January 29 and 30, 2011
Here we are still in Barra De Navidad. Yesterday Bob reinstalled the cylinder and it looks as if the steering problem is fixed. Today he fine-tuned the steering. It makes an awful grinding noise but we hope that is just the new cylinder and once it is broken in it will quit its groaning.
The other day we had breakfast with friends that we had met in Patzcuaro. Yesterday they came and had drinks on the boat with us. Of course in the afternoon the winds started to blow, in fact the worst we have seen since we have been here, and they were topping out when Mary and Tommy arrived. No problem as they tied up to our boat and we spent a pleasant time together.
This morning (Sunday) while Bob worked on the steering I went into Barra and did some restocking just in case all is well and we can continue to Caleta and then to Ixtapa.
This afternoon we took the dinghy to Maria’s restaurant and had a wonderful meal. Bob had octopus as usual and I had dorado fish filets. Both were excellent.
The weather is getting hotter every day. In the morning I still put on a light jacket but by 8 am that is no longer needed. This afternoon it has been HOT but low humidity so it is very comfortable.
Tomorrow we will go to the Port Captain and get our papers for leaving here. The plan is to go to Manzanillo, which should take about 4 hr and stop there, overnight. Bob will buy another bilge pump and if the steering is okay we will head for Caleta de Campos on Wednesday.
What will tomorrow bring? Sailing involves a lot of planning without any security that any of your plans will come to fruition. But I guess that is life in general.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
French baker and other stuff
January 27,2001
Patches and Bob made their maiden voyage in the dinghy this morning. Apparently Patches did not jump out of the boat until it was on land. He loves to stand on his hind legs and watch the world go by. There are a few boat dogs and they all have very different stances when they are in dinghies.
The French Baker came by yesterday with our order. Yes there truly is a French baker here. Originally he came from Bordeaux but lived in Canada for some years. He told us that he and his wife holidayed in Barra and loved it. So they relocated. They also have a restaurant in Barra de Navidad. Every morning he goes to the marina and then comes out to the lagoon. He takes orders or you can see what he has and buy the extras that he carries. I bought a multigrain loaf of bread, 2 Danish and 2 rolls stuffed with ham, cheese and Béchamel sauce. Everything was delicious. Bob thinks that his panga looks French. It is a dark blue colour with a top that reminds Bob of a beret.
Later Maria came to our boat to take our order. She will take your grocery order if you want. We ordered beer and water, as they are difficult to schlep to the boat by dinghy or water taxi.
Bob worked on the boat and I went into Barra with my laundry. While in Barra I shopped, had coffee, and went to the ATM. How civilized!
For dinner we had chicken with a sour cream basil sauce. This is a recipe of my own invention and it was gourmet to say the least. I will make that for guests.
Usually we don’t get sunsets to speak of because the sun drops behind a hill and that is that. but tonight was an exception. The sky was streaked with fluffy clouds and that always means that the sky will be much more colourful. Streaks of pink, blue and orange moved across the sky for about a half hour. Then the land was silhouetted just before dark.
A beautiful ending to a wonderful day.
Patches and Bob made their maiden voyage in the dinghy this morning. Apparently Patches did not jump out of the boat until it was on land. He loves to stand on his hind legs and watch the world go by. There are a few boat dogs and they all have very different stances when they are in dinghies.
The French Baker came by yesterday with our order. Yes there truly is a French baker here. Originally he came from Bordeaux but lived in Canada for some years. He told us that he and his wife holidayed in Barra and loved it. So they relocated. They also have a restaurant in Barra de Navidad. Every morning he goes to the marina and then comes out to the lagoon. He takes orders or you can see what he has and buy the extras that he carries. I bought a multigrain loaf of bread, 2 Danish and 2 rolls stuffed with ham, cheese and Béchamel sauce. Everything was delicious. Bob thinks that his panga looks French. It is a dark blue colour with a top that reminds Bob of a beret.
Later Maria came to our boat to take our order. She will take your grocery order if you want. We ordered beer and water, as they are difficult to schlep to the boat by dinghy or water taxi.
Bob worked on the boat and I went into Barra with my laundry. While in Barra I shopped, had coffee, and went to the ATM. How civilized!
For dinner we had chicken with a sour cream basil sauce. This is a recipe of my own invention and it was gourmet to say the least. I will make that for guests.
Usually we don’t get sunsets to speak of because the sun drops behind a hill and that is that. but tonight was an exception. The sky was streaked with fluffy clouds and that always means that the sky will be much more colourful. Streaks of pink, blue and orange moved across the sky for about a half hour. Then the land was silhouetted just before dark.
A beautiful ending to a wonderful day.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Another lazy day in Barra
January 26, 2011
Another day and another beautiful sunrise. This morning the sky was a delicate pink just before the sun came up blazing. Every morning the colours are just a bit different. That 15 minutes when the eastern sky starts to light up is such a perfect time. Here that doesn’t happen until about 7 am. At that time I am making coffee so I will be ready to view yet another sunrise.
The lagoon is a quiet place to anchor. The boat barely moves unless a motor boat goes by. On the other hand the surf pounds in on the beach. Whenever I wake in the night I hear the surf. It sounds as if big loads of rocks are being dumped…quite a clatter.
This morning we are meeting friends for breakfast in Barra de Navidad. That will be a nice break from our usual routine.
Today is special for another reason…I had a sponge bath and washed my hair! I have salt-water shampoo and it does work. It is a new me clean body and clean clothing;. I haven’t bathed so infrequently since I was a kid. On the farm it was bath day on Saturday.
Lovely breakfast with friends! Then we all went for a walk so that Bob could buy some more wrenches. He tried to redo the packing (that slows down leaks into the boat) and didn’t have a large enough wrench to do that.
When we came back to the boat Bob worked on changing one pump for another. Now we have an automatic bilge pump working again. We will go to Manzanillo to buy another one and probably a spare…it is important to keep water out of the bilge!
Our dinner was fresh marlin caught by our neighbour. Very tasty.
Where we anchor is so idyllic. McHales Island which is a mangrove island attracts lots of birds. In the morning we see fishermen casting their nets..I am yet to get a photo of that as they always cast when my camera is somewhere else.
The bugs were out this evening and got to Patches and I. Bob as usual was immune. The mosquito net over the hatch did the trick. It is warmer now but still cools off toward morning.
Perfect weather.
Another day and another beautiful sunrise. This morning the sky was a delicate pink just before the sun came up blazing. Every morning the colours are just a bit different. That 15 minutes when the eastern sky starts to light up is such a perfect time. Here that doesn’t happen until about 7 am. At that time I am making coffee so I will be ready to view yet another sunrise.
The lagoon is a quiet place to anchor. The boat barely moves unless a motor boat goes by. On the other hand the surf pounds in on the beach. Whenever I wake in the night I hear the surf. It sounds as if big loads of rocks are being dumped…quite a clatter.
This morning we are meeting friends for breakfast in Barra de Navidad. That will be a nice break from our usual routine.
Today is special for another reason…I had a sponge bath and washed my hair! I have salt-water shampoo and it does work. It is a new me clean body and clean clothing;. I haven’t bathed so infrequently since I was a kid. On the farm it was bath day on Saturday.
Lovely breakfast with friends! Then we all went for a walk so that Bob could buy some more wrenches. He tried to redo the packing (that slows down leaks into the boat) and didn’t have a large enough wrench to do that.
When we came back to the boat Bob worked on changing one pump for another. Now we have an automatic bilge pump working again. We will go to Manzanillo to buy another one and probably a spare…it is important to keep water out of the bilge!
Our dinner was fresh marlin caught by our neighbour. Very tasty.
Where we anchor is so idyllic. McHales Island which is a mangrove island attracts lots of birds. In the morning we see fishermen casting their nets..I am yet to get a photo of that as they always cast when my camera is somewhere else.
The bugs were out this evening and got to Patches and I. Bob as usual was immune. The mosquito net over the hatch did the trick. It is warmer now but still cools off toward morning.
