Make Me Laugh Again

We woke up about normal 7 am or so. Listened to the Net and heard from Stray Cat III, they are in anchored out from Puerto Peñasco. Expecting a 14 day quarantine they described it as a rally anchorage with no protection. After the net we had breakfast and did our devotions. After cleaning up from breakfast we got started with the work for the day.

I changed the filters on the water maker, cleaned strainers for the shower drain pump, engine, generator and wash down pump I did not find anything significant in the wash down pump, but it is working again. Meanwhile Reneé vacuumed out the water from around the water heater. Apparently the “Leak” has stopped. I suspect the relief valve on the tank, but if it lifts it has a hose on it that goes directly to the bilge, so it should not have a puddle around the water heater. In any case, as of now, all filters are clean and we are ready to go, at first light tomorrow.

This afternoon, we plan to get the kayak down and go visit Michele and Christine on S/V Inia. This will be to say goodbye. They are waiting to get the ok to fly back to France, so even if they could haul out in Puerto Peñasco, they would still be stuck here. So, they would rather stay on their boat in a quiet peaceful anchorage.

So, we got the kayak down, and went over to S/V Inia. Loren was there as well from S/V Oeve De… (means to “dream of a day” we chatted for an hour or so, gave them a bottle of wine, and had some bread. Then back to our boat and put the kayak away.

We have some damage to the stanchions, they hold the life lines up, as well as the kayak mounts. One of the issues that seems to be common to the Island Packets from the mid 2000’s is that the stanchion bolts lose their heads. I have read about it on Facebook, and the various Island Packet owners associations. We have found that we have broken off about 6 or 8 of the heads so far. Since we are planning to redo the life lines with Stainless steel this summer, it will get taken care of then. Just another thing that you have to do with a boat, something always needs to be worked on.

We do have room for guests, if anyone is interested in visiting and spending a week or so with us, drop us a line and we will coordinate. What you have to do/have is you need a passport and will need to be able to get to where we are when you are going to be down. When we know what time frame you are thinking about we can let you know where we expect to be so that you can make your travel arrangements.

If you want to know where we are, click this link:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

We went to Bahia de Los Angeles, we were up early (6:30 by one clock) and out of our anchorage and across the bay. We anchored and were almost ashore by 8 AM, unfortunately the tide was out, and our dinghy is too heavy to haul across the flat, even with the wheels down. So, we went back to the b oat and took the kayak. It is a bit of a wet ride. We stopped and talked to Dan and Antoinette on S/V Sin Prisa (No Hurry). Later we spoke with Scott on S/V Maleka (SP?) a 37 foot IP. Finally ashore by about 9 am. We went to Villa Vita and had breakfast, and internet. Renee’ chatted with her family and I spoke with Scott for a bit. We even had lunch there. Finally we left and Renee’ went to the store and I checked availability of diesel and gas at the Pemex station (as requested by someone on the Amigo Net).

We finally got back to our boat about 4 in the afternoon, and put the dinghy and kayak away and pulled up the anchor and headed back to Puerto Don Juan. We listened to a sermon on the way back. We had dinner and got showers and decided that we would hang out here tomorrow. 

It was game night, and we played Rummy 500. Then went to bed, a very quiet night overall.

We do have room for guests, if anyone is interested in visiting and spending a week or so with us, drop us a line and we will coordinate. What you have to do/have is you need a passport and will need to be able to get to where we are when you are going to be down. When we know what time frame you are thinking about we can let you know where we expect to be so that you can make your travel arrangements.

If you want to know where we are, click this link: 

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

Renee’ got up about 6:30, I slept in until 7:30 or so. When I got up we listened to the net. Then had breakfast and got underway. We ran the water maker from about 9:30 to 6:30 or so. Renee’ got three loads of clothes done, which means a net run for the water maker of about 6 hours. The washer takes about 12-15 gallons for a load of clothes and the water maker is making about 15 gallons of water per hour. So, we got about 90 gallons of water more in the tank than we had. About 4 days worth.

After we were moving and everything was going, we did our devotions on the water. God’s handiwork clearly visible everywhere we looked. Other than being on the water today, we really did not do much, wrote and read some emails and played some games. Renee’ read a bit. We also exchanged some texts.

o have room for guests, if anyone is interested in visiting and spending a week or so with us, drop us a line and we will coordinate. What you have to do/have is you need a passport and will need to be able to get to where we are when you are going to be down. When we know what time frame you are thinking about we can let you know where we expect to be so that you can make your travel arrangements.

