With all the complaining I have been doing lately about how I am eager to get moving, yesterday was a reminder of why I am actually in Mexico.
We went to the beach for the first time in a long time, since Mike was not thinking it was a good idea for him to be in ocean water while he was healing up. (My mom always said ocean water was good for wounds but then he said a lot of things.) So we decided to go - clear, refreshing water, golden sand, lots of kids playing around to entertain us - and two guys off by the cliffs diving for and shucking oysters, then selling them to us on a plate with frresh limes and hot sauce. They were unbelievably delicious. (The guys wer cute but I am talking about the oysters.) They tasted just like the ocean smells at its freshest. Not a hint of fishiness. Not too briny. Just amazing. Then we came back to the boat and Mike whipped up a black bean and vegetable stew that was fabulous. All in all, what a wonderful day.
We are still on track to leave Thursday or Friday, unless things change with the weather report. Everything is pretty well set - we just need to do some shopping for groceries and a few odds and ends.
The violet swallows have returned and are again trying to build their nest under my solar panels. This will not do! I have to get rid of it before they lay eggs and then I hve something bad on my conscience. I think I might have to lay a towel over the TINY entrance they go into. We have started calling them "violent" swallows. Don't get me wrong - I love those pretty little birds, but under the solar panels is in no way an appropriate place for them to live and raise their children. I salute their propensity for eatng mosquitos at dusk, but they have to live somewhere else.
This morning I got up and went outside to drop off the laundry on the deck for the laundry lady to pick up. I stood there for a while, just looking at everything here in the marina. It was really quiet, as the guys who clean and fuss over the megayachts everyday weren't here yet with their radios, and the water was still with hardly any surge. I could see fish swimming around just under the surface, and birds diving to catch them. The swallows were dive bombing me because I was invading their space. A big spotted puffer fish was swimming along the side of the pier, eating whatever crap it is that they eat. The birds were all calling out to each other, and jockeying for the best pier position. I just stood there, taking it all in and being really grateful just to be here.
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." (Oscar Wilde)
Monday, April 9, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Getting Closer
Time is creeping along, but we are getting a lot closer to actually leaving. Yesterday we cleaned out the vee berth - like I said, it took about 20 minutes. Mike cleaned and reorganized his tool closet and tool locker - let's see how long that lasts, he never puts anything in the same place twice.
On that note, one of my best skills is finding things that are lost. I am very good at it. I have a system that almost never fails. First I think about the object, figuring out what it is used for and where we might use it. Then I staart systematically searching those places and most of the time I find it right away. (This of course is after Mike has torn the place apart trying to find it.) If I do not find it, I think about the last time it was used and what it was being used for, and then search wherever I didn't search before. If that doesn't work, I think about all the things that might have gone wrong and caused it to end up someplace weird. I know it sounds simple, but people rarely look for things that way. When I was a clerical worker, I was renowned for my ability to locate lost case files. And the reason I am so good at this is because when I was a kid, my mom would go apeshit everytime something went missing, even something as stupid as a plastic comb. I got really tired of getting screamed at, and I didn't seem to be able to make things stop disappearing, so I got really good at finding things. It just takes a logical, systematic approach.
I just discovered the milk is frozen! I will have to move it further away from the freezer unit. In the new fridge, we have a bigger freezer compartment, which means the fridge part is smaller. I don't think it will be a problem. Mike also accidentally froze some beer - but he thawed it out and drank it anyway. But I would rather have to worry about stuff freezing when it shouldn't than have to worry about things thawing when they shouldn't. When we emailed the guy in Mazatlan who sold us all the fridge parts and also included step by step hand written instructions and told him Mike had done everything but the charging and vacuming, he was impressed and told Mike he would hire him any time. I was impressed to, but not surprized. One thing Mike can do is fix pretty much anything. The only thing he will not work on here on the boat is the engine, and that only because we don't have the tools to do so. That was why he didn't charge and vacume the new fridge - it requires special equipment that is expensive and (more importantly) large and bulky.
I just read a blog from some cruisers who just left El Salvador - I am so excited to get there! They took a three day tour of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatamala. I don't like such whirlwind tours, I want to spend some time in each place. All three places have a lot of Mayan ruins to see, as well as beautiful flora and fauna. It does appear a bit rougher than Mexico, but we will get used to that. It took me awhile to get used to seeing armed soldiers here, as I am not comfortable around guns, but I did become accustomed to it.
Anyway - this is all for today. Happy Easter to everyone!
