Well...on March 5th I finally
got out of "Dodge".  I took off
from the marina with Carol, Richard
and Murphy on the S/V Vela.
We were off like a herd of
turtles and then Richard had some
engine overheating issues so we
only went to Caleta Lobos which
is not very far from La Paz on the
Baja Peninsula.  It was nice
stopping early and hanging out.
Carol made some delicious shrimp
pasta and all was right with the
world.
   Got up early and headed out this
time to Caleta Partida. A great stop
while on the way up north.  There
were several other boats there and
I made California Rolls for dinner
that night.  We were sort of light
weights and that evening just made
an emergency wine delivery to Brenda
on Firefly (she had failed to provision
very well in my book and we had

S/V Vela

some provisioning discussions) then back to Jasdip for the rolls and off to bed!!  Vela likes to rise fairly early.
Which I actually enjoy as long as
I have a grip on the boat chores.
Everything is starting to get a lot
more routine for me and I am starting
to really be able to relax and enjoy
the trips.
   We then left there the next am and headed for Isla San Francisco.  We were holed up there for 3 days during a fairly fierce Northern Blow.
It is sea grass time and the Island is not
quite as pretty with the dark water
but still a great place to get stuck.

  We hightailed it out of there as soon
as the wind calmed down and
went to the back side of SF where we anchored in 14 feet of the most beautiful, clear water and immediately
headed for the white sandy beach.
Murphy (Springer spaniel with an
amazing personality) had a great time
romping and swimming  and generally
wearing himself out, which is the

Mr Murphy wanting to head in after a seagull!

purpose of the excursion as we all know!  That dog will get in the
water and just swim for the heck
of it.  No goal, no destination
just swim till someone makes him
stop.
  Next am had a lovely dinghy ride
to Amortajada and went through the lagoon to to the other side where we
stopped a bit for a brew and
some snacks and to watch Murphy swim.

Exit from the Lagoon to the sea

  It was windy so we actually went back the way we came cause it was
shorter and warmer. Got back and had cocktails on Jasdip. I got out of my chair to get Carol and drink and she plopped right down in it and claimed possession!

See she took my spot!!!

She took my drink, my hat and my binocs and claimed she was me! She made a
good one only much better looking!!!
   I took a picture of Vela that evening, the
wind was absent so you can actually see
her mast and reflection in the
water.

Carol 

   Off to several places depending on the wind.  Wound up just above a fishing village called Mangle Solo on Isla San Jose.  It was quite picturesque. I spent 5 hours trying to get my thru hull for my holding tank
opened to no avail.  That is when I was looking
for the captain to inform him/her that it was
necessary now to go in the water and try
from the other end so to speak. I couldn't find
that person so I guess it was up to me.

Jasdip North side of SF

  Got on my shorty wet suit, had a shot of
whiskey for courage and to help fend off
the heart attack from the cold and
jumped in.  I tried and tried but to
no avail.  Next time I need to take the
plunger and this metal rod that has
been on Jasdip since 1998. Dan and I
have moved and stored that thing
for 14 years not knowing what it was
for but knowing it was for some

This was the beach above Mangle Solo at dusk 

purpose we hadn't found yet because
the previous owners would not have
anything on the boat if it didn't have
a purpose.  Wish I could tell Danno
that I finally figured out what it
was for!!! Anyway there was no
joy and all I got for my troubles
was a ridiculous rash of stings all over my body!  That"ll teach me.
   A fisherman came up to us and Richard bought 2 1/2 kilos of fresh
red snapper fillets for 100 pesos

Carol always taking pictures!

a beer and a coke. That is the
way I like to go fishing! The next morning I had to  make the decision to leave or stay another day.  I was getting farther and farther away from La Paz and had to return to pick up Jim Jessie who is coming for a visit tomorrow so I elected
to honor my responsibilities and head home.  I sailed wing on wing for at least
two hours and 6 knots, towing the dinghy and motor no less.
   I saw "Flippin Rays" which made my trip complete. I also finally found the
S/V Outrider crew at Isla Partida and spent a day there with Ann, Jeff and Perkins.  We had more California rolls and hung out. It was like summer this
trip.....well......like late spring I guess....summer is a whole different ball game.
   

Anne and the California rolls

    I left the next morning about 6am or so and headed back to La Paz. It was
pretty much a motor trip because I wanted to get home before the wind picked up for docking and I needed to go  to the fuel/pump out dock to get fuel and
at least empty my holding tank so the poor diver would have half a chance to
not get covered in "*&!!^"!!!  On my way in to the channel I spied a gray whale,
and a pod of gigantic dolphins. It was a beautiful morning!  Made it to the pump
out station and there was no one there so I docked by myself. Then I headed back to my slip and there was no one there either so I docked again by myself. I secretly hoped there would be no one at either place because it had been a while
since I had docked alone and I wanted to make sure  I remembered how.  Well....
I do and I feel much better having done that!!!  It all helps.
   Jimmy Jessie comes tomorrow night.  We provision on Tuesday and hopefully
leave for the Islands on Wed.  I am looking forward to  the company.........
     Adios mi amigos.........

The Deck is Done!!!!

