Today is our second day of getting things ready to leave our safe next here in La Paz. We arrived just days before Thanksgiving 2009 and will depart January 16 th around noon.
We spent Tuesday provisioning (food) and yesterday picking up some boat items plus some prescriptions. We put some non-skid on the top of the pilot house where we stand to lower the main sail and move the boom. Also, I baked some cookies (necessary) and cleaned the barbeque. Of course when we took the barbeque off its stay, it had cemented itself on, so it broke the plastic regulator stem which the propane hose attaches itself too...so later we had to walk to town and buy a new one!!! That friends is the nuts and bolts of owning a boat and using it because if it sits in the marina everything lasts longer.
Today we or I did laundry and we did an errand or two, I remembered something I needed at the fabric store and so we took the shuttle bus to town and a taxi back, after having a fun lunch in downtown La Paz. There are many places to eat and so far all have been good. It is sunny and around 82 degrees, however it has started a 3 day blow...with winds up to 20-30 knots our on the Sea of cortez. Hopefully it will do as the report projects and the wind will die down on Saturday and won't blow again until next Wednesday and that should give us time to get to our next destination further up into the Sea. That was not our original plan but instead of that we have decided to see some more of the sea before going over to the mainland.
We have stowed everything, but something will manage to fall on the floor and break or spill. The fridge is as full as we dare. We eat simple things like a small tortilla with cabbage, avocado, salsa or mayo and meat or fish on it maybe some cilantro but it does not last well. We have plenty of fruit and I may make a soup tonight in the pressure cooked. Don filled the propane tanks, the barbeQ is clean. The water tank is full. We said good bye to friends here at the marina and announced on the cruiser website that we are taking off today at noon.
It is hard to leave La Paz and we are not alone in having a hard time taking off. Others have decided to stay or come back and we will probably return but not this year. The wind has calmed down but the seas will take a couple more days to really calm down but there is another blow coming so we need to be where we are going which is Agua Verde by Friday. We will stop tonight on the island of Espirtu Santo and then go up the Bahia Evarista to meet friends on s/v Happy Nest.
It all depends on the internet connections but I suspect it could be a week or two before I am able to write on the blog again. So chow for now; s/v Little Christian; Don & Jacquie.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
A New Year _ in Mexico and What we did for Christmas???
I was getting so homesick the week before Christmas that Don bought us tickets to fly home, he said, " it is probably better to take her home that look for a new woman". So we flew out of Cabo on December 24th at 4:27pm and arrived in Seattle at 8pm in the same evening. At 11pm we caught the airporter shuttle to Yakima and walked in to our condo at 2:40am on Christmas morning.
Don busied himself with turning on all the things we had turned off and when he got to the main bathroom and tried to turn the water on in the toilet the knob flew off and cold water began blasting all over our bathroom and Don, it was so cold that he was freezing and the force of the water was so hard that he could not get the knob back on...so after getting the handle to turn off the water from our neighboring condo owner and calling the fire department we mopped up and fell into bed around 5am, slept for 2 hours or less and then the fun really began.
I was dropped off and Laura's (and family) home and rang their door bell (lights were on) and Jack my oldest grandchild opened the door are was very surprised, everyone was in shock. After the big surprise Don left for Newport, Oregon where he surprised his kids royally...and it was lots of fun to be able to do that. The day after Christmas two of my sons and their families came for game day and let the cousins play. They also were very surprised to see Nana had come home for Christmas. Mike couldn't make it because he was heading south for the Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena. (still sad about our loss)
Don returned on Monday and we did some maintenance in our condo and got ready for New Years Eve. We went dancing at the American Legion (we have to get some new places to dance in Yak) but alas we were so used to going to bed at Cruisers midnight which is 9:30pm that we could not even make it and went home to bed. I guess we are OLD. We had most of our evening meals with Laura's family and the food was delicious. Don managed to eat at Bert's Pub his favorite and Laura and I took in a movie "It Complicated", and I would wait to see it when it comes out on video....just okay. Anyway then it was pretty much time to fly back to Mexico. Which we did on January 8th, Elvis's 75th Birthday.