"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." (Marilyn Monroe)
On that note, one of my best skills is finding things that are lost. I am very good at it. I have a system that almost never fails. First I think about the object, figuring out what it is used for and where we might use it. Then I staart systematically searching those places and most of the time I find it right away. (This of course is after Mike has torn the place apart trying to find it.) If I do not find it, I think about the last time it was used and what it was being used for, and then search wherever I didn't search before. If that doesn't work, I think about all the things that might have gone wrong and caused it to end up someplace weird. I know it sounds simple, but people rarely look for things that way. When I was a clerical worker, I was renowned for my ability to locate lost case files. And the reason I am so good at this is because when I was a kid, my mom would go apeshit everytime something went missing, even something as stupid as a plastic comb. I got really tired of getting screamed at, and I didn't seem to be able to make things stop disappearing, so I got really good at finding things. It just takes a logical, systematic approach.
I just discovered the milk is frozen! I will have to move it further away from the freezer unit. In the new fridge, we have a bigger freezer compartment, which means the fridge part is smaller. I don't think it will be a problem. Mike also accidentally froze some beer - but he thawed it out and drank it anyway. But I would rather have to worry about stuff freezing when it shouldn't than have to worry about things thawing when they shouldn't. When we emailed the guy in Mazatlan who sold us all the fridge parts and also included step by step hand written instructions and told him Mike had done everything but the charging and vacuming, he was impressed and told Mike he would hire him any time. I was impressed to, but not surprized. One thing Mike can do is fix pretty much anything. The only thing he will not work on here on the boat is the engine, and that only because we don't have the tools to do so. That was why he didn't charge and vacume the new fridge - it requires special equipment that is expensive and (more importantly) large and bulky.
I just read a blog from some cruisers who just left El Salvador - I am so excited to get there! They took a three day tour of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatamala. I don't like such whirlwind tours, I want to spend some time in each place. All three places have a lot of Mayan ruins to see, as well as beautiful flora and fauna. It does appear a bit rougher than Mexico, but we will get used to that. It took me awhile to get used to seeing armed soldiers here, as I am not comfortable around guns, but I did become accustomed to it.
Anyway - this is all for today. Happy Easter to everyone!
"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." (Marilyn Monroe)
Friday, April 6, 2012
So Far, So Good
No problems with the fridge, I am happy to report. We have cold beer and ice and last night on the way home from dinner out, we talked about how nice it was to walk to town and back since we didn't have to drag two huge bags of ice home in a cab. So now we are focused on getting out of here.
Yesterday we washed the boat down, and scrubbed off all the accumulated bird poop. We made an unpleasant discovery - the violet swallows were building a nest right under the solar panels. I had been wondering why I kept seeing pieces of weeds and grass lying on the deck. I love birds, and these little birds are wonderful, but we had a bad experience when we allowed some of these guys to nest in our uncovered mainsail last year in Mazatlan. Aside from making a big mess, we couldn't leave when we wanted to because we felt bad about disturbing the eggs. After all, we knew they were there and pretty much allowed it to happen, so we had to deal with the consequences. And the consequences were bad for everyone - we kept finding dead baby birds (that looked very embryonic) on the deck. Mike thinks it got too hot under the sail. So this time we made sure there was no place for them - guess again. Honestly, there is barely enough room under those panels for me to stick my hand. We never dreamed they wouold consider that as an appropriate place to raise their babies. But luckily when we lifted the panel up, we discovered they were only collecting materials and had not even finished the nest, let alone lay any eggs. So we washed the area clean with the hose, although it was not pleasent because the birds were sort of dive bombing us and complaining loudly. Still, I hope I did them a favor and hopefully they will find more congenial nesting grounds than underneath our solar panels.
It is Easter week - or Semana Santa as they call it here. We had no idea, since I really don't celebrate Easter. (I don't like jelly beans or other Easter candy, no kids to make baskets for, I don't go to church, and I don't like ham and scalloped potatoes, which was the standard Easter fare when I was growing up. I am not disrespecting Easter in any way, so don't be mad at me.) Anyway, we figured it out when we were surprised to find the beach and the town itself absolutely packed with tourists. Semana Santa is possibly the biggest vacation period in Mexico - everybody goes somewhere, especially to the beach. All the hotels are full, the shops are crowded, and everyone is having a great time. There are these guys on the beach selling things, and one of the things they sell are temporary tattoos. There was the little kid at the table next to us (yes, a restaurant right on the beach) who had one on his arm of a scorpion. He must have been about six, and spent a great deal of time standing by us flexing his arm, to make sure we saw his new tattoo. We admired it profusely and he was very happy. One thing about being here is that you rarely ever see a bratty kid. I mean of course I have seen crying babies and fussy toddlers - that is just what they do, anywhere in the world. But you never see kids having tantrums, whining to beat the band, or generally being obnoxious in public. And you see kids out and about everywhere, even at night, with their parents. They aren't little robots - they run and play and yell, but never in an annoying, inappropriate way. And the teenagers are the same way - even when they look like little thugs, they are polite and never obnoxious. They grab up their skateboards before you have to jump into the street to avoid getting run down. They clear the sidewalk when someone approaches when they are walking four abreast. It is really impressive. Mike and I were talking last night about how many things we love about Mexico and how we are going to miss it. I am looking forward to seeing and learning new things, but I really love it here and am having a hard time saying adios. I will instead say "Hasta La Vista" (until I see you) or "Hasta Luego" (see you later).
