BACK TO LUPERON
We took one year off to work in the bayous of Alabama, where
the confederate flags are still hanging proudly at most locations. Yes Maam! We
fit right in!. Finally the project was done and we were back to Luperon with a
new sense of freedom. It was nice to be back on the boat, Sabrina and Sean got
the boat prepared for our arrival; (Sam was coming back a week later). The toilets worked, the bottom was cleaned
the shower was on, and the fridge cold. Yeah! But within one day I opened my
newly filled pantry to discover packages of pasta and flour chewed up. We had
rats on board. Crappo! The same night I
saw a shadow over my hatch and it was another rat this time on deck looking to
get in! I started to sweat for the wrong
reasons.
So Patrick and I went to war, but I only had one steel trap
(catch and release) and some glue traps for mice; and the first night I heard
my “interior” rat struggling and tying to get free from the glue trap. It was at
2 am, so I slowly crept into the pantry and tried to see where he was, when
suddenly it jumped right on my chest and scurried away. I screamed shaking my t-shirt
wildly, and woke up Patrick, who was thought someone was onboard or I was losing
it.
The next day after an anxious night, I went shopping in
Puerto Plata with my taxi driver Nino. I could not resolve myself to buy traps
that would kill the rats, and after thorough investigation, most local design
resemble to a “vampire exterminating system” with nasty hooks designed to pierce
the heart… Grrrr! The poison available
would produce internal bleeding and a slow death, so I choose the catch and release
trap…….. Just back from the USA I felt empowered and just like the US
immigration system this time I must imprison and deport! …..Catch those MOFO in
a metal box with a shutting door system and released them back to their country
of origin which are the mangroves. A good plan N’est-ce pas ?
So we went for it bought
five traps and set my ammunition on deck and inside the boat. Sitting on the
outside table with bait prepared; succulent cheese covered with peanut butter,
the locals watching me with big grin on their faces.
We also checked our
ropes to the dock with rat guards, and all was in place, the only possible
entry was the anchor chain? Did they swim that far and climb on the chain? The
answer after a few nights was yep!
The first night with all ammunition out I heard two box go
off, (I had a moment of secret elation while hearing the slamming of the steel
door shutting down) and in two days a
total of 4 rats were caught and as we
speak it seems like we are rat free, ( let’s hope so). The rat that jumped on me, has moved back
outside because we cannot find a trace of him and all the traps inside and out
are not getting any action. So for the time being it looks like we have
deported all of them. AH AH!! By the way they are amazing swimmers. I released
the traps in the water far, far, far away by dinghy and the devils swam like
hell to the shore. Quite amazing.
Also, two days ago I
was running with Patrick on a wonderful loop around the marina, when we spotted
two completely starved puppies, covered with fleas and lice, following us with
the desperation of dying puppies. So we stopped and took them in and a third
one showed up later on !!! so beside the
rat attack, I am becoming mother for 3 puppies, (one got adopted), we got rid of the fleas
with the special soap and they are healing slowly with food and worm treatments
under an old dinghy.
To spice up my morning, while I was getting ready to take
two rats to the mangrove I spotted one
of the puppies about to drown 100 meters from Acharne. The little fool must
have fallen in, so quickly in the dinghy, I fished him out with the fishing
net. He was swimming a pathetic little
circle with just his muzzle out of the water, while the rats, (in their cages)
were waiting for the leap to freedom! Pfff ! Not a dull moment! It was a good day for the puppy, yeah,
I should say, a good day not to die.
In luperon, all is back to business. Lydia is doing the
laundry. I go to the town most days to get the fruit and vegetables, Papo is
delivering water, and we got a new commandante at the port and the security is
top notch. We have been able to launch the motorcycle, we went snorkeling a bit
on a clear day and saw a big puffer fish.
As for Patrick, he is very happy, he loves to ride
the motorbike. And there are more teenagers on another boat in the anchorage so
he is hanging out. I am teaching yoga class here at the yacht club and we are
going to celebrate with all our friends our return to the boat and freedom.
Bises a tous
virginie