Now we are here on the boat, Christmas was wonderful, all the grandchildren are growing and so much more grown up. We are busily getting ready to set sail to Puerta Valharta or PV as it is referred to down here. We will leave here on the 15th of January for some snorkeling on the Island of Espirtu Santo and Isla Parrita. Then the plan is to go acrossed to the mainland and see the area around PV and perhaps a bus trip up to Guadalahaja (spelling???).
Many of our new cruising friends are all dispersing to other directions and they will be missed, some we will see in the future and others will be heading to the further parts of the World where we have not planned to go. We will follow their blogs and keep in touch hoping to cross paths in the future.
We have been invited to travel along with some others to destinations that all sound fun, but we are thinking that would be too soon for us to leave this part of the world. So far God is showing us to continue our planned course for this year and return home for the summer, returning to the boat and Mexico in the Fall of 2010.
Please pray for us that we will know God's will for our path and He will keep us in His safe care.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010. Jacquie and Don
Don busied himself with turning on all the things we had turned off and when he got to the main bathroom and tried to turn the water on in the toilet the knob flew off and cold water began blasting all over our bathroom and Don, it was so cold that he was freezing and the force of the water was so hard that he could not get the knob back on...so after getting the handle to turn off the water from our neighboring condo owner and calling the fire department we mopped up and fell into bed around 5am, slept for 2 hours or less and then the fun really began.
I was dropped off and Laura's (and family) home and rang their door bell (lights were on) and Jack my oldest grandchild opened the door are was very surprised, everyone was in shock. After the big surprise Don left for Newport, Oregon where he surprised his kids royally...and it was lots of fun to be able to do that. The day after Christmas two of my sons and their families came for game day and let the cousins play. They also were very surprised to see Nana had come home for Christmas. Mike couldn't make it because he was heading south for the Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena. (still sad about our loss)
Don returned on Monday and we did some maintenance in our condo and got ready for New Years Eve. We went dancing at the American Legion (we have to get some new places to dance in Yak) but alas we were so used to going to bed at Cruisers midnight which is 9:30pm that we could not even make it and went home to bed. I guess we are OLD. We had most of our evening meals with Laura's family and the food was delicious. Don managed to eat at Bert's Pub his favorite and Laura and I took in a movie "It Complicated", and I would wait to see it when it comes out on video....just okay. Anyway then it was pretty much time to fly back to Mexico. Which we did on January 8th, Elvis's 75th Birthday.
Now we are here on the boat, Christmas was wonderful, all the grandchildren are growing and so much more grown up. We are busily getting ready to set sail to Puerta Valharta or PV as it is referred to down here. We will leave here on the 15th of January for some snorkeling on the Island of Espirtu Santo and Isla Parrita. Then the plan is to go acrossed to the mainland and see the area around PV and perhaps a bus trip up to Guadalahaja (spelling???).
Many of our new cruising friends are all dispersing to other directions and they will be missed, some we will see in the future and others will be heading to the further parts of the World where we have not planned to go. We will follow their blogs and keep in touch hoping to cross paths in the future.
We have been invited to travel along with some others to destinations that all sound fun, but we are thinking that would be too soon for us to leave this part of the world. So far God is showing us to continue our planned course for this year and return home for the summer, returning to the boat and Mexico in the Fall of 2010.
Please pray for us that we will know God's will for our path and He will keep us in His safe care.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010. Jacquie and Don
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Days before Christmas
Christmas in Mexico: Early in December the town's people began to put up many street cabanas. They are mostly selling things for children. This week there are more decorations that have been put up and in the center of La Paz a large lighted tree. All the palm trees along the waterfront have been wrapped with lights and several boats in the marinas have been decked with lights. All very festive.