Otherwise, nothing to report. We have to clean out the vee berth today and I am not looking forward to it. "Clean" is not really the right word - it isn't dirty, but we have thrown a lot of stuff back there that now has to be straightened out and stowed away properly. We saved our old solar panels because they can be used by some people in El Salvador, people who live on an island near where we are going who have no power at all. (The old panels work still, we just bought bigger and stronger ones.) The rally organizers suggested we bring them, so we did. Then there is all the other stuff that just sort of accumulates there - like parts for the old fridge that still work, and some other things I am hoping Mike will decide to get rid of. But truthfully, this is a chore I always dread and it always ends up being really easy and quick. I don't mind cleaning, but I hate picking up. And I hate vacuming. Luckily I did that yesterday. We have a big, annoying shop vac that we use when we have shore power or when the engine is running f we are anchored. I have to admit it does a good job, but it takes up a lot of room. Then all we really need to do is to batten everything down (a 20 minute task that I have down pat) and get our final load of provisions.
We also cleaned the dinghy bottom and stowed it yesterday. I was happily surprised to discover that the bottom was not covered with hard to scrape off barnacles. It required some scrubbing and a bit of scraping, but it has been a lot worse, believe me. And the other task we accomplished was to take the fenders up and clean them off as well. We forgot to do this one time - and when we took off and pulled them up, we discovered the part that hangs in the water was covered with barnacles and other sea matter. We had to leave them on deck for most of the journey instead of stowing them in the vee berth because they smelled very bad, since we couldn't really clean them properly while underway. I have seen these stainless steel basket type things you can hang on the rails so the fenders do not have to be stored below. I want some. Mike thinks it would work, but I have never seen any for sale down here, and they would be bulky to try and carry home from the US. I bet Mike could fashion something - or perhaps I can learn some macrame skills and make some out of rope. It would be nice not to have them taking up space below decks while underway or at anchor. Space is always at a premium on Magda Jean!
So that is all for today. Mike is going to check the weather today and we will find out when we get to leave. Keep a good thought for me - that the Bay of Tehuantepec will be calm all next week!
"He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetary." Harold Wilson
Yesterday we washed the boat down, and scrubbed off all the accumulated bird poop. We made an unpleasant discovery - the violet swallows were building a nest right under the solar panels. I had been wondering why I kept seeing pieces of weeds and grass lying on the deck. I love birds, and these little birds are wonderful, but we had a bad experience when we allowed some of these guys to nest in our uncovered mainsail last year in Mazatlan. Aside from making a big mess, we couldn't leave when we wanted to because we felt bad about disturbing the eggs. After all, we knew they were there and pretty much allowed it to happen, so we had to deal with the consequences. And the consequences were bad for everyone - we kept finding dead baby birds (that looked very embryonic) on the deck. Mike thinks it got too hot under the sail. So this time we made sure there was no place for them - guess again. Honestly, there is barely enough room under those panels for me to stick my hand. We never dreamed they wouold consider that as an appropriate place to raise their babies. But luckily when we lifted the panel up, we discovered they were only collecting materials and had not even finished the nest, let alone lay any eggs. So we washed the area clean with the hose, although it was not pleasent because the birds were sort of dive bombing us and complaining loudly. Still, I hope I did them a favor and hopefully they will find more congenial nesting grounds than underneath our solar panels.
It is Easter week - or Semana Santa as they call it here. We had no idea, since I really don't celebrate Easter. (I don't like jelly beans or other Easter candy, no kids to make baskets for, I don't go to church, and I don't like ham and scalloped potatoes, which was the standard Easter fare when I was growing up. I am not disrespecting Easter in any way, so don't be mad at me.) Anyway, we figured it out when we were surprised to find the beach and the town itself absolutely packed with tourists. Semana Santa is possibly the biggest vacation period in Mexico - everybody goes somewhere, especially to the beach. All the hotels are full, the shops are crowded, and everyone is having a great time. There are these guys on the beach selling things, and one of the things they sell are temporary tattoos. There was the little kid at the table next to us (yes, a restaurant right on the beach) who had one on his arm of a scorpion. He must have been about six, and spent a great deal of time standing by us flexing his arm, to make sure we saw his new tattoo. We admired it profusely and he was very happy. One thing about being here is that you rarely ever see a bratty kid. I mean of course I have seen crying babies and fussy toddlers - that is just what they do, anywhere in the world. But you never see kids having tantrums, whining to beat the band, or generally being obnoxious in public. And you see kids out and about everywhere, even at night, with their parents. They aren't little robots - they run and play and yell, but never in an annoying, inappropriate way. And the teenagers are the same way - even when they look like little thugs, they are polite and never obnoxious. They grab up their skateboards before you have to jump into the street to avoid getting run down. They clear the sidewalk when someone approaches when they are walking four abreast. It is really impressive. Mike and I were talking last night about how many things we love about Mexico and how we are going to miss it. I am looking forward to seeing and learning new things, but I really love it here and am having a hard time saying adios. I will instead say "Hasta La Vista" (until I see you) or "Hasta Luego" (see you later).
