all about the birds and the bees

It's funny about the crusing life, the things you learn, the things you wished you didn't have to learn.
Like someone said ,"well at least you don't have to mow the lawn" well... if you haven't cleaned the bottom of your boat in a while, it is scarry what you find growing there. If you scrap it yourself, it kind of feels like mowing the lawn in a kind of aquatic sort of way. if thats too wet for you well then you can tend to the tidying of the decks, wrapping up the sheets (ropes) kind of like the hoses off the lawn, then watering the lawn, I mean the deck to wash all the dibree and salt off the wood. and the satisfied wife after its all done, just like when the lawn is freashly cut. Pride then the cerimonial beer. Except in Mexico you probably have one going since noon.What has this all got to do with bees you ask.
I was hoping youd ask. I ssems that a small colony of bees living under the sail cover,don't like the sail cover moved when you are cleaning the decks. We have some expertise here, though techically it's with wasps and they were Canadian. These bees were, well, mexican and short honey bees 2/3 the size of there northen cousins.
All my years of experiance tought me 2 things, wait till it's dark and let someone else to pull the trigger. It does not sit too well being a pacifist, vegetarian, don't hurt the animals sort of guy, and then your seen killing bees in a masacure.There could be female bees in there with  babies. So, I got Nikita to do it! He knew the old man doesn't have the stomach for it. He opened the sail cover sprayed RAID, they all died fell onto the deck end of story. Next day we are putting up the fore sail, the one we took down in May so it would not look tatered like the one in Mazatlan harbour, left out one season too long. Things go smooth as the sail reaches the top of the mast, I'm on the haulyard, the rope feels funny, thicker and waxy. About 2 feet of the halyard is in wax. I look up to the top of the mast and a swarm of bees are buzzing the topof the mast head, with the odd one diving to the deck. We all run aft and down below. What the....
Well that turns out to be my entertainment for the next few days, I go to the Halyard, a different one, the one that really makes them pissed off. now the mast is about 50 ft tall and by the time they figure out what the hell is going on, Im at the back of the boat. Then there was this one time they came after me I thought I got away as I turned around this one lone bee does a kamakazi on me and hits me right between the eyes. It hardly hurt,a 2 out of 10. just a bit itchy. next day a little puffy, next day very puffy,on the bridge of the nose. Next day my under the eyes are fat, por puffy, yet droppy just like an old man.this gave me a long time to think. We need a plan.
We will send Nikita up the mast,at night of coarse, with a garbge bag, cover the mast head, poke a hole in the bag and gas the bast...Except that he is my first born, what if they swarm, and that girl by the pool, he would never forgive me.
Plan B the mexican on the dock says they make smoke on deck with news papers vacumn up the smoke and send it up the mast briliant! though a fire on deck did sound risky. Ran this past our nieghbour (Moondance, what a nice couple) Doug says thats how they put them to sleep, the bee keepers that is, it does not kill them.
Plan C We are going to spray RAID into the vaumn and force it up the inside of the mast. but what if the spray doesn't reach the top ,50 ft you know.
Kim says something so stupid, Why don't you tape the can of Raid to the halyard. Man! Women!. the more I thought about it the more I could see it working.
Plan D   tape the can to the halyard that goes into the back pully, only the bottom half of the can so the top can rise over the pully. Tape the can so that when it stops at the pully it is pointing right into the mast head, instead of flapping around. we taped on a band of duct tape over the nozzle and wraped it in the spraying position. Up went the can 3 seconds flat, acually it was only a half a can. It locked in perfectly and sprayed into the mast head for over 2 minetes . a coulpe of bees cam out and started falling. the foam built up and started dripping on us so we moved to the bow. Soon it was all over, then Nikita notices bees crawling out of the bottom of the mast ,stunned and soaked, what to do? he finishes them off with our second can of Raid next day we counted over 100 dead bees on the deck.
Us humans can be so crule, and thats why I don't eat bees
GYPSYWIND on standby just waiting for something else to happen
a good sailor is always prepared

The Dinghy

Well the most unfortunate thing that happened while we were up in Canada Our Dinghy was being used and abused by the Fellow looking after our boat. Now As all cruisers know The Dinghy is our car, Our means of travel to and from shore,  it could dub as a life boat in a real pinch, One would have difficulty without one in the cruising world,  Nikita Babied this rubber dinghy, it was his skurf machine and Kiya had dinghy driving lessons on it,She loves speed and its a bit unpredictable to go with her. Noah has driven it and feels huge when he is given the tiller to take charge.

 anyway we arrived to find it deflated and severly damaged from the barnicles and ocean life attached on the bottom, this guy used it the whole time and at one point it was reported to the marina office as sinking. we spent hours restoring and trying to cliam it to some state of dignity.

Friends

The next few days we spent with Barb and Micheal Harrison and Daniel, There is something mysteriously bonding between sailors, perhaps a common behaviour out of the everyday norm,   it even gets deeper as time goes on, i thought bout it alot and i think,  when we spent the days in the beginning right after the Ba ha ha the Bay of Muertos, several boats there had an interesting bonding and after a few days there, some of us sailed a very rough passage together to anchor in the nick of time,( before dark,) i recall whatcha gonna do, Gypsywind, and Theaopholis, babeze and a few other quietly being grateful that evening, tucked away in a breathtaking anchorage and feeling safe, boat people bond quickly and deeply in these moments , we have endured together and we understood each other. We have had many of these times with Watcha Gonna Do.   Our Children have become best Friends, and this fluke meeting  in Mazatlan after 8 months was not just by chance, it was a happening!!
We arrived to find Babeze 3 slips down from us docked at the El Cid for the last few months
last year on my birthday Barb and Tanya (Meshach)spent the day with me doing yoga and going for coffee and  doing women things. This year for my birthday, who would have guessed i was doing yoga with Barb who has become this most amazing instructor. and out for dinner with the watcha gonna do crew and gypsywind crew (thank-you Micheal for the sweet Caroline in open market Plaza Machado)!!

FRIENDS



waiting for Watcha Gonnado's arrival



dinner together with best friend Harrison

when our paths shall cross

On our forth day here, working on the boat, what else do you do in paradise? ( inside joke) the VHF is on.
A familiar voice on the radio is asking for conditions to the enterance of the channel at Mazatlan. Could it be; it is "Whatcha Gonna Do" is an hour out and coming in. now the channel is 100 ft from our dock they will have to come past us to go up the channel. Our dear dear friends we cruised with for 6 months last winter. Noahs' very closest friend, Harrison, is coming to Mazatlan; What are the chances, us down for only two and a bit weeks, we heard "they" were in La Paz, with Micheal in the States. We gave them a hoop and a holler welome as they entered. Kim in her usual way Invited them for spagetti when Barb hailed us. Kim says who wants to cook after a 36 hr crossing. It was great seeing Harrison, Danelle, Barb and Micheal. It was beautiful to catch up on the last 8 months, what a nice supprise for every one. With some needed servicing they are preparing to head south to Huatulco (south of Acapulco) and then prepare for the puddle jump, into the South Pacific. Well it,s great having friend the kids have been in the pool together every day, Kim, Barb and the girls are doing the Yoga thing, most mornings. Life has a way of unfolding before us like a big blue sea,with a sunset on the horizon, and wind on our backs, one needs to stop and enjoy the moment.
Gypsywind with dock lines still tied.

That's Bitchin

THATS BITCHIN BOB! and Gypsywind crew

Well it gets better, Bob Bitchin, owner of the cruising magazine " Latitudes & Attitudes" comes over with his camara man and asks for an interview, they are doing a piece on El Cid Mariana's ,they return in the morning and ask a few questions "How we like this Marina", Get us to say "We are the Chernoff family from Nelson BC, Latatitudes & Attitudes will be right back" it was short, but we invite them in for coffee (Oso Negro coffee)  and they come below, both know our boat well, Bob had a formossa 51 very simular, then a Formossa 56 ends up we were in the south Pacific at the same time in 1991.Tonga was both our favorite, his friend, owns the Moorings charter up in the Vanu atu group, well we swap lots of stories they stay for an hr, both are casual and the talk is comfortable.
 It was great, Bob Knew where Nelson was, he and his wife had two young crew members from Nelson in the South Pacific, and one came back for thier Atlantic crossing, when they got knocked down by a water spout.
Bob dropped by the latest issue of Lats & Atts, nice people, I forgot the camara guys name, what a nice guy.
 We went out for lunch to the vegaterian place for vegi burgers and on to Home Depot then Sorianas for grocreies . we came back to Gypsywind rich with food. Thats one thing about Mexico thier produce is like off the garden, The cucumbers smell like Babas greenhouse. It was Sunday,after putting away everything, this time  Kim  and I accually got into the hot Tub, a 20x30 pool, it gets cold at night here, the kids are using duvets as blanket, and the mornings are wet with dew, but the sun rises7am and it's gone by 8am it's hot in the afternoon 28c maybe

