Tag Archives: trip

a little each day

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Each day is another step to moving to Bocas.

We ALMOST had a rental but it was snatched out from under us. At first glance, it looked perfect for us, but obviously it was not meant to be. So I am in contact with another owner and hoping to get some pictures of her house down there before we make any commitment.

I had an eye exam and ordered new glasses. The main reason, not that I really need new glasses, I need the prescription for my snorkeling mask! I found a place in Tacoma with a good selection of goggles, and then, if I don’t like there pre-made prescription lenses, will send the mask and my new script to a place in San Diego that makes them custom. I am getting bifocal goggles! Have to be able to see clearly underwater!

Then yesterday, I took the first batch of clothes to the Goodwill store. I know there will be more as I fine tune things, but initially this was good. Some of the stuff I haven’t worn for years! And then started going through my papers and this morning, spent two cups of coffee time burning the old papers in the wood stove. There is very little I need to take and any important stuff I can leave with Ryan.

Another giant step is that Cody and Mel hooked up Skype so we chatted and I saw the little boys! Everett is a little chubby guy, just like Cody was at that age, and Oliver is a wild man!  Very active and sooo cute. He was shy to start, then wanted to be on camera all the time, “Susu Susu!”  showing me things and dancing around. So now I won’t feel as disconnected when I am way south.

Voice found

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So now I have a “kid” voice for ecology.com - it was a challenge, but after several iterations, I got it. Now I have a series of articles to do, basically rewrites of existing, dense pieces to make them kid friendly. My current one is all about algae! It’s like going back to school, as I am finding it is actually easier to write these things from scratch, rather than trying to edit down, and totally rework. Doing it this way entails a lot of research, but it’s a lot of fun!

This is a perfect set up for me. Part-time, anywhere-I-am work. Exactly what I want for Bocas, or wherever I end up. Be out and about in the early part of the day, home and working in the heat of midday, then out and about in the evening coolness. Just perfect.

Crab traps on the boat

Had a great weekend, weather-wise. A typical summer in the NW kind of weekend, with sun! Yes it actually was out for two whole days! Went crabbing both days, snagged seven beautiful, big Dungeness. For the first time, we trapped a lot of females, which of course we threw back. Got to keep those girls producing!

Went out crabbing again yesterday, snagged four more good ones – but they are a lot of work if you don’t eat them right away. It entails cleaning them, then cooking them. Then the “fun” part, cracking them and extracting all the meat, then pressing the cleaned meat into cupcake pans, freezing, popping the frozen serving size portions out of the pans and then into vacuum-sealed bags for long-term freezing. Takes ages! And my fingers are cut up from the sharp shells. But still definitely worth every morsel!

Because November and December are getting into tourist time in Bocas del Toro, I have decided to go down earlier, mid-October. But will go to Southern California first for a couple of weeks to see all the kids and leave from there. That makes it only two months before I go. Time to get things in gear and start getting rid of stuff. Clothes, junk, organize paperwork, decide what goes and what goes into the rubbish bin.

I travel light.

 

Thunderstorms, maids and old cars

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Another very loud, bright wet storm last night that woke me up. I love it – pours at night and then today was beautiful. It was a busy day. Mick has decided he is going to do car restorations again and so bought three Renault 10’s – one that runs and the other are parts cars.

So we were up early to go and pick up a car trailer and headed out to Thornville, about twenty minutes from his factory. On the way, we stopped to pick up Vincent, an Indian employee of his who would help with the onloading and offloading.

The house was down an extremely rutted, dirt road and the trailer bounced all over the place. It was a typical block house, with a lot of trash around – and two undernourished dogs, a mongrel and a Jack Russell. A young Indian man came out and I had to fend off the mongrel that wanted to jump on me and then when I pushed him away, he started to growl. Finally, the kid got the message and put him in the house. The poor little Jack Russell’s front foot looked like it had been broken and never taken to a doctor and was all twisted under. I don’t understand why people have dogs they don’t care for.

Anyway, we loaded up the cars on the car carrier – two trips – back and forth to the factory where they are being stored. Debbie was not thrilled about having them at the house – and I don’t blame her. So they will be parted out, the best body parts sent for sandblasting. As Biff is in the classic car restoration biz, he has all the contacts for the bits and pieces Mick will need.

