The collection of detritus at the top of Booboo Hill left by so many people to commemorate their journey was probably one of my favorite sights of this trip. I love abandoned things and seeing all of the random stuff and quotes and handmade art pretty much made my day!

We spent a little while at the top marveling at the turquoise water and tiny boats bobbing around far below, but eventually we had to head down in search of dinner.  This is where the hike got a little interesting.  Remember that little stream we just easily stepped over on our way up the hill? Apparently the tide was coming in and that little stream was now like 10 feet wide! 😮 Luckily it wasn’t very deep or fast so we just walked through and washed off our shoes, but still! That could have been interesting!

The rapidly expanding river wasn’t even the most interesting thing that happened today!  Jason had been following the weather and wind forecast the entire trip just to make sure we were safe and there had been a storm forecasted for this evening for a while now. It had luckily decreased in strength so we weren’t too worried about it.  Ever yone ate dinner and went to bed with their hatches open so the breeze could keep the boat cool.  However at around 9:30 at night Jason somehow felt a few raindrops fall through the open hatch.  He got up and pulled it shut roughly 10 seconds before a freight train of wind hit the boat and a torrential downpour started to drench everything.  At this point all hell broke loose.  Jason and Dwayne were up on deck in their underwear grabbing stuff tied to the life rails on the boat and anything not tied down.  I’m gathering all of our snorkels and fins to keep them in the boat.  Everyone else is closing hatches in a blind panic. It was mayhem! The rain was freezing cold, which left Jason and Dwayne shivering in tropical paradise.  The storm was over nearly as quickly as it came on leaving everyone wide awake and the boat in a mass of confusion.  Nothing was lost to the wind and the anchor didn’t drag so all was well and we survived our first real tropical squall. The only casualties were a leaky hatch and wet bed in the girls’ room, so Emily slept on the sofa and the only thing wet in our room was my pillow that was easily swapped out for another. Boating is always an adventure!