Fajardo, Puerto Rico

On February 2, 2016 we pulled anchor in Salinas and traveled 57 miles to Fajardo, Puerto Rico.  Our destination was Puerto Del Ray Marina, the largest marina in the Caribbean to have Silent Dream pulled out of the water for a new bottom paint job and a few other maintenance items.  Puerto Del Ray is one of the best marinas we have seen with every service and amenity a cruiser needs including golf cart rides to your slip.  We decided to see more of Puerto Rico while we were in Fajardo so we rented a car and off we went sightseeing. 

El Yunque is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System.  There are many plants, trees and animals that are found nowhere else in the world and has mountains reaching 3,000 feet.

Old San Juan is the oldest settlement in Puerto Rico and was historically protected by Fort El Morro.  The city is characterized by its narrow, blue cobblestone streets, and flat roofed brick and stone buildings which date back to the 16th and 17th century.  There are many beautiful beaches all around the island.

Ponce, on the southern coast of Puerto Rico, is the second largest city in Puerto Rico with a red and black striped fire station, the first on the island built in 1882, Ponce History Museum, Fountain of the Lions, and the Ponce Art Museum.  We enjoyed Pinchos (meat on a stick), barbecued on the street corner, and quite good.

Silent Dream was hauled out and given a new bottom paint job as most of her paint vanished with the numerous bottom scrapings to remove the vegetation and living things that attach themselves constantly.  She has a harder paint that should last a few years, we hope!  Our next destination is St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Puerto Rico Southern Coast

On January 5, 2016 at 3:00 am we departed Boqueron with our boat buddies, China Rose, Ever After and Tulum III and headed to the southern coast of Puerto Rico with the first stop at Gilligan’s Island.  Much like the Dominican Republic coast, it is easier to travel at night when the winds and waves are more manageable than during the day due to the winds off the mountains.  The anchorage there was empty and the sunset was beautiful.  The next night we left for Ponce and stayed at the Ponce Yacht Club although there is an anchorage but very deep.  At the marina, we had fresh water, electricity, fuel, diesel, laundry and a boardwalk with restaurants so we made good use of these amenities, however, there is always pool time! 

Our next stop was Salinas, a very popular and crowded anchorage.  Our new friend, Colin, on s/v Pickaroon painted a watercolor of Silent Dream in the Salinas Harbor.  Colin and his wife, Jackie, are wonderful people and talented.  We stayed here almost a month, but made two other trips during this time.  We flew to St. Maarten for our annual timeshare week and it was great not to work and have all amenities at your fingertips.  The second trip, Linda flew to Cedar Falls, Iowa to see our new grandson, Flynn, born in December to Bill and Salina, what an awesome time to spend with family!  We saw a horse parade where the streets are closed and over 1,000 prancing Spanish horses parade through the streets.  Our cruising buddies were also there and several times we shared a rental car to get groceries and supplies at Home Depot, Walmart, and West Marine.  Yes, all these stores are here and more, just like home.  While we were here we had a new bow rail made for our boat and a new dinghy cover.  The boat list of repairs and maintenance never ends!