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Hello to all our friends and family,

Wow, it has been months since the last newsletter. Now that we are back on the move and into new territory, there are lots of things to write about.

Today, was a short day. We left Isla de San Andres, Colombia this morning at 6:00 AM, headed south. On the way, we boated another blackfin tuna and hooked up with the biggest dolphin ever. The dolphin threw the hook on its second jump and I was just as glad. We already had tonight's meal and didn't need to take the life of such a magnificent fish. We arrived at the little atoll of Cayos de Albuquerque about 10:30 AM. I hate to overwork the word, but what a paradise. The egg shaped atoll reef is about 5 miles long and 3 miles wide with two islands located roughly in the middle. The two small islands are about the same size and spaced 1/4 mile apart. Each has a plethora of coconut palms, white sandy beaches, frigate birds and surrounded by aquamarine to cobalt blue water. On the north island, there is a contingent of 13 Colombian Marines. We had to go ashore there for a simple check in with the Commandante (a 20 something gracious fellow). Those Marines are the best looking, nicest, physically sound, copper tanned, young men I think we have ever seen. Joan fell in love. Then when she said something about all the coconut trees several of them, with big smiles, jumped to gather and husk some for us. We were so touched that we gave them a case and a half of beer. The south island has a couple of fishing shacks and there are several pangas (open fishing boats) beached.

I could tell that Joan's swooning had raised her blood pressure and she was having a bad case of hot flashes so we went out to cool off and snorkel the one of the many coral patches. It was good to see her cheeks get back to a normal color.

Well, that was today. But there has been a lot happen since the last newsletter so we have to go back, back, b a c k . . . .

The last newsletter ended with Joan in Antigua at Spanish school. After she returned, we stayed in the Rio for another few weeks. During that time Joan had some of her Spanish school chums visit the boat. They were very nice girls, ladies and we hope they enjoyed their week with us.