Sailing with friends
We just had a fantastic whirlwind of a week! In a month or two I can write a little more about the details, but just suffice it to say that it was just amazing! We learned a lot, met new people, tried new things, visited cool places in Rincón and had a lot of fun. Stay tuned…
Hanging out at the Horned Dorset
We live just down an offshoot of the main road of the 413 in Rincón and about 3/4 of a mile from the beach. So whenever possible we try to walk. Walking provides a different sort of perspective on the world. You are much more likely to stop and talk with your neighbors along the way, you notice the small details and life just slows way down. We walk down to the bakery, friends’ houses, the gas station, Sandy Beach, food stops and other spots. When Sean was here we took even more walks because we pushed pause on a lot of our other projects.
Britton, Will and Sean hanging at Jackie’s Gyro place
While I literally hung out
Sean also took a few solo walks and found a path from our house directly to the beach and so we all decided to go for the hike to check it out. Britton and I have been curious about a trail that would supposedly end up at the beach but we hadn’t ever actually taken the trip.
Through the back jungle
We took a machete and just followed Sean’s lead through little creeks and over small bridges, bamboo clumps and flower-carpeted trails. We took our time and stopped to admire all the things we came across.
Open meadows
Flor de maga -Puerto Rico’s official flower -looks like hibiscus but is not
We even came upon these beauties covered in burrs that made their manes look like Rasta dreads
We then popped out of the jungle and right into civilization at these mostly empty condos
And onto this beautiful coconut palm fringed Rincón beach
It was a fun little side quest that took us only about a 30-40 minute walk through the jungle. You never know what awaits just out your backdoor. Sometimes the best adventures are found on your own two feet.
Sean liked our Rincón beach day so much we thought we might take him to another nearby beach: Crashboat in Aguadilla. The last time we were there we were just exhausted and didn’t have much time to enjoy it.
Crashboat from the lookout point
This time we came prepared. We brought our cooler full of cold drinks, chairs, swimsuits, towels and snorkel gear. We also stopped in Aguada at the best little pollo al carbon spot for some awesome chicken and mashed viandas.
Fun times with our friend
We enjoyed eating, drinking and playing on the beach. There are always a lot more people at Crashboat than most beaches, and it added to the social and good-spirited vibe of the place. People are playing music, bouncing volleyballs around, jumping off the piers into the water, surfing the small breaks and laying in the sun.
Crashboat from the pier looking toward the coastline
As for us, we walked around for a while, swam, snorkeled and laid in the sun. It was a beautiful warm January day.
Britton snorkeling
Before I jumped off the pier into the ~80 degree F water with Britton
Britton and Sean on an island in the sun
Surfers catching small waves
And me catching some golden rays on golden sand
“Hey, look over there!” Says Britton as I get pummeled by a wave
One of the coolest things we saw, however, was a man called Harry the Pelican Whisperer and his friendly flock of pelicans. He has trained these wild birds by throwing them fish and shrimp. This was quite the hit with everyone. They will do various tricks for him like spin in circles or jump up on people’s arms. To hold them he just asks for a donation of your choice or to buy something from him. Pretty cool guy. He knows each of them by name and talks to them in both Spanish and English. Bilingual pelicans! To get this up close and personal with the pelicans was a very cool experience. I pet them a little too. Their neck feathers feel almost like fur and their faces up close look like Dr. Seuss characters.
Harry, Me and a Pelican
Friendly pelican
I was able to hold two at a time! Their web feet are so weird to feel
Some people were a little afraid, but I think since we have chickens and turkeys we are less intimidated by birds.
Harry and the Pelicans in action
Playa Crashboat
Later on that evening back in Rincón we played music with the band and then at around 11pm stopped by Surfer Spot for The.Best.Cheeseburger. Ever! So, so good. Now I understand why Jimmy Buffett wrote a song about a cheeseburger. Seriously. A fantastic day.
We love this rural tropical life. Here are a few fun photos from this past week or so.
Rainstorms and rainbows falling into the sea
Kitty on the catwalk
Siding on the cabin is looking really good! (And who is that handsome turkey on the deck?)
Iguana in a red banana tree
Wild fern
This loose cow has been just hanging out on the property
Laser cow and cat stare-down