Kaeli VS Santa

Well, the jury is still out on this one! I'd say that Santa has the upper hand, but Kaeli is putting up the fight of her little life~ Arlene and Eric just sent us this classic photo. I am sure it is NOT what they had hoped for, but it is a typical reaction of a one year-old to an old man in a red suit with a white beard!! Where has she ever seen that before?? May next year be better... we think she will still get a stocking full of goodies this Christmas!

Something is Fishy!

We did not know how important the fishing industry is to lives of many Mexicans until we started traveling. We have done our share of fishing, too, but wherever we are we catch interesting glimpses of pesca en Mexico! Above, left, are baby yellowtails swimming in a school at the back of our boat... maybe 6-8 inches long. The photo at right is huge red snappers on ice waiting one last trip~ to the market in La Cruz!

Biding Our Time in Banderas Bay

We have been in Banderas Bay for two weeks now. At first we thought it would be a quick stop on our way south. Then the weather held us up. THEN the generator broke! The gen is our power supply source, in addition to solar panels, but we have too many appliances on board to do without it. So Bill tore into it and found a broken part which had to be custom-made at a local machine shop. In the meantime, we have been able to do some exploring and getting to know the area better. The Bay itself is about 25 miles in diameter, with communities all around the edge. We have anchored just off La Cruz, a quiet little town of cobblestone streets, peppered with lovely restaurants! Last Fri. night friends Bill and Jean treated us to dinner at the Black Forest German Restaurant, complete with flamenco/gypsy guitar entertainment! Alice attended church in downtown Puerto Vallarta Sunday and then wandered Old Town and the Malecon where there are dozens of beautiful statues, as shown above. She also saw our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral, above. The area is a dichotomy of old and new, wih the beginnings of tropical Mexico and high humidity. Thankfully, it is cool right now! With the gen again purring, we will soon head south to Manzanillo, but know we will return to Bahia de Banderas some day.

Our Year In Review ~ 2007

Jan.1, 2007 found Alice on the road back to Indio in preparation for her visit to Alison and Rod's to help with baby John David, #9, who arrived Jan.12. Bill was a bachelor for about six weeks during which time he and Barry moved the boats back to La Paz from San Carlos. Cousin Gloria came from Arkansas to make the crossing with Barry, cooking great meals and enjoying Mexico. Alice returned just before she left.

By April we headed to Santa Rosalia, where we left Grey Wolf for the next 6 months. We hurried home to get ready for Jeff and Margaret's wedding May 19. We sure appreciated all the help of family and friends. It was a beautiful wedding and reception. All of their siblings and parents were there. Welcome to the family, Jeff and son Andrew!

By late May we drove our truck down to Santa Rosalia and relaxed on the boat a while, returning to San Diego in June to work on selling our older boat. Thankfully, Bill did succeed in finding a buyer! Then we took off on our 7,000 mile road trip, visiting family and friends, covering 19 states in 4 weeks...

We again drove down Baja in August to check on the boat, since there had been a brush from Hurricane Henriette. We fared well, only losing the contents of freezer and refrigerator when shore power was turned off by the marina...

While home in Sept. we bought the eqpt for satellite TV on the boat. It took until the end of Nov. to get it working, and now we love watching the news, sports, and movies through SKY Mexico.

We've had several visitors this year. Dorothy Mathews was with us in Sept., our daughter Melinda (celebrating completion of cosmetology school) in October, and Ted and Carolyn Burrage in Nov. Who is next?

Bill was a proud grandpa at grandson J.D. and lovely Michelle's wedding in Sept. in Laguna. Then in October we made a weekend visit to Arizona to see Robin, Kelly, Tracy and their families. We got to meet three new great grandchildren, too! We also saw Alison's family in Clovis and then had early Christmas with Owen, Melinda, Justin, Eric, Arlene and baby Kaeli in San Diego where we also celebrated Kaeli's first birthday a little early! What a cutie!

As you've read our blog you have learned of the ups and downs of our life in Mexico. We have read books, made quilts and jewelry, and taken tons of photos. We look forward to continuing south, anticipating arrival in Central America sometime in early 2008. We hope to travel as far as Panama, at least.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALICE!