Perfect weather.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Barra de Navidad
January 24, Monday
Today we motored from Tenacatita to Barra in about 4 hours. Getting into Barra is a bit disconcerting as there is a channel that is narrow and if you stray you will be stuck in the mud. To get to the anchorage lagoon we had to leave the channel and we didnt know where we should be going so at times we saw depths of 4 ft . That shook us a bit but then we were in 8 ft of water again. The bottom is muddy so high winds can cause you to drag anchor...not a pleasant thought.
In the afternoon I took a water taxi into Barra to buy supplies. What a great service as we dont have to get the dinghy down and then try to find a place to leave it.
January 25 Happy Birthday to my daughter Gayle.
Today we found a butcher shop. I splurged and bought T bones for dinner tonight.
They have some neat services here. Maria will deliver supplies to your boat for a small fee. Water taxis can be called by radio. It costs about $2 round trip from our boat to the main dock in Barra. Barra has a French bakery owned by a man from Montreal, and he too delivers bread etc to your boat.
We are at anchor in a lagoon. The lagoon, at least so far, feels much like being anchored in a marina. There is a small island very near us and it was where McHales Navy was filmed. We took the dinghy there yesterday (2 min ride) but there was nothing to see.
This afternoon we are lazing around the boat. We hear the surf pounding and the occasional bird sounds, but other than that, it is so quiet. I may have a nap!
Today we motored from Tenacatita to Barra in about 4 hours. Getting into Barra is a bit disconcerting as there is a channel that is narrow and if you stray you will be stuck in the mud. To get to the anchorage lagoon we had to leave the channel and we didnt know where we should be going so at times we saw depths of 4 ft . That shook us a bit but then we were in 8 ft of water again. The bottom is muddy so high winds can cause you to drag anchor...not a pleasant thought.
In the afternoon I took a water taxi into Barra to buy supplies. What a great service as we dont have to get the dinghy down and then try to find a place to leave it.
By the time I returned from shopping Bob had found a guy that should be able to fix the cylinder for the steering but Bob will have to go to Manzanillo for the bilge pump. He has the name of the store and directions on how to get there. In a few days we should know if the steering can be fixed.
Barra de Navidad is like no other town that I have seen in Mexico. It has a bit of a Mediterranean feel to it. The streets are paved with bricks which makes walking pleasant. Little shops and restaurants line the streets in the central area.January 25 Happy Birthday to my daughter Gayle.
Today we found a butcher shop. I splurged and bought T bones for dinner tonight.
They have some neat services here. Maria will deliver supplies to your boat for a small fee. Water taxis can be called by radio. It costs about $2 round trip from our boat to the main dock in Barra. Barra has a French bakery owned by a man from Montreal, and he too delivers bread etc to your boat.
We are at anchor in a lagoon. The lagoon, at least so far, feels much like being anchored in a marina. There is a small island very near us and it was where McHales Navy was filmed. We took the dinghy there yesterday (2 min ride) but there was nothing to see.
This afternoon we are lazing around the boat. We hear the surf pounding and the occasional bird sounds, but other than that, it is so quiet. I may have a nap!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
A Normal Day in Tenacatita
Sunrise Saturday morning at TenacatitaYesterday, Saturday, at Tenacatita was such a normal day that it was truly different.
I was up at 7, as I wanted to photograph the sunrise. I was not disappointed. I plan to put 1 of those photos on this post so I am hoping that as you read this, you will be sharing yesterday’s sunrise with me.
About 9 am after a leisurely hour of drinking coffee in the cockpit we headed for shore. That went quite well. A small beach walk was followed by an excellent breakfast that
was only marred by the arrival of the cup of hot water and the instant coffee. That was the norm only 5 years ago but now most places make coffee. This place serves excellent food but don’t ask for coffee.
After breakfast we took a dinghy tour through the boats and found the people who had been our boat neighbours for a month in Mazatlan. They informed us that there was a beach party starting at about 2 pm. They came by on their way in to make sure that we were coming. Our arrival on the beach was one of our better ones and we did our landing in front of a large audience. The volleyball had started so Bob played for a while and I went to the restaurant to sit with a man and his daughter that we had met in Chamela. It was very hot on the beach so the volleyball only lasted about an hour. After that the restaurant filled and we sat there, chatted, ate and drank beer of course. I had a million questions about things that would make my life easier on the boat and most of those questions were answered.
The young woman that was sailing with her father fascinated me. She is only 20 and has sailed the Atlantic, been to the Galapagos by sailboat, and has her captains license for boats up to 200 tons. She attends college in Oregon and this college gave her credits for some of her sailing. During the summer she works for Game and Fisheries in Alaska (they live in Alaska). She must have impressed them as they have given her scholarship money. She is pretty, in great physical shape and carries on a conversation with adults as easily as someone 10 years older. She has such a sparkle to her.
These festivities ended more or less at 4 pm but some of us stayed on. Bob and I were waiting for our friends who were staying at the Blue Bay resort. We have known them for about 10 years. They are from San Miguel and had a campground there. We stayed in the campground and eventually I built a website for the campground. Jacob and Sibyl emigrated to Mexico 65 years ago from Holland. He is now 91 and she is about 84. What a role model they are for the way to age gracefully. Last summer they were back to Holland. He still goes to his beach house in Acapulco 4 times a year. Jacob is writing his memoirs that I would love to read but he says he is doing it for his grandchildren and not for publication.
At that the end of this day we still had to take the dinghy back to the boat. The surf was bigger and the big waves more frequent. Here is the plan. We push out the dinghy. I throw Patches into the dinghy and not planned he tried to jump as he sees a big wave coming. The big wave passes and I jump in. Bob pushes us out and he jumps in, starts the motor and it looks good for 10 seconds. Then we see a big one coming. I did not panic. I held onto the dog and up we went. At some strategic moment Bob gunned the motor and we climbed over the wave with just a little splash of water. A week ago I would have had a fit, but this exhilarated me. It was fun. Or perhaps it was a little hysteria on my part?
In the middle of the night Patches started barking. The dolphins come around the boat and rub on the anchor chain. They really do rattle our chain. Patches knows their scent now and he does not like them. The other night when this happened I thought we were dragging the anchor but now we know it is the dolphins. Patches is quite the little watchdog.
Tomorrow we are going to laze around and on Monday we will head for Manzanillo. There we will see if we can buy a bilge pump and get the autopilot fixed.
But right now I have nothing to do but enjoy the beauty of this place.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
A day without anything breaking down
January 21, 2011
This morning after another exciting dinghy trip, we set sail again. No smell of burning rubber and the batteries are being charged, as they should be. After all the little and not so little problems we have had, I am still anxious even though the sail this morning has been very good. I keep waiting for something else to happen.
When we were going to Chamela Bay, I realized that we had stopped at a campground on the bay about 8 years ago. That stop came about when we hit a speed bump (they are even on highways in Mexico) and wrecked the front springs on the trailer. Lucky for us there was a campground nearby on Chamela Bay. Once into the campground we started our search for springs in Perula and Perula is where we have gone to get fan belts and groceries. It seems that Perula and breakdowns go together.
Our next stop is Tenacity Bay. We have never been to Tenacatita but know many people who have gone there with their RVs or sailboats.
Here I sit writing this blog while Bob handles the tiller and sails. He is just standing there taking in the sea and the scenery. You should know that Bob is living his dream. When I met Bob about 27 years ago he talked a lot about wanting to own a sailboat. When he bought his boat in Manitoba about 5 years ago he was so thrilled. Now that he has this boat and is sailing on the ocean I can say that his biggest dream has come true, and not by luck but by his perseverance. As you may have guessed this is not a dream that I share with Bob but it is turning out to be an unforgettable experience.
Last summer Bob and I decided that it was time to lose weight and get fitter. Bob is now a mean lean sailing machine. He is so slender and so much fitter than 6 mo ago. As for me I am not slender but I have made significant improvement in my weight and fitness. Scrambling into the dinghy and keeping my balance on the boat are now much easier for me than they were even a month ago.
Being on the boat itself is a workout. Everything you do takes much more energy. For instance when we take the dinghy to shore in the morning I am sure we burn off our breakfast. Just walking on the boat while it is moving uses a whole different set of muscles.
