Sunday, March 8, 2020

Ocean World, Dominican Republic

19.49.685N

70.43.853W

Today started unusually early for us as the front did make its way to us during the night with winds measured at a sustained 28 kts at one point, so we had to adjust fenders to keep the Palace from clunking into the concrete dock periodically.  We did this at about midnight, 3am, 5am, 7am, noon 3pm and again at 8pm.  As it was cloudy, drizzling off and on and basically a miserable day, we contented ourselves, chasing down noises we couldn’t identify, scrubbing decks between rain showers, taping or zipping down flapping plastic or enclosure panels, catching flying cushions from our neighboring boat, and doing nothing.  We did get a kick out of all the activity on the docks on a Sunday with people on the docks re-tying their boats and the waves splashing over the substantial breakwater in front of us and decided that yes, pulling into this marina was the only sensible action we could have considered yesterday. 

Waves Cresting the Break Water

Waves Coming in the 

Marina Entrance

Dale trotted by Never Say Never and Zandolee on the next pier to see if they had anything going on and the only thing we could come up with was possibly a tour of the Brugal rum factory and the Amber museum on Monday, if Brugal allows children in. 

Fruit Bat Dilemma 

Zandolee was up for a walk into town this evening for dinner at the place Tim and Suzie had gone to last night with the boys.  While waiting for them to join us this evening at the marina office in a beautiful well appointed building, I managed to step on a dead fruit bat laying in the middle of the floor.  Dale picked it up thinking that it was a brown banana peel and then dropped it like a hot potato once he saw what it was.  We mentioned to the receptionist that she had a dead bat on the floor who calmly stated that she knew about it and that someone would be by shortly to take care of it.  A couple of Army guys came in and looked at it.  A man in a “Staff” shirt came by and looked at it but it was only when Roberto, the man who had checked us in, and his driver Pedro came by and looked at it, that Roberto instructed Pedro to take care of it.  Pedro got a broom and dustpan and was quick to dispose of the tiny body.  The tasks that roll downhill!  I noted that Dale was the only one who actually touched the critter.  I guess this means he’ll soon be coming down with God only knows what, as when the locals decline to come near the vermin, something’s amiss.

Our latest look at the weather still shows a possible exit this coming Thursday for a transit to Puerto Rico.  Fingers crossed, it stays as promising as it looks at the moment as we’re starting to collect quite the assortment of SIM cards.