South Africa soundly defeated Argentina 37 - 13 in the Rugby World Cup series Sunday, setting the stage for the semi-final and final round this Friday and Saturday.

 France will meet Argentina Friday, Oct. 19, to determine the number 2 placing while England confronts South Africa Saturday, Oct. 20, for first place honors.

Both games will be offered at the Crow Bar at 1 p.m. both days for Rio Dulce fans.

By Phred

TYPE OF STORY:  Definitely Non-Fiction.
SETTING: High Dock, Ace Marina, Rio Dulce, Guatemala.
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS: Betty a pretty blond who dislikes Nick, a boater. Ace is a marina that offers self-serve washing machine services. It’s semi remote in a small cove on the banks of the river. 

This morning, for no other reason other than it’s a good morning, we find ourselves med-moored having a Bloody Mary in the cockpit.

The temperature is already pushing 90 degrees. It’s windless, hot and humid. Everyone is wearing as little as possible. Betty is visiting, wearing a sarong, and waiting her turn for the machines. 

Finally, after two or more drinks, the machines are hers. She grabs her laundry, climbs up to the landing and proceeds to stuff one.

She comes back a bit upset. Apparently she forgot many of her clothes and didn’t want to dingy back to her place a half mile up river to retrieve them.

As Nick moves forward in his dink, and reaches up to tie the painter, Betty arrives at the edge of the landing and yes, the tie-a-lot knot of her sarong let loose and So-Long Sarong.

(EDITOR’S NOTE:  If you’d like to avoid the awkward loss of your sarong, here’s a website that shows many different ways to tie a sarong with reasonable security: 

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-tie-a-sarong )

By ENCOR

A pleasant dinghy ride into Fronteras turned into an almost deadly nightmare on Sunday evening.  Dave, from Soggypaws, was taking in fellow boaters Ron and Dorothy, from Memory Rose, for a nice dinner in town.  It was just after dark, about 6:30, and they were well prepared with a brilliant light, held aloft, and kept it waving for all to see.  Well, all except that one local in a tiburon, who apparently DIDN'T see.

For those unfamiliar with the local watercraft, a tiburon has a rather high bow, making it impossible for a driver to see over, unless he is standing up. 

They are popular for their cargo capacity, whether it be for tourists or building materials.  This one was using no lights, and had only the driver, nobody else to help keep an eye out.

The two boats met almost perfectly head-on.  Ron, who had been continuously waving the LED light from the port pontoon, glanced back briefly, heard Dorothy scream, ducked down, and actually felt the boat across his back. 

He expected the prop to be next, it was THAT close.  His wife went overboard, but he was able to grab her, and with Dave's help, pull her back aboard.  Did I mention this dinghy is an inflatable?  Obviously, it lost the brutal contest, and the forward section popped.

They heard the motor of the tibo rev up, and with a quick backward glance, the driver left the scene.  They were able to limp back to their marina, thankful to be alive, but realized they weren't really hungry, after all.

Sad, but true, any time there is an accident, whether on land or sea, NO ONE sticks around, if they are at all mobile.  This seems to be an unwritten law here, there is no Good Samaritan concept.

Sorry if this offends the various restaurants, but It just isn't worth it to be on the water after dark in a small dinghy, no matter how safe you think you are being. 

 I applaud the Cayuco Club and Mario's Marina, who offer a safe pick-up service for their special events.  When you want to dine out, do it early enough to get home before dark. Period.

One other safety note, USE those kill cords.....better to have your motor stop than run over you.  Have you seen the scars a prop puts on a manatee?  They are just as ugly on a human body, I have seen them on friends here.  You can't outswim your prop.

Be safe, it's a jungle out there.

Circle of Life

 Last week this wonderful little Praying Mantis (see below!) flew onto my shoulder and just wouldn’t leave my hand or arm. So I took Chiquita back to Griffin where I eventually nudged her onto a counter.

She walked around looking at me wherever I went (so it seemed to me).

Over the next three days she would mysteriously appear, sometimes flying onto me, and then quickly disappear, presumably searching out a meal of tiny bugs I couldn’t even see. I hoped she wasn’t finding any on me! 

In the wee hours of Monday morning, I awoke with an “itch” behind my ear. Sleepily, I reach up to scratch and my fingers found something that shouldn’t be there.

Suspecting a spider, quickly I flicked it away. As I reached for the light I suddenly had a sinking feeling.

In the glow of the lamp my fears were realized…there was Chiquita on the sole of the boat, lifeless. 

Well, she had served well aboard ship and deserved a proper burial at sea, so I took her to the dock where I knew there are lots of fish.

She had barely touched the surface when a moharra snatched her away. 

Now one day soon the caretaker of our marina will catch that fish.

It will become a meal for him and his wife. She is pregnant with a baby due in February, and the fish will help her provide nourishment for the baby.

 And so, Chiquita, the Circle of Life goes on….. Happy Trails… 

Copyright © 2007 by Hal Schade

MORNING MIST on the Rio Dulce.
photo by Don Hutson