We were SO tired by the time we arrived that we had no interest in going ashore to celebrate Alice's birthday that day. The following day, Dec. 8, we went out to dinner with our friends Bill and Jean from the sailing vessel Mita Kuuluu. They know this area well, and after a leisurely walk of a few blocks we arrived at La Cascada, a lovely restaurant with a nice patio and a waterfall nearby! We had a wonderful meal, and Alice was treated to a slice of chocolate cheesecake complete with a birthday serenade by the lady in the accompanying photo. Never mind that we were entertained by three sleek cats while the resident dog slept on a pillow. Alice felt well-celebrated for her 64th!

Now THAT'S a Crossing!

Well, now, our crossing to Puerto Vallarta was MUCH better than the last time! We inched our way down from La Paz and finally jumped off at Frailes on Dec. 5, headed for Isla Isabela and the frigate bird sanctuary. We watched playful, huge dolphins off our bow, and a beautiful sunset and sunrise.By 2 PM Dec. 6 we pulled near the small bay and saw SIX boats already anchored, with breakers on the east side and shallows on the west side. SO, Alice took photos of the island and the zillions of birds flying about and then we headed south, promising to try a visit sometime in the future... Only one problem: if we continued to travel at the same rate we would arrive at Banderas Bay, home of PV, in the middle of the night! Captain Bill made some speed and navigational adjustments and we poked along, arriving at Bahia de Banderas about 9 AM. We called our friends who were already there and followed their directions across this huge bay, seeing spouting whales in the process. After 50 hours of straight travel we were safely anchored!

THE UGLIEST TRIP EVER !!!

Well, now we know what CAN happen in the Sea of Cortez! We left Mazatlan on Nov. 23 under fair skies and began our trip back to La Paz to complete some repairs we had started earlier. The first twelve hours were great- lost THREE fishing lures, which was really weird, but that was nothing compared to what lay ahead! Twelve hours into the trip the sea began to whip up with a strong south wind blowing. The internet weather had said there would be a west wind. As night came on and all through the night Bill battled waves which slowed us to 3-4 knots, rather than our usual 7. We hoped for calmer water at daybreak, but all we got was a better look at the raging sea with whitecaps everywhere! At one point I counted 15 waves in 1 minute- and they were 6-10 feet high. We both fell and scraped ourselves trying to take care of the essentials, which was the only reason we would even leave our seats. Just 15 miles before the end of our 190 mile trip the sea finally calmed down... Everything fell that could fall; one porthole had not been tightened down (Alice's error) and now the carpet in the stateroom is slowly drying out- two days later! 4 miles from our anchorage the engine began to choke and Bill had to turn it off and go below to troubleshoot, finding a clogged fuel filter! We certainly were blessed with the Lord's protection and guidance, for if the filter had clogged in high seas, who knows what would have happened to us! (Photo at top shows a saltwater shower over the bow after we hit one wave)

Homer the Hitchhiker

The day we traveled from Muertos to the mid-point of the Sea of Cortez was a quiet one, with little to entertain us other than some flying fish which really are amazing.(The day before we'd seen whales, dolphins, sea lions, and manta rays.) Then all of a sudden, from out of nowhere, a small white and black bird began circling Grey Wolf. It finally landed on our anchor, of all places! It sat there for a while, too tired to do anything but hang on. Then he began preening his feathers and looking around. Alice was able to walk within 5 feet of it and got some cool shots. About a half hour later we crossed the path of a flotilla of brown birds floating in the water and flying about. Poor Homer got so distracted that he flew away. He did not give him much hope of making it back to shore.

Grey Wolf Gets Around

Grey Wolf is a veteran of the Sea of Cortez, having been down here three times with her original owners. Now she is making her fourth journey with Bill and Alice. She was in Marina Costa Baja when the side shot was taken. She was a trooper across the sea, churning through the water for 27 hours straight. What a blessing it is to have auto pilot and radar, too! Someone still has to be at the wheel, but it is so much easier to watch the controls than to have to do the controlling yourself. Her most recent home is Marina Mazatlan where Bill caught a photo of Ted and Carolyn Burrage just before they flew back to the states.

