Although tempted to stay and explore Puerto Rico further, home was calling and we needed to keep moving. Having said that, we declared an additional stop at La Parguera. A party town with miles of fringing reef, had been squeezed into the itinerary. Cap’n Diver Dan was keen to put the snorkel on and perhaps find a stray lobster or two.
After anchoring, and wasting no time, Bruce the Brave was launched and off the Cap’n putted in search of ice. Perhaps it was to keep our (possible) lobsters fresh. Who knows? The outboard had different ideas and there was our Cap’n adrift. Thankfully, some kind hot-water boaters undertook the rescue mission, and stopped to give him a tow back to WJ3. The nearest coral reef had a couple of mooring balls free but were they adequate to hold WJ3’s tank-like build? Also, it was a very popular spot with lots of folks in the water. Maybe not quite the dive the Cap’n was hankering for. So, we stayed put, and after the evening’s “back to the boat ramp” rush hour, we settled down for a very still night.
We have failed to mention a rather intriguing observation. GS had noticed a rather large zeppelin floating above Puerto Rico’s south west corner. With spy balloons and hovering drones recently seen in American skies, this rather plump floater seemed suspicious. GS took loads of photos. Nobody else seemed the least bit concerned. From our anchorage in La Parguera, it became apparent that the blimp was tethered, and by nightfall, had been pulled back down to earth. We later found out is indeed a tethered aerostat radar system (eyes in the sky or as someone called it, Fat Albert!) for the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard certainly needs all the help they can get along this coastline.
Next morning and lobster-less, we rounded Cape Rojo with its stately lighthouse and sallied forth squeezing between another extensive reef and the coast, making for Puerto Real. Christmas bookings and a continuous flow of Caribbean bound vessels meant our chances of a stay in the marina were slim, so we happily stayed on anchor. Meanwhile, we refuelled, purchased a new battery for the bow thruster, revitalising it, and feasted on lobster caught by local fisherman but expertly cooked by our Cap’n. All the while, hoping for a weather window suitable to get us, in 3 days, to Turks Caicos. This was to be our last big “at sea” experience. No more over-nighters once there. Famous Last Words!!
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