| Dearest Warm Hearts, a’ last a new
report. I could write a book of 1000 pages on what has transpired in the
last few weeks alone, but let’s keep that for another day. Right
now this report is coming to you from an estuary in El Salvador called
Jaltepecque. It is where Chickadee has been anchored off the map for the
past 18 months.
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But before I give you an update on
Chickadee’s news... |
| I would first like to say a special “Thank You”
on behalf of Cangrejo, to friends Bob and Karin and to the Hurrle and
Wimmer-Rich familes for recently visiting the village and chipping in
to help keep Escuela Mundo Del Los Ninos up to speed. The children’s
desks were in rough shape, but thanks to you for going the distance to
make the repairs. Our next project is to fix the gaping cracks in the
floor. At some point when enough funds are available, we’d like
to build a small play ground behind the school. |
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| And if we really get idealist, maybe even install a computer
in class to prepare the older students for the real world outside. The
children are the keepers of the forest and education is the key to their
protecting it. Of course the computer would require a 12 volt system and
solar panel to generate power since there is no electricity in the village.
I operate Chickadee exclusively on a 12 volt solar powered system, so
setting up a similar mechanism for the school in Cangrejo is certainly
doable. |
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This update is coming to you from Bahia Del Sol, El Salvador..
Hey ye all…just a heads up on the Chickadee and the book...
CRUISING CENTRAL AMERICA:
The First Complete Comprehensive Guide of the
Pacific West Coast of Central America.
I arrived back aboard ship a few days ago. Chickadee is in reasonably good
shape considering she has been at anchor here for the past 20 months. The bottom
sides are fouled with barnacles, and I need to replace a few bits of equipment
(compass/depth sounder/ GPS) to effectively navigate south to Costa Rica / Panama,
but otherwise I am pleased Chickadee held on in good form. There wasn’t
a single drop of water in the bilge. In fact a nest of spiders made the bilge
home whilst I was away. I put “One-Pull Bessy” my trusty 9.9 hp
Suzuki outboard on the back of the boat and true to form she started on the
first pull. Amazing! I shall be putting on a fresh coat of bottom paint shortly.
RE: Island Marine
Murray and Collette, owners of Island Marine ES, pulled off the impossible
and got a travel lift shipped down from New York of all places. Incredibly enough
they floated the travel lift on a make-shift barge across the estuary over to
their island. They hauled out the first boat last Thursday. There are a lot
of international yachts at anchor in Costa Del Sol at the moment. Chickadee
is scheduled to be the next vessel to be hauled. I have a ton of prep work to
do before then.
RE: CRUISING CENTRAL AMERICA
Finally!!! after a story of…blood, sweat, tears and starvation, the god’s
of the universe delivered an angel to help me finish the guide book once and
for all! A kindred spirit at that! Whew!!! Gracias Dios! It’s been a long
road! And so I am aboard Chickadee getting ready to head south to research Costa
Rica and do a transit (as line handler) of the Panama Canal. The purpose of
the exercise is to include Costa Rica in this edition of CRUISING CENTRAL AMERICA.
Two publishers are interested in publishing the book. The royalties are small
and the fermentation period to get the book to shelf, through the publishers,
is long. So we are not ruling out Self-Publishing. The returns are greater and
we can get the book out sooner. We have a Hot-Shot art director from Houston
TX, who will be doing creative up to date formatting of the guide. From a book
project stand point, having Chad aboard is huge. He is presently working for
a tourist magazine in Panama. Chad was the art director for Between the Waves
magazine. We’ll be getting together again shortly once I have all the
data collected on Costa Rica.
RE: Sailing Itinerary
Basically, as soon as I am finished prepping Chickadee, I will head straight
south to Nicaragua to check in with Rosio and the kids. Baby Erika has never
been aboard. And it’s been almost 2 years since Kaerolik and Robin paced
the decks. Therefore, with restored spirit and focus, I will pop into San Juan
Del Sur for a week or less, then pilot down to Bahia Salinas to begin the Costa
Rican chapter. I am guessing it will take at least 6-8 weeks to do Costa Rica.
I may have to buddy boat with another cruiser (s) to help speed up the task
of gathering data on CR.
RE: www.worldkidsvoyage.org and World Kids Foundation
Got lots of neat projects lined up and a team concept coming together to see
them through. I’ll have more to report on that subject later. We’ll
also be working with another non-profit organization to build 365 homes for
the homeless and under-privileged in Nicaragua. We’ll be using an alternative,
inexpensive construction method that makes home ownership possible even for
the humblest of families. Nothing will happen until at least November of this
year or basically after the rainy season, which is due to start soon. We’d
also like to resurrect the “friendship box” program again. There
is a very good probability I will be making Nicaragua my permanent home as long
as Rosio continues to let me rove the seas every once in a while. So far so
good!
The school in Cangrejo is now in its 6th year of class. There are 35 children
enrolled this term. I will be doing a web report about “Escuela Mundo
de Los Ninos” shortly. We also have the trail rides happening again. It
helps the village and the school combined.
RE: Rosio and our nestlings
All doing well, Thank you. Rosio accompanied me to Managua last weekend where
I had to catch the bus to El Salvador. We stayed over night in Managua. Went
for dinner at the mall. Romantic aren’t I ?. Ha! Rosio was so happy to
be out of San Juan for a break. Me too! We took in a movie called, “A
Series of Unfortunate Events” with Jim Carrey. Check out the reviews.
It’s a unique and artistic film fit for the whole family. On the Blackburn
scale of 1 to 10, it scored a 9.5. Rosio and I sure liked it. Good creative
fun!
Rosio headed back to SJDS the next day, with new shoes for the children. Kaerolik
turns 8 in April, Robin just turned 4 last month, and beauty baby Erika is pushing
2 ½. The kids are strong and healthy; there is food in the fridge again…thank
god! To help stave off hunger Rosio has a little laundry service set up at the
house with a real washing machine. (Thank you Jim...we miss you in San Juan).
On a good day, she can earn up to $15. Dollars. Rosio’s Laundry also provides
employment to 3 other woman, so it’s a good thing. Si dios quiere, I should
be back in San Juan with Chickadee in about 3 weeks, then carry on from there.
The adventure of the Chickadee continues. Working together we can shine a lot
of light…for the love of life and a thousand shooting stars!
Take care for now mates. More news to follow………
Chickadee Cheers
Eric “Chickadee” B.
Bahia Del Sol, El Salvador
“Living life outside of the box”
El Sal. Cell phone #: 011-503-935-9541
Nica. Cell phone #: 011-505-899-7201
eblackb@worldkidsvoyage.org
www.worldkidsvoyage.org
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