Otherwise, nothing to report. We have to clean out the vee berth today and I am not looking forward to it. "Clean" is not really the right word - it isn't dirty, but we have thrown a lot of stuff back there that now has to be straightened out and stowed away properly. We saved our old solar panels because they can be used by some people in El Salvador, people who live on an island near where we are going who have no power at all. (The old panels work still, we just bought bigger and stronger ones.) The rally organizers suggested we bring them, so we did. Then there is all the other stuff that just sort of accumulates there - like parts for the old fridge that still work, and some other things I am hoping Mike will decide to get rid of. But truthfully, this is a chore I always dread and it always ends up being really easy and quick. I don't mind cleaning, but I hate picking up. And I hate vacuming. Luckily I did that yesterday. We have a big, annoying shop vac that we use when we have shore power or when the engine is running f we are anchored. I have to admit it does a good job, but it takes up a lot of room. Then all we really need to do is to batten everything down (a 20 minute task that I have down pat) and get our final load of provisions.
We also cleaned the dinghy bottom and stowed it yesterday. I was happily surprised to discover that the bottom was not covered with hard to scrape off barnacles. It required some scrubbing and a bit of scraping, but it has been a lot worse, believe me. And the other task we accomplished was to take the fenders up and clean them off as well. We forgot to do this one time - and when we took off and pulled them up, we discovered the part that hangs in the water was covered with barnacles and other sea matter. We had to leave them on deck for most of the journey instead of stowing them in the vee berth because they smelled very bad, since we couldn't really clean them properly while underway. I have seen these stainless steel basket type things you can hang on the rails so the fenders do not have to be stored below. I want some. Mike thinks it would work, but I have never seen any for sale down here, and they would be bulky to try and carry home from the US. I bet Mike could fashion something - or perhaps I can learn some macrame skills and make some out of rope. It would be nice not to have them taking up space below decks while underway or at anchor. Space is always at a premium on Magda Jean!
So that is all for today. Mike is going to check the weather today and we will find out when we get to leave. Keep a good thought for me - that the Bay of Tehuantepec will be calm all next week!
"He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetary." Harold Wilson
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The New Refrigerater is In!
Yup, it is true. After working on it all day yesterday, Mike completed the installation. We still had to do some things we didn't have the equipment for, so I called Senor Emilio, who fixes fridges. (OK, now that it is fixed I will spell it right.) This is not as simple as it sounds, because Senor Emilio does not speak English. And while my Spanish has gotten a lot better, technical stuff is difficult and not in always in the dictionary. So anyway, I looked up the words I hoped would suffice and wrote down what I hoped would be sufficient - talk of charging and vacuming and what kind of freon was needed. Senor Emilio said he would be at the boat in a couple of hours and lo and behold when he showed up, he had understood me perfectly as he had everything we needed! The new fridge is now getting cold and everything seems fine. I hope Mike does not wake up and decide there is a problem, but I supposed anything is possible. Senor Emilio told us the installation was fine, but the proof will be if it is getting cold enough and cycling on and off correctly. It seems fine to me this morning, but what do I know?
Anyway, this means we can start getting ready to leave. It only takes a couple of days to get the boat ready to go, (as I recited as nauseum yesterday) and a day to deal with clearing out of the country. And of course the weather has to be right as we are going to cross the dreaded Bay of Tehuatepec. It is supposed to be calming down this time of year, but we don't want to take chances and get the crap beat out of us at best, or have a problem at worst.
So now - I do have a chore to do - I have to go shopping. We got Mike's mom a necklace and she wants earrings to go with it. And I would like a few things myself. Mike needs new shorts and bathing trunks. And we have a lot of pesos that need to be used up as El Salvador uses US dollars as currency.
