After spending almost 2 weeks in La Cruz, Bob was able to move on yesterday. His delay in La Cruz resulted from the 'death' of the voltage regular. Then through a sort of a comedy of errors, the voltage regulator took more than week to make the trip from Mazatlan to La Cruz...rather than the original time line of several days.
This afternoon Bob arrived in Chamela...this was a slow trip as any wind he did get was of course on the nose rather than the 'forecasted' winds from the north....weather forecasting is far from an exact science!!
Tomorrow, barring unforeseen circumstances, Bob will be on his way to Tenacatita.
I am hoping that in 2 weeks Patches and I will be on the boat with him in Zihuatenejo.
As I am not on the boat, I can only relate the dry facts...so now you know where Bob is and where he will be going.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Friday, January 16, 2015
Chacala to La Cruz
On Wednesday 3 friends from Manitoba joined Bob for a day sail. This came about in a serendipitous fashion. We had an email from these friends telling us that they were coming to Mexico for a vacation. I mentioned to Bob that where they would be staying in a place close to Chacala, where Bob would anchor for a few days. Bob was in contact with them and they were excited (being sailing people) at the prospect of going on a day sail with Bob. And thus it happened that they spent a day together.
Yesterday Bob made the trip from Chacala to La Cruz. Apparently the winds were neither with him nor against him. He was able to sail for about an hour and motored the other 7 or so hours.
He commented on the difference between Chacala and La Cruz. Chacala has no night life whereas La Cruz starts bustling at nightfall. He chose to remain on the boat and have an early night rather than join in the festivities ashore.
Frankly I am envious of Bob as I do enjoy La Cruz. Nice restaurants and their Sunday market...especially the jewellery kiosks!! Oh well.
Bob will be in La Cruz for a few days before he continues his sojourn south.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Chacala
Bob reached Chacala today about 2 pm. He had virtually no wind at the beginning of his trip yesterday but did sail today for about 5 hr...winds of 20 to 25 knots. He said that he was going at good speed.
When I saw that Bob had reached Chacala I really wanted to be there as the bay is lovely. After an all nighter it is an exquisite relief to drop anchor and know that you can sleep. But then again it is somewhat like the relief you would feel after beating head against a wall and the stopping...!!
The trip was not without its difficulties. Bob had a new autopilot installed and a mechanism to make it easier to change from auto pilot to wind vane steering. The person who installed it did not tighten it properly so it fell apart ...of course that was in the 'bowels' of the boat. Bob described trying to thread a screw while the boat was going every which way in the waves. Aftter 2 hours he actually got it back together. Bob's tenacity does pay off! The lucky part of this is that it did not happen as he was going out the channel leaving Mazatlan. When this happened he had no way to steer the boat. In the channel that would have meant putting the boat on the rocks...an ugly thought. Bob had someone install this so the warranty was good. What good is the warranty when you are miles from anyone that can fix???
Tonight Bob will be in Chacala ..in fact he just called and by now he may be asleep.
His plan is to leave Chacala on Thursday. On Wednesday 2 friends from Manitoba are going to be on the boat and they will do a day sail around Chacala.. That should be fun for all of them.
So tonight I too will sleep.
When I saw that Bob had reached Chacala I really wanted to be there as the bay is lovely. After an all nighter it is an exquisite relief to drop anchor and know that you can sleep. But then again it is somewhat like the relief you would feel after beating head against a wall and the stopping...!!
The trip was not without its difficulties. Bob had a new autopilot installed and a mechanism to make it easier to change from auto pilot to wind vane steering. The person who installed it did not tighten it properly so it fell apart ...of course that was in the 'bowels' of the boat. Bob described trying to thread a screw while the boat was going every which way in the waves. Aftter 2 hours he actually got it back together. Bob's tenacity does pay off! The lucky part of this is that it did not happen as he was going out the channel leaving Mazatlan. When this happened he had no way to steer the boat. In the channel that would have meant putting the boat on the rocks...an ugly thought. Bob had someone install this so the warranty was good. What good is the warranty when you are miles from anyone that can fix???
Tonight Bob will be in Chacala ..in fact he just called and by now he may be asleep.
His plan is to leave Chacala on Thursday. On Wednesday 2 friends from Manitoba are going to be on the boat and they will do a day sail around Chacala.. That should be fun for all of them.
