Make Me Laugh Again

(posted 05/17/24)
Up early, no particular reason, just well rested after a calm night at anchor. Our last night for this season. After morning routines, we checked in with Paradise Village Marina, Gina has been off this was a very long weekend for her. We have a slip waiting for us.
So, by about 0945 we were up anchor and underway. It will take about an hour to get across the bay to the entrance to the marina.
Reneé will do the preparation while I drive. Lines get moved, fenders get put in place, etc.
We each have specific tasks that have become ours. For example I deal with the anchor both up and down, while I am doing that Reneé drives the boat. There are a variety of lines to deal with on the anchor, we use a bridle, this is a rope with “eyes” on each end for cleats, and a hook in the middle. When putting the anchor down, after we set the anchor, I put the hook on the chain, the eyes are already on the forward port and starboard cleats, after attaching the hook, I put out another 25 feet of chain this way there’s a loop between the boat and the anchor chain where the hook is attached. As the boat moves with the waves, the bridle (the snubber) transfers the load from the cleats to tthe chain. Instead of the load being on the windlass.
When we pull up the anchor, we either put a dock line from one cleat through the anchor to the other cleat, or like this morning when we are heading to a slip, we remove the bridle and attach two dock lines.
When we get into the marina, Reneé will handle the dock lines and communicate with the dock hands and I drive the boat. She also is an extra set of eyes to watch out for the stuff that changes.
My cousin Mark, is in town to visit his wife’s family. We will see them tomorrow.
We will pretty busy for the next three weeks, we fly back to Tennessee on June 4. Between now and then, we have to get the boat ready with sails down, stuff put away, etc. Also, we will be in Paradise Village with lots of people, parties, game nights, pot lucks, aqua aerobics, that sort of thing.
We were tied up at 1100, shore power on and working on lunch by 1130.
Figured out that the chart plotters and battery monitors both had the wrong time zone information. I reset them.
We had lunch and got the covers on the windows for the Bimini and Dodger (the canvas over the cockpit). Then walked to the office and checked in. On the way, we stopped to admire another Island Packet (a 38 from the 1980’s), the gentleman on board said that he would be happy to take mail north when he leaves son Friday, so Reneé is putting together some cards for the grandkids. What was interesting about talking to Art, he is going north for the birth of a great grand child, and he is going to Elk Grove! We have family there! It is a small world!
Early afternoon, Cano came by (he will be watching our boat while we are gone) and we talked about cleaning the bottom of the boat for us. We have to get him a list of what we want checked while we are gone.
After dinner we went for a walk, then off to get showers. Another day done.

 

(posted 05/17/24)
Up early, we are dropping off some things that need repair and laundry. This means dinghy down and run to shore.
We have noticed and talked to a number of old friends since we pulled in yesterday:
1. SV the Blue; Pearl Chris and Jessica met in Puerto Peñasco 2024
2. SV All Set For Now; Robin and Danny met in Puerto Vallarta 2022
3. SV Ankyrios; Brandy and Dennis Kelly, we met them in Puerto Peñasco in 2020

 

 

(posted 05/17/24)
Up early, birds! Morning routines, then get the boat ready and under way. Lines off and away from the dock by 0745. High tide was 0828, it took us about 45 minutes to get down the river and back in the ocean. Again, no wind, and almost 50 miles to go, so motoring again.
There are jumping rays again, and lots of turtles, most with at least one bird standing on them.
Well we got close to Punta de Mita and looked at the clock, 1530 and 1.5 hours more to La Cruz. All we were going to do at Punta de Mita was spend the night, then move to La Cruz.
Next stop, La Cruz. Should be there by 1730 or so.
We’re anchored at La Cruz.
Today we saw quite a few turtles most with birds standing on them, and more jumping Rays.
Oh yeah, TIME CHANGE! It’s an hour later.

 

(posted 05/17/24)
UP early again. Birds, and light, it’s bright here due to all the lights on the dock. We have all the windows and hatches open as it is rather warm, and since we have no shore power, no air conditioning.
Figured out that the radio probably did not make it with the high voltage.
We watched a sermon from North Coast church in Vista, then lunch and a nap. We walked into town and got some guacamole then did a little shopping and got ice. Back to the boat, put everything away then back for dinner.
There is a political rally going on in town tonight, so bands and politicians and busy stuff going on.

 

(posted 05/05/24)

Saturday…May the 4th be with you.
We couldn’t sleep in too much…1) we’d crashed early the night before and 2) the sun gets up before 5 am, and the BIRDS are up all night! We figured out that it might be wise to sleep with masks on going forward. Also…we don’t need any blankets or bedspreads. It is hot here! Reneé tried a new recipe for breakfast…kind of a quiche in a tortilla. After breakfast and our Bible reading Reneé checked in at the office.

We left the boat around 11 to walk into town. There is a marine store here at the marina and Neil checked with them to see if they could order a handle for the outboard. In town, both of us got new hats. We enjoyed a simple lunch on the square. We walked to the park to find they had an outdoor market going on. Back at the square we enjoyed coffee (for Reneé) and ice cream for both of us.

Back at the boat…dinner (meatballs and pasta), a cold shower in marina bathroom for Reneé (felt wonderful) and warm shower for Neil on the boat. We watched “Blind” – the Phil Robertson (Duck Dynasty) story.