The trip to Tenacatita went without a hitch. Yipee.
Now as for Tnacactita itself...it is amongst the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. Now I know why people keep coming back again and again.
The bay itself is 3 miles wide but has a number of lobes. We are in Blue Bay with about 20 other boats. At one end of the bay is the Blue Bay Resort. It looks spectacular. At the other end where we are is a campground and a little restaurant. The campground and restaurant are nestled in amongst the palms. Tranquility comes to mind.
Last evening we had dinner in the restaurant. What a meal! The menu is varied but their speciality is stuffed fish..that is a filet of fish stuffed with shrimp etc. You can have that with a creamy almond sauce or a spicy tomato sauce ..both are exquisite. Hungry yet? When I get home I will be trying to replicate those recipes.
I do have a lot of photos to share and I will soon have a web album under control. When I have that uploaded I will let you know how to view them.
More tomorrow.
No more dinghy incidents to report today.
This morning after another exciting dinghy trip, we set sail again. No smell of burning rubber and the batteries are being charged, as they should be. After all the little and not so little problems we have had, I am still anxious even though the sail this morning has been very good. I keep waiting for something else to happen.
When we were going to Chamela Bay, I realized that we had stopped at a campground on the bay about 8 years ago. That stop came about when we hit a speed bump (they are even on highways in Mexico) and wrecked the front springs on the trailer. Lucky for us there was a campground nearby on Chamela Bay. Once into the campground we started our search for springs in Perula and Perula is where we have gone to get fan belts and groceries. It seems that Perula and breakdowns go together.
Our next stop is Tenacity Bay. We have never been to Tenacatita but know many people who have gone there with their RVs or sailboats.
Here I sit writing this blog while Bob handles the tiller and sails. He is just standing there taking in the sea and the scenery. You should know that Bob is living his dream. When I met Bob about 27 years ago he talked a lot about wanting to own a sailboat. When he bought his boat in Manitoba about 5 years ago he was so thrilled. Now that he has this boat and is sailing on the ocean I can say that his biggest dream has come true, and not by luck but by his perseverance. As you may have guessed this is not a dream that I share with Bob but it is turning out to be an unforgettable experience.
Last summer Bob and I decided that it was time to lose weight and get fitter. Bob is now a mean lean sailing machine. He is so slender and so much fitter than 6 mo ago. As for me I am not slender but I have made significant improvement in my weight and fitness. Scrambling into the dinghy and keeping my balance on the boat are now much easier for me than they were even a month ago.
Being on the boat itself is a workout. Everything you do takes much more energy. For instance when we take the dinghy to shore in the morning I am sure we burn off our breakfast. Just walking on the boat while it is moving uses a whole different set of muscles.
The trip to Tenacatita went without a hitch. Yipee.
Now as for Tnacactita itself...it is amongst the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. Now I know why people keep coming back again and again.
The bay itself is 3 miles wide but has a number of lobes. We are in Blue Bay with about 20 other boats. At one end of the bay is the Blue Bay Resort. It looks spectacular. At the other end where we are is a campground and a little restaurant. The campground and restaurant are nestled in amongst the palms. Tranquility comes to mind.
Last evening we had dinner in the restaurant. What a meal! The menu is varied but their speciality is stuffed fish..that is a filet of fish stuffed with shrimp etc. You can have that with a creamy almond sauce or a spicy tomato sauce ..both are exquisite. Hungry yet? When I get home I will be trying to replicate those recipes.
I do have a lot of photos to share and I will soon have a web album under control. When I have that uploaded I will let you know how to view them.
More tomorrow.
No more dinghy incidents to report today.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Dinghy and Fan Belts Sagas
January 20, 2011
Where to start today? Yesterday would be a good place I think
The following incident Bob found funny and I can see the humour now but last night I was doing the What if…thing?
At about 5 pm we took the dinghy in to shore. Bob was off to buy a fan belt (fan belt story to follow) and I took the dog for a walk. We had a meal and by then it was getting dark but it was a bright night so we weren’t worried about finding our boat. There were large waves and when we pushed out we thought we were in between big waves. Patches and I got in the dinghy and Bob pushed us out farther. Then he crawled in over the back. I was facing forward and suddenly the boat jumped ..I thought Bob had gunned the motor. At that point I looked back to tell him to cut it out, and there he wasn’t. Simultaneously with that discovery I heard him yell. By now the boat is attempting to go in circles and I can’t reach the throttle. Oh yes and I have Patches on my lap. Bob yelled at me but the surf drowned him out. At that point I grabbed the key, and removed it not knowing what else to do. I considered jumping out with the dog but that would leave a crazy dinghy on the loose. Yes that was the thing to do and what Bob had yelled at me to do. During this time Patches collar and harness had come off over his head. How or why I don’t know but I suspect he was struggling in all the pandemonium. I learned from Bob that a wave hit the dinghy at the back but on the left side. That bounced him out of the boat just after he had started it. He thought the boat had overturned but when he stood up he saw the boat going forward and I was looking ahead oblivious to what had happened because I was facing forward. Bob was convulsed with laughter when he got into the dinghy. I was not! End of story.
This morning we left Chamela Bay and were back in about 2 hours. Now you will hear the fan belt story.
Yesterday Bob realized that the fan belt on the boat was too long. In a marina this never showed its true nature but when the boat sat for a day or two then the fun began. I don’t know if I mentioned the rubber burning smell that we had noticed last week. When we left La Cruz Marina there was no smell of rubber burning so we assumed it was insulation falling on the hot engine. We were totally incorrect about that. The fan belt was too long and when the batteries were down the alternator kicked in and the sloppy belt slipped and got really hot and smelled like yes burning rubber. Bob bought a new fan belt yesterday and it was just a little too tight. We had just set out this morning and I was below to check to see that all was well. The voltmeter went from charging to NOT. We removed the engine cover and there was the belt not where it should be. At that point Bob replaced the new belt with the old one and off we went. Batteries were charging and all seemed well. Then there was a ringing sound and at that time Bob said that we had problems. I went below removed the engine cover and there was the old belt now broken. Now we can’t run the engine so Bob puts up a sail. Of course there is no wind.
He then puts up the main sail and with the 2 sails we did some sailing at about 1 knot per hour. This is the only time on this trip that we have moved by sail alone.
Suddenly Bob sprints below, turns the intact belt inside out and puts it on. Yes it worked. Then we motored back into Chamela bay and anchored in our old spot. Bob is now off to buy fan belts.
Bob returned with 3 fan belts. Amazing but having the right size belt seems to work. We ran the boat for about an hour with no smell of burning rubber. Batteries are recharged so everything seems to be working in that area.
Bob had another dinghy incident today. When he went to buy fan belts he landed on a different beach where the surf is much bigger. He was rowing (as it takes so much time and effort to put on the motor) so he thought that he would surf onto the beach. That plan failed in so far as Bob wanted to surf in forwards. Somehow the dinghy turned 180 degrees and he surfed onto the beach backward. Bob jumped when it hit the beach, in fact you might say he hit the beach a running.
Where to start today? Yesterday would be a good place I think
The following incident Bob found funny and I can see the humour now but last night I was doing the What if…thing?
At about 5 pm we took the dinghy in to shore. Bob was off to buy a fan belt (fan belt story to follow) and I took the dog for a walk. We had a meal and by then it was getting dark but it was a bright night so we weren’t worried about finding our boat. There were large waves and when we pushed out we thought we were in between big waves. Patches and I got in the dinghy and Bob pushed us out farther. Then he crawled in over the back. I was facing forward and suddenly the boat jumped ..I thought Bob had gunned the motor. At that point I looked back to tell him to cut it out, and there he wasn’t. Simultaneously with that discovery I heard him yell. By now the boat is attempting to go in circles and I can’t reach the throttle. Oh yes and I have Patches on my lap. Bob yelled at me but the surf drowned him out. At that point I grabbed the key, and removed it not knowing what else to do. I considered jumping out with the dog but that would leave a crazy dinghy on the loose. Yes that was the thing to do and what Bob had yelled at me to do. During this time Patches collar and harness had come off over his head. How or why I don’t know but I suspect he was struggling in all the pandemonium. I learned from Bob that a wave hit the dinghy at the back but on the left side. That bounced him out of the boat just after he had started it. He thought the boat had overturned but when he stood up he saw the boat going forward and I was looking ahead oblivious to what had happened because I was facing forward. Bob was convulsed with laughter when he got into the dinghy. I was not! End of story.
