Make Me Laugh Again

We got up about 7:15 or so, got the coffee going and after breakfast (ok, as we had breakfast) we listened to the net. Then I took a nap, my sinuses are having issues with this weather and I have a headache. After a couple of hours nap, I called the Raymarine guy who said he could change the backlight for us, and made arrangements to communicate again tomorrow, we decided that it would be better if we were in a slip by then, in case he can start earlier. So, after lunch we picked up the anchor and went out a couple of miles and dumped the holding tank, then back into a better slip than we had originally been told we would have. This one has a wider faraway, so there is more room to turn the boat around. Finally we were tied up and shore power on by about 2 pm. Not too long after the shore power was on, the air conditioning was running (boat temp was about 81 degrees), and a cold beer was in my hand. Then Julio came by and offered his services, we had the bottom cleaned about 2 weeks ago, so not doing that, but he offered to do our teak toe rails. Which probably ought to be revarnished every other year at least, and probably were overdue when we got the boat in 2018, so at this point we are halfway to letting them go natural. YUCK! In any case we will see just how much cash he wants to do this job. Well the estimate is in, $1,000 US for labor and he is guessing at $300 – $500 for material. This is 4 coats of varnish with hardener.

By the way, we elected to stay at the La Cruz Marina this time. Mainly because I expect to have to run the water maker and for the testing and repair and the water here is quite a bit cleaner than at Paradise Village.

Comments on our bible study

Numbers 13 – 15

Neil and I just read these chapters today.  In chapter 13, we find the Israelites (just having fled Egypt under the leadership of Moses) on the edge of the wilderness looking at the promised land, Canaan.  Twelve spies were sent into the promised land to look at the people and determine what Israel’s next move should be.  Upon their return all reported the wonderful produce and fertility of the land but 10 spies reported that the inhabitants were giants and would defeat the Israelites.  Caleb and Joshua contradicted them saying that with God on their side they would be victorious and the land would become theirs.  

Now remember that these people have just seen God part the Red Sea, they’ve seen his power as He led them by a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day.  They have experienced God’s provision in the way of manna, water, and even quail as they traveled in the wilderness.  So now when they are on the verge of entering the promised land they choose to believe the 10 out of fear rather than the 2 out of faith.  Here is the account of what happens next…

11 And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?

12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

13 But Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them,

14 and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O LORD, are in the midst of this people. For you, O LORD, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.

15 Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say,

16 ‘It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’

17 And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying,

18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’

19 Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”

20 Then the LORD said, “I have pardoned, according to your word.

21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD,

22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice,

23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. – Numbers 14:11-23

So Moses interceded for the unbelieving people and instead of being destroyed, the people were turned back to wander in the desert for another 40 years until every person age 20 or older had died.   I think the church today is much like the Israelites.  We know of God’s power but we often operate out of fear rather than faith.  Just like with the Israelites, there are consequences for this.

We got up a bit later than normal, although with the time change it was a lot later, almost 8 am. We listened to the net at 8:30 and then started contacting the various repair people we need to get to fix the boat.

At lunchtime, we took the dinghy into the marina and then walked up to the square and found a restaurant for lunch Fish tacos and beer for 99 pesos. A pretty good deal. Then an Uber to Puerto Vallarta and Paradise Village (another marina) to see if we wanted to move to that marina. Pro’s and Con’s: PV has potable water, LC does not. The docks at PV appear to be in better shape, the water is dirtier by far at PV, their are known crocodiles at PV. The price is slightly lower at PV, the bathrooms and other amenities are much nicer at PV. The restaurants and shops in the area of PV are newer and fancier (like downtown big city US) the rubber cushions at the docks are in better shape at PV. There is a small (VERY SMALL) zoo at the PV marina, complete with at least one tiger, and some parrots. At the end of the day we debated quite a bit on which marina to go to. Afterwards, we took an Uber back to the boat, and our driver got stopped by the police and given a warning for driving too fast (we did not think he had gone too fast).

We got up around 7 am, worked on getting ready to leave and said our goodbyes to our neighbor and Bruce and Gina on Dream Catcher. We pulled out and just as we were backing out saw that one of the other boats was pulling out at exactly the same time. Turned out he was heading to the yard, so not a big deal, but we pulled back in anyway. Then started over. We stopped at the fuel dock associated with the Marina Fonatur, and got fuel 8,109 pesos worth of diesel. About $4.20 us per gallon for 97 gallons. While at the fuel dock a dinghy came up with Kim and Eric from S/V Gladiator, along with one of their mothers Cindy. They are the couple who gave us advice on the Copper Canyon trip by train, in Topolobampo. We chatted for a bit, as we got fuel, and then when we were done we needed out the river.

We got out of the river and continued west for a while, figuring that if we could get to deeper water we could get past the swells, then turned south and put up the sails and got a bit more than 5 knots as we headed south. We sailed most of the day, then arrived in Chacala, this was about 25 miles south of San Blas, and seemed like it would be a pretty good anchorage, although every thing we read said to use two anchors to keep the boat pointed into the swells. We did and it was still a very rolly night.

Chacala to La Cruz, March 2, Tuesday

We got underway around 8 am, after a not very good nights sleep and headed south. Our original plan had been to stop at Punta Mita at the north west end of Banderas bay. But, it was only an hour and half further to get to La Cruz and it was fairly early (about 1:30 or so) when we rounded the point into the bay, so we continued on to La Cruz and anchored not far from the entrance to the marina. The wind was blowing pretty good, but what I had read about this place said to expect that in the afternoon. It calmed down after dusk and was very mild all night. We found out that there was a time change again, we have moved enough east to be two hours east of the West Coast now.