Scott and The Golden Gate
Friday, May 31, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Haulout!
Well, we've been in contact with the haul out yard for Reisender's summer home. The yard should confirm the exact date in a few days. It's been a long time since we've had our baby out of the water and it'll be exciting to see her up on stands, also a little forlorn, but she needs the attention of a good bottom paint job and some TLC after the last 2 years. Scott and I are both looking forward to a little "land" time. Our families are expecting us late in the summer and when we return we'll start to work on the boat, but Scott agreed to splurge on a rental apartment for a month while we do the work. Living in the same space one is working on is not fun! I'm also dreaming of taking a shower everyday after we finish our work and having a nice meal without cleaning up our work first. The one request from the cats is a nice window to lounge in. I think we can try to arrange that, they have been dragged 2500 miles by sea and countless trips across country via car. The challenge of not getting accustomed to having space will be an effort, but somehow I know once we've done the work on Reisender I'll be ready to be back in my home.
The last week has been a little sad for me. We've gotten pretty close to two other boats in the marina and we've all left the marina now and gone separate ways. I know our paths will cross again, but it was a bit of a tug at my heart to see Goldenheart leave yesterday and True Blue last week. I'm happy and elated for our dear friends to be off the dock and pursuing their dreams, but at the same time I'm gonna miss my girls, the late nights of conversation, the shared challenges of projects, and the all around great company. Scott and I usually try to be away from the marina when friends leave, pretty selfish, but neither of us like "goodbyes' and choose to say, as a good friend said to us when we left, "I'll see you down the road", but this philosophy doesn't make it any easier. What does make it easier is an agreement that whenever we come into an anchorage and one of the other boats is there, the first one in makes the cocktails!
To Cynthia, Lee, Leanne, and Craig.... I raise my glass to you and the very special time we all shared!
Fair Winds My Friends!
The last week has been a little sad for me. We've gotten pretty close to two other boats in the marina and we've all left the marina now and gone separate ways. I know our paths will cross again, but it was a bit of a tug at my heart to see Goldenheart leave yesterday and True Blue last week. I'm happy and elated for our dear friends to be off the dock and pursuing their dreams, but at the same time I'm gonna miss my girls, the late nights of conversation, the shared challenges of projects, and the all around great company. Scott and I usually try to be away from the marina when friends leave, pretty selfish, but neither of us like "goodbyes' and choose to say, as a good friend said to us when we left, "I'll see you down the road", but this philosophy doesn't make it any easier. What does make it easier is an agreement that whenever we come into an anchorage and one of the other boats is there, the first one in makes the cocktails!
To Cynthia, Lee, Leanne, and Craig.... I raise my glass to you and the very special time we all shared!
Fair Winds My Friends!
Friday, May 17, 2013
A Few of My Favorite Things
Since arriving in Mexico I've been exposed to some wonderful new things and concepts. I thought I'd take a few minutes and review and list some of the items I really like:
Street Food
Mole
Ceviche
Friendliness of the Locals
The Locals are constantly cleaning
Platina Movie Theatres
Indio Beer
Arrachera
People going out of their way to be helpful
Full Service Laundry
In a restaurant the check isn't brought until it is asked for
No server ever rushes a guest in a restaurant
Smiles on just about everyone's face here
The Beautiful Red Sunsets
The strong sense of family that everyone has
Tajin spice on fruit
The color of the water
This is just a short list of what I'm enjoying about my time in La Paz. I can't say this list is for all of Mexico. I've only been exposed to a small portion, of what so far I find as a fascinating country.
Fair Winds My Friends
Street Food
Mole
Ceviche
Friendliness of the Locals
The Locals are constantly cleaning
Platina Movie Theatres
Indio Beer
Arrachera
People going out of their way to be helpful
Full Service Laundry
In a restaurant the check isn't brought until it is asked for
No server ever rushes a guest in a restaurant
Smiles on just about everyone's face here
The Beautiful Red Sunsets
The strong sense of family that everyone has
Tajin spice on fruit
The color of the water
This is just a short list of what I'm enjoying about my time in La Paz. I can't say this list is for all of Mexico. I've only been exposed to a small portion, of what so far I find as a fascinating country.
Fair Winds My Friends
Monday, May 13, 2013
Winding Down in La Paz
Well, our time here in La Paz is winding to a close. With a few more days here at the marina it's time to get the last of the major projects finished and start stocking in provisions for the 4 to 6 weeks we plan on taking to reach our summer home of Guaymas, Sonora, MX. Lot's of reviewing of anchorages has been going on here in Marina Cortez around the docks. It's too late to go in any direction but north at this point, due to hurricane season with starts in a couple of weeks. We should be able to find good anchorages every 10 to 20 miles and once we are about 20 miles out of La Paz the risk of the Coromuels diminishes greatly.
