Paper work finally finished? I hope!

[Guatemala Dave]

I know in New Jersey I definately am not on the big game circuit, but right now I am sitting in Guatemala where i have been known to have a zancocho or two, but the last shot was probably five or six years ago. As a mater of fact the last time was probably before the first circle hook billfish was released.

In any case I have been going nuts the last few days waiting for my partner Capt. Dennis Wheeler to get our boat released from the Guatemalan Customs House. I definately have not been surprised since I have a relationship of over 30 years with the land of Manana and if you expect something to go easy disapointment is the least of your problems. I believe that definately is the reason that so much of their sugar cane is distilled into Rum and various variations.

At the moment i am sitting at my father in law's computer killing time and indulging in the "jugo de cana", but I did just receive the phone call that everything passed the final inspection and I will be accompanying Capt. Dennis to Puerto Santo Tomas either tomorrow afternoon or thursday morning. after that it is a 5 1/2 hour ride down the hill and possibly 10+ hours up the hill with a 25'cruiser in tow. Then it is down to Antigua where we will finish the rigging and I just hope we get it ready to fish and launched before my flight goes back to Atlantic city where iIhere the Striper season is getting started.

I plan on getting plenty of pictures of the project and should have good news soon.

[Squidnation]

good luck - standing by for the spash report

[Guatemala Dave]

I will be posting pictures of the overland cruise as well. We're trying to calculate the best time to haul thru Guatemala city traffic.

[Jer]

Best of luck towing the boat

[BrianB]

Are you towing the boat yourself or having a trucker move it?

[Squidnation]

either between 2 and 5 am or 9am to 12 noon. that is what was told to me. I wasn't too sure about the 9;am time but we pass right through

[Guatemala Dave]

We're doing it with dennis' truck and looking at the middle of the day sincewe really don't want to run in the dark.

[BrianB]

Your pulling it with Dennis's little 4 door ford ranger diesel? Post up some pics!

[Guatemala Dave]

Or should I say that Dennis´Ranger did pull those 9,000 pounds up the hill and everything came thru mostly unscathed. The paperwork did take close to foreer. We actually got to enter Puerto Santo tomas Monday Morning and we got the final all clear about noon.

I won´t say the ride was without incident but we hit Antigua about 10 pm and spent yesterday in the first stages of getting her ready.

Right now I am in Dennis´office on his computer and we have been served a great breakfast in his restruant and bakery which should be your first stop if you are in Antigua.

Pictures will come shortly.

[Guatemala Dave]

I spent last week working with Dennis and Captain Gerald Jordan who will be the first to put the Tijereta thru it's paces in Guatemala and we ahve a big hunk of the work done on the boat.

I'm heading back to the USA tomorrow so I have to leave the boat to Capt. Dennis, Capt. Gerry and his able Guatemalan Workers to finish up the job and get this boat fishing.

Here's a shot of us coming out ot the Puerto Santo tomas customs house.



I've got a report up on my site until I can post more here.