Noah keeps talking about Harrison (his friend from Whatcha gonna do) we hear they are in La Paz so he writes an E-mail asking if they plan on coming to Mazatlan soon.We  run into a few people we have meet last year but none of our dear friends.
 Next post  "the suprise"
Gypsywind
standing by on the side for now

work work work

We have done many things, but we did not come back to a boat that has been shut tight in 40c heat for all of summer, which is also the rainy season, hurracane season,etc. The vitamns we left on board were melted together,packaged cearal was ransid, and one of the boxed juices were off, but for the most part we did well compaired to some of the stories we heard of mold etc.
All that work we did before leaving paid of ,no leaks, The desil in the full tank must have expanded, the top of the tank was wet, heance the disel smell.Kim did chuck some food, did not want to take a chance.
Saterday our second day here, Total Yacht Works the local fixit yard (big) threw a all food & drink and music party. It was great, the musicians were so good, a lot of blues, two gals two guys,what a nice time.
And to top it off the owner comes and introduces himself, said he overheard we are form Nelson, he lived 10 years in kaslo, 45min away. I new who ever put this party on was a nise person. Said he would drop by and have a look at our non transmitting VHF radio.
Not all work, we check out the pool the kids have a blast with all thrie new friends.
I better post before I lose it
catch you on the next post

Heading back to Gypsywind

The winter is closing in here in BC. the day we left the snow broke out just after we left Nelson. By the time we got to Kootenay pass it was white out conditions. How do I know you ask? Because Kim also had her nose to the windshield and she couln't see any better.After lunch Kim took over driving, it is still snowing,and I dose off, wake up and Kim is saying we are approching Elko. Elco I've never been in elko. Must have taken a wrong turn we are now going the Crows Nest Pass the wind is blowing so hard, "we could die if we break down. we get to Fernie, a foot of snow on the ground, roofs, cars. It's winterwonder land. We cross over into Alberta, and it's cold , very cold. We Get to Calgary, We are to fly out in the morning,it's -22C the bloody snow is squeeking as you walk.We are 3 hrs late but alive. 5 Hrs sleep and we are good to go.The car will never start in 18 days,but so what we are out of here. The flight  was normal, West Jet, except for the guy who thought the world revolves around him, and talked my ear off. We land, it's hot, and muggy,with a damp concrete smell.The Kids can remember way more Spanish words then us. Gypsy wind sits at her slip as destingished as ever.As we climb down the  companion way we get a smell of desel, we've arrived!

back to Gypsywind for a visit

After almost 7 months we are going back to see if our second home is still floating.
winter back home was a knocking, (we seen snow flakes twice,nothing stayed) that all changed on the trip over to Calgary, an 8 hr drive.We had snow just minutes out of Nelson, by the time we got to the mountaian pass, we could beary see.We stoped and the kids threw snow balls, Nikita brought a snow skate for the occasion.

 It was magical on the passes and night fell and a few wrong turns, It was knuckle gripping the last few hours as we descended into calgary. To think we had in mind to go shoppig and instead dinner at 11:00 apples i think they were free at the front desk of the hotel. boarding flight tommorow early am.
good night
gypsywind crew in anticipation !

life on the hard

Well it's been 10 or so days back home and yes we miss Gypsywind and the simplicity of the crusing lifestyle. Thats not to say that things aren't as good here at home. Everyone is enjoying the comfy beds, one man per bed, long hot showers, the size of galley,(kitchen) and fridge etc. etc. but the feeling of freedom to go where you please and stay long as you like is missing. It's hard to discribe, though the life aboard was tough, it was also magical , like a camping trip that doesn't stop after the weekend. The friends you meet become more then just friends, more like family and kids jumping of the boat, just for fun.
Well this family of cruisers would not recognise us now, we must of missed the dirt for we can't get enough of it. We not only tilled the garden, we hauled many loads of horse manure, made rows, set up bean poles and a pea fence. Planted potatoes, carrots, corn, beets,onions, and Kim's digging up more seeds, like sqash and who knows what else. Oh this all happened after we completely changed the soil in the green house and planted tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach and peppers. Whats really strange is we are on time for most of the planting, this is new, and even more strange is I don't really get too involved most years. No one cut back the raspberries last fall, got that done Sunday afternoon, Kim weeded the strawberries. A thought came to me as I was working in the raspberries, Gypsywind tought me not to leave the job off for another day, a storm could hit and catch you unprepared. I've caught myself putting tools, shoes, jacket where they belong, this is not the old me.7 meizly months, what next, waxing the truck?
As we came home we realized how fortunate a life we really have, our place for instance is a "ranch" horses and all. I walked the property for days. Noah plays in the cedar trees at the back  of the house for 5 hrs at a time. Nikita has been kyaking down the river, camping overnight on the mountain, and he won't stop cutting and  watering the lawn. Kiya has had so many freinds coming to visit she has little time to complain. No complaints, none, from no one, appreciation for what we have. Now that's priceless. Not sure whats to become of me i'm still in the garden 10 days in. Might have to go to sea just to get a break.
Miss the VHF radio, thought we might talk some of our neighbours and friends into getting a radio so that we could get a "net" going just to stay in touch in the mornings. Some stuff you miss, some you don't, like the size of (heads) toilets. And don't start me on the paper work.
To all our friends still cruising, we miss you.
Crew of Gypsywind over and out

Gypsywind spends the summer in Mazatlan

well the last few weeks have been stable we are tied to the dock and enjoying the poolside living closely with the other boaters and checking out Mazatlan, Our Dear friends from Stepping Stone and Tynamarra came to visit us the other day. they are anchored off Stoney Island and when anchoring and you know someone in the marina you need to visit if you know what i mean, poolside, resort, SHOWERS and lots of fun, So much fun they stayed the night, all on Gypsywind (4 in the aft cabin,3 in the salon, 3 in the V-berth, 3 on deck somewhere, stepping stone and Tynamarra  and journey (Craig who grew up in Castlegar) are leaving tommorow to cross the sea to Muertos where  we all solidified our friendships in the very beginning and journey will point  up farther north.  it's kind of hard not to be going with them, But

Mazatlan, and the marina El Cid has been good to us, so good we have decided to rest here, and rest for awhile.... Gypsywind  will stay here for the summer and we the family will be traveling home, Home......

so many hugs and tears , its funny how close and how intimite the cruisers become family and we endour together we shop groceries together, we do laundry together,and hunt for showers, and help each other,

The endless possabilities lay forward, we were to return to the sea and enjoy a few more months but it is already May, and who knows what we may conjure up later but from here there are many options and its time, and with great excitement we come home to family friends and dear ones we miss so much.
 We said our good byes and a new journey begins
The Gypsywind  Crew left  channel 22......

At Home in Mazatlan

When we arrived in Mazatlan we soon realized it was not a small town. The septic plant near the harbour reminded us of the warnings about the septic plant near the harbour. So we packed up and headed into town, on the bus. The few things that caught our eye was that the streets with all the buildings had a heritage feel, it was nice. More peaple spoke english, and the had a unique open air taxi that was cute, like the Love Bug, VW, golf cart sort of thing.  After checking out the beautiful heritage chuch, but still completely lost, hired one of these taxis for 1/2 hr, $8 and got a tour of the town. The guy took us up a small mountain, we call them hills in Canada, for a veiw of the town, along the ocean drive, through the markets, it was great. We walked over to an art district and had drinks in an open air cafe, complete with a mime copying people as they walked by, he was very funny, we were all laughing and enjoying Mazatlan. After we walked though a art galary, Kim was in her element, memorizing vase shapes, she would have bought several large items if we were not to travel by air.We were allready bringing pottery home from San Blas.We finished the day with dinner along the ocean, like we don't get enough of it. The resturant "the srimp bucket" is famous , it was the first of its kind to open in 1964. Food was ok, back to the mothership in a golf cart.It was then and there that we desided to move in the morning. As we dingyed back across the harbour, the wind changed direction half way back to Gypsywind. Kiya was plugging here nose. We were glad we did not have to eat on board.
We lifted anchor and headed out in the morning, no smell by the way. It was only a 2 hr motor over to the marina district, we took the route inside the Islands, kim would have preferred to sail on the out side, but I pointed out the ferrys along with sevral other large sail boats were on the inside. The chop was bad 4 ft sea but on our beam, which made us roll badly, thought to put sail out but we didn't have far to go, and besides surely we will get some shelter from the Islands coming up.It did improve as long as the Island lasted then back to rolling.  As we approched the third Island the depth dropped from 33 ft to 16 ft, we slowed down, the depth was now 12 ft, what the crackers, we put Nikita on the bow. as we weaved back and forth looking for deeper water, 9 ft made us slow to a crawl. Then12 ft, then 16 ft we had only 2 miles to go.
   We radio the harbour master at El Cid marina to see if they have a slip for us, A18 is assigned, first dock as you enter, well thats good, hopefully easy to find. As we approched the enterance to the channel we could not believe we would have to enter that, it was so narrow, the 4 ft swell was smashing against the break waters white foam every where. We did the old pass, by Kim gets on the radio for assistance no one answers, as I circle we come closer to the big rock on our starboard, who puts these rocks right at the enterances? I see the swells have a rest every minite or so it's a matter of timing. I say Kim boats bigger then us fit into there, lets go, We throttle up, I think to myself, we have never been so hastey before what if this is it, the storys end? Aw we get into the surf we must turn to aline ourselves to the breakwater, rip-rap both side the next swell starts to turn us, I compensate, we are coming in. As we enter the swells die and things are calmer, normal, exept for the nerves. Kim and I are both wrecks. The kids are joking and laughing, Kim and I quit shaking. The marina comes into view, now all we need to do is find our slip, line up the boat, if there is enough swinging room, and come in without hitting another boat or the dock. We have done this before. All goes well, another soft landing, we tie the lines and look around . the place is beautiful, a smaller marina with lawn around and very tastefull buildings around the perimeter.We' ve arrived.
Gypsywind on the side

