Friday March 25
Another beautiful start to the day! So peaceful up here on top the hill! Love the slow island speed to the morning
routine! I got to the terrace around
After some fun socialization, I retired to the room and did some more web stuff, before it was time to head on down to the beach. I was out to fix the fogging lens issue, and had made myself the ‘drying chamber’ for the camera and case.
I took a big 2 gallon Ziploc bag, and filled it with a dozen or more desiccant packs, and placed the open camera case with camera in it, into the ‘chamber’. After a squeeze to remove excess air, I sealed the bag, and let it set for a couple hours in there, drying it out completely. Then just manipulate the camera case closed while still sealed inside. Once the case is shut tight, open ‘chamber bag’ and remove for shooting!
I of course immediately tested the new anti-fog procedure, by wading out for another fun photo session of all the subjects playing in the water! Plenty of splashing, spit cleaning, and dunking was performed, and to my amazement, not a single fogging event was noted! I may have mastered this issue! Too cool, as I often took 300+ photos, only to throw away some 200+ due to fog-up problems! Sad sometimes, as the photo was of perfect form and framing, with awesome subject matter, only to be too painful to try and see thru the whitewash of a foggy lens!
The wind
was not cooperating with the sailors, and remained light until about
I finished the shoot, and returned for a 6.4M and 105lt JP for my afternoon ride. I found out after about 20-30 mins, I had selected much too big of equipment! I had to come back in and trade for a 98lt and a 5.7M! I don’t mind that at all! Even this soon became a huge handful! I just couldn’t stop and change down, so I tweaked the lines and got tuned in to a half-meter overpowered!
The ramps were nice 2-3ft hoppers, and the extra board and sail yielded some amazing air time! I just love a nice upwind point into the ramp, slice thru to downwind as you leave the wave, and just glide downwind, for 20-30 ft of wave clearing distance across the water; 5-8’ over the surface! Such an endorphin rush! I’m reliving it as I write, and my heart is racing, just remembering it! I just love this sport!
I wallowed in the fun for the rest of the afternoon, and finally came in just before close! A full afternoon of rides! Very happy faces all around! Most thot the day was a bust, only to be pleasantly surprised with a bountiful late afternoon session! Can’t complain, if you can plane!
Showered and put things away, to join in a table of fellow sailors to share the happy hour stoke session! Plenty of shared stories and a few polar beers later, we decided on Mobu for pizza tonight! We made the move after sundown to each our rooms, and made ready for some more food and fun.
Mobu was closed for the night when we got there, with promises to be open tomorrow. We were halfway up the hill, so we decided to finish going up to Atti, and feast at the top of El Yaque! Always a great view of all up there, and the food is totally awesome! We had a blast talking and sharing between the six of us, laughing and talking on every subject imaginable! After some coffee, apertivo shots, and final discussions, we made our way over to tour my room at Casa Rita, to pass out some more ‘miracle grease’, Bag Balm!
This lanolin cream is used by dairy farmers to keep the cows teats smooth and supple, and they noticed the benefits on their own hands. So this yellow grease soon became known for its healing/protective powers! I was introduced to this a few years back, while here in Margi. I was skeptical, and reluctantly tried the ‘miracle grease’ as recommended; apply to hands before bed, and once again after the sunscreen ritual in the am. It works, as I had always gotten blisters and open tears in the rub points on the hands, and since using it, not again! So I distributed a supply to Lorenzo and Andy, in hopes we can add to the convinced users list!
We all were tired from a hard afternoons sailing, so each retired to their own rooms for a good nights sleep to prepare for more Saturday! Till then….Timo.