.

Cheers Kim. Mike and Zoey

Caye Caulker, Belize

We are currently hanging out in Cay Caulker, Belize.  Our internet is quite expensive here so we really can't post any pictures.  We will update with pictures when we get better internet.

We decided that we would stay in Belize instead of heading to Roatan and then Panama this year.  We left the Rio late and we seemed to be rushing and waiting for a good weather window.  We will head to Roatan and Panama in November, then we will have more time to enjoy ourselves.

Right now we are just enjoying northern Belize and will start working our way south through the islands as weather permits.

Cheers Kim, Mike and Zoey

South Water Cay, Belize

We are currently hanging out in South Water Cay, located on the barrier reef that encircles Belize. It is beautiful here with sandy beaches, palm trees and beautiful reefs 50 - 100 yards away. The weather is great and the crew is doing wonderful. Still waiting for a weather window to get to Roatan, Honduras. We're off now to snorkel the reef, check out Carrie Bow Cay and then cold beers at Blue Marlin Lodge on South Water Cay.

Cheers Kim and Mike, Ka'imi

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Placencia, Belize

Safe and somewhat sound in Belize, all is well. It is great to be back on the ocean and in blue water. Everything is working and the weather is great! Keep you posted, we are looking for our weather to Roatan.

Cheers Mike and Kim

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Texan Bay

We decided to do a little shake down cruise to check boat systems and give our Zoey a chance to get used to the boat moving. We are 12 miles down river in Texan Bay. It is very quite here so we also get a chance to relax for a bit. We will go back up river to Tortugal in a couple days to finish up projects, take on fuel and provision the boat. Then head back down to Texan Bay and wait for weather and a tide.

Cheers Mike, Kim and Zoey

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Tortuga Village - PASS IT ON, Guatemala - Solar Panel Project

Many villages in Guatemala are off the power grid. Julia Bartlett, PASS IT ON Guatemala, coordinates the acquisition of solar panels and batteries through donations and the subsequent installation in remote villages. This allows the people of the village to have lights at night for schooling, meetings or social activities.

Mike and I were fortunate enough to participate in the 10th installation in the remote village of Tortuga.

It was a great experience. The people were amazing, welcoming and grateful. We believe the majority of the village turned out the morning of our arrival, it was a very special event.

The crew consisted of Richard Villa, Chief Technician, Oswaldo Morales, Technician Especial, Mike Rhea, Driver, Mike and I, Daniel Pinto Pena, the Health Worker and a translator to translate Spanish to K'iche' (sorry but I did not get his name) which is the language of the village.

This is an overview map of Guatemala. We began the journey at Mar Marine on the Rio Dulce and traveled to the village of Tortuga.

We drove approximately one hour from Mar Marine then walked the remainder of the way.

The hike from the road to the village took about 30 minutes.

Mike and the K'iche'  translator.

Richard and Oswaldo.

Men from the village carried the solar panel, battery and supplies. 

The village road.

We arrive at the school where the solar panel will be installed.

 

The two men are the teachers of the school. We presented them with a soccer ball, paper, pencils and a bag of treats for rewards.

They liked the soccer ball. It is wonderful to see a group of people in a community working together and being happy.

The guitar that the boys have is made out of cardboard.  They enjoyed playing it and singing!  Such fun.

Some beautiful young ladies, very shy.

When Richard, Oswaldo and the villagers began the installation of the solar panel and batteries our friend Julio volunteered to give us a tour of his village.  

It was great to see the villagers reaction when we showed them their pictures that we had taken.  Some laughed and some covered their faces very shyly.

This is Julio with his mother, he was very proud of her and his family!

Some very beautiful mother and babies!

We had a fun time with this family, they were very welcoming and helping us to learn a bit of K'iche'

Back at the school the installation is complete and we take an opportunity to pose with the children and family.

View the video below!

Cheers from Kim and Mike on Ka'imi