From Dean: "The drama continues. I only thought I had solved the oil leak problem. I tested it today and it still leaks, maybe 1/2 cup in 10 minutes, a lot anyway. I devised a method of testing for the source of the leak, down in an area that I can barely reach and certainly cannot see. I wrapped the suspect pipe with some white oil-absorbent cloth, ran the engine, and the cloth was saturated in about 30 seconds right in the area of the pipe that I thought might be leaking. I have ordered a replacement part from a Caterpillar dealer in La Paz, through a friend in La Paz. We have been told that it takes two days for that store to receive the parts, as they must order them. Now we are waiting to find out if the order went through today. Once the order is confirmed we will rent a car and drive to La Paz, pick up the parts, and return within 24 hours. It is a 3.5-hour drive each way. We can't leave the boat unattended for much longer than that or the refrigerator will run the batteries down. We have to get back to run the generator to recharge the batteries.

Meanwhile, we are "stuck" here in paradise. Peurto Escondido is a beautiful land-locked bay lined on the west side by tall, angular mountains. There is a restaurant here, as well as a laundromat. Life could be a lot worse, but as you said, I hate unsolved problems. This one has been going and going for more than a week, with considerable anxiety at times trying to capture as much of the leaking oil as possible to pour back into the engine and avoid spilling oil into the sea, while running lower and lower in oil reserves and having to clean and reclean huge oily messes in the hot engine room."