Temptation lives

Well it's happened we have let or standards slip,our ethics droop, and have allowed advertizing on our blog. Please don't be offended. You don't have to access them, but if you do; each click earns us $.20. Our crusing kitty is depleted and we are now desperate??? We fear our boat might sink. .... or worse yet, peanut butter and crackers. Our friends on Third day are living on a tight budget, cruising on $1,000 a month, but earn around $200 from thier Blog advertizing  not bad for $.20 at a time.Well, needless to say we fell into the temptation as well, so if you find anything interesting don't hesitate to click on, every bit helps.
Gypsywind at the dock

cruising: not all a bed of seaweed

The sensation comes and goes: the love for the sea. there is something truely magical being out in a boat surrounded be nature, in a gorgeous anchorage, at the same time knowing that nature has the power to put you on the hard, or at the least give you a good scare. I've felt that we, as gypsywind, have been held in Gods' hands. That has always been my sensation sailing, just you and God, and his wind. But like the saying goes, "trust in God but tie your camel first. That more describes crusing. For every hour of enjoyment, three hours have gone into preperation The safety of the crew and boat, is a check list, that for someone as laid back (loosy goosy) as myself, it feels like a mile long. As an example you want to move the boat (Gypsywind) over to the anchorage next door, say around the point, well you better not fire up the engine till you check that one or more of your helpful crew hasn't left a line in the water that can foul your prop. A dead engine at a most inoportune time can spell disaster. Oh but lets just back up a second, you don't fire up the engine until: you have checked both the engine and transmission oil levels, not that it might be low, but to make sure it's there. Wierd things can happen for no reason on boats, and espesially mechanical things on boats. Besides, this engine has been so good to us not letting us down, it once ran for 52 hrs straight, oh yeh, it did die half way in the middle of the sea cause someone forgot to switch the fuel tank diverter to starboard tank. Now this is a deisel engine, and I was warned, back when I was 20 yrs old, never run a diesel engine out of fuel, unless you know how to bleed the fuel lines of air. It didn't happen because we have such a good engine. I baby this engine and in turn it loves me, did I tell you about all the superstitions sailors have? Maybe another blog. And you need to change oil every 100 hrs thats 500 miles in landlubber terms, so before you fire up that engine you've got to know how many hrs to the next oil change. Oh did I tell you, it takes 2 1/2 gal of oil, you should always carry 5 gal on board 2.5 for the next change and 2.5 in case something goes wrong. Did I mention the oil does not run out of the engine at the bottom, as in a car,you must own a pump and suck it out through a tube made for this.We have a nice motorised pump.
So you want to fire up the engine and move the boat around the piont. You must first secure all things on deck, tidy up the lines, ready the sails, secure all loose items below, one second lets start over. Alert the crew so that you have help to secure everything and anything that can be a projectile and hurt someone.
It may be calm now but the seas are funny , you go around a piont and you have a 5 ft sea, and a 5 ft sea with 20 kt wind on the nose can be a very unplesant thing, dangerous if it is bashing you on the beam, you best have some sail up to stop the rolling, otherwise the computer that you thought was safe is now a porjectile and can take out one of the crew, which of coarse would be two as another would have to tend to the first. this of coarse leaves you short handed to deal with a fowled sail or sheet or something. Did I tell you about a  boat coming in to a slip in a marina the wife throws the dock line, I'm  not clear how it happened but the rope was around her foot, she gets pulled overboard, the husband more worried about his wife in the water drifts sideways and hits the boat next door. Days later we are in thier slip and the people that got hit are leaving and ask our assistance to walk them off the dock, they had enough exitement for one week.  Nothing that exciting happened to us, oh wait a minate, we are pulling into the customs dock in San Diego, technically my first dock landing ,we go down the channel so we can take it on our port, and have a look at it. We come in a tad fast but it's from the end and the dock is 150 long so in my mind we will just go down a bit till we stop. only propblem is, orders we given to the first mate that when he can, to leap onto the dock and secure the bow line to an avaliable cleat. Nikita did just that, the boat is not at a full stop, we swing to port and thump the dock,like good. Now did I tell you the boat wieghs 40,000 lb, it does not like to come to a full stop suddenly, it keeps going, or the stern did, as it tried to pass us, the ones that thought they came to a stop, we swung bringing our 6 ft bow sprit (the thing that projects off our bow) within inches of a concrete piling. we never use the bow line first, ever, allways stern or spring in case. But we have mastered the dock (meaning I haven't hit one lately) we come to a stop one ft away and tie the lines, but Kim still has anxiaty if I come in fast, she, the boat, stops on a dime when thrown in reverse, just have to make sure there is no cross wind or current,  like the time in La Paz (thank god everyone else was at the baja ha ha party and we had not to many witnesses for that one ...thats another story. Man this is off topic.
So you want to move the boat, after every line, the sheets wrapped on the winches and at the ready, is in place, for you never know when an engine is going to die, a prop get fowled, and you will have only one opption and that is to set a sail to get control. This is what I mean about the 3 hrs of preperation.
So if you think your ready, your not,  you haven't brought on line the GPS, the chart plotter,and the radar, all things you will need and may not have time to set up in an emergency, did I mention the depth sounder,wind direction indicator,electric compass? And have you read the charts to where you are going? usually the night before along with the cruising guides which are our bible down here, they tell of every submerged rock, and the distance to stay off shore, along with way points for the tricky stuff. So before you pull up anchor, pack a lunch, in case of bad seas, Kim usually premakes  burritos, and slips them in the oven even if things aren't so great, we have a hot meal under way. Oh I forgot to mention you have to take up the ladder, we didn't once, another cruiser pionted it out as we went by, embarassing, do up the life lines, break out the harnesses and tethers, lift the dingy, secure the gas tank. You get the picture.
 Oh yeh, don't forget to pull up the thing thats in the water hooked onto a chain at your bow, you may need it at the next anchorage.
happy sailng

Trouble on the high seas

the sail to mazatlan :
The Wind was  just off our nose, so we choose to sail, so we fall off 20 deg. heading toward land a bit but it's 15 miles off. Loosing ground we tack we are much worse on the starboard. we descide to fire up the engine. Something does not sound right, if you listen to the exaust it should have a wet sound every 5 seconds or so, no water!!. I run down below check the bilge, where is the water, engine is cooled by sea water, through a heat exchanger, bilge dry, hoses in tack. Kim yells, who now is on the helm, temprature is up, and then the alarm goes off, we are 200 deg, we run 165-170. Kill the engine, sail still up we have control of the boat, 2 to 2.5 sea 9 kts of wind. what now, check the strainer could be fouled. It's now getting dark. We had to clean the watermaker intake in Chamela, things were growing in the throughhull Nikita dove to clear it.We found  a little slim in the strainer, but not enough to give us grief. Must be the impeller in the raw water pump, or, the raw water pump, which we changed in back in LA 6 months ago. God please don't let it be the water pump, our spare is the used one we took out. Kim informs me the swell is knocking her off course, we are headed for land. It's now dark, it goes dark within 1/2 hr of when the sun sets. We call in the mechanic "Nikita",who watched the guy up in LA change the impeller and later the whole pump. We have a new impeller.I pass wrenches Nikita takes the cover off, 6 bolts and 2 brackets, we are rolling around on the seas and its now dark but he knows this area well, one of the hoses that gave us trouble when Victor was down starts here.
Nikita says Oh my god, yep it's the impeller, it's missing 2 fins out of 8. Now if you've  never taken an impeller out and did not read the maintanence manual you would never get that sucker out,2 screwdrivers with equal pressure, amazing, it's out. we grease the new one it goes in wrong,we must take it out,carefully.2 fins need to be compressed. It's in, we close up, fire up, we have water!! Kim has been trying to keep us on coarse 1 1/2 hrs. we are releaved it could have been worse,like the heat exchanger.......
Nikita takes the early watch with Kim, I grab some shut eye, my watch 12 to 2 and 4 to 6, Kim will take 2 to 4 and Nikita will take 8 am. I made it to 3 am then stayed up to keep Kim company, she let me sleep till 7:30. Kiya was up by 8:30 and got to see the 40 or so dolifins that came out to greet us , some stayed swiming at the bow just under Kiyas' feet. As we approched the Mazatlan harour,with 2 cruise ships,and a hugh ferry from the Baja in dock.we ended up arriving at the same time as a cargo ship, we fell off ,so did he. A huge fishing trawler comes steaming out,cuts in front of us 200 yds and steams off. we radio in to the harbour master who requests us to stand off for 1/2 hr. pilot tugs come and guide the cargo ship in. this thing is several blocks long, the deck is high 200 ft the bridge is windows in the bow of this monster. we ask again for clearance, are given it, and follow a small ferry in. The anchorage is right inside the break water to port. Our friends "Gota Go" lay at anchor with a few other boats. Everyone is up as Kim and I crash for a power nap.We made it, crew all acounted for and vessel in tack.
Gypsywind over and out

