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