Besides being a religious holiday it is a day for children. One of the most fascinating shops is a shop called the Dulceria, a candy shop. Inside are all types of pinatas and large boxes and cellophane package containing small toys and assorted candies to fill the pinatas. There are even decorated sticks to match each pinata to be used for hitting the pinata. The pinatas range in sizes and some have religious pictures on them others have old fashioned Santas (the coke a cola Santa is a big hit), along with Frosty the snowman.
We went to church last Sunday with several cruisers, who are our friends, I will post a pictures of a few of them. After church we go out to lunch and then last Sunday we walked along the Malacone towards our marina, taking pictures of the beautiful statues decorating the water front here in La Paz.
Tonight we had a dock party, and toured a few boats, it was great to share our Christmas goodies with others and have a taste of home. There are many of us who share things in common, and it is good to talk with people who have the same dreams and love this life on the water. We will meet many of these people as we go from place to place here in Mexico. And folks who have been cruising for several years all share their information with us to help us on our way. It is quite amazing the way information to help us out is given freely to smooth our way and we will pass the things we learn on to others in the same way. Most of us are retired and we are happily surrounded with a few older couples and a few younger couples and some traveling with younger children whom are being homeschooled on the sea. I really admire those couples who are homeschooling and I have watched the laundry being done in the marinas. Unbelieveable!!!
Merry Christmas to all of you who have read my blogs, hopefully you will enjoy my photos of La Paz, Mexico.
Love Jacquie and Don
Besides being a religious holiday it is a day for children. One of the most fascinating shops is a shop called the Dulceria, a candy shop. Inside are all types of pinatas and large boxes and cellophane package containing small toys and assorted candies to fill the pinatas. There are even decorated sticks to match each pinata to be used for hitting the pinata. The pinatas range in sizes and some have religious pictures on them others have old fashioned Santas (the coke a cola Santa is a big hit), along with Frosty the snowman.
We went to church last Sunday with several cruisers, who are our friends, I will post a pictures of a few of them. After church we go out to lunch and then last Sunday we walked along the Malacone towards our marina, taking pictures of the beautiful statues decorating the water front here in La Paz.
Tonight we had a dock party, and toured a few boats, it was great to share our Christmas goodies with others and have a taste of home. There are many of us who share things in common, and it is good to talk with people who have the same dreams and love this life on the water. We will meet many of these people as we go from place to place here in Mexico. And folks who have been cruising for several years all share their information with us to help us on our way. It is quite amazing the way information to help us out is given freely to smooth our way and we will pass the things we learn on to others in the same way. Most of us are retired and we are happily surrounded with a few older couples and a few younger couples and some traveling with younger children whom are being homeschooled on the sea. I really admire those couples who are homeschooling and I have watched the laundry being done in the marinas. Unbelieveable!!!
Merry Christmas to all of you who have read my blogs, hopefully you will enjoy my photos of La Paz, Mexico.
Love Jacquie and Don
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Warm Days here in La Paz
It is so nice and warm here in La Paz that we find it hard to pack up and leave. Cruiser's warned us about this and we are determined to go to the mainland and visit the area between Mazatlan and Puerta Valharta this season before we return for Yakima's great weather.
Yesterday we ordered snorkeling suits made from Lycra. They will protect us from jelly fish stings, scratches on coral and sun. I hear they help with warmth too now that the water temperature has cooled into the high 70's.We had hoped to slip out for a week and do some snorkeling this weekend, however a small northern weather system is going to make the wind blow and the sea rough so snorkeling will have to wait a bit. But the weather here is nothing like the single digits happening in Washington. On the other had it is hard to feel like it is Christmas time when it is 81 degrees every day.
Today I am mailing some Christmas cards to the U.S and the stocking I made here on the boat for my youngest grandchild, Maggie, who is approx. 20 months old. I am including a picture. I wonder if this will be my last stocking????? Maggie is a cutie and her Mom says she is very determined to keep up with Nathan her 4 year old brother. I only have 3 little girls in the 8 grandchildren and I think they are all mover's and shakers.