Isla Isabela and on to Mazatlan

Now for some offshore sailing
42 kt miles and the wind on the nose, which seems to be 50% of the time, but thats what the "iron sail" is for 5 kts and 8 hrs later, we arrive 5:30 and drop the anchor on the east side, nice and calm for an 16 kt wind. we join 3 other boats, Sonrisa that we shared anchorage in Chamela. Another boat pulls in after us out of the west. We anchor in 22ft over sand and rock. More rock then sand, with cracks, dubbed the "anchor eater", the water was so clear we could see our anchor set in a nice bed of sand. We are just south of 2 pinnacles rising out of the water, 250 ft called Las Monas,the mannequins.they are impressive. As we relaxed with our compadre, Dos Equis, a tradition after we drop anchor, 100s of tropical fish come to check us out. Noah and Kiya put on googles and fins and swim in the warm water, now thats cool..You know when kids are having fun when they are too busy to talk to you.The beach to the west had some soft rollers to add to the ambeiance.we haven't had this pristine feeling since the Baja.
     Next day, after homework, we head to shore,we dingy in between the two pinnacles then on to the fishing village, to see the some 500 frigettes and Boobies, the blue footed kind. The entire Island is a bird sanctuary.We get on shore, in a beautiful but small bay, with an inner bay with huts lining the beach. The Island is some 20 miles off the main land and other then the part time fishermen, only a warden lives on the 1 x2 mile island.Theres a map at the head of the trail, which we get lost  at the not finished concrete building. Dozens of, basking in the sun, iguanas are everywhere, some are scary big 24",same with the birds, big birds, like 50 per tree about 15 ft tall, tree that is. we cut across the Island to the west side,in between the abandoned latrines the the not so abandoned latrines,it gets a little overwelming, back in the dingy around the point for some more snorkling.After lunch,  2:30, we head out for the sail to Mazatlan 16hr it's going to be an overnighter, hoping to be in by 10 am.
Gypsywind on the high seas

San Blas entrance to the channel at our stern

The San Blas Jungle Tour

a Blast in San Blas

We left La Cruz late, got held up by a South African boat,more like a mini ship beautiful motor boat 63 ft off to the Maquases, they got out 500 miles and had to return, alternater problems.

The sail up to Guayabitos was lovely, it was nice to shut the engine off, 10kts of wind on our port bow and we were sailing 5kts. As we reached Guaybitos, our destination, its not rated as the best anchorage in north wind, we realized by the time we entered the bay, we will not have enogh light to change our mind and sail to the next anchorage, Chacala some 8 miles north. We sailed on to Chacala, got in in time to enjoy the big orange sunset. Four other boats all with stern anchers out, so we did the same, well if the first night didn't go down as the rolliest anchorage the second night did.  Next day we went ashore, walked in town, walked on the beautiful beach, had drinks then supper. Kim said this is what crusing is all about, it was a cute small town, that made you feel like you could stay forever. Then we got back on the boat, it was the southwest swell the only side not protected. We left the next day for San Blas. Looking over our shoulder for Tynamarra. Another perfect day of sailing, this is messing with my theory that there is good wind only 15% of the time. The seas were gentle 2 ft helping us along from the south west.
Our charts and guide books are not the best for San Blas, Mexican charts are natoriously in accurrate, our chart plotter is showing us on land 1 1/2 miles, we round the point a mile off shore, usually we sail two, but we have a pinicale that can't be seen 3 miles off, it makes us nervous.We finish our sail it's only 5 o clock, but the entrance to the esuary harbor is tricky, and until we punch in it's position into the chart plotter, it is easy to confuse one point for the other. one of the guides has one point missing on the drawing. we sail north a mile off shore, we have rocks in the water and breakers on every point. This is what makes sailing a little nerve racking.I should mention that four boats went aground this season, another boat was lost further up the coast on a simular type of enterance. Finally Kim spots the Break water in the Spyglass, we are within 3 miles and the correct angle of approch.We now have big rock out of the water coming up, can't tell yet what side to take, a bouy appears on our port bow,"what the hell is that" as we make our way Kim is not feeling good about this one, then the breakwaters appear, just as in the guide book, only ploblem is. there is surf in between them.Exactly what happened to the people who lost their boat.Kim suggests we phone for assistance to the port captian. After some deliberation we radio anyone in the San Blas anchorage. "this is Gypsywind, this is our first time in San Blas asking for some assistance as to how to enter the estuary. "This is Third day how can I help?" Rich and his daughter Amy come out on thier dingy  over to starboard and guide us in behind the surf,all we had to do was follow their dingy.He warned us we were to cross a shoal 10 ft deep. The surf by the way is breaking with the 7th or so, being 5ft in ht.as we come in the swell lifts us, as we get to the rollers one big one lifts us and for a moment we were surfing the wave. Kim asks if I''m powered up I was 5.8 kts we were coming in. on the back side it's calm. We follow Third day up in a zig zag pattren avoiding the shoals.We get around the bend and drop the hook next to Third Day.
Rich comes over with a map of town with the 50 locations marked and a directory. Oh by the way your lucky, saturday is potluck at 6 o clock at the marina rooftop.I look at my watch it's 5:45, he informs us we are still on PV time. Kim whips together her killer thai salad we pile into the dingy join 6 other cruising boats for a evening of fun, sharing stories and advice. That was before the noseemes come out, we got eaten alive, by 8 pm the roof was empty as we stumbled down the stairs.The trip back to the boat was at full trottle , we slam the companion way shut. Thank goodness Rich warned us, Nikita, Noah and I put up screens when Kim was making the salad. Well there we were, mosquito coils smokin, screens on, hatch closed , wasn't this cosy.
On everyones advice, Kiya of all people kicks everyone out of bed at 7:30, and we are off  for the Jungle River Tour. We catch a taxi 30 pesos $2.75  what an amazing 3 hrs, we really liked the Tennicatita tours but this was a a  step up from that, the wild life, turtles, crocs, Birds (the birds were amazing) one of the stops was a fresh water spring, for swimming.we stopped for refreshments at the Crocodilaria. okay from here we took a taxi up the old Fort and church, Kiya loved this it was old and you wondered what might have taken place in the ages before us, the cannons outside the walls were at least ten feet long,

we went on to enjoy what is rumored to be the best pizza in mexico, we can atest, we've had some pretty bad pizzas. Imagine a home concrete, with the front room being the resturant, in full view of her personal kitchen and living room c/w tv and couches with the rest of the family. the pizza was fantastic, homemade dough.
we rushed home locked ourselves up with more duck tape on the screens, and hoped for the best.

well we did it all in one day so as not to subject ourselves to yet a third night of noseeme feeding. oh by the way the also come out at sunrise. The morning Amigo Net is our weather source, and who should be running the net that morning? non other than our new freind Rich on Third Day. needless to say our reception was perfect, by the way this net reaches california -southren mexico border, we were greatful to hear fair winds for our morning sail to Isla Isabela (8 hour sail ) and fair weather anchorage, Havey wanted to kiss the chart plottor because it gave him a crumb trail to follow  out through the entrance.

SURFS UP.........

LA CRUZ

well, I have been thinking of this blog for a while, what is it that I want to tell you or to say so many things come to mind, yes we have travelled from chamela to Yelapa and enjoyed the small town together with Tynammarra and Stepping Stone, and i could give you all the details of this time and how wonderful it was to share the sites that we knew from our time with Victor in these parts. and how we sailed over to La cruz and finally tied up at a marina after 3 months of salty seas and rolling anchorages and dingying Noah felt the imediate freedom of dock side, and to his glory friends were across the dock "Albatros", he says " hey they know me" and i also want to mention the hot showers, there is something about hot showers it really makes you feel clean and fluffy kind of. you sleep well when you are tied up because you don't think of the saftey aspect and not to mention the rolling around and listening to all the stuff clanging around back and forth like the balsamic viniger bottle banging into the olive oil in the pantry, back and forth till someone finally gets up to shut it up. sometimes you wake in the morning to find a fork jammed into the sliding cupboard doors. , you need to turn on the inverter before the plugs work and sometimes the desk light  needs to be turned on as well then the coffee starts dripping. that is if you have made enough fresh water in the tanks with the water  desalinator that we installed in la paz back in december. we are able to make water for ourselves when we run the generator. we run the generator sometimes 2 times a day, for a couple of hours to keep our batteries up to charge or we may not be able to start the engine (and that not good) god forbid the computer is dead we can't do homework and check emails etc. but we probably don't have internet most days anyway unless sometimes you stand on the bow and stretch and then it will only last until you see who sent nevermind the reading. so tying up has it's wonders each for his own, Harvey loves the hot showers, noah the space to run, Kiya the ability to be away from the parents in the yacht club and shopping, me the fresh water hose, (i love to just watch it run i could wash for hours the boat me everything, Nikita he rests we find him napping alot. the other thing a dock does is alow us to work on the multitude of projects that stack up, like the leak we are finding in the Head, why does the refrigeration not work efficently, we need to hang the radar reciever oh we need to clean and patch the digny and don't forget the food provisioning is easiest at dock you can trolly the goods over, you won't get wet unless it is raining,oh my god i almost forgot the laundry,you have to walk it into town.(REMEMBER WE DON'T HAVE A CAR. you have to walk everyting home all groceries must be carried aleast 2 miles before you reach the dock so we all have to go. otherwise it;s to heavy.   ......we often think of home ..... i have a washing and drying machine and a dishwasher, we have lots of space, i think when i get home i will let the taps run for a hour Because i can,the amount of water my bathtub holds would probably bath 10 cruisers, and it doesn;t even have to be warm.  i will invite everyone for a sleepover because there is room, hell we can proably fit in 30 of us or so, i will lay in the grass, and look at our sky.

we have been travelling for a while now and we have stayed a long time in the south end , we are back in PV a familair marina and we are all washed up and looking forward, Our trip is slowly closing and we are wondering now if it has done what we intended it to do. we are starting the end of our trip we hope to find a place to leave our beloved GYPSYWIND will she rest in the sea? or return to PV will we pull into a dry storage or will we keep her in the water? She will be saying here in Mexico, the Baja...is it safe from Hurricanes?should we head higher like most of our friends and leave her in San Carlos outside of hurricane zone, by the end of May she had better be secure we are hoping more to the mid may.

