Good times on Bonaire

Not too many updates written in Bonaire, for the simple reason that I was too busy to do internet things.  Had a great time hanging out with Susie, her dogs and cat.  Participate in some local social events, like the pot luck lunch for the cruisers. 

Did some good maintenance on the engine: oil change, change of all oil and fuel filters, raw water impellor change.  And managed to find the right fuel and oil filters and another spare impellor kit (expensive, but they are hard to come by).

Also finished the solar panel installation.  Previously I had already reran the wires so both panels are not in parallel connected to the battery.  On Bonaire I was finally able to locate some diodes.  These prevent the panels from leaking electricity at night.

Also helped out welcoming Sinterklaas into Kralendijk.  The kids from the sailschool (sailing Sunfishes, Optimists, Splashes) sailed out in a flotilla to accompany Sinterklaas on his last miles from Spain.  Sinterklaas had changed his traditional steamship for a Smit Tak tug boat.  Lots of music (a little more swinging than the traditionals in Holland) and quite a different atmoshere: bringing in Sinterklaas in sunshine and nice weather surely is more fun than the typical november storm weather we would have in Holland at that time.  It did look like all kids of the island were waving Sinterklaas in.  I peddled my kayak between the sailing dinghies.  After the sailing a lot of the kids had fun on my kayak, which I let the use.

I was wanting to leave on Tuesday for Curacao, but Monday afternoon one of Susies dogs (Shuby) ran away.  We went drive around town looking for her, but no luck untill after midnight when she was spotted and later rescued from the side the road.  Stayed for another day, which was rewarded by a great sail as a semi crew member on the Sea Cow for a great snorkel.  We got very lucky, and among other things I saw my first Octopus and Barracuda, and another Sea Turtle.  Had a good time, strange enough it was actually cold coming out of the water.

Yesterday I sailed over to Curacao, there were light (but favorable) winds.  Quite to my suprise (this is normally a very windy spot).  Good thing was that it was a good opportunity to get pole out the genoa (something I did not manage on the passage from St Vincent).

The plan is to stay in Spaanse Water (anchorage on Curacao) for maybe a week. Grocery shopping is very convenient here, so I can stock up on Dutch things.  Also want to get the bike on the island, last visit I did not really see much of the island, at least one day I want to ride around and see a little more.  After that we are heading for Cartagena, Columbia.  Still need to gather a little more information, but I do think that Cartagena should be a good place to get the boat out of the water and put on new anti fouling.  Also want to raise the waterline, to prevent the growth of algae that I currently have on the boot stripe above the water line.  Ideally I would also have the anchors and anchor chains re-galvanized.  They are starting to rust very badly.

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