We are decorating the boat for a boat parade this Sunday since we will be in town. I have always wanted to do this and not sail in cold rainy weather so here I my big chance. Will include photos of trophy next blog, just kidding.
Don is busy adding a ground wire to our radio, it has been shaken so much it has a little hum and that won't do. He had also started on taping the decks for adding some non-skid to the surface. Always something to do on a boat that is for sure.
This afternoon we are meeting our friends from Canada, on White Shell II, who were in Santa Cruz replacing their engine and just arrived here in La Paz. We attended a great church with them in Santa Cruz and we have found one here in La Paz. It was nice and the big diference for us was singing carols in Spanish.
Lue and Chas will have stories to share about their trip down the baja and they are wanting to hear ours.
Our coffee-Seattle friends on Pacific Mystic, Val and Eric, are sad this day because their beautiful little cat of 14 years wandered off their boat 2 days ago and has not returned. Not a good sign. We feel for them, since we know what that feels like. Hopefully they will find her or find out what happened so they can have closure.
Next post will be my Christmas Letter. Until then... Chao amigos, Jacquie and Don
Yesterday we ordered snorkeling suits made from Lycra. They will protect us from jelly fish stings, scratches on coral and sun. I hear they help with warmth too now that the water temperature has cooled into the high 70's.We had hoped to slip out for a week and do some snorkeling this weekend, however a small northern weather system is going to make the wind blow and the sea rough so snorkeling will have to wait a bit. But the weather here is nothing like the single digits happening in Washington. On the other had it is hard to feel like it is Christmas time when it is 81 degrees every day.
Today I am mailing some Christmas cards to the U.S and the stocking I made here on the boat for my youngest grandchild, Maggie, who is approx. 20 months old. I am including a picture. I wonder if this will be my last stocking????? Maggie is a cutie and her Mom says she is very determined to keep up with Nathan her 4 year old brother. I only have 3 little girls in the 8 grandchildren and I think they are all mover's and shakers.
We are decorating the boat for a boat parade this Sunday since we will be in town. I have always wanted to do this and not sail in cold rainy weather so here I my big chance. Will include photos of trophy next blog, just kidding.
Don is busy adding a ground wire to our radio, it has been shaken so much it has a little hum and that won't do. He had also started on taping the decks for adding some non-skid to the surface. Always something to do on a boat that is for sure.
This afternoon we are meeting our friends from Canada, on White Shell II, who were in Santa Cruz replacing their engine and just arrived here in La Paz. We attended a great church with them in Santa Cruz and we have found one here in La Paz. It was nice and the big diference for us was singing carols in Spanish.
Lue and Chas will have stories to share about their trip down the baja and they are wanting to hear ours.
Our coffee-Seattle friends on Pacific Mystic, Val and Eric, are sad this day because their beautiful little cat of 14 years wandered off their boat 2 days ago and has not returned. Not a good sign. We feel for them, since we know what that feels like. Hopefully they will find her or find out what happened so they can have closure.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
La Paz, Mexico
Here we are in La Paz, a city on the Sea of Cortez. We have been to the Club Cruseras (Cruisers Club) for coffee and found they are very active in the community of cruisers and the city. They have an auction (Subasta) coming up that will benefit the schools here, run a blood pressure clinic, swap meet (boat parts), have a bazaar that cruisers can host a table for their crafts and many other things during the year. You can find people to help you with anything through this club. People are very friendly and helpful.
I signed up to get a flu shot and a day and a half before the shot clinic I got the flu (probably just food poisoning) but I did not get to have a flue shot! So I will need to find it on my own. Isn't that the way it goes.
Yesterday we got moorage at the Marina de las Palmira. We have not been in a marina for over a month and it is time to do a major clean the salt off job. We have salt crystals on the windows and just about everything on deck. Since we are both feeling better we will do a bit today and then more this week.
My job is to finish some boat sewing, a cover for the life raft and for the B-que. We are having clouds today and that is expected to last through Tuesday. A northern wind being sent from Canada.