We are heading north tommorow morning we don't lift anchor here, we untie the dock lines, and motor out of the marina we hope to leave at 8:00 am and we would like to be in Rincon de Guayabitos., its supposed to be fun there. we probably will end up in Chacala , guayabitos is a fair weather stop only we will check it out, we have not been north of here, when we crossed the sea from La Paz we came staright to PV. we missed mazatlan and all between, i think we would like to do this part and in the mean time decide where Gypsywind will be for the summer.

In La Cruz , we say goodbye to a few good friends, "Whatcha gonna do" the mitgangs , they keep a really neat blog google them if you like they are great freinds of ours, we shared a beatiful last supper together in the anchorage here in La Cruz, Noah and Harrison have really become best friends. we also say good bye to Tynamarra ,  these folks we have shared anchorages with and have had alot of fun with the teenagers and kids have really enjoyed each others company from fireworks to guitars to movies and exploring, not to mention so have the adults , Stepping Stone as well they have been a lot of fun and are quite youthful and they often remind us to have fun, and live a little, be risky! we are leaving just us..... and we hope to see them all along the northren path up to the sea,

in  the sea we have many freinds calling asking when we will be there Qualchan, Meshach, Black Dragon, Evergreen (we missed by a day). at this time we are still unsure our time is running out and we need to find a place to leave the Boat.


well we sail off tommorow and the wind report says they will be fair and most likely to be on the nose, we look forward to peaceful anchorage in some quiet cove with not to many boats, a cool breeze and a clear sky,  and hope its not to rolly at night,


...................in this marina there is fish jumping every minute, it really quite something, and the water tonight is like glass.....

Gypsywind back to 22

Friends, Birthdays, and sailing north

The lagoon in Bara has been a meeting place for all friends that we met along the way. As one by one many left north, others Stepping Stone, Tynamara, and Whatcha Gonna Do made it festive for all 6 kids on board were great friends to the three on Gypsywind. Nikita teemed uup with the Zack and Dylan for some serious male inventioning and explosions. The highlight was the trip to the waterpark with Tynamara and Stepping Stone, so much so we returned with the full contingent from Stepping Stone for a duel Birthday for Sovona (6) and Nikita (17) you know when kids are happy when they have no time to talk. Everyone sported a scrape or burn from the tubes, its' Mexico of coarse, no rules so there were more than a few triples. The evening was crowned of with a lovely dinner at Maxicana Lindos. Kim went to the baker lady that morning and ordered the most tasty cake angel with strawberries, it was so big we handed out peices to the entire resturant including the 7 lady cooks who sang a mexican song that included pot banging. We travelled home to Gypsywind that evening (all with extra cake in hand) amazed at the warmth of friends.
the next evening Kim and the Kids took me out for dinner to Ramomes and got me on the bus heading for mexico City for hopefully my last check up for a while. All went well and I returned in 2 days good but worn out from travelling 28 hrs in the last 38. Nikita , Kiya, Noah and Kim had Gypsywind stocked and ready to go. While I was away, Stepping Stone & Tynamara left for Tenacatita, and Whatcha Gonna Do came in. We lifted anchor the next morning, headed for the fuel dock, Kim gave Gypsywind a fresh water deck scrub and we headed out of the channel for the last time. Tenacatita lay just 3 hrs away. halfway up the wind came up as predicted, 18 kts on the nose slowing us down to 4.5 kts. as we rounded the point we took some jib out and picked up 2 kts. Well it.s been 2 months since we arrived and we finally took our first sail north in a long time. We were on our way back to the Sea.

Z town, Family and more Eyeballs

the break from cruising life, a real vacation........
Man this place was a resort,designed and built by developers from Surry BC for themselves untill they got there latest idea, another house up the way. Top floor 4 bedrooms with ensuite each, main floor gourmet kitchen with the works island all counters in granite, oh a sitting room off the kitchen, 10 person dining room , high living area with big screen tv, the entry was well thought out, including a powder room with a full on shower. Lower floor had the pool area, infiniti, like the drop off was some 25 ft,oh yea the kids lost 1 ball a float tube and a pair of googles, kim lost those.The thing was l shaped with a swim up bar and a jacuzzi on one end a ledge that you could swim over or under to accsess the lounge area, could have fit another 15 people. maid quarters, a shop and covered parking with land scaping done by design.The best part was the roof, huge palapa compete with couches tables and a couple of hammocks, did I mention stereo, now if you thought the views were spectacular on every other level the one up here would knock your socks off. You must realize we are way up a hillside, house kind of hangs off the edge, the lights of the bay were something else, it made the whole place magical. We did have an insident the next morning, the propane ran out mid day, during Harvey making beakfast , phoned the maintainace guy, owner drops by with $3000 pasos because its sunday the propane can't get filled till monday. $270 bucks for dinner. We all go down to La Ropa beach have a nice dinner.. The music by the elderly gentlemen was exceptional and Howard thought so as well!!

upon reading three Iskra's that Howard so generously brought for Harvey, Harvey started noticing a shadow appearing agian in his newly repaired eye, We made the desision for Harvey to go back up to Mexico city to check it, he boarded the Bus at 11:30 at night after the most amazing dinner (adults only) at the Italian resturant on the cliff. An odd feeling to drop off your husband in a bus station in Zihatanajo for Mexico City that late in the night, hoping he'll be back within a day or two. Little did I know the next time I would see him it would be in Barra, Harvey needed a RE-SURGERY there was still something pulling on the retina and another detachment was starting. we crossed our fingers and hoped while we lounged at the poolside enjoying the family with a bit of a dampened feeling, Harvey came through good, and needed to stay in the city for 5 days or so to make sure. this recovery was slower and alot rougher. It was hard not to be there.

We proceeded with the vacation from the boat with the family clan and sceduled a beach visit to las Gatos we dicided to hike in , to be adventours well we were mobed by the palapa owners selling us there best seats and finally we settled down only to find out they were out of most things and thier shower was salt water and not to mention the Margaritas were 6 toes and a whole leg. We had fun anyway except nikita stepped on a sea urchin some of us lost our shoes on the way back, we all agreeded the pool was where its at. and decided not to move, We did partake in The international guitar festvial one night , it was the highlight for me, and i think Nikita as well one of the musicians took to him Eric Mcfadden, let him strum a few on his personal guitar and a chat together at the end , here i must mention Howard and lorraine had the best seats in the house and i think Nina and Grant ended up at the musicians table all night.

It was so peaceful and relaxing I think it was a real vacation for us and we have the Vancouver contigent  to thank that for. MUCHO GRASSSY ASS!!!

Zihutanajo road trip

Changed in our car reservation for a van after seeing the size of car. mis size in Mexico is sub compact elsewhere. 11:00 am we are off, going to catch a bit of night but it won´t be in the dangerous stretch. oh did I tell you the van is older beat up, Kim took pictures, 104K km. caravan a bit of shimmy, lots of room, used the bypass around Manzanillo onto freeway up to collima, 20 km before our turn off toll booth 102 Pasos. through Tecoman and the road got small, Kim says its pass creek rd, at times, very windy so much for made up time. Drove through a village that was suppost to have an achorage, My God , only for the desperate. Stopped at the only decent spot to eat, still a Palapa resturant but new. Well I have not lost it much on this trip but, Kim said I had steam coming of me, only one other couple our food took 1 hr to get 3 min to eat. Bought a watermelon on the side of the road. got gas as it got dark still 120 km to go. took a bypass around Lazaro Cardena, a big industreal port. I think we crossed a dam Kim said the drop off was on both sides, we swapped driving I was blind with my one eye. Ixtapa was a small vilage with hotels in the distance, ZIHUTANAJO was big we miss the turn, take a back street stop for directions, 4 blocks of back allys and we are on the rd we need to be. We exit a round about and we are in La Ropa we have directions except can´t find first land mark, drive around then stop, tired don´t know what to do, looking up desperate I say there is a yellow house we drive that way the speed bumps the drive way. It redefines steep. we back it to the top and there at the gate is Nicolas. we made it 10 pm only 3 hrs late. All my neices Lorraine, Nina, Natasha with husbands  Howard, Grant, and Harold, Nicolus and Mariya. we are all off to the Pizza Jungle best pizza in town. Drinks laughs and pizza ,american owned, we were truely catered to party of 13. some walked back to the casa.As we walked through the Casa with mouth open, it was huge three levels, infiniti pool ,4 bedrooms all with ensuites, privitre balconies, did I mention the view of the whole bay. It felt like a resort and only we were staying there, needless to say the kids swam that night and the adults we drank cervasas, margaritas. ect some got to bed at 5 am, what a day.
the boatless crew of gypsywind

