Phase Complete

I will go ahead and say it - We are done with this phase. 
There have been some times in the past when I was hoping to share this good news with everyone, only to see things drag out as we added work, encountered problems or experienced the reality of working in the Dominican Republic. 

But alas, it is done. 

The Fill is in place, the test results are terrific and so we have a super solid base upon which to build the Clinic. 

IMCA has picked up the Dozer and Loader this morning, they will get the Compactor in the morning.  

Remember When ... The machines being delivered to us in January 2015

The Loader is now headed back to Santo Domingo

A 2-1/2 hour meeting today between myself, Frank and the Engineer has laid out the items we would like settled and in-place before we begin the Platea.
It is a challenge at times working with the situation we have here which is out of the ordinary for both us and Dominicans, our agreement is a mix of US expectations and DR realities. Our Engineer Eduard is a good person, also stuck in a difficult position needing to work with our US expectations verses the way things usually occur here. We are working well together with good communication between the three of us, so I feel good about things moving forward.

Now we really can start a building structure. There will be a pause for a few weeks as we get some issues resolved, materials lined up, bank accounts re-established and so forth. Going forward we are attempting to have a very efficient and cost-conscious process. So there will be little to report over the next few weeks until we start the Platea.

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Away from the jobsite, I've settled into a neat rental home for about the same cost as the other place. I'm excited to have Stacy (my wife) join me in June and it will really feel like home. We will have a spare bedroom, so anyone using some lame (not really ...) excuse about noise or comfort will be welcome to our American Dominican Home. Heck, I've even continued to have water even though the neighborhood has been dry for several days now (due to a water tank on the roof)! Screens are now on the windows, door sweeps are on the exterior doors and so the battle is on with anything that crawls or flies! If you are lucky, you might even have a chance to eat some Caribbean lobster! And, when Stacy is here, you will eat very well - unlike if you were to come by now (lobster being the exception!). 

We did take a fun day trip to a beach south of Barahona, which was about a 2 hour drive and pretty much due south. 

Amazing setup at the beach with a whole bunch of happy Dominicans playing on the beach or in the fresh water pools made from the cold river water coming down from the mountains to the west. 

Plenty of places to buy deep-fried fish (from grouper, snapper, etc) with tostones - the fried plantains that are a staple here. Fun day with most of the SRI staff and Breagan being the Energizer Bunny lasting all day, nonstop. Jeff, Randy and I had a long snorkeling/spearfishing venture off the beach - lots of pretty thinks to see but nothing to catch and eat! We did come home with 14 spotted lobsters though

Best lobsters I've ever had - they were on the small side,
but these spotted lobs are generally sweeter than their spiny lobster cousins
 - and boy were these sweet and amazingly tender.

... of course we purchased them from a couple of guys who had been out spearfishing. I'm not going to tell you the price, but it was low -  however it was what they suggested.
  
So thats all for now from the DR, be sure and remember your mom on Mother's Day! Thanks for your generosity and prayers!