Crew Change at Ocean World

Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Sun 26 Feb 2012 02:59
Thursday 23rd February.
 
This morning we collected the hire car from marina reception trying hard to get on the road as early as possible to fit in a bit of sight seeing before heading for Santiago Airport were Dave and Mike's fight to San Juan was the first leg of their journey back to Leicestershire. We decided on the cable car ride up the mountain for it's views, but finding the start with a map with no scale and which only marked some of he roads proved a bit of a challenge. When pretty much lost we stopped to ask the way which resulted in a local guy wearing a tourist guide jacket, riding a worn out smoking little motorbike with a rear wheel that was hopelessly misaligned in the frame, riding in front of us waving us through heavy traffic, but he did the job and  also dispersed the boys in the car park offering to look after our car.  
The cable car ride and the views were spectacular and very good value.
Back down and it was time to head for Santiago 60Km south of Puerto Plata. Again the combination of poor map, few useful signposts and crazy driving (not mine) made it all a bit of a challenge. Asking the way at the petrol station was not so easy with no common language. However with a few sketch maps and a fair amount of guesswork we made it in good time.
I said good buy to my crew of the last two weeks and could not help but reflect on how our team had developed from when we had sailed out of Salinas.
Thanks Dave and Mike for a good trip and your contribution to Moorglade's voyage.
Reflections were short lived as now I had to find a supermacardo to provision for the next phase and get myself back to Ocean World. Yes I got lost in Santiago and took a wrong turn later but made it back to Moorglade in time for a well earned beer in the cockpit before dark.
 
Friday  24th February and Saturday 25th February
 
The morning was spent cleaning Moorglade, collecting the laundry making up the foc'sle berths with fresh sheets and waiting for Ross to arrive by taxi at Ocean World. Ross's journey via Miami had gone smoothly, if a little tediously, and after checking in with marina staff, immigration and customs, rode round the dock on a golf cart to settle in aboard Moosglade. We decided not to move on until Sunday morning, dined at the Mexican and turned in early.
Saturday morning was spent reading the pilot books and checking the charts to put together an outline forward plan and fill in the detail for our 24hour passage to Provo on Sunday/Monday. After a late lunch we walked to the nearest beach were Ross went for a dip. On the way back we topped up on cans of Presidente and chocolate snacks, both commodities that Ross feared Moorglade might be a little short of.
Supper on board and alarms set early to get ready to clear out with the authorities, pay our dues and leave.
 
    
View from the bottom                                                                           Approaching the top
 
   
Puerto Plata viewed from the top                                                              Looking East along the North coast of D R
 
 
Statue copied from Brazil
View of Ocean World from the top.                Moorglade is on the right hand dock.
 
Ready to descend
 
   
 
Ross comes aboard                                                                            and goes for a swim
 
  
The somewhat bizarre resort and casino at the marina.                     The way out tomorrow. Don't like the look of those waves.
 
 
And finally our neighbours. What do you think of their ensign?