Too Much Good Food!!!

It is a good thing there are no scales on the boat! We have eaten so much good food the last week that we surely all gained weight. Our favorite all-round restaurant is Panama, with a bakery inside it. One girl travels the aisles selling cakes and pies and even approached us right after BREAKFAST one morning! This restaurant is catering the marina Thanksgiving dinner, so Bill and Alice are really looking forward to that. Another time we ate at Pancho's on the beach and all four of us chose beef entrees: undoubtedly the best beef we have ever eaten. Of course, Sinaloa is famous for its beef! Alice ate her first nopal- cactus, with that dinner

Ted and Carolyn Brighten Our Week

Our friends Ted and Carolyn Burrage arrived on Monday, November 12 and left just this morning, November 21. We were able to squeeze in a bit of shopping and lunch out one day in La Paz before pulling out of Marina Costa Baja. We traveled through the San Lorenzo Channel and south to the anchorage at Muertos, where we arrived just in time to anchor before dark set in. Then the guys fileted a dorado Alice had caught and we had a nice barbequed fish dinner! The anchorage was great and we all slept well. 7 AM the next morning we head out to cross the Sea of Cortez- all 190 miles of it. We had 'the road' to ourselves and saw NO vessels all day. Ted spotted a large fishing boat about midnight as he pulled his shift at the wheel. Ted caught 3 tunas and we had BBQ tuna the first night in Mazatlan! The bus was a convenient way to get around and we made LOTS of trips into town- Mazatlan is a pretty place, especially in the historic district and the Zona Dorado where all the nice hotels and restaurants front right out on the sea. Food is less expensive than the Baja and the restaurant meals were fantastic! Carolyn and I shopped til we dropped... and the guys did their own thing, too. Aside from both Carolyn and Bill suffering through colds, we certainly enjoyed the time together! Come back soon!

You're Not in Oklahoma Any More!

In September Bill's 'cousin' Dorothy Mathews came to California for a family wedding. Then we whisked her away to Santa Rosalia for a week! She had never been to the REAL Mexico and she was thoroughly impressed. We took her out for a three day jaunt on the boat and anchored out at Bahia de Concepcion. We went to shore and picked up shells, caught fish and ate: ceviche, fish tacos, fried and baked fish! Alice and Dorothy went to the oasis community of San Ignacio, drove the grueling dirt/rock single lane road to see cave paintings in the Sierras, and visited Mulege where Dorothy even rang the bell at the local mission~ She was a trooper and helped Bill complete some projects on the boat as well. Come again soon, Dorothy!

October Boat Visitor- Who's Next?

In October, daughter Melinda finished her course at the Cosmetology School and wanted to take a BREAK- (She passed the state exam on Nov. 8- YEAH!) So she rode down with us to Santa Rosalia to relax for a week. Of course, she brought along with her the supplies to finish a quilt and to make some hair ribbons, too. She did get the quilt top finished, did a lot of resting and napping and posed in her swimsuit on the beach for some photos for hubby Owen who was holding the fort down at home. We had a great photo shoot on the black sand beach there. She even cut hair for two dock neighbors! She has already begun work at a salon in San Diego as a receptionist and will do hair in her free time until she can get a chair full-time!

Fun in Arizona

We made a weekend trip to Arizona shortly before coming back to Baja for the last time. We were able to see EVERYONE there, from Bill's three daughters and their families to the married grandchildren and their families. The great grandchild count is now up to TEN, and we saw the most recent three for the first time. Wish we'd have gotten a shot of all of them together... The photo of the ball player is Garek Wyzlic, Bill's youngest grandson, Micah and Tracy's two year old. Boy, does he have an arm on him! He played ball with anyone who would throw the ball back. He has an amazing amount of coordination for a child that young. His older brother Gavin is also an excellent ball player, so he has a great role model.

