Walt Goes Up The Mast

It had to happen sooner or later - the halyard (the rope that pulls the mainsail up the mast) got fouled around the spreaders near the top of the mast.  Try as he might, Mike could not get it loose.  So that meant someone was going to have to go up the mast and get it loose manually.  This is something we have not done before, even though we have all the necessary equipment.  So Walt graciously volunteered.

We have this canvas chair-like thing you sit in, while one of the extra halyards is attached to the chair and the person is hauled on up.  We also set another halyard as a safety measure, which is attached to a harness the person going up also wears.  It was a raging success, the whole operation only took about a half an hour or so.  We were all pleased with ourselves, and with Walt especially.  It is pretty high up there, and Mike is afraid of heights.  Plus our fat asses would be a lot harder to haul up than Walt, who is slender as the proverbial willow reed.  Now all is well and ready to head into the marina in La Paz today.

Yesterday (the 12th) was Mike's birthday - I made him some brownies and we had clam spaghetti for dinner.  We also had a party the night before - we drank a LOT of wine (I discovered there was actually plenty of wine left - we keep it under a floorboard in the bilge, and I forgot that there is a section of that bilge area that is tucked up under the floorboards), laughed, sang, listened to music, stayed up til one in the morning to ring in Mike's birthday, and also jumped off the bow of the boat into the water.  It was a crazy good time and the best party imaginable, especially with only three people. 

We are anchored at Puerto Balandra, which is just outside of La Paz and fronts yet another amazingly beautiful beach.  Walt did encounter some jellyfish while snorkling a reef, but did not get badly stung.  So far we have been lucky with that.  Walt and I will be getting scuba certified here in La Paz - we are really looking forward to that.  We also need to get an underwater camera.  And a lot of other stuff as well.  Since we have been on our own, just cruising and anchoring for three weeks now, we have started to leaarn what we really need and want to have on board.  It is sort of hard to plan for it until you really get going.  I have learned that if you wrap each piece of citrus fruit individually in foil, they stay fresher longer.  Also, those green bags they advertise on TV do work - we had one tomato go bad, and finally used the last one last night.  We did not get enough onions, and eggs last about three weeks, likely no more than that.  Peppers do pretty well, and can still be used even after they get a little withered.  I now use poblano peppers instead of green peppers.  More flavorful and easier to get down here.  In San Evaristo, they had a little store where we were able to get some fresh produce, but we were lucky and got there on the right day, after delivery.  It is hard to imagine how remote it actually is down here - these little fishing villages are miles and miles down dirt roads from the main highways and very few people ever stop by unless like us they come by boat.  By the way, Mike and Walt now have special Spanish names.  Bandito names.  Noms de Guerre, if you will.  Mike is "El Propinero" (the tipper) and Walt is "Tostito Blanco"  which we have decided means White Corn Chip.  I am still looking for my new moniker. 

So - after today we will have better internet access and I will post some pictures of the wonderful places we have been.  I am looking forward to unlimited showers at the marina, and also using the air conditioning on occaision.  But I was listening to the Joni Mitchell song "Carey" the other day, and decided that my "clean white linens and fancy French cologne" have now become shower facilities at a marina and unlimited cold beer.  Not bad. 

The wind blows like crazy every night here - the winds are called "corumels" and blow directly out of the west beginning at sunset and go all night long.  The wind rings through the rigging and the wind power vane just screams.  The boat rocks, but not unpleasantly.  I like all of that as long as I am not worried about dragging anchor or anything like that.  And we have not had to worry about that since we have gotten good at anchoring and being sure the anchor has set.  Today our goal is to get underway as smoothly and calmly as possible.  Mike is nervous about pulling into the marina - docking is always a scarey experience, especially if there is any surge or current in the water.  But I have faith that today is going to go beautifully.  I can hardly wait to share my pictures!