So tonight I too will sleep.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Bob and "Deanna B" have been 'Spotted' outside Marina Mazatlan
Bob is on his way south. I received a SPOT message which shows him outside the entrance to Marina Mazatlan. It should be an 'interesting' day as he will be using his new auto pilot and apparently it actually needs to 'learn' things about the boat before it can do its job correctly. This morning the winds are mellow so at least the conditions are conducive to using a new piece of equipment.
As you have surmised, I am not on the boat. Bob's destination is Zihuatanejo via Chacala, La Cruz, Chamela, Tenacatita, Barra de Navidad, Manzanillo, and perhaps a stop or 2 before he arrives in Zihuatenejo. When he arrives in Zihua, Patches and I will drive there to meet him.
Since January 2, we have driven home and Bob bussed it back to Mazatlan. He has spent the last few days doing all the last minute things to get ready to leave....and indeed he has left.
I promised photos so here they are.
Another lovely sky in Mazatlan.
Lena, Bob and Patches
Bob's desk ...this is it very tidy!
Bob, Deanna and Patches on New Year's Eve 2014
The dinner was excellent!
Another year has passed with alarming speed. Bob, to his great joy, spent months sailing and more months on the boat in Mazatlan ...repairing, replacing and enjoying himself.
It wasn't only boat work that occupied his time and mine. The garden project was a big one which turned out well. Bob built a wall which separates the garage from the terrace....now all his tools, etc are hidden behind the wall. That pleases me immensely.
In October I spent a week in San Antonio. Lovely city even though the heat almost killed me.
It was my first trip out of Mexico in more than 2 years!!
Plans for 2015. First is meeting Bob in Zihua. With all his stops he may not arrive there until Mid February. Patches and I will be on the boat for a month and then I will return to Patzcuaro about March 12. Mid March I will be going to Nicaragua for 10 days or so ...with my neighbour who is from Nicaragua. Then back to Zihua where I will pick up Patches and return to Patzcuaro. Bob will then sail back to Mazatlan ...he should arrive back here in May.
But you know what Burns said about 'the best laid plans' so this is a plan. As the months unfold we shall see what really happens.
As you have surmised, I am not on the boat. Bob's destination is Zihuatanejo via Chacala, La Cruz, Chamela, Tenacatita, Barra de Navidad, Manzanillo, and perhaps a stop or 2 before he arrives in Zihuatenejo. When he arrives in Zihua, Patches and I will drive there to meet him.
Since January 2, we have driven home and Bob bussed it back to Mazatlan. He has spent the last few days doing all the last minute things to get ready to leave....and indeed he has left.
I promised photos so here they are.
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| This is what the boat looked like for a few days. |
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| Tidier now. |
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| Decorating for Christmas. |
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| Patches on the now 'sitable' sofa. |
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| Happy hour at the beach. |
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| Yes another Mazatlan sunset. |
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| Manitobans All! |
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| Table ready for Christmas dinner. |
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| Our hosts Corinne and Brian |
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Corinne, Bob and Cal |
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| Brunch Dec 28, 2014. |
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| Judy and Cal champagne brunch |
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| Corinne and Brian champagne brunch |
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| New Year's Eve Menu at Dock 7. |
The dinner was excellent!
Another year has passed with alarming speed. Bob, to his great joy, spent months sailing and more months on the boat in Mazatlan ...repairing, replacing and enjoying himself.
It wasn't only boat work that occupied his time and mine. The garden project was a big one which turned out well. Bob built a wall which separates the garage from the terrace....now all his tools, etc are hidden behind the wall. That pleases me immensely.
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| Friends enjoying the new garden. |
In October I spent a week in San Antonio. Lovely city even though the heat almost killed me.
It was my first trip out of Mexico in more than 2 years!!
Plans for 2015. First is meeting Bob in Zihua. With all his stops he may not arrive there until Mid February. Patches and I will be on the boat for a month and then I will return to Patzcuaro about March 12. Mid March I will be going to Nicaragua for 10 days or so ...with my neighbour who is from Nicaragua. Then back to Zihua where I will pick up Patches and return to Patzcuaro. Bob will then sail back to Mazatlan ...he should arrive back here in May.
But you know what Burns said about 'the best laid plans' so this is a plan. As the months unfold we shall see what really happens.
Friday, January 2, 2015
How do you really know if your head is working??
Sorry..no photos as they take to long to load.. When I am in Patzcuaro I will post photos.
Yesterday we welcomed in the New Year in a different style...one I am sure that we will remember and not want to repeat on any day of the year.