If you want to know where we are, click this link:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

I woke up early (6:30) because of a panga going by, and stayed up to read for a bit. I made the coffee so that when Renee’ got up at 7:30 it was ready. The process for making coffee these days goes like this:

1. Turn on the water pump (we don’t leave it running due to a leak in the hotter heater)
2. Turn on the gas (we don’t leave the gas on because we are on a boat)
3. Fill the pot with water (French press)
4. Turn off the water pump
5. Put the water in a pan on the stove
6. Light the stove
7. Boil the water
8. Put three heaping spoons full of coffee grounds in the French press
9. Put some water (about an inch) in the French press (this thoroughly soaks the grounds)
10. Put the rest of the water in the French press, and stir the coffee
11. Put the lid on the French press
12. Turn off the gas
13. Set a timer for 5 minutes to let it steep
14. Wait
15. Push the handle down on the French press
16. Serve the coffee.

All told it takes about 10 minutes or so. We have a stainless steel French press, that holds enough coffee for two large cups. This is enough for the two of us for the morning. Renee’ has a second cup in the afternoon and has to make more coffee for that.

Today the plan is to go to town and use the WiFi.

First we have to get the kayak back on the boat (we left it down for the few days we were here in Puerto Don Juan). Then it will take about an hour to pull the anchor and cross the bay to the town. Followed by anchoring and getting the kayak back down on the water. Loading computers and iPads etc into dry bags and paddling ashore. All of which will start after listening to the net and having breakfast. Meaning we should get to town by 10:30 or 11.

So, we used the dinghy to get to shore, a bit more involved, but dryer. We talked to Jen and Harry from S/V Solla Sollew, a boat named after a Dr. Suess book. Then we dumped the trash, and hiked into town. We found the propane store and found out we can fill the empty tank this afternoon. Then back to Villa Vita the restaurant with WiFi for lunch and beer. It is Tecate, but cold. Lunch was good and the internet is free. After this we will go back to the boat, and get the propane tank and the cart and come back for groceries and propane.

We do have room for guests, if anyone is interested in visiting and spending a week or so with us, drop us a line and we will coordinate. What you have to do/have is you need a passport and will need to be able to get to where we are when you are going to be down. When we know what time frame you are thinking about we can let you know where we expect to be so that you can make your travel arrangements.

If you want to know where we are, click this link:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

We woke up about 7:45, got up and listened to the Amigo net, for a change they moved to the alternate channel 4146 kHz. Today, after breakfast and devotions, we will kayak over to the beach and take a walk that we have done before. From the net this morning, no updates (or change in status) on the Covid-19 virus.

After breakfast, we kayaked over to the boat we had been to before. The solo sailor is Lauren (Sp?) from France, he left there in 2011, had some crew to help get across the Atlantic, 26 or 29 days, and has been in the Sea of Cortez since January. We then went to the beach where Christine and Michele were clamming, and we learned how to get clams as well. Lauren had by this time finished his breakfast and came ashore to join us on the hike. It was a fairly quiet hike and when got back we kayaked back to our respective boats. The plan for the rest of the day is open.

Three of the boats that were here yesterday have left, we believe two headed to Refugio then Puerto Peñasco, the other is headed to Guaymas. We will go to the town here for internet tomorrow, and then figure out what is next.

We spent the afternoon, melting. It is rather hot, and we had a pretty good hike. We read our books, played games and chatted with Melanie. After much back and forth, it appears the decision is to have a video call on Sunday at 11 am PST. This means we will stay here tomorrow, and go out and run the water maker on Saturday, then go to town on Sunday, do the video chat and do our shopping then come back to Puerto Don Juan in the afternoon. After discussing this with Renee’, we may go to town on Friday, deal with a bunch of WiFi stuff, and verify the restaurant is open on Sunday morning, then out on Saturday for water, and then Sunday for the video chat. A very busy week for us.

We have not yet decided where we will head next. At this point, we are thinking back to Puerto Refugio, then up to Punta Willard (near Bahia Gonzaga, then to Puertocito, then to San Felipe where we plan to anchor out in the harbor, while we wait for permission to get hauled out in Puerto Peñasco. Each of those stops are less than 45 miles from the last one, except the trip to Puerto Peñasco, which is about 75 miles. At the rate we move, that means that most days that we move, we will be underway about 8 hours, and closer to 12 on the last day.

We started the generator about 6:30 pm tonight, this is to finish charging the battery, and heat the water for showers and dishes. As long as the generator is running, I turned on the A/C (of course!).

We do have room for guests, if anyone is interested in visiting and spending a week or so with us, drop us a line and we will coordinate. What you have to do/have is you need a passport and will need to be able to get to where we are when you are going to be down. When we know what time frame you are thinking about we can let you know where we expect to be so that you can make your travel arrangements.

If you want to know where we are, click this link:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again