So, what can I say. Our holiday in El Yaque, Margarita, Venezuela is over and we had an altogether fantastic time. In the last two weeks the time just flew by and we spent quite a bit of time socializing with all the nice people we had met,

       
       

so I just didn't get a chance to send a final 'postcard'. So, I hope you will forgive me and let me update you now with what we got up to in those last two weeks...
 
After my trip to the hospital and subsequent days off the water with Dave diligently applying ear drops six times a day, it was great to get back out windsurfing! Dave had gone on his own for a couple of days whilst I sat on the shore or back in the room - and I was keen to get back out there and really enjoyed the feeling when I did! We had a few good days on the water and then planned a trip to the nearby island, Coche, so that we could have a lesson on flat water with Nancy from the old Club Margarita. Unfortunately the day we picked happened to be lighter winds, and at Coche the winds are always a bit lighter than at El Yaque, so we ended up on big kit - not ideal for trying to duck gybe which was our first goal. However, we both tried and tried and eventually, I managed to get one round - although only one! We both had lots of near misses and know what we need to do - we just really needed more wind as the boards were just stopping in the light winds. That's my excuse anyway and I am sticking to it!
 
In line with Sod's Law, the day after our trip to Coche the winds picked back up and in fact went pretty ballistic. Two days later I was on a 4.0M sail on a 77L board - my smallest kit yet - with Dave on a 4.5M on 84L - both having a fantastic time. We were chatting in the edge of the water, both excited about how things were going, when I stepped back and felt something prickly under my foot. Oh No, the dreaded sea urchin. I had already seen a couple during the holiday but now I was pretty sure I had found one with my foot! I lifted my foot and and sure enough, two spines sticking out, which I plucked out. I was just about to get back on my board, when I thought I should probably go up the beach and check whether there were any other bits in my foot. Well, there were about twenty little black dots. I showed Wuicho (one of the guys at the Vela Centre) and he produced a pin and patiently set to work on my foot. I have to say he was brilliant... wiggle, wiggle, flick and one by one the spines came out. There was only one that he couldn't get, it had gone in straight and deep. (I suspect it was one of the spines I had casually pulled out in the edge of the sea and maybe if I had been more careful I could have got it all out together - but hey!). Anyway ten minutes later I was back out on my board with only a slightly sore foot.  I must admit that jumping was a bit painful - or rather 'landing', but I wasn't going to miss any of the action :0)

The strong wind continued for the next four days - which was just great, as we were both ready for this sort of wind this time - not like the point earlier in the holiday where we had both come off the water thinking that everything was just getting too much. No, this time we were definitely up for it and enjoying it. By the fourth day, I was even trying duck gybes on a 4.0M on a 77L board - something I wouldn't even have contemplated at the start of the holiday. 

That evening, we were invited to a BBQ at Nancy and Ali's at the posada next door to Casa Nora (where we were staying). Mmmm, mmm - lots of lovely beef, sausages and fresh bread. We had a great time and ate and drank lots in good company. Ali had hurt his foot kiting (he told me he changed his mind mid jump - always a recipe for disaster) but he managed to man the grill and cooked some great Uruguayan beef.

The next day dawned cloudy for the first time since we had arrived. The cloud made the wind much lighter and we went down to the beach to watch Sandra and Mathias (from Switzerland) kiting on their last morning. The sky and sea were grey, but it was still lovely and warm - just like a July day at home :0) 

I walked along the beach collecting shells in the edge of the sea - and managed in thirty minutes of cloudy weather (after 7 weeks of sunshine) to sunburn my back. I suppose it served me right as I had said to Anne Grethe that morning as we left Casa Nora to be careful and still wear sun cream! I had put cream on my shoulders - but not on my back and that evening I could quite clearly see the fingermarks (pale) against the red sunburn!!

The wind picked up again the next day and we met up on the beach with Al (the co-owner of Casa Nora), John Magne and Anne Grethe (from Norway) and Herb (from Canada). Anne and Herb stayed on the pier whilst the four of us sailed together in great winds and Anne managed to get some good pics - although I don't think she had a long enough lens to get my jumps on the bigs waves! No, really, it was lovely to have someone recording what was a great afternoon on the water, thanks Anne, and it was good fun to sail with Al and John and great to have someone to confirm that I do actually make quite a few jumps :0) 

       
       

From then on the winds continued and we had four more great days on the water. I won't bore you with the details - just great days, windsurfing in lovely conditions...

     

Meanwhile on the land, we were involved in Al and Nora's Killer Mountain Biking Challenge, only in a judging capacity, as there was no way either of us fancied attempting it ourselves. The 'mountain' might not look that difficult - but it is all very loose and technical. It was great to be involved and see the effort that all the competitors put in. A really enjoyable day, rounded off with pizza in the evening with everyone involved.

       
       

On our last but one evening in El Yaque, we headed out with Ali, Nancy, Herb, Dave, Asa and others from Nancy's posada for some fast food, Veno-style. We went to a roadside grill and shared plates of grilled beef, chicken and sausages and cold beers - all delivered to the table within moments of us sitting down. What a great idea!

Then, finally, it was our last day on the water and luckily the wind continued to blow. I even managed to get a duck gybe - ducked the sail, got the boom in my hands, changed my feet - wooo hooo, I was round - and celebrating - when I fell in, much to Mary's amusement as she was just behind me. As Mary said later (laughing lots), 'At that point it was harder to fall in than to stay on the board'... and I still managed it. Doh! We agreed that you have to sail at least a board length after the gybe for it to count!!

That evening we went out for a meal at Mobu, the pizzeria, with Al, Nora, Kathy, Tom, Lindsay, Dave, Asa, Herb, Mary and us - our last night and Kathy's Birthday!! We had a great meal, rounded off with Oreo cheesecake, made by Lindsay - Mmmmmm! Just a shame that Alex didn't feel up to coming as he had been ill a couple of days before and was still recovering.

The next morning, after a final breakfast of pancakes and pear and walnut muffins (my favourites, thanks Nora) we started our journey home - which took all of 25 hours - and eventually reached a wet and dreary Heathrow - what a welcome home.

     

So that was it... eight weeks of fun in the sun, lots of great people, all in all the best (windsurfing) experience we have had.... yet.

We are definitely going back - all we have to decide is.... when :0)