Next it was pick up furniture and take it down to Zoze and Bryan in their new place. It’s a cute little place, but still needs work that should have been done before they moved in but they didn’t want to wait. It has a wonderful view across the valley and lots of windows and light, and small enough to easily take care of. Zoze will probably have Nesta come one day a week to clean and iron. How I miss that luxury – what is common place here. Mick and Debbie have Sibongele who comes to them four times a week, and a gardener one day a week. So you NEVER have to do housework. I can get used to that in one day – or less. I know you want to know how much she gets paid – R110 a day = about $10 a day.

Tonight, I cooked dinner and all the dishes are left for Sibongele tomorrow. I almost feel guilty – almost! She is happy to have the job, she gets paid well by South African standards, and Mick and Debbie live comfortably without having to deal with the boring, humdrum, tedious house work. That in itself is almost enough to make me stay here.

These evening thunderstorms are wonderful. The weather forecast said sixty percent chance of rain today. The sun was out all day and it stormed and rained and thundered on our way home late this afternoon. I was glad I had unplugged my computer.

As we drive around, I don’t see a whole lot of change – but I sense an easing of the fear that was really prevalent last time I was here. Whether it’s for real or my imagination I don’t know.

Travels with Susan day 2

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It was wonderful to finally get to Durban and feel the warm air as I got off the plane. It was nine in the evening and about 70, warm by Port Townsend standards. The plane was parked out on the tarmac and as I walked towards the terminal, I looked up to the observation deck – and there Mick and Debbie!

Got my bags as quickly as possible and headed out of the baggage claim area – there they all were – Mick, Biff and Zoze and Debbie. I had hoped they would all come but wasn’t sure if they would – or could! I really didn’t give them much notice.

A quick cup of coffee and Zoze and Biff left – Zoze and Bryan are at Biff’s until they move into a cottage next week, and Mick and Debbie and I headed home.

I thought I would sleep like a log, but I hardly slept at all. I think it must have been the coffee so late in the day. My mind was churning and I ended up getting up around 6:30 local time.
It’s mid- afternoon now and I am trying to make it to bed time without napping.

Tomorrow we are going down to Biff’s for lunch. Should be fun.

Media Hype

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I became rather concerned with all the news about swine flu that the media is picking up on. I’ve been so busy I have hardly looked at the news but it filtered into the conversation last night when “the girls” gave me a little send off at Janet’s.

The air on planes is bad enough, recycled as it is, so I was pleasantly surprise when I ran into the this article that really debunks the hype. I thought you all might be interested in reading it.

I will certainly take precautions, anti-bacterial wipes for the plane etc, neosporin in the nostrils, all that, but I feel relieved now and continue my packing.

I looked at the 10-day forecast for Durban/Pietermaritzburg and it is around 75F! Whoo hoo, bare feet time. So now I can fine tune what clothes I am taking.

Getting ready for the Big Trip to New Zealand

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It never fails to amaze me how things pile up just before you leave on a trip. For weeks, things have been slow and boring, and I thought this is going to be a snap. Time to get the house and cats sorted out, gather documents needed, finish the articles I committed to do, etc etc. But all of a sudden things seem to escalate.

Along with the crummy weather that caused problems all over the area, and kept us inside (not that I want to go out much in the cold anyway.) But even the weather ate into my time when the Leader wanted storm pictures. So diehard that I am, donned my foulies and headed out. Fortunately for us, there wasn’t a lot of damage in the area, just a lot of trees down and of course, the Hood Canal Bridge was closed to traffic because of the high winds. It opens to relieve the pressure caused by the wind and waves.

And another Leader article that had been hanging in the background needed to be completed so got that done yesterday. Actually, was quite proud of myself, listed a house in the morning and wrtoe the article in the afternoon. Now if only the newspaper paid decently, it would have been a VERY productive day.

With just a week before we leave for New Zealand, I am getting excited now! I started a New Zealand blog but think maybe I should just post to this one, as my “fans” as Betsy says, know this site. I will let everyone know that I will be posting regularly, along with photos on shutterly.com and for those who have trouble viewing the internet (Biff and Jules) I will email them.