This morning we left Chamela Bay and were back in about 2 hours. Now you will hear the fan belt story.
Yesterday Bob realized that the fan belt on the boat was too long. In a marina this never showed its true nature but when the boat sat for a day or two then the fun began. I don’t know if I mentioned the rubber burning smell that we had noticed last week. When we left La Cruz Marina there was no smell of rubber burning so we assumed it was insulation falling on the hot engine. We were totally incorrect about that. The fan belt was too long and when the batteries were down the alternator kicked in and the sloppy belt slipped and got really hot and smelled like yes burning rubber. Bob bought a new fan belt yesterday and it was just a little too tight. We had just set out this morning and I was below to check to see that all was well. The voltmeter went from charging to NOT. We removed the engine cover and there was the belt not where it should be. At that point Bob replaced the new belt with the old one and off we went. Batteries were charging and all seemed well. Then there was a ringing sound and at that time Bob said that we had problems. I went below removed the engine cover and there was the old belt now broken. Now we can’t run the engine so Bob puts up a sail. Of course there is no wind.
He then puts up the main sail and with the 2 sails we did some sailing at about 1 knot per hour. This is the only time on this trip that we have moved by sail alone.
Suddenly Bob sprints below, turns the intact belt inside out and puts it on. Yes it worked. Then we motored back into Chamela bay and anchored in our old spot. Bob is now off to buy fan belts.
Bob returned with 3 fan belts. Amazing but having the right size belt seems to work. We ran the boat for about an hour with no smell of burning rubber. Batteries are recharged so everything seems to be working in that area.
Bob had another dinghy incident today. When he went to buy fan belts he landed on a different beach where the surf is much bigger. He was rowing (as it takes so much time and effort to put on the motor) so he thought that he would surf onto the beach. That plan failed in so far as Bob wanted to surf in forwards. Somehow the dinghy turned 180 degrees and he surfed onto the beach backward. Bob jumped when it hit the beach, in fact you might say he hit the beach a running.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Chamela Bay day 2
January 18
Amazing how the day is better simply because the sun is shining brightly, and we can clear the bilge when it fills. Sitting in this bay and relaxing mellowed both of us.
Chamela Bay is picturesque to say the least. All we hear is the sound of the surf, the cry of birds and the occasional splash of a fish jumping.
Today Patches was happy because we went to shore at about 11 am. While in there we met more Canadians. One couple is from Comox. They plan to sail to Costa Rica. (She was very supportive of my fears, having experienced similar emotions in her early days of sailing.) They sailed their boat from BC to Mexico last year, then went home for the summer leaving their boat in La Paz.
The other couple has lived on a boat since 1976. Their boat is moored in Cowichan Bay, BC. They now come to Mexico for 2 months every year. They base themselves in Melaque. What a woman! She raised 2 kids on the boat.
As for us, the bilge is dry and looks clean…more cause to celebrate. Bob has rested today and doesn’t seem worried about the steering. If he isn’t worrying, why should I? Tomorrow he will work on the other steering system to see if he can get it to work.
The dinghy rides are so much better as I now jump out, perhaps flop out of the dinghy would be a better description, but I can flop quickly now. Patches now jumps into the dinghy, in fact we have to hold him back as he wants to be in there before he should be.
This afternoon when we go to shore, we will have a meal, do a bit of shopping, and enjoy the experience. If we get doused by a wave, too bad. We all lived through the last one.
The waves were a bit bigger this afternoon but we made it in and out without being dumped. Patches is first one in the dinghy and wants to be the first one out. He has certainly changed in the last few days.
We did have a lovely meal. During the meal an American came by and sat with us. He has lived everywhere and at 60 ish is still hyper. We towed him to his boat as he doesnt have a motor.
Once again the sunset was brilliant. We sat sipping wine and chatting watching the moon rise. The moon was full and the water was sparkling. Oh what a night! Of course the wine probably enhanced the view.
Goodnight
Amazing how the day is better simply because the sun is shining brightly, and we can clear the bilge when it fills. Sitting in this bay and relaxing mellowed both of us.
Chamela Bay is picturesque to say the least. All we hear is the sound of the surf, the cry of birds and the occasional splash of a fish jumping.
Today Patches was happy because we went to shore at about 11 am. While in there we met more Canadians. One couple is from Comox. They plan to sail to Costa Rica. (She was very supportive of my fears, having experienced similar emotions in her early days of sailing.) They sailed their boat from BC to Mexico last year, then went home for the summer leaving their boat in La Paz.
The other couple has lived on a boat since 1976. Their boat is moored in Cowichan Bay, BC. They now come to Mexico for 2 months every year. They base themselves in Melaque. What a woman! She raised 2 kids on the boat.
As for us, the bilge is dry and looks clean…more cause to celebrate. Bob has rested today and doesn’t seem worried about the steering. If he isn’t worrying, why should I? Tomorrow he will work on the other steering system to see if he can get it to work.
The dinghy rides are so much better as I now jump out, perhaps flop out of the dinghy would be a better description, but I can flop quickly now. Patches now jumps into the dinghy, in fact we have to hold him back as he wants to be in there before he should be.
This afternoon when we go to shore, we will have a meal, do a bit of shopping, and enjoy the experience. If we get doused by a wave, too bad. We all lived through the last one.
The waves were a bit bigger this afternoon but we made it in and out without being dumped. Patches is first one in the dinghy and wants to be the first one out. He has certainly changed in the last few days.
We did have a lovely meal. During the meal an American came by and sat with us. He has lived everywhere and at 60 ish is still hyper. We towed him to his boat as he doesnt have a motor.
Once again the sunset was brilliant. We sat sipping wine and chatting watching the moon rise. The moon was full and the water was sparkling. Oh what a night! Of course the wine probably enhanced the view.
Goodnight
Monday, January 17, 2011
Chamela Bay
January 17
Yesterday we left La Cruz at about 4 pm but had to get fuel first. Leaving the marina went without incident. I caught the lines and secured them for use at the fuel dock. Of course when we arrived at the fuel dock, there was a large motorboat, and I mean large, getting fuel. That meant we had to pull into a side dock, and the wind was going to blow us away from the dock. After a few minutes we managed to get tied up, got our fuel and we were off. Bob is getting good at driving the boat into tight places and out, even when the wind is blowing us around a bit.
Can you believe that I stood on the front of the boat, caught lines and untied them when we were bumping over the waves? Yes I did and today my whole body is aching. I suppose that I used muscles that have not been used in all my life. They are a complaining lot I must say.
The seas were rocky in Banderas Bay. Apparently there are local weather systems in the bay, and that is why the marine weather forecast was so different than what we experienced. Bob said that the winds and swell were the worst that we have had on the trip. I was fine with all of us. Bob didn’t need my help so I went below with the dog and more or less stayed there all night. I was up to feed Bob, but slept well. The Dramamine really knocks me out.
This morning while Bob was sleeping I saw a few whales in the distance, and lots of dolphins right beside the boat. Patches was very interested in them. Just after Bob got up, we saw at least 1000 dolphins…they must have formed a line a mile long. What fun they were to watch! Some of them would jump right out of the water and belly flop back into the water. So far that is the highlight of this trip. I took no photos, as they were too far away to get any good shots.
So all was going very well until Bob switched off the autopilot and started to steer manually. . and nothing happened. The boat just went wherever. He raced below, checked the hydraulics and found no fluid present. That meant the end of our hydraulic system and the end of using our autopilot. As I speak Bob is in this hellhole, working. He said that everything was leaking fluid, which accounts for the system quitting. He will be using the tiller until we can find parts. That is not too bad for the trip from here to Manzanillo because we can do it in short hops of 6 hours each. If we can’t get this working I can’t see us doing an overnight as far as Caleta, as it would mean that Bob would be on the tiller for at least 16 hr…that is unless I can spell him off once in while. I don’t even know if I can handle the tiller.