buses, Burtons, and Bara

This is another catch up blog for aboard gypsywind. warning some of the content may be skewed by the amount of time the brain can keep track of things chronalogically.
We arrived in BARRA at 5 am. let me back up. the ride up to Mexico city with the 4 of us was an event. the road to Guadalahara is so windy Kim had needles going through her feet, the second part to Mexico city was smooth, we all slept. Coming back we stayed up till 11 pm, G. town, bus left Mexico city at 3:30, and could not sleep on the windy roads. second half to Barra, though Noah and Kiya managed. We catch a cab to barra from MELAQUE where our ticket was to arriving at the ponga dock 5:45 the one ponga is running workers to the hotel Grand, we wait then get to Gypsywind in the Lagoon. Nikita with little sleep waiting for a call to pick us up. we all crash wake up 11 am Evergreen , still in town, pick up Nikita and head off to the skim board comp. in Melaque. Everyone that helped Nikita was now moving around, Mishak down to manzanillo, Whatcha Gonna Do back in Tenacatita, Black Dragon left for Puerto Vallarta trying to beet the upcoming Northerly, which would make that a trip from hell. Evergreen also hoping to be in tenacatita before she starts to blow. Our friends from back home Doug and Anna Burton are in town they are building a house here, we take a cab over, Doug is sick in bed, ate the salad, we carry on to Melaque, watch the skim boarding with Nikita and Dennis and Josh from Evergreen. We walk 3 blocks to Susan and Jerrys hotel and say hi they have family down. We head to connect with Carrol {Evergeen] at the Sunset bar, guess who is sitting out front of the church Doug B. a little pale but hoping we would walk by. we make plans for next day on board. Out for drinks and supper with the gang from EVERGREEN. Doug and his girls Lashandra and Adrianna come aboard check out  Gypsywind, Doug has a thousand questions, he bought a boat a 27 Santa Cruz for the slocan lake a year and half ago. We head for lunch to their house, 5 kids back of the truck. Anna awaits we have Shrimp. fish and vegge tocos. We get the grand tour, the home, beautiful in design is ready for paint. flooring, and kitchen. Doug and Anna just bought a appartment size fridge, stove and washer, down for 3 weeks and get some work done on the house. NEXT DAY ANNA, AS WELL JOINS US ON BOARD. We have lunch and invite evergreen to join us in town for dinner. We head to Felixs´on the main steet Annas cousin. Jamie raved about the spinich omelletes. With 12 in the party the table in the street gets extended out into the steet literally. veryone walking stops to talk. we meet Annas sister, Father, mother, cousins all at various times. FELIX SERVES US HIMSELF AND GIVES ALL OF US THE FAMILY DISCOUNT. another beautiful evening in Bara.
Next day who should pull in Whatcha Gona Do, we make plans for dinner, the wind that day starts to blow 20kts then up to 28kts we stay on board. Kim gets one of her brain storms, if shes got to cook whats a few more, we invite Whatcha Gonna Do for vegge burgers, Kim makes from scratch, barb brings the awsome salad. Not only we but the kids catch up on much needed time with friends.
 Time flys and its time to head to Mexico city for my check up. this time I catch the8:10 that heads souththrough Collima no mountains or I should say no windy roads. A beautiful ride. movies till midnight arrive at 10: 30, 1 1/2 hrs late. catch cab. excellent check up with DR DALMA,walk down to IHOP for breakfast, hey this is Mexico city they have everything. a little shopping, can.t enjoy it decide to go to bus station early to make sure I get a good seat on the bus back.  ETN a new bus line to us,nice bus super delux for trip back. catch a cab takes me to wrong bus depot, there are 4 large ones one in each quadrant of the city. I walk in, nothing looks the same, find the ETN wait in long line get to front, girl speaks no english, stadard for Mexico city but wrong station, guy stands next to me helps with interpreting. she says that bus is full. we have an 11:30 bus would I like to buy a ticket before they are all gone. Now I should let you in on the plan. I was to arrive at 8;30 where the family was to meet me, catch a cab to the airport where we have a car on reserve for 9;45 to drive that day to Zihutanajo a 9 hr drive. Ya  No gracias. I catch a cab, the ones that Gringos are never to use, its OK I used them before. Mexico city has a real problem with taxi crime. the better cabs are secure cabs, or the most expensive tourist cabs, ussually outside hotels. No time to waste I need to be across town, the town with 22,000,000 people. Did I tell you these bus stations look like very dangerous places to hang out, think of Cardova st in Vancouver.Its now 6 oclock the taxi driver speaks no english seems pissed that I speak no spanish well {cervasa por favor} does not cut it right about now. The one thing I did right was to have the girl write down the name of the station I needed to be at. I give him the note. he senses the urgentcy, drives like a maniac, I can´t tell in what direction. but fast, we hit the freeway he weaves in and out utill we catch up to the Friday rush hour where every living soul is trying to escape the down town core or where ever we are. he takes a exit ramp down some allies, at high speed, now Im worried onto another free way down aother ramp, you get the picture, we arrive in 1/2 hr it ussually takes 45 min from the hotel. I tip him well Then it hits me the bus is full what am i hurrying for. I try anyway. that bus is full. now so is the 11 o clock, I run to Primera Plus, there busses are full one leaves 9 am the next day, I look around and the station is a sea of people, it´s friday night everyone is leaving somewhere. what to do. phone the wife and give her the bad news. Kim looses it that I haven´t checked other routes, what about Manzanillo.what about other bus lines, I have studied the bus lines Manzanillo and Bara are not the center of the universe only 2 bus lines even run there out of 12 or so.I hang up with kim where to start, even if I get a bus out of here by midnight i will be in at 1or 3 in the afternoon, the road to Zihutanajo comes with a warning, don´t drive this road at night. banditoes, right on the net under how to get to Z town, no direct bus even goes there, part of last weeks research. I´m screwed! where to start I haven´t even heard of some of these bus lines, and none of the girls speak english, I´m screwed! well might as well go down the line, just to keep track of where I´ve asked. Futura a name I can pronouce, I walk up in back of the girl, no line up by the way, is a sign Manzanillo, like they are running a spescial, I ask what time she shows me a screen 19:30 I ask today,she says ci, i ask like soon, she say ci,I ask how much, $715 P over a 100P cheaper I say OK she calls up the next screen I pick my seat only half full. It leaves in half an hr same as the bus I wanted. I run to the gate I´m early they are not letting people on yet, what to do. Grab a side of fries from the place you would be shit scared to eat at. Its ok, Kim myself and the kids ate there before, no one got sick. 22 pasos, you stand in line pay first, get a ticket stand in line, get your fries, cold, they are pre made to save on time. Eat them anyway, accually could not finish. on the bus, a bit run down, older, seat does not work properly. still had a tv just didnt fold into the ceiling.lower grade moves, english with spanish subtittles, my luck. Phoned Kim with the good news, wrong town but what the heck the right time. Will catch a cab to the airport and meet my Family there. And that is just what happened.

MEXICO CITY, EYE SURGERY AND THE CANADIANS WIN GOLD

well! what a mix is that. that is just what happened the night of the day of the tsunami alert we get an email  from a doctor in Mexico City, just a second i should back up a bit a few days back Harvey complained of eye issues and losing sight in the right eye. kind of going black and increasing daily. so the morning before the tsunami alert day,Barb from Whatcha gonna do, emailed a friend whose brother is a eye surgeon in Mexico City and explianed his symtoms and asked if he had some advise for us. well as it turns out the email arrived that afternoon of the tsunami alert that he must be seen urgently and it most likely is a retina detachment and may need surgery to repair. SOOOO we began making plans to be seen by dr Dalma in the city and needed to travel. we decided to move the boat back into the lagoon and head for the 14 HOUR bus ride the next day. Nikita decided to stay with the boat and mind its well being and the rest would go with Harv to the city. The night of the hockey game  we boarded the bus and were off as the over time score happened and a resturant full of all Canadians were screaming with cheer Nikita amongst them. we have never been so patriotic. But i tell you it was a great feeling of being Canadians amongst Canadians. it kind of felt a kinship.

Here i must  mention this community of cruisers comes to the for front again and offers of so many from them all and wanting to help , offers to take all the kids and look after them all. being there for nikita when he needed them. i think he's been invited for dinner and activities daily. He has been so greatful for them all and has enjoyed the freedom and responsibility for minding all the boat functions.

the surgery went well and we have word we are able to head back to the coast today. we will need to return next week but i think just harv will come. This doctor is apparently the best of the best and we have whatcha gonna do to thank for that! we are so greatful for their support with this connection. not sure if this is true but we think he's the presidents eye surgeon. so there you go. it was a possitive experience. and our voyage insurance  did pay for it.

mexico City ? "the biggest city in the world" well that will take a blog of it's own -

back to GypsyWind to smell the wind, feel the water.

