Ocean World 5-12 to 5-15

5-12 We had to get fuel on our way out of the Samana Marina. It was pretty windy but Cales docking was great. We got a later start then we’d hoped. We didn’t end up leaving until close to 3. The waves had picked up by then, so our first 3 or 4 hours was really rough. It started to settle around 8. Cale took the first shift until 12. He was able to sail. Cole did a shift from 12-1:45. He sailed, but had to reef because we had a squall hit. The wind died about the time I came out at 1:45, so we started to motor. I did until 4. Kira did from 4- 6. I got back up for a few minutes and then Cale came up. I was pretty tired still so I tried to sleep a little more. The coast line was absolutely amazing.

5-13 We got to Ocean World marina at 11. It took 20 hours. There was a fair amount of wind docking but it went quite smoothly. We were greeted by the local greeting crew of 2 boys who are friends who have been living at the marina for over a year. One lives on a pirate looking boat right by where we are docked. The others parents run the small bar at the marina. Ocean World Marine Wildlife Park is so close to where our slip is located. We were also greeted by our new south African friends, Nomoya, as soon as we arrived. They were going to the water park because they need to leave tomorrow. We had a hard time deciding, but eventually decided to not leave tomorrow (when there is better wind) and leave probably Monday night. It worked out because otherwise we wouldn’t have done the animal park and the kids are dying to check it out. They were even up on the mast at one point trying to catch a glimpse.
Cale and I rented a car and went shopping while the kids played with their new friends. Shopping was pretty good. I wasn’t sure what store to try but we ended up at San Juan’s super market. It had a lot of selection, but not a lot of American snacks, yogurt and cheese, which were things on the list.
While we were gone, one of the local boys joined the kids on our boat and the kids called to say he was going wild, jumping on beds and being crazy. Our kids didn’t know how to handle him.
We got stuff unloaded and Cale and I went and visited with MJ and Caron. It was such a nice visit. It’s weird to have so much in common with someone from a different country., culture, and background. I think it’s partially the connection of boat stuff, but also just we seem to have a similar outlook. Great people and we hope to cross paths again in the Bahamas.

5-14 Mother’s Day. I took my time getting out of bed. Cale made breakfast and then we went to church. It started at 10. It was a nice building. 2 different wards meet there. I was able to follow one of the speakers because he spoke slower but the other ones, I was lost. There was a mom and her 3 boys vacationing there from Montana. We chatted with them before going to class. Kira came with me to Relief Society. I met a women who had an awful scar on her leg. She said it happened 3 years ago and was from a motorcycle accident. We did a few errands and then came back to return the car.
While Cale was making dinner the family from church came by. It was fun to chat with them. They are thinking about buying a boat so had lots of questions. We also put together, just as they were leaving, that her brother is married to Kelsey’s former preschool teacher Ms. Christine and Ms. Kayla. It was a fun connection to make.
We had a tasty dinner. There was a lightening storm nearby. Makes me nervous for if we ever encounter one out. Fingers crossed we don’t.
The girls made me a tasty treat. Cupcake brownies. They hit the spot.

5-15
We got to Ocean World about 10. Somehow we got talked into doing a dolphin encounter. First, we watched the shark show. They were nurse sharks and they had them trained to swim up to them for food and they pet them. They would immediately snatch up any food they gave them so quickly. You can tell they are very instinctual. Cole was chosen as a volunteer to have a shark in his lap and feed it. It was pretty cool. We next did our dolphin encounter. We all got in the water and the dolphin swam back and forth and we touched her. Her name was Niki. Then, we all got to give her a hug and she gave us a kiss. She did some other tricks, jumped high, and splashed us and made a screaming noise. It was really cool to be so close. We hadn’t planned to do it but it was tough to pass up when we already got the free tickets with our marina slip. It seems like the animals are treated pretty humanely. Next was the bird show. They were really cool birds and then we went in and fed the parakeets. Within seconds, several of us got pooped on. We did the dolphin show after that. They chose Kelsey to be the volunteer. She got to tell the dolphin to do stuff and then played catch with them and then it pushed her on a boogie board and then she got pictures with them. She was a little overwhelmed, but so excited. It was fun to see her huge smile.
We had a quick lunch and then the sea lion show, which was cute. It was cool to see the marina and our boat mast as the backdrop.
We next went to the water slides. They were super fun. The fast tube one especially and the green one that was a drop. We also played on the blow ups in the water. They had a skinny wheel thing, a big slide and a trampoline. It was fun to swim around. We stopped by the souvenir shop before heading out around 3.
Cale checked us out of the marina and the dispatcho came at 4. The armada officer had a “friend” with him. He used Google translate to tell Cale, ‘a tip would be much appreciated.’ As soon as we gave them the tip they gave us the paperwork and were off with a smile. I drove the boat off the dock. It was really calm and a great place for me to practice. It went great. It was a little rough for about 2 hours and then really settled down. It’s a 30 hour passage and we will most likely motor the whole way because there is just hardly any wind. We have shifts set up for the night. At about 4:30 we will be about 20 miles off the coast of Haiti which is a little unsettling.