Checking In and Checking Out

Right now in the United States there is great debate about immigration, illegals, and what we should do about it.

Well, guess what? I have met more cruisers this year that not only aren’t renewing in a country, but aren’t even checking in to the country. I am disturbed by this trend. I believe that you should follow the rules. Sometimes I don’t like the fees and sometimes I don’t like how they are administered or collected, but if that is the law of the country that I wish to spend time in then I should pay. If I don’t want to pay, then may-be I shouldn’t be visiting that country.

I remember when the Bahamas initiated their new fee system several years ago. Cruisers were up in arms about it. The Bahamians for their part wanted to cut down on the fishing guys from Florida that were coming in and fishing out the local waters and taking literally tons of fish back to Florida in their freezers and returning in a couple of weeks. Of course the new system hit the cruisers also. So for $300 US we got a cruising permit for six months and that included a fishing permit. (Really not a bad deal for us when you think about it.)

Checking In to Mexico. We had to hire an agent, import the boat, customs and immigration for a total of $200 in and $100 out.

Belize has a new thing going…the Port Capt fee when you check out of $40 US. People are out of sorts about it. The issue as I see it is that not everyone pays. The Port Capt doesn’t have an office, he works off a metal drum in the parking lot. If he is not there you don’t have to pay, if he is there you have to PAY!

As Americans we don’t think about what it costs cruisers from other countries to check in and out of the States or what the requirements are to do so. Believe me they pay when they come in and now they have to deal with HOMELAND SECURITY!

So remember when you head into a foriegn country that you are a GUEST. You do not have the right to work unless you have a work visa, you do not have the right to Bitch about them taking your vegetables. For Christ sweet sakes you can't take veggies across to the border of Arizona. and finally I do NOT have the right to not check in my CAT. Yes, it is a hassle, but it is the law.

Placencia Has Our Anchor

Yes Placencia has our anchor in her deep thick mud. We are having a hard time picking it up to leave. But leave we will as soon as we finish the repairs: the bilge, the generator, the SSB, the outboard, well may-be the outboard.

So we are enjoying our stay, but missing our friends. So will renew tomorrow for another 30 days, but we are hoping if the wind is right that we will be headed for the Bay Islands of Honduras with Up Jinks. We will meet up with Lyric there before they head back to the States.

So we are enjoying the little patch reef and the gelatti and shrimp wraps.

So if you are headed to Placencia soon you just may see the new mayor, Michael, there!

Anchoring Zen

Anchoring is like Zen. It happens best when you don't over think it. We came into Placencia and dropped the hook. Sounds easy doesn't it. You can have a danforth, a bruce, a bulwagga, a delta, a CQR and the list goes on. So we found a place in the parking lot and we sat for a week. We made it through the blow (30kts) and then one big gust hit us broad side! Away we went...I run to bow and Michael has the helm we are pulling up 150 feet of chain and are looking at a 100 lb plastic bag plus burlap that has fouled the anchor and now we are looking for a new parking place. So we quickly drop so that we can look around and find a new home. To the back of the pack we go where it is rolly but safe or so we think.

We make it through two more blows until today when a rental Moorings catamaran comes down on us. We are able to get the anchor up and head back closer to the island where it is not so rolly and we have our first little squall in our third new place.

We finally are in on land having some lunch and enjoying the calm. They tell us more is on the way. It's ok we like a different view!