And the bilge pump came on again and stayed on. Bob thinks that it is the hydraulic fluid in the bilge that caused the problem.
Patches was in a panic when we arrived here, as he hadn’t gone potty for 22 hr. He who hates the water was trying to leap into the dinghy. There were some waves breaking near the shore, so for once I just jumped. Who cares how deep the water is? Our landing was good. Patches proceeded to pee longer than I have ever seen dog or person pee.
Lunch was at a local ramada, and it was wonderful. Bob had octopus and stuck with red snapper. Lunch was so long in coming as they had to go somewhere to get the red snapper. so very Mexico.
Bob has been working nonstop on the pumps and steering. He hasnt slept since Saturday night. This concerns me but he feels he has no choice. Without the bilge pump working, there is always the danger of water coming. Not good.
On a happier note, Patches jumped into the dinghy on his own when we were coming back to the boat for the second time. When we are anchored he is taken to shore twice a day. We were all in the dinghy and a wave got us. Yes we all returned to the boat pretty wet.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
More photos
This is one of the whales amongst many that we saw just south of San Blas.
This photo is taken looking into Banderas Bay at Marina La Cruz
Getting ready to sail
We are getting ready to sail this afternoon. Shopping and cooking ahead are done. Bob has checked everything that he could so we hope that all systems are go.
Today we had breakfast out...a nice treat.
In the main plaza in La Cruz today there was a market of artesanias. What lovely crafts. I bought some jewellery made by a lady who lives in Sayulita.
Other than a boat coming in last night almost hit us, nothing much has happened. The man came to apologize and Bob said that he thought the guy had been drinking. It was almost dark when the boat came in..all quarter of a million dollars worth. It reminded me of all the Manitobans who boat while drinking or drink while boating.
Today we had breakfast out...a nice treat.
In the main plaza in La Cruz today there was a market of artesanias. What lovely crafts. I bought some jewellery made by a lady who lives in Sayulita.
Other than a boat coming in last night almost hit us, nothing much has happened. The man came to apologize and Bob said that he thought the guy had been drinking. It was almost dark when the boat came in..all quarter of a million dollars worth. It reminded me of all the Manitobans who boat while drinking or drink while boating.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
La Cruz is my kind of place
January 15, 2011
La Cruz
What a lovely few days we have had in La Cruz. Thursday was a work day but since then we have done a few odd jobs, and other than we have been on holiday.
The scenery around the marina is tropical …lots of flowers, colourful houses perched on hills surrounding the marina, a magnificent seawall to walk on, and of course many beautiful boats of all types.
The village itself has turned out to be quite interesting…you can buy basic items and more. La Cruz has a number of lovely looking restaurants…even a German restaurant featuring flamenco guitar ..played by Germans.
Today I bought a lovely pair of sandals. How often do you find comfort and style?
While we were walking around the village we found a wine store that carries a better variety of wine than most shops in much larger places. I guess all those million dollar yachts expect wine to match. I looked but did not touch.
The weather has been lovely..much warmer than Mazatlan. I have packed away my fleece pyjamas and hoodie in favour of much cooler clothing.
Last evening we went to the Marina Bar, which is about 3 flights up, so one has a great view of the area. They have a happy hour which makes drinks affordable. While there we met a couple from around Seattle. They have sold their home and now live on their sailboat. It is quite a lot larger than our boat but nevertheless that is quite a leap. She told me some of their stories of things going wrong for them which actually made me feel better.
In the boat next to us, there is a young man who lives on his boat full time. He works back home in the USA, makes some money and then returns here. His girlfriend is with him now and she too has never sailed. They went out yesterday and her aplomb impressed me to no end.
Going back a few days ..when we sailed into Guayabitos our chart plotter showed that we were sailing in the mountains. The bay is uncharted so the chart plotter..I think..tries to get you on the highway.
Life has been so relaxing for the past 3 days that I feel rejuvenated. I am ready for the next leg of this trip, and I am not dreading it.
La Cruz
What a lovely few days we have had in La Cruz. Thursday was a work day but since then we have done a few odd jobs, and other than we have been on holiday.
The scenery around the marina is tropical …lots of flowers, colourful houses perched on hills surrounding the marina, a magnificent seawall to walk on, and of course many beautiful boats of all types.
The village itself has turned out to be quite interesting…you can buy basic items and more. La Cruz has a number of lovely looking restaurants…even a German restaurant featuring flamenco guitar ..played by Germans.
Today I bought a lovely pair of sandals. How often do you find comfort and style?
While we were walking around the village we found a wine store that carries a better variety of wine than most shops in much larger places. I guess all those million dollar yachts expect wine to match. I looked but did not touch.
The weather has been lovely..much warmer than Mazatlan. I have packed away my fleece pyjamas and hoodie in favour of much cooler clothing.
Last evening we went to the Marina Bar, which is about 3 flights up, so one has a great view of the area. They have a happy hour which makes drinks affordable. While there we met a couple from around Seattle. They have sold their home and now live on their sailboat. It is quite a lot larger than our boat but nevertheless that is quite a leap. She told me some of their stories of things going wrong for them which actually made me feel better.
In the boat next to us, there is a young man who lives on his boat full time. He works back home in the USA, makes some money and then returns here. His girlfriend is with him now and she too has never sailed. They went out yesterday and her aplomb impressed me to no end.
Going back a few days ..when we sailed into Guayabitos our chart plotter showed that we were sailing in the mountains. The bay is uncharted so the chart plotter..I think..tries to get you on the highway.
Life has been so relaxing for the past 3 days that I feel rejuvenated. I am ready for the next leg of this trip, and I am not dreading it.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Incidents that I have forgotten to talk about
January 14
Bilge Incident
The day after we had our engine incident, I stepped into a bilge...Bob had left the covers off 2 bilges as he was working on them. I had been sleeping, came out and walked right into a bilge. I still have the bruises more than a week later. I was so relieved that I had not broken a bone. When I stepped into the bilge I broke the waterlines to the galley (kitchen). When Bob tried to repair them, he found that it was easier to remove them and start from scratch. All of this work had been done in Canada...hm? After the fact Bob is happy that he replaced them because he found other problems and repaired them at the same time. In my opinion a sailboat is like a minefield. Step with care is all I can say.
Whale sightingsTwo days ago we saw whales all around the boat. One popped up right by the boat. We were in 100 ft of water, and suddenly the depth gauge read 75 ft and then 25 ft. At that point I yelled for Bob. By the time he got back to the wheel the depth gauge read 100 ft...and then it happened again. Our best guess is the whales were under our boat and the depth finder sounded on the whale...a big whale I think. How neat was that after I quit panicking.
Interviewing Bob
Right now we have been sitting on the boat enjoying a drink and discussing the past and future of our sailing trip. As Bob had commented on my negativity, I decided to interview my captain and see what he would want in a blog. Here is my short interview with my captain Bligh oh whoops...Captain Bob.
Q. How has the trip been for you so far?
A. Good so far. Uneventful other than Deanna and Patches having anxiety attacks.
I love being on the boat when we are at sea.
Q. What has been the most novel experience for you, Captain Bob?
A. Sailing all night in the pitch dark. I couldnt see a thing.
Q. What has been one of the best moments?
A. Getting Deanna into a marina. Just joking sort of. The best moment was seeing Isla Isabella at dawn after sailing all night. That was the confirmation that I was sailing my course.
Q. What do you dislike most about sailing?
A. Putting the motor on the dinghy when the seas are rolling.
Q. Worst moment?
For me it was just after we left Stone Is and I realized that Deannas fears were affecting what I was doing. I got over that and did what I should have been doing.
Thus spake Captain Bob.
Bilge Incident
The day after we had our engine incident, I stepped into a bilge...Bob had left the covers off 2 bilges as he was working on them. I had been sleeping, came out and walked right into a bilge. I still have the bruises more than a week later. I was so relieved that I had not broken a bone. When I stepped into the bilge I broke the waterlines to the galley (kitchen). When Bob tried to repair them, he found that it was easier to remove them and start from scratch. All of this work had been done in Canada...hm? After the fact Bob is happy that he replaced them because he found other problems and repaired them at the same time. In my opinion a sailboat is like a minefield. Step with care is all I can say.