Monday I am attending a quilting group called La Paz Peace Makers. Maybe I can get the scoop on where to find fabrics in La Paz.
More later...I just got invited to breakfast by Don.
Jacquie
I signed up to get a flu shot and a day and a half before the shot clinic I got the flu (probably just food poisoning) but I did not get to have a flue shot! So I will need to find it on my own. Isn't that the way it goes.
Yesterday we got moorage at the Marina de las Palmira. We have not been in a marina for over a month and it is time to do a major clean the salt off job. We have salt crystals on the windows and just about everything on deck. Since we are both feeling better we will do a bit today and then more this week.
My job is to finish some boat sewing, a cover for the life raft and for the B-que. We are having clouds today and that is expected to last through Tuesday. A northern wind being sent from Canada.
Monday I am attending a quilting group called La Paz Peace Makers. Maybe I can get the scoop on where to find fabrics in La Paz.
More later...I just got invited to breakfast by Don.
Jacquie
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Special Day: Bahia Los Muertos
We finally took just a leisure day, no work per se. Don sat on deck and enjoyed his tea and I sewed on a Christmas stocking for my 8th grandchild, I need to mail it from La Paz. Then we went to the beach and waded, found a few shells and just sat in the water up to our necks. There were lots of rocks and a sandy shole so that is where we sat, it was like a 86 degree kiddie pool for big people. LOL.
Then we walked up to this beautiful restaurant and we were the only ones there. Gorgeous hut type open air with big fans and leather topped tables and leather chairs. They had a open shower for people to rinse the sand off and we used it. While sitting at the table I saw something that reminded me of a pheasant and come to find out it was a genuine "roadrunner" and it looked exactly like the one Wiley Coyote is always chasing and it ran up the hillside like a flash. It is fun to watch those things when you see them.
We had a huge lunch: Don ordered the child rellano and it was "out of this world", nothing like what we get in the states. A huge poblano chile stuffed with fish and vegies, wrapped in a light egg batter and a wonderful fresh tomato sauce tht was slightly sweet. YUM!!!
They were playing nice music that was so restful I guess I fell alseep at the table with my hand under my chin...Don said I was out for at least a half hour. How many Cerviesa could he have had while I was out. Now the great part is this lunch was under 30.00 US.
Then we walked back to our dingy and fishermen had just arrived with their catch and they offered us some and for 10.00 we got a huge fillet of wawhoo which is Ono in Hawaiian ann a half of a Dorado which is MahiMahi. What a find because the Pescado is not that cheap here in the markets and you can't tell how fresh it is.
Then we motored out to the boat and just relaxed, eating some fruit and a small sandwich on fresh baked bread.
Now this was my idea of what our trip would be like.
Jacquie
Then we walked up to this beautiful restaurant and we were the only ones there. Gorgeous hut type open air with big fans and leather topped tables and leather chairs. They had a open shower for people to rinse the sand off and we used it. While sitting at the table I saw something that reminded me of a pheasant and come to find out it was a genuine "roadrunner" and it looked exactly like the one Wiley Coyote is always chasing and it ran up the hillside like a flash. It is fun to watch those things when you see them.
We had a huge lunch: Don ordered the child rellano and it was "out of this world", nothing like what we get in the states. A huge poblano chile stuffed with fish and vegies, wrapped in a light egg batter and a wonderful fresh tomato sauce tht was slightly sweet. YUM!!!
They were playing nice music that was so restful I guess I fell alseep at the table with my hand under my chin...Don said I was out for at least a half hour. How many Cerviesa could he have had while I was out. Now the great part is this lunch was under 30.00 US.
Then we walked back to our dingy and fishermen had just arrived with their catch and they offered us some and for 10.00 we got a huge fillet of wawhoo which is Ono in Hawaiian ann a half of a Dorado which is MahiMahi. What a find because the Pescado is not that cheap here in the markets and you can't tell how fresh it is.
Now this was my idea of what our trip would be like.
Jacquie
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