Sunrise, Sunset

We have never seen so many gorgeous sunrises and sunsets in our lives! Being in a marina does not enhance the possibility of getting good photos, but in spite of that here are a couple of shots taken just this week. The first is this morning's sunrise over Marina Costa Baja! The second is sunset through the palm trees just west of where we are docked. Alice wants to make a calendar someday using the best of the best... By the time we get to that point we will have far too many to even choose from~ wish the text would line up by the photos, but until we figure this out you will just have to match the two together!

Season Winds Up for PDHS

The season is about over for varsity football teams this year. Coach Justin Goodson reported recently that he felt confident that his team would be in the playoffs, having won nearly all their games at that point. Palm Desert High School usually does have a good ball team and the night Bill and Alice attended the Homecoming game was no exception. They soundly crushed Indio High School. We watched the game, of course, but it was more fun to watch the coach down on the field. With three years of coaching behind him now, Justin should have a good idea of what it will be like to be a high school coach, one of his longterm goals!

We also had the opportunity of being in Clovis, CA the night of grandson James' high school Homecoming game. They did not fare as well, however, and have not had a stunning season. It has been a good experience for James, though, as this was both his first AND last year to play football since he is a senior. He has always done Cross Country in the past, so this was a new opportunity for him. As a wide receiver he has still been able to draw on his running skills!

An early Christmas Party

The last two years we have left gifts for the kids to open on Christmas. This time we decided to have an early Christmas gathering instead. We got together at Eric and Arlene's and enjoyed seeing the kids open early Christmas and birthday gifts! That way we got to take some pictures, too! Alice had worked a long time on a custom-designed baby quilt for Kaeli's first birthday. it depicts nine scenes one might see in Mexico. We hope Kaeli and her parents will come visit us here someday!

Halloween Fun Back Home

We saw Kaeli in her pumpkin costume before we left San Diego. We hear she did a little trick or treating in Grandma Theresa's neighborhood on Halloween! Alice helped Melinda feminize an old sailor's middy blouse and on Halloween she and Owen took treats to friends and drove by the Trunk or Treat party at church, too! As for Bill and Alice, we were on anchor in the Sea of Cortez that night...

Kaeli Turns One

Kaeli Mia Goodson, Eric and Arlene's little girl, turned one on November 2, 2007. She is a very busy little lady and sharp as a tack! Just ask her grandmothers... Her birthday was celebrated in the desert last weekend with family aplenty. There was even a money tree for her college fund!

Arlene states that Kaeli gets her personality from her father Eric! She says she was a quiet, timid little girl and her mother confirms that she does not remember her being the Tasmanian Devil that Kaeli can be... she is never quiet unless she is asleep. From unwinding cassette tapes to eating the dog's food, she is one you can never turn your back on! She started walking at nine months, so she is well into the world of mischief by now. She is also amazingly gregarious- usually warming right up to people she does not know well. Her father was quite the 'entertainer' from the time he was six months old and, being the youngest, he always had an audience! So maybe Mom is right!

Lazing in La Paz

We arrived in La Paz, Baja Sur on Monday November 5, 2007. We came here to provision and to get our satellite TV hooked up. Unfortunately, when the SKY Mexico installer arrived he found that the main computer board in the big antenna on top of the board was DEAD. It is a brand new piece of equipment!! So here we sit waiting for a new main board to be shipped down from San Diego. One or both of us have been to town every day since we arrived. Alice got a little carried away at the huge supermercado today and wound up buying $100 worth of groceries... then had to get them home on the marina shuttle! Now there is yogurt, bacon, and other unusual delicacies onboard again~ We hope to leave by Tuesday, November 13, and head south to get in place for the 24 hour crossover to Mazatlan.

We just reeived a call from our friends Ted and Carolyn Burrage in Moscow, Idaho. They have decided to join us for the southern crossing next week! They fly into La Paz on Monday, November 12 and will fly home from Mazatlan on November 21! We sure are excited about having company onboard. We hope they will survive that 24 hour crossing with us! The couch recliners will give them some respite, since their guest room is also the pilot house and it will be in use that whole time!!! We are thinking about going into the estuary where there are docks but no services... time will tell.