SECURITEH SECURITEH TUSUNAMI ALERT!!!

7:OO AM came the call over the VHF.  i elbowed Harvey "what the heck is that" oh my GOD !  what to do now , we were alone in the anchorage in Melaque. instinct says head for high ground! we are in the worst possible position for a tsunami. okay pack the bags asap and park the boat in the lagoon and get the heck as high as you can. so began the frantic pack and listening to the VHF and tons of activity on the radio between the boats in barra and tennecitita. after a while we got the just that everyone was heading out to sea , oh my god ! we are doing the wrong thing. next thing you know we were making water and planning to lift anchor and head to sea to as deep water as possible. apparently thats what you are supposed to do.  soon it was anounced that alot of boats were trying to call us and make sure we heard. and "moon tide " anounced over the VHF to all that Gypsywind was heading out to sea. what a feeling at that moment of support and a comunity we are amongst. it was a moment a bit scared and uncertain and following the ones who may know more and feeling held in it all is amazing. As it it turned out not much happened but we learnt , what to do when you get that kind of call. needless to say our fiends meshach have been living in tennicatita for over a month now and it took a Tsunami to get them out of there and we were joined by all close friends in the anchorage of melaque that evening. Whacha gonna do, meshach, black dragon,gotta go, and a few others i think it was the most this anchorage has seen since we arrived. what a nice reunion we had at the palapa that night.  

The Missing Blog ( Hockey & More friends)

Who said it was going to be quiet.Black Dragon and Gypsywind sailed back to Bara, we were in need of seeing the next Olympic mens' Hockey game, at Rommones' the athentic mexican restarunt with the wide screen tv and satallite. There we were watching Hockey and who should walk past our table, Kims business partners, Sussan, Jerry, Moss and Bonnel from the craft connection. The Craft connection crew boarded Gypsywind at 10:30 for coffee. Well more Hockey, suppers on the beach at nice visit to their hotel for a swim. A plan to sail up to Tenacatita the next day was made. We met in  Melaque  a beach pickup in surf, 8 am well same old story, only some of us got wet. The sail up was a mother sail. a few dolphins as we rounded the point a Whale off our port bow maybe a 100 ft off. We anchored amongst friends. The crew on board snorkeled and swam. the plan was made to do a shore drop and find a cab at the blue bay hotel, all went well and that was with Harvey driving the dinghy. That afternoon we connected with our friends Micheal & Barbra on Whatcha gonna do. we caught up on 7 weeks of travelling.
Black Dragon and us (Gypsywind) joined "Gotta GO", who we had not seen since Cabo,for supper aboard Gotta GO. What a nice evening, fine food, friends and the stars in Tenacatita.

Tenacatita and back again AKA (what were you thinking)

Well it been almost a week since our family left and still a emptyness remains, eight kids a mother inlaw and sister inlaw leave a very big inprint, we are adjusting with some down time. Though we did hook up with Jamie (Fat) and Angie, my first cousins daughter, did I mention how many people you meet here from home. Like walking down the street Victoria (kids and all) spot a dear friend Mark from Passcreek in Malaque, we had them all down at the Casa including Walter and Donna from back home.It is a comfort to visit with everyone from home, catch up on news, and share a cervaza or two. We all went out for the "last supper" the night before Leeza, Victoria and the kids left. Next day, with Jamie and Angie, we caught the Olympic mens hockey game at a Mexican resturant, with a wide screen TV, but had to wait till the American group watching curling were done, they left shortly after,Jamie overheard one say "Bunch of Canadians wanting to watch hockey", like curling was exiting, I think they curled. Tuesday was a sort of Matigra???, a parade in town, along with a travelling amusement park in the evening, Noah and Nikita went on the bumper cars, (the other rides, mostly kiddy ones looked sary, loose bolts, some home made stuff,rubber tire mounted to a motor, one run by an eleven year old). Next day we all agreed to sail up to Tenicateta,and that we did, Mark, Jamie & Angie along with the standard crewas tour guides, first had to pick up laundry, milk ect. could not find Walter & Donna (must have been at the market). It was a lovely sail, wind peaking at 18kts, we saw a couple of dolfins, but also a big whale in the bay. Upon anchoring Kim made dinner for all, all was great but the time flew and then we had to get them to the Hotel to catch a cab back to barra, Mark was leaving in the morning.Nikita our best dingy driver was to land the dingy in the surf, Kim came along to arrange the taxi. They did not follow the warning to land the beach over here, and walk to the hotel. I watched in binoculars as they went down the beach to where the surf is stronger, half mile, Nikita knows surf, reads surf, lands in surf. He times the waves, he has a nack of riding in on the back of a wave, he throtled up,and there they were, riding the big wave. In atisipation of a exciting landing everyone moved foreward for the bail out, some with legs out by one account, the talk would have covered this,only problem it was too soon the weight broke the wave, now instead of riding the top of it, they are biginning to surf the front of it,Nikita throws the engine in reverse,too late it is now out off the water at the crest of the wave. Doom lirking, the bow strikes the trough, bottom of the wave, filling the bow with water, the standard sequence is ussually like this, the wave lifts the back until the dingy is vertical, bow in the sand then slams the still running engine over the heads of the people now pinned under the dingy, as the poeple gather there barring the next wave finishes them off. Dont laugh its happened to our friends, Nikita and his fiends had a near miss pre Cabo come to think of it someone there on the same day got pitched, head over tea kettle. Well needless to say they were spared, everyone got wet, some scared but no one got hurt, and Nikita is still annalizing why they survived, maybe the weight of that 25 horse motor we bought. The taxi ride back to Barra must have been comforting, though a little wet on the abholstry. Kim and Nikita had thier own challanges to make it out of the surf, Nikita recalls being airborne about 4 ft, I think that is what accounts for Kims' skinned knee, the landing that is. All in the life of a sailor.
We hooked up with friends Mishack and Qual Chan and also had a nice superise , BlackDragon pulled into the anchorage, it was time for catching up and telling storys, that is what sailors do best.
Yesterday we moved Gypsywind down to Melaque, antisipating strong winds,Sunday, Monday, Tues., we may have to anchor in the Lagoon in Barra.. The girls made the most amaizing cinnomin bunns,the night was beautiful, the anchorage peaceful, all is well.
Gypsywind on the side

8 kids, 50 kts winds and a lagoon

the adventure continues
    We have been blessed to see our family,  mom and Victoria and the clan of kids (totaling 8) with the new born Nicolas of 11 weeks. our youngest crew member to date. to the total of 12 on board this was very cosy to say the least. We also were blessed with the 50 knot winds that welcomed them on board the first night, luckly we were in the Lagoon in Barra de Navidad and were pelted with heavy rain for the first 2 days of family. we were so excited to be together we didn't seem to mind as we sat under the tarp  in the cockpit. Once the rain passed we lifted anchor and sailed the 3 hours to Tennicatita for a few nights this was amazing to share with family. It really feels fullfilling to share the lifestyle and for them to see and feel our life here on the ocean, I think they finally understand. nonetheless we are now in a Casa in Melaque for the week and we our family Nikita and Kiya and Noah have been in Awe of the space, the fee water and hot and we are showering twice daily. Noah a record 45 min shower and 3 shampoosand  spreading his toes and all else you can imagine. We have not slept in beds for 3 months and feel unbeiliveable stretching. for the firstday or so the house felt like it to was moving around. could thisbe land sickness? just kidding. well we are enjoying a holiday looking through fresh and amazed eyes and seeing Mexico again with renewed excitment.

Full Moon Over Melaque

If one can imagine 9 years ago we stood on this very beach in Melaque looking out at the bay. Nikita the age Noah is now, and saw a sailboat anchored in the bay. Having sailed before we thought how it would be amazing to do what they were doing and dreamed that someday that it could be us out there.

 Yesterday, we sat under a palapa on this beach , having margaritas,... in awe of the power of dreams and thoughts........... we were having  a moment under a full moon in Melaque.

Gypsywind

Melaque Hasn't Changed

Melaque and Bara de Navidad mark half way for us on our trip, the town is so welcoming we feel at home, sort of.We have anchored in the bay the only safe spot, north tucked in against the jagged rocks, the beach ends here , 2 miles of pure sand, also the better dingy landing, small swell. or so we thought Noahs words every time is "dad are we gonna get soaken?"

Tenacatita was so nice we stayed a week, and forgot to write. Friends on Evergreen stayed over because we arrived, and Qual Chan also with three kids on board said there not leaving. We had a palapa resturant on the beech, I liked that, with a camp ground atached.Only a few tents on the week end,and some Mexican boys playing guitar and harmonizing real nice.This was snorkling heaven, clear water down to thebottom, 25 ft. Two dolifins came to great us and cheak out the anchor we had just set, they were the big gray ones, twirling around our anchor chain, like a bunch of kids. The only other thing on
tthis beach is the Blue bay Hotel all inclusive, not all that inviting to yatistas.

