We arrived safe and sound, but very tired yesterday morning at about 6:30 a.m. It was a long journey. We left Clarence Town on Long Island on Thursday morning, went past Crooked and Acklins Islands, and after motoring through the night, arrived in Mayaguana. We had planned to overnight here and rest up, but after listening to the forecast, we realized we had better keep moving as our weather window was about to close. High winds and rain squalls were forecasted for the Dominican for Saturday afternoon. We kept going, motored past Haiti, and arrived at Luperon early Friday morning. Everything worked just great on the boat, and that big old Mercedes engine purred like a kitten (well tiger maybe!), we averaged almost 8 knots.
After a few tries, we anchored in the crowded harbour and were so relieved to hear nothing but quiet when we turned the engine off after 48 straight hours. We were exhausted but had to get our dinghy into the water and our engine mounted so we could go to town to clear customs. As soon as we arrived, people started coming over to the boat. Papo, a wheeler dealer who sells diesel, water and God knows what else delivered to your boat stopped by to give us a sales pitch. Then friends of ours from the Catamaran Chocobo stopped by to say hello. Then three guys posing as Customs boarded our boat. They managed to get $20 from Greg, and took some of our paperwork. Something didn’t seem right, so Greg called them back over and we got our paperwork back, and asked to see identification. They all worked for the navy or police, but had nothing to do with customs, as far as we could tell. So we were out 20 bucks and learned a lesson.
We finally got our dinghy ready, and motored just up the bay to the government dock, and the short walk to customs and the town. Everything went smooth as silk at customs, and about $120 later, we were cleared to go. Agriculture came to our boat in the afternoon, check out our produce, cheese and milk, declared everything safe, and out went another $20. Then we went back into town, and came to a restaurant/bar called Steve’s place. He is an ex cruiser who married and local girl and bought the bar. Nice big wicker rockers, a pool table, small pool out back for the kids. Plus they have free showers, and will do your laundry for 20 pesos per pound. Price is the same if you do it yourself. Exchange works out to 35 DR pesos to the American dollar, so we brought our laundry here today. We are sitting here now, using the free internet on our laptop, having just enjoyed lunch and some President beer. They are huge beers and only 95 pesos and yummy! The prices here are so much more reasonable than the Bahamas. Cheeseburger and fries for $180 pesos, all homemade. This morning we went to a flea market at one of the marinas. I got a really nice, short haircut for ten bucks and we bought some homemade bread. We stopped at the other marina and met a lady named Marty, who sets up a table there Sundays. She also sells home baking as well as jams, jellies and salsas. She and her hubby came to Capt. Steve’s and joined us at our table for lunch. She is also an ex cruiser who has been here for six years, bought a house and runs her little bakery.
Greg found out that he can work on our boat here, so he will be busy scraping and sanding soon. There is a lot less paint on our baby since we left Georgetown, it keeps peeling off, and like I tell Greg, just that much less to take off. Our customs permit says we can stay here for 15 days, but we might extend it, if things go well. So far it is a great place.
Will email again soon!
Lots of love from the Dutch Dreamers
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