Whale sightingsTwo days ago we saw whales all around the boat. One popped up right by the boat. We were in 100 ft of water, and suddenly the depth gauge read 75 ft and then 25 ft. At that point I yelled for Bob. By the time he got back to the wheel the depth gauge read 100 ft...and then it happened again. Our best guess is the whales were under our boat and the depth finder sounded on the whale...a big whale I think. How neat was that after I quit panicking.
Interviewing Bob
Right now we have been sitting on the boat enjoying a drink and discussing the past and future of our sailing trip. As Bob had commented on my negativity, I decided to interview my captain and see what he would want in a blog. Here is my short interview with my captain Bligh oh whoops...Captain Bob.
Q. How has the trip been for you so far?
A. Good so far. Uneventful other than Deanna and Patches having anxiety attacks.
I love being on the boat when we are at sea.
Q. What has been the most novel experience for you, Captain Bob?
A. Sailing all night in the pitch dark. I couldnt see a thing.
Q. What has been one of the best moments?
A. Getting Deanna into a marina. Just joking sort of. The best moment was seeing Isla Isabella at dawn after sailing all night. That was the confirmation that I was sailing my course.
Q. What do you dislike most about sailing?
A. Putting the motor on the dinghy when the seas are rolling.
Q. Worst moment?
For me it was just after we left Stone Is and I realized that Deannas fears were affecting what I was doing. I got over that and did what I should have been doing.
Thus spake Captain Bob.
January 13, La Cruz, near Puerto Vallarta
Last night we slept well as there was no swell, and just a gentle rocking motion. This morning we are moving into the marina so Bob can fix the bilge pump. Yahoo. A shower and a boat that doesnt really move.
We take Patches into shore and go to the Marina office to check in. Back to the boat and we off to the marina. All good you think, but Deanna had to throw the rope for the guys to catch, and Deanna is not good at throwing the rope. The cowgirl gene is not included in my repetoire. I tie Patches below and head for the bow. I have called in to let them know we are coming, and I stand ready to throw ..and throwup. By the time we get to the slip my knees are weak. I see a guy on a boat next to where we are going and ask him to help me. At these times I have no pride. I tell all...old lady trying to learn to sail, etc. Anywhere Bob does a superb job of getting into the slip...I throw my rope like a pro..and then almost collapse, but we are into the dock. Bob did a perfect job of coming in, and could have docked the boat by himself. He is getting very good.
Bob checks to see if the bilge pump is working, and once again all is not well in Paradise. The pump has quit..totally.
From about noon to 5 pm, Bob works on the pump. He has to crawl into a space where the engine and pumps are..he has to hang in there as there is not much he can lean on. Oh yes and it was hot in there. He tried to find a part for the pump but no luck so he cleaned everything and tried it out. It seemed to work so he reinstalled it, and then it didnt work. He found a dirty filter, blah blah and finally he primed the pump (supposed to be self priming) and like magic there it was working. T
At about 5 pm we went for dinner to a very nice restaurant. The view was gorgeous (I will take photos) and the meal was fabulous. We both had dorado, a fish that we both love. Then out for a walk and back to the boat to watch the sunset.
This was a great day for us. We docked without a hitch, the pump is working and we are in a tropical paradise.
Bob just told me that I am writing a very negative blog. This is my point of view as I am sure you know already. Bob would write a very different blog if he were writing it. He is a thrill seeker and I am not. So on some days my thrill threshold has been vastly superceded.
Adios.
We take Patches into shore and go to the Marina office to check in. Back to the boat and we off to the marina. All good you think, but Deanna had to throw the rope for the guys to catch, and Deanna is not good at throwing the rope. The cowgirl gene is not included in my repetoire. I tie Patches below and head for the bow. I have called in to let them know we are coming, and I stand ready to throw ..and throwup. By the time we get to the slip my knees are weak. I see a guy on a boat next to where we are going and ask him to help me. At these times I have no pride. I tell all...old lady trying to learn to sail, etc. Anywhere Bob does a superb job of getting into the slip...I throw my rope like a pro..and then almost collapse, but we are into the dock. Bob did a perfect job of coming in, and could have docked the boat by himself. He is getting very good.
Bob checks to see if the bilge pump is working, and once again all is not well in Paradise. The pump has quit..totally.
From about noon to 5 pm, Bob works on the pump. He has to crawl into a space where the engine and pumps are..he has to hang in there as there is not much he can lean on. Oh yes and it was hot in there. He tried to find a part for the pump but no luck so he cleaned everything and tried it out. It seemed to work so he reinstalled it, and then it didnt work. He found a dirty filter, blah blah and finally he primed the pump (supposed to be self priming) and like magic there it was working. T
At about 5 pm we went for dinner to a very nice restaurant. The view was gorgeous (I will take photos) and the meal was fabulous. We both had dorado, a fish that we both love. Then out for a walk and back to the boat to watch the sunset.
This was a great day for us. We docked without a hitch, the pump is working and we are in a tropical paradise.
Bob just told me that I am writing a very negative blog. This is my point of view as I am sure you know already. Bob would write a very different blog if he were writing it. He is a thrill seeker and I am not. So on some days my thrill threshold has been vastly superceded.
Adios.
Mechanics of living on a boat
The other day as I was attempting to have a pee, I thought about how, on a boat, everything you do involves strategy so different. Just to have a pee, when the boating is moving, requires some thought. The head is so small that you really cant remove shorts without hitting the wall..literally. If the boat is rolling and you never know when that will happen, your hands are busy so you cant brace yourself. I remove shorts, etc and step into the head. Then I leap on the toilet with shorts around my knees now. The toilet is set high so my feet dangle. I now flush while seated. Then I climb down off the toilet bracing with one hand and holding my clothing with the other hand. Yes at that moment a wave knocks me off balance and my clothes hit the deck. I then just kick them off,leave the head and redress sitting on the sofa. All that just to have a pee.
And cooking, that is another subject. I wont cook while the boat is rolling. Boiling water on a pitching boat seems the height of stupidity. Bob may be eating a lot of granola bars.
I have decided that I will make a bunch of sandwiches before we leave on our next leg. That should solve that problem.
And cooking, that is another subject. I wont cook while the boat is rolling. Boiling water on a pitching boat seems the height of stupidity. Bob may be eating a lot of granola bars.
I have decided that I will make a bunch of sandwiches before we leave on our next leg. That should solve that problem.
To hell and back
Today is Friday, January 14..already. Who knew that time flies when you were in a torture chamber. I should have known that life was too good when last I wrote.
Let me take you back to Wednesday in Guayabitos. The bay is beautiful but the guide books tell you not to anchor near shore. There is an island that you can anchor behind...but we did not do that. Bob thought that the swell would lessen during the night. He was WRONG! Getting into the dingy with a swell is not swell. The swell comes up and you get into the dingy...in theory only because I cant get into position that quickly. My fear keeps me from leaping and so I hover on the edge of the boat and finally make the leap. Oh yes I have already thrown Patches to Bob and Patches is crazy...he hates swell, waves and water. We get to shore and have a meal. Then I hang onto Patches, as he starts fighting as soon as we near the dinghy. Same old, same old into the boat. I now have more bruised skin than not. I am sure that any cop would arrest Bob for spousal abuse ..just looking at me. Back in the boat and we are @#$%^&**())rocking and rolling. That continues all night so we sleep little. Amazingly enough I am not sick...as long as I am lying down with my eyes closed, I am fine. On my feet I am queasy in a minute.
I am up at 7 am but Bob is sleeping...and oh yes Bob snored all night although he too did not sleep. Of course the swell is somewhat less this
morning. Finally I call Bob at 8 am and we are off to a bad start. We take the dog to shore and try to find a place to eat, as I cant cook on the boat. In fact yesterday Bob had a granola bar and beer for lunch...I couldnt stay belong long enough to make a sandwich!
An aside here..I get seasick even with meds so I cannot cook unless it is calm and I cant steer or put up sails. You might wonder why I am here...I certainly do.