I've been mentally reviewing our time here over a cup of tea this morning and I thought it was a good idea to list a few of the things I've learned. I've learned to either cook early in the morning, after sunset, or out on the grill (it's just to hot any other time of day). I've learned that the best way to learn a language is to use it and practice every chance I get. I've re-learned that friendships can be almost immediate and lasting. A true friend will also be walking the docks with you at midnight looking for your lost cat. Laughter is good for so many ills! and a good potluck simply means everyone left with a smile.
What I haven't learned is when will Linux and Pixel stop shedding from the heat?
Fair winds my friends!
I've been mentally reviewing our time here over a cup of tea this morning and I thought it was a good idea to list a few of the things I've learned. I've learned to either cook early in the morning, after sunset, or out on the grill (it's just to hot any other time of day). I've learned that the best way to learn a language is to use it and practice every chance I get. I've re-learned that friendships can be almost immediate and lasting. A true friend will also be walking the docks with you at midnight looking for your lost cat. Laughter is good for so many ills! and a good potluck simply means everyone left with a smile.
What I haven't learned is when will Linux and Pixel stop shedding from the heat?
Fair winds my friends!
Monday, May 6, 2013
What's Next?
It's been quite a while since my last post and much has occurred. I'll recap pretty quickly: we left Ensenada for Turtle Bay. That was the longest passage to date we'd made, 73 hours. Along our way down to the Sea of Cortez we not only stopped in Turtle Bay, but also Abreojos, Bahia Santa Maria, and Bahia Magdelina. Our time in each location was not really noteworthy. We didn't really see anything that thrilled us. There were some lovely views and lot's of sea life, but nothing really jumped out to us about our voyage on the outside of Baja. Once we broke out of the Pacific and made into the Sea of Cortez all of that changed for us. The weather turned amazing and the seas a bit warmer. The scenery began to get more welcoming to us and we started getting more excited about this adventure we are on.
So where does that leave us? Currently in La Paz, Baja Sur, MX. We should be here another 2 weeks or so and start up further into the Sea for the summer. The next question I need to answer is why I haven't blogged sooner? I've been pondering this for quite some time. I could say "we are having such a great time I haven't had time", or "I really don't want to make people envious of our life", but the truth of it is after nearly 7 years of refitting the boat and finally achieving our goal we aren't really sure what is next for us. Our life has been consumed with getting Reisender and ourselves ready for this and it actually feels like someone let the air out of a balloon. It simply deflated with out a bang or a bust. I've found myself sleeping in and excited about cooking again. I've spent my days exploring the streets, markets, and restaurants, but mostly just letting go. I attend Spanish lessons 4 mornings a week, walk to the grocery store, help Scott with projects, and organize social activities here on our dock. That's what I do. Scott spends his time with projects, helping neighbors with their projects, reading, studying the cruising guides of the Sea and decompressing. Yes, we are having a wonderful time, but we really are just looking around and asking each other what's next? We've taken on the world and while the world won a couple of battles that took the wind out of us, we feel like we won the war and we are enjoying that win. We know we will spend the summer within about 400 miles of where we are and that's a lot of space with a long time window to enjoy it. So for now we are just simple enjoying the fruits of our labor. Some times life is just that simple.
Fair Winds My Friends!
So where does that leave us? Currently in La Paz, Baja Sur, MX. We should be here another 2 weeks or so and start up further into the Sea for the summer. The next question I need to answer is why I haven't blogged sooner? I've been pondering this for quite some time. I could say "we are having such a great time I haven't had time", or "I really don't want to make people envious of our life", but the truth of it is after nearly 7 years of refitting the boat and finally achieving our goal we aren't really sure what is next for us. Our life has been consumed with getting Reisender and ourselves ready for this and it actually feels like someone let the air out of a balloon. It simply deflated with out a bang or a bust. I've found myself sleeping in and excited about cooking again. I've spent my days exploring the streets, markets, and restaurants, but mostly just letting go. I attend Spanish lessons 4 mornings a week, walk to the grocery store, help Scott with projects, and organize social activities here on our dock. That's what I do. Scott spends his time with projects, helping neighbors with their projects, reading, studying the cruising guides of the Sea and decompressing. Yes, we are having a wonderful time, but we really are just looking around and asking each other what's next? We've taken on the world and while the world won a couple of battles that took the wind out of us, we feel like we won the war and we are enjoying that win. We know we will spend the summer within about 400 miles of where we are and that's a lot of space with a long time window to enjoy it. So for now we are just simple enjoying the fruits of our labor. Some times life is just that simple.
Fair Winds My Friends!
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