DORYS FINAL RESTING PLACE

PART FOUR

Dory rolled into the city and we made plans on where we would keep our things as the van got prepared to be shipped back home. We spent the first night at a hostel cleaning out the van and packing everything up to make it slightly organized. We had hand shaped boards from Ecuador that I would be taking home with me to sell at our surf shop that had to be packed with extra care and caution. We stayed up late and after finishing filled our stomachs up with what was left in our cooler of veggies.

Early the next morning we found a storage unit where we loaded up all the belongings we could live without for a few days and rushed to get Dory to customs before the permit ran out. It was a whirl wind of not even 12 hours, getting all the correct paperwork signed and ready, having payments ready, having all our things packed up and leaving Dory ready and cleaned-as best we could. The permit was expiring in a mere few hours and on our way to Customs we got lost. The navigation system wasn’t working on our phones and we couldn’t remember where it was from only being there one time before. It felt like we were driving in circles, and the stress levels were rising rapidly. We felt like we had to turn around so we pulled into a driveway and that’s when Dory sputtered out and wouldn’t start. We began to panic, not even sure where we were or how to get Dory started again we both got out, and opened the hood to only get blasted with hot heat from her steaming engine. As we fiddled with her trying and trying to get her to start a few kind people came to help, unfortunately pouring water on the engine and drowning Dory. The men were kind and helpful and told us what had happened with her as they fiddled, poked and prodded at her, not sure if she would turn on again. But alas she started up and we were escorted to where we would part with her by the men who so graciously helped us.

Ole Dory slowly pulled into the parking lot all covered in dust and exhausted from the events just moments before. We took out our 4 surfboards, cooler, backpacks and all of Lelas things as Ella talked with the workers about the plan for Dory. When they went to start her up she had taken her last breath and couldn’t be revived. They tried and tried and tried. Three of the men pushed her as another one tried starting her up but had no luck. She was stuck in the customs parking lot. There was no way to get her out as her permit was now expired and a mechanic wouldn’t be able to come fix her.

As much as we hated leaving her to sit there we called an Uber and drove a few hours to the coastal town of Jaco where we had to pick up handmade bikinis for our shop, sell a board or three and evidently meet a pair of people whom one is now apart of the family.

We were told of a hostel by a sweet woman named Britt who was apart of the handmade swimwear company, Salvaje, who’s friend owned it that could let us stay since we had our furry friend with us. The Uber pulled up into a very happening beach town with a lot more tourists than we had seen on the whole trip. The downtown street was filled with bars, clubs, restaurants and surf shops. We drove down a small alley that was right on the big sandy beach with a few people out in the line up of nice A frame waves breaking. We stopped in front of a cafe that was attached to a large tropical courtyard with an outdoor kitchen, a pool and motel style hostel rooms. Unloading our things we somberly walked in, got a private room and unpacked our things into what would be our home for the next two weeks. We changed our flights in hopes that Dory would arrive around the same time we would back in the states and relaxed on the two massive beds that took up most the space in our room.

After taking a much needed shower we decided to have a walk around the town and watch the sun drift past the horizon on the beach. We wandered down to a local brewery that Britt worked at so we could meet and get a feel for the area. There was a live band playing so we got a few pints, sat back and relaxed as they played music. Britt let us in on a few great spots around town for food and drinks and after awhile our eyes could no longer stay open to enjoy the music. We headed back to the hostel and were met with a smile from the two British guys that lived next door to us. Laying our heads down to rest we finally had a relaxing few weeks ahead, or so we thought.