Part 2 Brief Update March, 2011:

Our refrigerator is still working and batteries holding up. We plan on nursing batteries until we return back to the US summer 2012.

A MN railroad friend Gary who now lives in KC visited for a week. Its was a lot of fun with lots of laughs. We socialed and partied with other anchored cruisers for St. Patrick’s day at Fantasy Island Resort and Marina. Actually I (Rose) won a bottle of Cuban rum for best costume. Now that doesn’t mean much in cruiser lifestyle as who has Patty costumes or resources to get any Patty wear out here in Roatan. So I obtained a green napkin and ended up creating one of those childhood finger games where I wrote Irish proverbs on the folded square. Since I didn’t know where to put it – I placed it in my hair and then I found kelly green croc shoes to accessorize. I would play the game occasionally when I found a willing participant. Gary also helped as he wore a kelly green shirt. We sailed to West End Marine Park where you grab a mooring ball for $100/month. West End reminds me of Key West with hits hippy ways, sand roads and lots of dive shops, backpacker hang outs and restaurants. It’s quite different from West Bay where all the wealthy tourists find top resorts and cruise ship people go to the beaches. This is where Gary decided to take a Scuba Resort course and we were able to dive with him on his first official dive. He did great – especially since he hadn’t even been snorkeling in 30 years. We also rented a car and finally did get to the furthest east part of Roatan after pursuading Tom to let me drive up the rutty hilly gravel road. This is where my farm skills kicked in.

A day after Gary left Tom got very sick with high fever (102-3-4 then down to 100, etc. for 6 days) and weak but no digestive issues. Went to the clinic twice with lots of blood/urine tests for malaria/denghy and nothing came back except abit elevated white blood. Fortunately medical care at Anthony Cay Clinic (Dr. Rafael) is pretty good, english speaking doctors, reasonably priced and close to West End via reduced taxi (called collectivo) or bus. Dr. said he could start on malaria pills to see if that reduces fever after 2 days as its difficult to get conclusive results but that didn’t work. Next Dr. visit found possibly lung infection — maybe pneumonia so took x-ray and on antibiotic Levaquin 750mg for 5 days with lots of acidophilus. This NW Carib has been difficult on Tom’s health. Life for Tom was difficult — actually for both of us as its hard for me to see him like this plus I’m up with him checking temperature, giving him fluids/food before Tylenol/aspirin/ibuprofen, cooling him down with water/refrig gel packs and I’m washing sweat soaked sheets every morning, waking up with him, ect. His fever left 3 days ago but still weak so back to Dr. to see how lungs sounds and more blood work. Dr. said that he wants us to have his lung looked at via Pulmonary Dr and if Tom doesn’t get better we will have to go to La Ceiba mainland as they have more ability.

During this time I (Rose) have done a lot of diving with other cruisers moored here in between playing nurse and bringing Tom to the Dr. It gives me a mental break….. Some cruisers say its much better than Belize. The mooring here at West End is better than at French Harbor as you are protected from the prevailing East/SE winds so can still play in the water. You have long beaches to walk and a variety of vegee trucks come each day along with cheap bus to Coxen Hole for heavy provisioning. Plus you are away from the busy West Bay and town of West End so no loud music at night. Only the chickens and wind to wake you in the AM. But there is more social happy hours scheduled at Fantasy Island Marina – French Cay Harbor – but that is a mixed blessing and sorta like Georgetown, Bahamas. Oh the decisions us cruisers must make….

We did finally meet up with Dave/Ellen on S/V Cordelia from Marquette, Michigan who just came down to Guatemala last year. We stopped to see them in 2006 when we Duluth, MN. It was great to spend some time and listen to Dave play/sing. He is VERY talented.

On a sad note Tom’s cousin Leonard R. Bouchard recently died.  This is one of the many times we wish we were closer to MN and realize your own mortality.  May his kind spirit live on….

I’ve added photos as well so you will have to go the Photo link to see them as they are still posted on the old MSN spaces site.

Keep your dreams alive!