Last night I dreamed I was back in the US visiting. I went to a class for someone who couldn't be there, and my best friend Sue was in the class. I decided I was being disruptive in class (just talking and getting everyone else talking and not doing any classwork), so I figured I better leave. I went outside and get ready to get on a bus, but then realized I had only pesos and no US money for the bus. A guy tried to give me a ten dollar bill, but I told him that was too much and I couldn't accept it. So I started looking for a bank. It took forever, walking up and down the streets. I finally found one, and the counters were so high I had to jump up to see when a teller was available. It was at that point I realized I had left my shoes in class and would have to go back and get them. I finally got some money changed, and went to find my shoes. But as I was wwalking back to the school, I realized I had no pants on either. I kept trying to pull my shirt and suit jacket down (I had been dressed as if for court, where I was in an early part of the dream). The pople at the school said they had seen my clothes and shoes but we couldn't find them. I noticed that no one seemed concerned that I had no pants on, so I decided to ignore it. It went on for a while in that same vein. It wasn't a bad dream at all, just strange. It is also one of many dreams in which I lose my shoes. I wonder why that is? I love shoes.
Well, I had better get going. Hopefully I will be back to travel soon, and won't have to bore everyone with my dreams. But they are very real to me. It is like I have two lives - one that goes on while I am awake, and another that goes on while I am asleep. Thank goodness I still know the difference.
"Cruising has two pleasures. One is to go out in wider waters from a sheltered place. The other is to go into a sheltered place from wider waters." Howard Bloomfield
Anyway, this means we can start getting ready to leave. It only takes a couple of days to get the boat ready to go, (as I recited as nauseum yesterday) and a day to deal with clearing out of the country. And of course the weather has to be right as we are going to cross the dreaded Bay of Tehuatepec. It is supposed to be calming down this time of year, but we don't want to take chances and get the crap beat out of us at best, or have a problem at worst.
So now - I do have a chore to do - I have to go shopping. We got Mike's mom a necklace and she wants earrings to go with it. And I would like a few things myself. Mike needs new shorts and bathing trunks. And we have a lot of pesos that need to be used up as El Salvador uses US dollars as currency.
Last night I dreamed I was back in the US visiting. I went to a class for someone who couldn't be there, and my best friend Sue was in the class. I decided I was being disruptive in class (just talking and getting everyone else talking and not doing any classwork), so I figured I better leave. I went outside and get ready to get on a bus, but then realized I had only pesos and no US money for the bus. A guy tried to give me a ten dollar bill, but I told him that was too much and I couldn't accept it. So I started looking for a bank. It took forever, walking up and down the streets. I finally found one, and the counters were so high I had to jump up to see when a teller was available. It was at that point I realized I had left my shoes in class and would have to go back and get them. I finally got some money changed, and went to find my shoes. But as I was wwalking back to the school, I realized I had no pants on either. I kept trying to pull my shirt and suit jacket down (I had been dressed as if for court, where I was in an early part of the dream). The pople at the school said they had seen my clothes and shoes but we couldn't find them. I noticed that no one seemed concerned that I had no pants on, so I decided to ignore it. It went on for a while in that same vein. It wasn't a bad dream at all, just strange. It is also one of many dreams in which I lose my shoes. I wonder why that is? I love shoes.
Well, I had better get going. Hopefully I will be back to travel soon, and won't have to bore everyone with my dreams. But they are very real to me. It is like I have two lives - one that goes on while I am awake, and another that goes on while I am asleep. Thank goodness I still know the difference.
"Cruising has two pleasures. One is to go out in wider waters from a sheltered place. The other is to go into a sheltered place from wider waters." Howard Bloomfield
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Back to the Installation Project
Yup, Mike is well enough that he has resumed work on the frig. We think we will be out of here and on our way to El Salvador next week, weather permitting of course. I am really happy about that.
Last night I dreamed that I had a goldfish or some kind of aquarium fish that I was training to jump out of the water when I fed it. I had gotten it to the point of sticking it's head out of the water when I woke up. I wonder if you could really train a fish to do that. Lots of fish jump out of the water regularly, it is just what they do. Manta Rays jump out of the water all the time - when we were in the Sea of Cortez this summer, it almost sounded like gunshots when they jumped and splashed back down. There would be whole groups of them doing it together. I think they do it because it is fun and it feels good to them and because maybe they are curious about what is above them. Mike read an article that said rays are pretty smart. Marlins jump too - and so do dorado. The more I learn about fish and the more I watch them, the less I want to catch them. I read in another blog that dorado mate for life. I have noticed that they are often seen in pairs - and they are one of the few fish I can think of where the males and females look different. The head shape is different.