By the time we left Guayabitos (name means guava corner) it was 10 am, not good as we will arrive in La Cruz near dusk.
More smell of burning rubber and once again the smell disappeared!! There was a swell most of the way to La Cruz (about a 7hr trip)so the dog and I stayed below..me lying down with my eyes closed and the dog snuggled beside me. We arrived at La Cruz, which is in the Bay of Banderas,just before dusk. We anchored off shore just outside the marina as we thought we wouldnt make it into the marina by nightfallwhich comes very early ..about 7 pm. And the boats ..wow..probably about 20 anchored so we had to find a spot. Then the anchor did not hold for about 3 tries. Scarey, as we were drifting closer to other boats. Finally it held. Then of course we have to take Patches to shore. By the time Bob gets the dinghy down it is almost dark. We head for shore, hit some rocks *(it is dark now) so choose another route in. Luckily the prop only has a few dents in it.
Coming back to the boat GUESS WHAT?? we cant find it in the dark. All the boats have changed position because of the breeze and we wander around for awhile and then we see her. Imagine the conversation in the dinghy! Can you imagine how crabby we are by this time? Think big. Now I make dinner....salad and chicken..nothing fancy and we drop into bed...no rocking, no rolling. During the night Bob and I keep thinking that someone is boarding the boat, and no one is..it is the dinghy banging on the side of the boat.
Now we are into Thursday. Lived another day.
Let me take you back to Wednesday in Guayabitos. The bay is beautiful but the guide books tell you not to anchor near shore. There is an island that you can anchor behind...but we did not do that. Bob thought that the swell would lessen during the night. He was WRONG! Getting into the dingy with a swell is not swell. The swell comes up and you get into the dingy...in theory only because I cant get into position that quickly. My fear keeps me from leaping and so I hover on the edge of the boat and finally make the leap. Oh yes I have already thrown Patches to Bob and Patches is crazy...he hates swell, waves and water. We get to shore and have a meal. Then I hang onto Patches, as he starts fighting as soon as we near the dinghy. Same old, same old into the boat. I now have more bruised skin than not. I am sure that any cop would arrest Bob for spousal abuse ..just looking at me. Back in the boat and we are @#$%^&**())rocking and rolling. That continues all night so we sleep little. Amazingly enough I am not sick...as long as I am lying down with my eyes closed, I am fine. On my feet I am queasy in a minute.
I am up at 7 am but Bob is sleeping...and oh yes Bob snored all night although he too did not sleep. Of course the swell is somewhat less this
morning. Finally I call Bob at 8 am and we are off to a bad start. We take the dog to shore and try to find a place to eat, as I cant cook on the boat. In fact yesterday Bob had a granola bar and beer for lunch...I couldnt stay belong long enough to make a sandwich!
An aside here..I get seasick even with meds so I cannot cook unless it is calm and I cant steer or put up sails. You might wonder why I am here...I certainly do.
By the time we left Guayabitos (name means guava corner) it was 10 am, not good as we will arrive in La Cruz near dusk.
More smell of burning rubber and once again the smell disappeared!! There was a swell most of the way to La Cruz (about a 7hr trip)so the dog and I stayed below..me lying down with my eyes closed and the dog snuggled beside me. We arrived at La Cruz, which is in the Bay of Banderas,just before dusk. We anchored off shore just outside the marina as we thought we wouldnt make it into the marina by nightfallwhich comes very early ..about 7 pm. And the boats ..wow..probably about 20 anchored so we had to find a spot. Then the anchor did not hold for about 3 tries. Scarey, as we were drifting closer to other boats. Finally it held. Then of course we have to take Patches to shore. By the time Bob gets the dinghy down it is almost dark. We head for shore, hit some rocks *(it is dark now) so choose another route in. Luckily the prop only has a few dents in it.
Coming back to the boat GUESS WHAT?? we cant find it in the dark. All the boats have changed position because of the breeze and we wander around for awhile and then we see her. Imagine the conversation in the dinghy! Can you imagine how crabby we are by this time? Think big. Now I make dinner....salad and chicken..nothing fancy and we drop into bed...no rocking, no rolling. During the night Bob and I keep thinking that someone is boarding the boat, and no one is..it is the dinghy banging on the side of the boat.
Now we are into Thursday. Lived another day.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
LIfe at sea..who knows
January 10, 2011
We left Stone Island at 3 pm yesterday, Sunday January 9.
What can I say but, for the first few hours I was so frightened, and there was some reason for my fright, but I am easily spooked on the boat.
To begin with the seas were rough. I tried steering while Bob put up sails but I was immediately seasick..yes …so great. Bob then put the boat on auto pilot. The auto pilot is very sensitive so it had the boat going in circles…that went on for a while but Bob did get the main sail up. After some more work with the auto pilot, Bob got it to behave. But by then I was so anxious and even with the sail up the boat was bouncing. Then Bob couldn’t get the GPS system to work. I have used our GPs’s but I had never worked with this one. There I am with Patches on my lap (he too is pretty anxious), trying to work the GPS. Bob is trying to help me but that didn’t work very well. After many false attempts through sheer dumb luck I had our trip charted. And we were off.
What a dark night it was. Bob had to climb around in the dark trying to get the lines straightened out. The wind kept changing direction so he was doing a lot with the sails. It was really chilly. He had on sweat pants, a heavy woolen sweater and a jacket.
At about 7 am I took over as everything seemed to be working well. The seas were much calmer and so was I. I had managed to get some sleep, so I was feeling good. Bob slept for about an hr and was fine. We didn’t reach our first destination which was San Blas, until about 2 pm. When Bob shut off the engine, the bilge pump was pumping and wouldn’t quit. I had heard it the night before but when I mentioned that I was hearing a clanking Bob assumed it was just the diesel. Luckily the pump hadn’t burned out so he switched it off. That means we check the bilge for water and turn it on manually.
Into the dinghy and off to shore. We were anchored in Malanchen Bay near San Blas.
We saw some restaurants but when we neared they had nets protecting the swimming area. We were so tired that we got Patches ashore and let him run for about 15 minutes and then we were back on the boat. We ate on board and it was a good meal. Bob was asleep by 7 and I wasn’t far behind. I kept waking to all the new sounds. At about 5 am a woman came on the Marine Radio…oh she was drunk. After a few minutes of her singing, someone shut her down. You on not be on channel 16 unless you have an emergency…I think she thought it was her singing debut.
January 11
Up at 7 am to take Patches to shore. Yesterday he went 25 hr without a bathroom break! We played with him on the beach for about a half hour and then back into the dinghy.
We all hate the dinghy. Bob and I both had wet butts today. Patches fights me when I pick him up to put him into the dinghy. But when Bob is getting the dinghy ready to leave the boat, Patches is right there ready to go. We are afraid to take him off his leash when we are onshore…he would likely run off never to be seen again.
On our trip so far we have seen whales, dolphins and many birds. One whale surfaced right beside the boat.
This morning we set sail in lovely conditions. The sea was flat and what a glorious morning it was. The bay was circled by palm trees and low hills. The mists were rising off the water, and the only sound was the lapping of waves.
Of course with no wind we motored. Bob put up the main sail to stabilize the boat and off we went. Oh yes the bilge pump is not working again. Who knows?
Moments after we set out, I went below only to smell rubber burning. Off came the engine cover,,,I now know how to do that. No sign of smoke. We search everywhere and find nothing. Bob decided that it was a piece of engine insulation that had fallen into the engine.
Today we should get to Guayabitos for the night. It is a favourite spot for Canadians.
I must comment on Bob. He just loves this life. Seeing all the sea creatures, has him so excited. Now that at this moment the boat is working well he just loves to sit and watch the water. Mind you seeing all the whales so close is thrilling.
As for me, I am feeling much better today. I have taken no medication for seasickness today and I am okay.
We left Stone Island at 3 pm yesterday, Sunday January 9.
What can I say but, for the first few hours I was so frightened, and there was some reason for my fright, but I am easily spooked on the boat.
