The Roatan Story

Chapter 18

Yes it has been a while since our last update. I think I will give this a try solo and see if Lori will leave it alone, change something or simply strip it all out and re-write it again.

Drama has been a part of our life recently. Just the other day one of our friends came back from an overnight sail to find that a very expensive boat was stolen, the main office to the resort was broken into and petty theft had occurred as well. I was feeling their pain and went over to ask what had happened. After learning about the finite details I went on to Oak Ridge to restock Lori’s beer and my Coke supply as Lori’s son is here visiting and can put away a lot more than I can! On the way I happened to ask our trash boat captain (basura boat) if he happened to see this stolen boat and I could not believe it when he said that it may be the one in the mangroves next to the trash dump in Jonesville! After about one second of decision and a question of reward I had him in my little TT boat and off to Jonesville we went.

When we spotted the boat it was tied to the mangroves and the engine covers were off. Apparently they didn’t know how to get it started and abandoned it for a later time to come back and strip it. Luckily we found it first! After hooking it up and towing it (at this point our little TT is now the Turtle Tug) we met up with the caretaker and the police. The caretaker was very happy to see it in one piece, Owners 1, thieves 0.

Other dramas came and went over time, some were crime, some family matters and others still were simply silly events. Parties for New Years, Christmas were abundant, fun and well attended by all. This time of the year off island owners are back and bring so much to the fun and events when they are here. This time of year we also have the Cruisers starting to show up in ones and twos here in the bight and we have happy hours and trips into town which prove interesting for all involved.

Duppies, yes these are described by the islanders as the blue lights usually seen on hill tops in remote places. It is said that they are the pirates ghost that was left to guard the buried treasure from pilfering by thieves or the original Indian inhabitants of the island. The islanders will not go around them at all out of fear. Recently we discovered that we have our very own duppy or duppies, were not sure if one or many. Lights come on and go out all on their own. Items seem to move around or are found not where they were left but in another place altogether totally defying any logic. Should we have a séance or maybe an exorcism? I say no, leave them be since they are doing us no harm other than playing around with us, and besides I promised to leave any artifacts or gold I find alone.

The house saga continues. We have accomplished quite a lot in gaining ground on the house construction. Even though for the last 5 months I have been taking up the slack after my neighbor had to go to another island to make some quick cash and I was left doing his job so he still had one when he gets back.  The amount of work is staggering when you think about where we left off last time. Lori now has a washer and dryer in place, both the guest bathroom and our bathroom fixtures in place except for the showers, yes Lori I am working on that, I know, I know I promised to have them done by winter but darling I am a little busy with other things! The outdoor shower isn’t all that bad is it?

Moving along before the wife tells me how she really feels about this shower thing, Her kitchen is almost complete thanks to another friend that has a shop that makes all kinds of cabinets in the US and had some time on his hands. Of course I owe him but that is ok by me. It is kind of hard to remember what all has been done since last chapter, we just finished the loft hand railing and have a wall almost complete for the guest bedroom, (required by Lori BEFORE the kids came to visit!). A lot of things you cannot see have been done and all along we have managed not to kill each other and actually our last venture found us working together without any cross words thrown either way!

Speaking of doggies, Lamb Chop is now grown and seems to be larger than Maggie her mom and almost the size of Ziggy her Dad! She is not trained to any extent and has free run of property. She welcomes everyone to the casa with a bark and a wet shake of her hair as she is always swimming, day in and day out and always wet! Ziggy has of late been very protective of Lori when I am gone. He has taken to biting everyone that comes to our dock, no exceptions at all except for me! He has it in his head that Lori is to be protected at all costs. Maggie just went through another heat and I am waiting for the next one where for the last time we are going to let her have puppies, then we want to have her spayed so she doesn’t endure that hardship anymore.

Our guests at the Mini Marina and also the Turtle Shack have gotten a reprieve from Ziggy as he now has learned that they will be here for a while and he needs to let them onto the dock and into the shack. That takes him about one day to two but it does eventually happen.

Pictures and more later I assume as my wife Lori will be on me about posting this without approval! :)