It looks like Mike is not going to have any problems with the frig. He did a lot of work on it yesterday, including welding (he called it brazing) some copper tubing together. I discovered copper turns really pretty colors during that process. We are hoping the frig guy can come on Thursday and that would finish things up. We discovered a store that sells frozen meats, so we can fill the new freezer unit with plenty to last us until we get to El Salvador and can reprovision. However, we have vowed to eat less red meat and more fruits and vegetables since Mike's malady is being blamed on a not so great diet. We have both lost some weight since beginning this new way of eating, which actually is not so new - I was a vegan for about two years until I got bored with it. I think we will be quasi-vegetarians, which to me means mainly fish and chicken, with meatless days thrown in for good measure. The interesting thing about the produce here is that while it may not be as pretty as the produce in the US, it usually tastes better. I think the food here makes less stops between the farm and one's plate. In the markets you see whole sides of beef being cut to order, and live chickens. The fish is also very fresh. All in all, the food in the markets and small stores is better than what you get in the supermarkets here. And all the different things are clustered together. One street has the produce stores, the next one will have meats, the automotive repair places are clustered together, and stuff like that. Once you learn it all, you know where to go to get whatever you want. And no matter how small the town, or even village, there will be at least one party store, where they rent out tables and things and sell everything you need for any kind of a party.
So with Mike healthy again and the frig well on its way, I have to job of getting the boat ready to be underway. It isn't difficult - just finding space for things that are usually left out, because you don't want things flying around. I have gotten pretty good at taking care of that - using towels to stuff around things that might roll, making sure the things in the cupboards are solidly placed, strapping down things that might fall off a shelf, and so on. We make sure the water tanks are full and we already filled up with gas and diesel. Friday we have someone coming to clean the bottom of the boat and the through hulls, and the day before we leave we will take the dinghy out of the water, clean it, and stow it away on top of the boat. We do that last bcause when stowed, it blocks an overhead hatch that we normally like to have open for coolness and light. We will have one last load of laundry done, put clean sheets on the bed, and make sure all the safety gear is ready to go. We have strict rules about using life jackets and hooking up to jacklines at night, or when it is rough anytime. It would be a nightmare to get up and wonder why you hadn't been awakened to relieve your partner on watch, only to discover no one there. We keep a log while underway that would help in that situation, because one of the things we record each hour is the lattitude and longitude. You would look at the last time there was an entry, and follow the GPS track back, and hopefully find the person, but you have to take into accounthow the surrents are going, and really, the chances of finding the person would be slim the more time that has passed. At least the water here is warm. In cold water, forget it. every now and then I read about someone falling off a boat. So we are careful and always stay clipped on when alone on night watch.
Well, on that cheerful note I will close for today.
"The only way to get a good crew is to marry one." Eric Hiscock
Last night I dreamed that I had a goldfish or some kind of aquarium fish that I was training to jump out of the water when I fed it. I had gotten it to the point of sticking it's head out of the water when I woke up. I wonder if you could really train a fish to do that. Lots of fish jump out of the water regularly, it is just what they do. Manta Rays jump out of the water all the time - when we were in the Sea of Cortez this summer, it almost sounded like gunshots when they jumped and splashed back down. There would be whole groups of them doing it together. I think they do it because it is fun and it feels good to them and because maybe they are curious about what is above them. Mike read an article that said rays are pretty smart. Marlins jump too - and so do dorado. The more I learn about fish and the more I watch them, the less I want to catch them. I read in another blog that dorado mate for life. I have noticed that they are often seen in pairs - and they are one of the few fish I can think of where the males and females look different. The head shape is different.
It looks like Mike is not going to have any problems with the frig. He did a lot of work on it yesterday, including welding (he called it brazing) some copper tubing together. I discovered copper turns really pretty colors during that process. We are hoping the frig guy can come on Thursday and that would finish things up. We discovered a store that sells frozen meats, so we can fill the new freezer unit with plenty to last us until we get to El Salvador and can reprovision. However, we have vowed to eat less red meat and more fruits and vegetables since Mike's malady is being blamed on a not so great diet. We have both lost some weight since beginning this new way of eating, which actually is not so new - I was a vegan for about two years until I got bored with it. I think we will be quasi-vegetarians, which to me means mainly fish and chicken, with meatless days thrown in for good measure. The interesting thing about the produce here is that while it may not be as pretty as the produce in the US, it usually tastes better. I think the food here makes less stops between the farm and one's plate. In the markets you see whole sides of beef being cut to order, and live chickens. The fish is also very fresh. All in all, the food in the markets and small stores is better than what you get in the supermarkets here. And all the different things are clustered together. One street has the produce stores, the next one will have meats, the automotive repair places are clustered together, and stuff like that. Once you learn it all, you know where to go to get whatever you want. And no matter how small the town, or even village, there will be at least one party store, where they rent out tables and things and sell everything you need for any kind of a party.