     Yes! Yes! Yes the deck is DONE!!
I have my boat back and it is relatively
orderly again.  What a task.  It looks
beautiful and feels wonderful!! Almost
sensual at least to those of us who
really appreciate teak. Everyone who
looks at it has to touch it.  It is actually
kind of funny.  I personally love
walking on it with bare feet.
     Well this was cause for celebration
and as if the upcoming Carnival is not
enough celebrating we had to have
a "deck warming" on Jasdip. It again
must have been some sort of record for
the # of folks in the cockpit.  We truly
packed in the bodies and it was great fun.
The usual suspects, those who already
had their deck done and those who will
have theirs done (it is highly contagious).

   There are several though,
that don't even want to have
anything to do with teak, or
any other wood for that matter
and those folks can appreciate teak
from afar only......


   Got to get going, Carnival
starts today and I must be ready.

In Between the Deck work there is some fun to be had!

Getting Ready

   Last Friday and Saturday
there were two shows each
night of these extraordinary
acrobats!  The show took
place on their sailboat and
they virtually swung in the
rigging and climbed all over\
the boat. The first show was
sort of a Keystone Cops type
with exaggerated slapstick
of the trials and tribulations

The Audience

of couples sailing. Very
Funny!!  The next one (this is
the one I got pictures of) was
a romantic "Dance" on the
boat.  They were great!
The gratuities they received will
be used to fund their cruise around
the world and some goes to local
charities in the cities they visit.
Bravo on them!!

The beginning

Middle

End

They left me almost
Speechless!

            Then of course the Deck.  It is almost done today (Thursday).
Got to get back to work!!

The deck is moving forward.....

Doug and Lynne

Managing to secure the wheel over the curb and avoid the rebar on the sidewalk  was a magnificent first park job in Mexico for Brenda ( and no there was no wine involved!)! 

Don the Birthday Boy!

But first a goodbye to S/V Miramar. Doug,
Lynne and Higgins.  Off to the mainland and
a trip down to the south for fun.
 They will be back sometime in the spring to sail the Sea of Cortez.
     Then a trip to town just to get out with Brenda  of S/V Firefly and Lisa of S/V Gypsea.  The first thing we had to do was jump the Explorer then off we went.  Took a bit of time.
   Then it was Don's Birthday!  A cake, a musical
light house and a candle. Then dinner at El
Corazon. Another great night.
    Saturday was one of the lowest tides of the year and Don and Kathy and I took the dinghy
out to the Magote (big sand Island in the Bay)

A Birthday Dance!

and navigated                                                                          around all of the sand bars in the
                                                                           Bay. It was amazing to see how
                                                                           shallow parts of the Bay are. There were
                                                                            many folks out just walking on
the Bay.  Kathy has the pictures so
I need to get a few. I was driving.
It was a great excursion and the
Bay was calm and warm!

    Monday the deck started.  The old one came
off.  It apparently came off fairly easily
because the teak had not adhered properly
from the very beginning.  The deck itself
was in good shape and the new teak is
going down.  There are screws only on
the outside piece.  It is starting to
look like a deck.
    Anyway I am excited but tired and
we have to do it all again tomorrow.
Good night for now.

Jasdip is getting spiffed up!

Slowly but surely Jasdip

Removed the old varnish and this is what it looks like.

is getting some things done

to spruce her up.  I have been

wanting to do this for a long time.

Here are a few pics of the 

updates.  A new awning for the 

sun that I can actually put up/ and

take down by myself!  No poles

to slip, with great fanfare never to 

be seen again!  Leaving the 

hapless crew with no shade!

    The floor is being varnished

a little at a time due to the fact that I

A New Sun Awning

must continue to live on her. Hector 

also made me a new main sail cover

that has the slits for the Lazy Jacks!!

Yeah!! 

     The new deck began last 

Monday.  As of today (Friday)

the old deck is off and it has been

ground. Today is the beginning

of the wood placement.

 

Old Deck Electrolysis on the screws

The Old deck.....

Removal of all the deck fittings

Luckily I don't have to many.

The head finally got painted and the varnish is being done.

Yet another Party!

Adrianna, Carlos, Pamela and Nelva

  I almost forgot the Marina Palmira
Christmas Party. It was at the patio
outside the Marina office.  Carlos
(the boss) had appetizers and wine and we cruisers definitely put a dent in
the Tienda's supply.  We saw one of
the girls who used to work there
whom we all just love. Marcella came and brought her sister. The ladies at the
front desk are the most friendly and
helpful people in the world.
Marcella was the one who found
me a slip when I first got here
and the Norther was blowing
me to heck while at the
Anchorage. She was and still is
my guardian angel. She and
Adrianna.  It was JASDIP!

Marcella and Kathy 

Tale of two Gulets !

   Gulets are Turkish built yachts made of wood especially for chartering.
 They are replicas of old Turkish trade ships.  There are two here at Marina
Palmira.  Do not know what is going on with them but one is definitely in better

shape that tho other!  A few
weeks ago the less sound one
started to sink and tip. It was sad
but it has been thought that it is
a hazard to all  the other boats
if it ever breaks loose in a
blow. Folks at the Marina
hired some people to attempt
to right it. It was a 3 week
project and it was most
entertaining. They did keep it from
falling over and blocking the
Marina fairway.  There were small
tow trucks and bigger tow trucks
"dead heads" (large blocks of cement with an eye bolt sticking out of the
top). Then there were pangas, divers
and then cisterns.  This was by no means a professional salvage
operation and there was damage to one of her masts but they did it!! I am
truly amazed. They tied those
cisterns to her starboard side, put
pile-ons through her open ports and
pumped the water out while
tugging on her masts with a two truck!

Only in Mexico!!