Our head (read toilet) had been acting up.....so Bob decided that he would 'take a look' . That started yesterday morning at about 10 am and when the 'smoke' or whatever you want to call it cleared, Bob emerged at 6 pm!! Yes he spent his day in various contortionist positions as he removed hoses, valves and that is enough information...you can guess the rest. Most of the day, I saw only his feet as most the work (other than cleaning hoses) had to be done with his lying on his belly or back in a space that is the size of an oven. Now we wonder how the toilet worked at all as some of the hoses appeared to be totally clogged while others were about 90% clogged. This is probably the first time since we have owned the boat that the head is working correctly..but how would we know?
In my last blog I intimated that the hard jobs were done. Famous last works...mine were done but not so for Bob. The guy who waxes the boat could not do it so Bob spent 2 days waxing. He did that working my the dinghy.
But there were good times. On Christmas Eve we went to Cal and Judy's condo. (friends from Grindstone, our former home in Manitoba). The meal was wonderful. After the meal we tried our hand at Christmas carols..with Cal on guitar. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" saw us bogged down at about day 4...then we could not longer sing(doubtful that we could before) because of laughing.
Corinne and Brian hosted us on Christmas Day...another meal that few restaurants could best. I do love turkey! Lucky us.
After being so royally entertained by our friends, we hosted on the boat...sort of ?? The 6 of us enjoyed champagne and orange juice accompanied by a cheese plate. Then we went to a local restaurant for lunch...back to the boat for fruit salad and cookies. I had planned to cook on the boat but, after eating at Dock 7, I decided that a meal there would make my life much easier. And it is difficult to have 6 people for a meal on the boat.
New Year's Eve was spent quietly. Of course we did meet with the dock 6 people for our daily safety meeting...then we went to a restaurant ..Docck 7 for a meal. The meal was excellent..clam chowder, shrimp and creme brulee for dessert. I lost the battle to stay awake for midnight but I did wake up to welcome in the New Year.
On Sunday we leave for Patzcuaro with a stop in Guadalajara. Bob will return to Maz by bus and head south. He plans a leisurely trip arrving in Zihuatanejo in early February or whenever. Patches and I will meet him there and spend a month or so on the boat.
Our best wishes to all of you for a happy and prosperous 2015.
Yesterday we welcomed in the New Year in a different style...one I am sure that we will remember and not want to repeat on any day of the year.
Our head (read toilet) had been acting up.....so Bob decided that he would 'take a look' . That started yesterday morning at about 10 am and when the 'smoke' or whatever you want to call it cleared, Bob emerged at 6 pm!! Yes he spent his day in various contortionist positions as he removed hoses, valves and that is enough information...you can guess the rest. Most of the day, I saw only his feet as most the work (other than cleaning hoses) had to be done with his lying on his belly or back in a space that is the size of an oven. Now we wonder how the toilet worked at all as some of the hoses appeared to be totally clogged while others were about 90% clogged. This is probably the first time since we have owned the boat that the head is working correctly..but how would we know?
In my last blog I intimated that the hard jobs were done. Famous last works...mine were done but not so for Bob. The guy who waxes the boat could not do it so Bob spent 2 days waxing. He did that working my the dinghy.
But there were good times. On Christmas Eve we went to Cal and Judy's condo. (friends from Grindstone, our former home in Manitoba). The meal was wonderful. After the meal we tried our hand at Christmas carols..with Cal on guitar. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" saw us bogged down at about day 4...then we could not longer sing(doubtful that we could before) because of laughing.
Corinne and Brian hosted us on Christmas Day...another meal that few restaurants could best. I do love turkey! Lucky us.
After being so royally entertained by our friends, we hosted on the boat...sort of ?? The 6 of us enjoyed champagne and orange juice accompanied by a cheese plate. Then we went to a local restaurant for lunch...back to the boat for fruit salad and cookies. I had planned to cook on the boat but, after eating at Dock 7, I decided that a meal there would make my life much easier. And it is difficult to have 6 people for a meal on the boat.
New Year's Eve was spent quietly. Of course we did meet with the dock 6 people for our daily safety meeting...then we went to a restaurant ..Docck 7 for a meal. The meal was excellent..clam chowder, shrimp and creme brulee for dessert. I lost the battle to stay awake for midnight but I did wake up to welcome in the New Year.
On Sunday we leave for Patzcuaro with a stop in Guadalajara. Bob will return to Maz by bus and head south. He plans a leisurely trip arrving in Zihuatanejo in early February or whenever. Patches and I will meet him there and spend a month or so on the boat.
Our best wishes to all of you for a happy and prosperous 2015.
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