So with Mike healthy again and the frig well on its way, I have to job of getting the boat ready to be underway. It isn't difficult - just finding space for things that are usually left out, because you don't want things flying around. I have gotten pretty good at taking care of that - using towels to stuff around things that might roll, making sure the things in the cupboards are solidly placed, strapping down things that might fall off a shelf, and so on. We make sure the water tanks are full and we already filled up with gas and diesel. Friday we have someone coming to clean the bottom of the boat and the through hulls, and the day before we leave we will take the dinghy out of the water, clean it, and stow it away on top of the boat. We do that last bcause when stowed, it blocks an overhead hatch that we normally like to have open for coolness and light. We will have one last load of laundry done, put clean sheets on the bed, and make sure all the safety gear is ready to go. We have strict rules about using life jackets and hooking up to jacklines at night, or when it is rough anytime. It would be a nightmare to get up and wonder why you hadn't been awakened to relieve your partner on watch, only to discover no one there. We keep a log while underway that would help in that situation, because one of the things we record each hour is the lattitude and longitude. You would look at the last time there was an entry, and follow the GPS track back, and hopefully find the person, but you have to take into accounthow the surrents are going, and really, the chances of finding the person would be slim the more time that has passed. At least the water here is warm. In cold water, forget it. every now and then I read about someone falling off a boat. So we are careful and always stay clipped on when alone on night watch.
Well, on that cheerful note I will close for today.
"The only way to get a good crew is to marry one." Eric Hiscock
Friday, March 30, 2012
Better
Yes, he is getting better. He said yesterday he might be well enough to go to dinner tonight. We'll see. I am hopeful we will be able to leave in another week or so. We are paid up here at the marina until April 13 - I want to be gone before that, but it is significantly cheaper to pay by the month.
As usual, since Mike has has this medical issue, there is not much news to report. We did our taxes ourselves this year, using turbo tax. It seemed to work pretty well, and our taxes are not complicated. It was also a lot less expensive than paying someone else to do them. I wouldn't try it if we had complicated things, I am more afraid of the IRS than I am of almost anything else I can think of off the top of my head. And I hate dealing with money stuff. I mean, I am good with money, I have never been a spendthrift and have even had accounting jobs, so I can keep good books and things like that. I never had problems with overdrawing my checking account, or running up credit card bills. But when I have to involve a third party, for some reason, I just feel all panicky and stressed out, almost like I have done something wrong and am about to get caught for it. So it is a relief to me to have this done and out of the way. Mike, of course, did all the work. I just read numbers off the page to him.
We are contemplating leaving here as soon as Mike is ready and saving the rest of the frig repair until we get to El Salvador. We have been told there are good workers down there that could do the part Mike can't, which involves "vacuming" and"charging", both of which relate to the freon or whatever sort of gas actually makes the frig cold. Or that is my understanding anyway.
So other than watching a lot of movies, we are not up to much. I am hoping to begin some adventures soon so this blog will be worth reading again. Even I am getting bored with me.
"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." William Arthur Ward
As usual, since Mike has has this medical issue, there is not much news to report. We did our taxes ourselves this year, using turbo tax. It seemed to work pretty well, and our taxes are not complicated. It was also a lot less expensive than paying someone else to do them. I wouldn't try it if we had complicated things, I am more afraid of the IRS than I am of almost anything else I can think of off the top of my head. And I hate dealing with money stuff. I mean, I am good with money, I have never been a spendthrift and have even had accounting jobs, so I can keep good books and things like that. I never had problems with overdrawing my checking account, or running up credit card bills. But when I have to involve a third party, for some reason, I just feel all panicky and stressed out, almost like I have done something wrong and am about to get caught for it. So it is a relief to me to have this done and out of the way. Mike, of course, did all the work. I just read numbers off the page to him.
We are contemplating leaving here as soon as Mike is ready and saving the rest of the frig repair until we get to El Salvador. We have been told there are good workers down there that could do the part Mike can't, which involves "vacuming" and"charging", both of which relate to the freon or whatever sort of gas actually makes the frig cold. Or that is my understanding anyway.
So other than watching a lot of movies, we are not up to much. I am hoping to begin some adventures soon so this blog will be worth reading again. Even I am getting bored with me.
"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." William Arthur Ward
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sorry, Nothing New
Well, except for the fact Mike is getting better. He had lost faith in his original doctor, so we went for a second opinion (as to how the healing was going) to a new doctor, one who has an office at one of the big resorts here. This doctor spoke better English, which made it easier, because then Mike could answer the questions without me having to translate. (Except for Mike's tendency to ignore the call of the question and tell the doctor what he thought the doctor should know, rather than what was being asked. Mike would be a nightmare on the witness stand). This doctor was very thorough, and ended up prescribing a different antibiotic and ointment, all of which were way more expensive than the first batch, wihch hopefully means they are better and stronger. But Mike feels better with this doctor, and if he feels better, I feel better. I just want this over with, it has been hard on him.