To begin with the seas were rough. I tried steering while Bob put up sails but I was immediately seasick..yes …so great. Bob then put the boat on auto pilot. The auto pilot is very sensitive so it had the boat going in circles…that went on for a while but Bob did get the main sail up. After some more work with the auto pilot, Bob got it to behave. But by then I was so anxious and even with the sail up the boat was bouncing. Then Bob couldn’t get the GPS system to work. I have used our GPs’s but I had never worked with this one. There I am with Patches on my lap (he too is pretty anxious), trying to work the GPS. Bob is trying to help me but that didn’t work very well. After many false attempts through sheer dumb luck I had our trip charted. And we were off.
What a dark night it was. Bob had to climb around in the dark trying to get the lines straightened out. The wind kept changing direction so he was doing a lot with the sails. It was really chilly. He had on sweat pants, a heavy woolen sweater and a jacket.
At about 7 am I took over as everything seemed to be working well. The seas were much calmer and so was I. I had managed to get some sleep, so I was feeling good. Bob slept for about an hr and was fine. We didn’t reach our first destination which was San Blas, until about 2 pm. When Bob shut off the engine, the bilge pump was pumping and wouldn’t quit. I had heard it the night before but when I mentioned that I was hearing a clanking Bob assumed it was just the diesel. Luckily the pump hadn’t burned out so he switched it off. That means we check the bilge for water and turn it on manually.
Into the dinghy and off to shore. We were anchored in Malanchen Bay near San Blas.
We saw some restaurants but when we neared they had nets protecting the swimming area. We were so tired that we got Patches ashore and let him run for about 15 minutes and then we were back on the boat. We ate on board and it was a good meal. Bob was asleep by 7 and I wasn’t far behind. I kept waking to all the new sounds. At about 5 am a woman came on the Marine Radio…oh she was drunk. After a few minutes of her singing, someone shut her down. You on not be on channel 16 unless you have an emergency…I think she thought it was her singing debut.
January 11
Up at 7 am to take Patches to shore. Yesterday he went 25 hr without a bathroom break! We played with him on the beach for about a half hour and then back into the dinghy.
We all hate the dinghy. Bob and I both had wet butts today. Patches fights me when I pick him up to put him into the dinghy. But when Bob is getting the dinghy ready to leave the boat, Patches is right there ready to go. We are afraid to take him off his leash when we are onshore…he would likely run off never to be seen again.
On our trip so far we have seen whales, dolphins and many birds. One whale surfaced right beside the boat.
This morning we set sail in lovely conditions. The sea was flat and what a glorious morning it was. The bay was circled by palm trees and low hills. The mists were rising off the water, and the only sound was the lapping of waves.
Of course with no wind we motored. Bob put up the main sail to stabilize the boat and off we went. Oh yes the bilge pump is not working again. Who knows?
Moments after we set out, I went below only to smell rubber burning. Off came the engine cover,,,I now know how to do that. No sign of smoke. We search everywhere and find nothing. Bob decided that it was a piece of engine insulation that had fallen into the engine.
Today we should get to Guayabitos for the night. It is a favourite spot for Canadians.
I must comment on Bob. He just loves this life. Seeing all the sea creatures, has him so excited. Now that at this moment the boat is working well he just loves to sit and watch the water. Mind you seeing all the whales so close is thrilling.
As for me, I am feeling much better today. I have taken no medication for seasickness today and I am okay.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Anchors away at Stone Island
January 9, 2011
Yesterday we set off again. When Bob first tried to start the motor there was rather a sick sound coming from the starter. It turned out that the salt water from our episode on Monday caused a problem..but after a few tries the motor was fine.
Our friends Corinne and Brian came with us again..we were only going to Stone Island. The sail over was good but there was a chilly breeze blowing and fog more or less the entire trip which was only a few hours.
The dingy trip in was interesting as we had 4 people and the dog. Everyone was a bit damp.
It was past 3 by the time we had lunch...yummmy
When we approached the dingy to go back to the boat, Patches tried to run away. I am sure he would have gone with Corinne and Brian and never looked back.
We did make it to the boat just fine but a bit wet.
Our first night anchored was good. We were in bed by 7 pm and slept fitfully but that seems a normal reaction.
We plan to leave for Isla Isabella about 4 pm today and sail all night.
Patches hasnt gone to the bathroom since yesterday at about 4 pm..ab out 20 hr and so far we cannot convince him that it is okay. When we leave here we won.t set foot on land for at least 16 hours...we shall see.
Thanks to our great friends Judy and Cal and Corinne and Brian for all their hospitality while we were at Marina Mazatlan.
Yesterday we set off again. When Bob first tried to start the motor there was rather a sick sound coming from the starter. It turned out that the salt water from our episode on Monday caused a problem..but after a few tries the motor was fine.
Our friends Corinne and Brian came with us again..we were only going to Stone Island. The sail over was good but there was a chilly breeze blowing and fog more or less the entire trip which was only a few hours.
The dingy trip in was interesting as we had 4 people and the dog. Everyone was a bit damp.
It was past 3 by the time we had lunch...yummmy
When we approached the dingy to go back to the boat, Patches tried to run away. I am sure he would have gone with Corinne and Brian and never looked back.
We did make it to the boat just fine but a bit wet.
Our first night anchored was good. We were in bed by 7 pm and slept fitfully but that seems a normal reaction.
We plan to leave for Isla Isabella about 4 pm today and sail all night.
Patches hasnt gone to the bathroom since yesterday at about 4 pm..ab out 20 hr and so far we cannot convince him that it is okay. When we leave here we won.t set foot on land for at least 16 hours...we shall see.
Thanks to our great friends Judy and Cal and Corinne and Brian for all their hospitality while we were at Marina Mazatlan.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Stay out of the bilge Deanna
Today is January 6...a big holiday in Mexico...The day of the Kings. This is tradionally when Mexicans exchange gifts.
This past week has been quite an adventure and we are yet to leave port. This has been my week so far.
Monday was our day to leave here, and we did for about an hour. There is a narrow channel out of Marina Mazatlan, and we motored through that. Bob put up the sails and turned off the engine. That normally means quiet, but we heard the bilge pump working. That is not a good sign as it means that water is coming into the boat. I went below to see what was happening...there was exhaust or smoke coming out of the counter (the engine is located under a counter). ..and there was water on the sole (floor)...both events not good. Bob came down to have a look. At that time there was more exhaust and water in the cabin. Down came the sails and we turned around. Then the motor, although running, was not moving the boat. Bob took off the engine cover...steam and exhaust everywhere and the boat started moving. We had to work the bilge pump manually as it had quit. Apparently a large wave knocked the wires off it..the seas were quite choppy...so no electricity to it.
I went on the radio to let the marina know that we were coming back, and were taking on water. When we arrived at the dock...with steam and exhaust billowing out of the boat, it was dramatic. I had not been practising my rope throwing so I missed the first time, but got it on the second toss.
It turned out to be a minor problem but it certainly gave me a fright. We had our friends from Manitoba with us ..what an intro to sailing on our boat.
This past week has been quite an adventure and we are yet to leave port. This has been my week so far.
Monday was our day to leave here, and we did for about an hour. There is a narrow channel out of Marina Mazatlan, and we motored through that. Bob put up the sails and turned off the engine. That normally means quiet, but we heard the bilge pump working. That is not a good sign as it means that water is coming into the boat. I went below to see what was happening...there was exhaust or smoke coming out of the counter (the engine is located under a counter). ..and there was water on the sole (floor)...both events not good. Bob came down to have a look. At that time there was more exhaust and water in the cabin. Down came the sails and we turned around. Then the motor, although running, was not moving the boat. Bob took off the engine cover...steam and exhaust everywhere and the boat started moving. We had to work the bilge pump manually as it had quit. Apparently a large wave knocked the wires off it..the seas were quite choppy...so no electricity to it.
I went on the radio to let the marina know that we were coming back, and were taking on water. When we arrived at the dock...with steam and exhaust billowing out of the boat, it was dramatic. I had not been practising my rope throwing so I missed the first time, but got it on the second toss.
It turned out to be a minor problem but it certainly gave me a fright. We had our friends from Manitoba with us ..what an intro to sailing on our boat.
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