Otherwise, except for daily trips to get ice and fresh produce (we are eating only fruits and veggies, except I get a roast chicken every couple of days) I never go anywhere and it is driving me nuts. Mike went with me to the store yesterday, after making sure I did not need a break from him. It is not him I need a break from, it is the boat itself. I really need to get out and do something, see something different, hear different things, just some sort of a change. I am dying to get the hell out of Dodge. This place is sort of a way station for cruisers - we all stop here on our way to and from Central America. It used to be this was the last stop in Mexico, but recently Port Chiapas, just the other side of the Bay of Tehuatepec, started to make it easier for cruisers to check in and out of Mexico. But it is a new process for them, and there are still some bugs in it, like taking all day to get the paperwork processed because customs, immigration, and the Port Captain are all located in different places. Here, everyone is real close together, so it is easier and quicker. You do have to make an appointment for customs to come to your boat, but the marina boss arranges it, and they don't do much of an actual inspection. Anyway, no one really spends much time here, so we are pretty much by ourselves, no friends to visit with. I might as well just admit it, I am sort of lonesome. I talk a bit with the local people, but it is not the same. I just want to get Mike better so he can finish with the frig, and then we can leave for El Salvador where our friends are. I am pretty sure we will miss all the rally activities, which is not a big deal, but I just want to get on with it. It is like leading a half life - we won't be here long enough to involve myself with things like taking classes in language or cooking or yoga or something like that, but being here more than a few days gets, well, sort of boring. It is a small town, and other than go out to eat, there is not a lot to do. Mike can't go to the beach, so that's out, and walking around sightseeing is also not an option for him, he is supposed to take it easy. I could go out by myself, but that is not really so much fun.
Geez, listen to this whining! I better sit down with myself and give myself a good lecture about how easy I really have it. After all, I could be having to get up and go to work. Or doing a lot of unpleasent chores. Or anything like that. I am not depressed or anything, just - and I hate to admit this - bored out of my mind. Maybe I should go out and get some embroidery floss or yarn and needles and start a project. Or figure out how to use the dremel tool and make jewelry out of the shells I collected this summer for that very purpose. Or start working on writing a book, something I have thought about doing ever since I was old enough to read. So I guess I have enough to keep me busy and should therefore stop whining and get to it!
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship is for." Unknown author
A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship is for. (Thanks Jon)
A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship is for."
Otherwise, except for daily trips to get ice and fresh produce (we are eating only fruits and veggies, except I get a roast chicken every couple of days) I never go anywhere and it is driving me nuts. Mike went with me to the store yesterday, after making sure I did not need a break from him. It is not him I need a break from, it is the boat itself. I really need to get out and do something, see something different, hear different things, just some sort of a change. I am dying to get the hell out of Dodge. This place is sort of a way station for cruisers - we all stop here on our way to and from Central America. It used to be this was the last stop in Mexico, but recently Port Chiapas, just the other side of the Bay of Tehuatepec, started to make it easier for cruisers to check in and out of Mexico. But it is a new process for them, and there are still some bugs in it, like taking all day to get the paperwork processed because customs, immigration, and the Port Captain are all located in different places. Here, everyone is real close together, so it is easier and quicker. You do have to make an appointment for customs to come to your boat, but the marina boss arranges it, and they don't do much of an actual inspection. Anyway, no one really spends much time here, so we are pretty much by ourselves, no friends to visit with. I might as well just admit it, I am sort of lonesome. I talk a bit with the local people, but it is not the same. I just want to get Mike better so he can finish with the frig, and then we can leave for El Salvador where our friends are. I am pretty sure we will miss all the rally activities, which is not a big deal, but I just want to get on with it. It is like leading a half life - we won't be here long enough to involve myself with things like taking classes in language or cooking or yoga or something like that, but being here more than a few days gets, well, sort of boring. It is a small town, and other than go out to eat, there is not a lot to do. Mike can't go to the beach, so that's out, and walking around sightseeing is also not an option for him, he is supposed to take it easy. I could go out by myself, but that is not really so much fun.
Geez, listen to this whining! I better sit down with myself and give myself a good lecture about how easy I really have it. After all, I could be having to get up and go to work. Or doing a lot of unpleasent chores. Or anything like that. I am not depressed or anything, just - and I hate to admit this - bored out of my mind. Maybe I should go out and get some embroidery floss or yarn and needles and start a project. Or figure out how to use the dremel tool and make jewelry out of the shells I collected this summer for that very purpose. Or start working on writing a book, something I have thought about doing ever since I was old enough to read. So I guess I have enough to keep me busy and should therefore stop whining and get to it!
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship is for." Unknown author
A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship is for. (Thanks Jon)
A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship is for."
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