We crossed the bay, three miles on our dingys with Evergreen into the town La Manzania, we have been here before, small with most of the beach buildings are renting to Gringos, nice beech. But going over we stoped and talked if we should head back the chop was up, Dennis & carol got swamped in a trough. we carried on landed just bearly, looked back at the bay and said oh shit.Did we just come through that.
Oh well it will probably die down in the afternoon, it blew hard all afternoon, after having lunch at the Dutch place with veggie burgers, and a few cervazas we realaxed,walked the beach, fed the alligators, shopped.
I think they're crocadiles,$1.50 buys you a bag of fish parts, no one was feeding them,so we did. 8 big ones with a few babys, Carol asked what keeps them in, I said the caution tape of course, on the other side, the fence had 2 holes in it putting Noah and Kiya within 5 ft of the teeth, Noah of coarse needs to bounce pebbles off the head to get a reaction, they did enjoy the fish.

The other neat thing was the river ride on our dingys through the mangroves, about an hour long, crocs in here too, we got pictures, all kinds of wild life. At the end you come to a big lagoon with a dock of sorts, this is the back side of Tenicatitta township, one bay over, Resturants grocery store, small Hotel, not on the water a beautiful half moom beach. You walk over the ridge to the next bay and you are in the best snorkling grounds anywhere, called the Aquarium. It was easy for a week to pass , it felt like a few days. The kids did not want to leave. Running low on gas for the dingys, and propane which we didn't fill in PV

Well here we are in Melaque, a larger town maybe 6000, with probibly 3/4 of the Gringos are Canadian,3/4 of which live here for a min. of three months, most of who come here every year. the town joke is " so which part of B.C. are you from?"  The place does not feel overly touristy, even though it is. Its where the mexicans come for a holiday. We are one of three boats in the bay, most which we can't see are in the lagoon in Bara 30 or so. If i could chose just one stop it would probaly be here.We are getting ready to great Leeza, Kims' mom sister, Victoria and the kids in a few days.

      Gypsy wind standing by on the side.

South to tenacatita

We made it over to Yelapa  from Paridise so we can get an early start south. try 2:30 am  we pull out black as coal, best time to round the correntes point, known for its washboard seas. All goes well we come around at sunbreak, two bats ahead of us two behind. the oyher thing is it' about 15 hr sail to Chemela  75 miles south, need to come in before dark. a little wind in the right direction helping out, nice sail but tired at the end, Pamila, single handing, on Presious Metal left 3 hrs later and past us in the last hour, She is heading down to Zhwat. she helps organize the fund raiser for sail fest, for the native kids and thier school. We pushed a little, got in at 6;20 40 min to spare.nice anchorage but tricky to come in, glad it was light we stayed a extra night our friends Quil Chan made it in just before us Chamala nice sleepy village. the next morning  Qual Chan, Duefor and us sail south to tenacatita, we get out of the bay and the wind is strong, 18 to 20 knots but blowing in our direction we sail out to sea and turn south with wing in wing. the seas are running 6 ft and its a little hard to keep the boat from wandering we sail on. Qual Chan reports trouble with there head sail ,all fowled, can't untangle , we take some head sail in as the gusts reach 24 kts, 5 hrs we make it in to be greeted by our friends Evergreen, and Precious Metal whe had left the day before.busy saving someones boat that went adrift with the strong wind. we viseted on shore Nikita connected with Josh on evergreen, they did some snorkling,We pass on some school book to Precious metal to take down to the kids for the fund raiser.  We head forshore  and enjoyed a couple of cold cervesas. the bad weather is coming and we expect to hold out here till it passes
 Gypsywind standibng by on 22.

Paradise in Paradise

We got back into La Cruz, out of water, and in need of showers desperatly. Man that shower was the sweetest, its the hot water/shampoo combo. We had bad news when we tryed running the watermaker in Yelapa, a leak a bad one. Well another poject day on the horizon. We bought 5 gal of drinking water at a beach resturant, every one uses them, std in all stores, usually $2.What an amazing time with Victor we really took in a lot of sights. We travelled by bus up to Salyletta on sunday and really enjoyed walking around town. Excellent capacinos at a $1.50, had one of the nicest meals overlooking the village square. The bus ride back wasn't as crouded as the trip up, mose of us stood part way, Nikita and Noah with boogie boards in hand. They both got some nice rides in the surf, a big surf town if you don't know. On the way home the bus pulls over on the side, 90 to nothing in 200 meters, "La cruz Gringos" got dropped off on the side of the road, in the dark. We expected to go to Bucarias where we needed to catch another bus back up, we walked down the exit ramp, with the help of the Mexican man with us, he told us to stand under the street lamp, next to his house, and sure as heck a bus stops,$ .60 we got dropped at the hwy on the masin street leading to La Cruz, 6 blocks through town and we were home, piece of cake.All with surf boards in tow.We checked into the best marina in the area,well run, attacked to the Paradise village hotels/complex. Our slip comes with full privaliges to all the grounds. 4 pools, bars, some of the best beach in Nievo vallarta. If thats not enough, they got caged tigers, talking parrots, a full american style mall, complete with Mcdonals, Subway and Dominos pizza etc. etc.We took Victor to the airport on tuesday, sad to see him leave.
 Mishack is next door at Nievo marina, and the kids have been enjoying the pools, along with new friends Quail Chan, three kids on board. Our other friends Whacha gonna do, still in La Cruz, have family over and will be moving over to paradise next week.As we get ready to leave, other friends Vento arrive, we have one brief evening together. We are provisioning again getting ready to head further south. Word has it that some bad weather is headed this way end of next week, we need a safe anchorage by Thursday. we  are Hoping Tanacatita, in 4 days.With our Watermaker fixed , food on board, motor products bought, we are feeling ready to move on. After all, one can only take so much paradise.
                                                               Gypsywind signing off

a Palapa in Yelapa

    Well it doesn't get better than this. No cars , a small mexican village, discovered by the hippies in the sixties. I think we seen a few of the ones who chose to stay. the whole place has a laid back feel, very laid back.
The first day we walked the town, streets are 3, 4,5 ft wide with the odd spot at 8 ft. as we walked in amoungst the washed laundry we kept looking for the main street, there are none, the village is a maze of paths, non straight and cobblestone of coarse. Two mini grocery stores, every 10 th house  is a cafe, hardware store or selling clothes or their art. Not touristy just a way of life. the touristy part are 5 palapa reasturants on the beach, who cater to the tourists that arrive by water taxi for the day, 12 to 4pm they all close at 5pm except the one that stays open to serve the ones that are staying here. One hotel that has wifi, is the other place to eat, great food and reasonable. the hotel is a bunch of huts with palm leaf roofs, no windows just sutters, very organic, oh did I mention they have a pool, made out of rocks with boulders in and aroung the edge.
We have spent 2 days hiking the waterfalls on two different rivers. yesterdays hike was into the mountains, 5 hrs, that was amazing, swam in the fresh water under the falls. the most amazing was the trail up that went through every village, complete with cows, chikens, and many horses, mule and donkey stables.
you could see the pride in horsemanship, lots of leather work.The houses are poor, and simple, the people freindly and kind.
     Today we are on the beach e mailing, just in case you think this is not so special, after the two boats left today we were the only yacht left, three others arrived, one non other then, Bill Gates, his boat only slightly larger than ours.
    Victor has got us motivated to take in a lot of sights, it has been great having him on board, the New Years Dinner  he cooked is etched in my mind.
   the last Bay we werein was Boca De Tomatlan, where we caught up to our friends Mishach, after they showed us the town, they arrived one day earlier, we hung on the beach with the locals and finished the evening with pizza on Gypsywind, (we've got the oven).
the next day Mishach left, and we caught the bus to Chicos' paradise for a swim in the river and lunch on the cliffs. The local diver gave us a personal tour, and later entertained a lot of us with 3 dives, maybe 25 ft, but at least 12 to 15 ft over a boulder, the pool he landed in about 8x12 with boulders all around, the second dive was a summer sault, the last was blind folded, most could barely watch. The days have been amazing, and eazy to loose track of the days. the one thing we have had trouble with is the internet, it seems it is far and few between that we have service.
We will try to fill you in when we can. Today is one of those days you dream about, beach, sun, hammock, cervesa got to go!
            Gypsywind over and out

New Years in La Cruz

 Happy New Years Day to All
Gypsywind and crew ( including Victor) are tied up at the dock in La Cruz . reunited with our friends,Mishach, Whacha gonna do, and Evergreen. Victor came in on the 29th, we met him with a car rental (last one in all PV). we went downtown, old Puerto Vallarta that evening for dinner. wll to wall tourists, we ate at a Mexicain reasturant, complete with an eight piece Mariachi band. Music was pounding, night clubs a shaking, it felt like Cabo all over.The contrast was great to the village (La Cruz) where we made home. La Cruz is real mexicain with a few non mexicain owned resturants sprinkled in for the skweemish. but even they are real because the owners have been here 10, 20 years, and are the community. The music seen is big here,a lot of bands or acts to take in. We enjoyed a intamate consert of famed Willie &Lobo, flamingo gutar with electric violin,Willie could make the violin sound like humpback Whales, birds ect. all of which he incorporated into the songs, Lobo , worl;d famous gutarist, live 2 blocks away (La Cruz) Nikita was inspired and was able to understand his training through the fingering of Lobo, who he didn't take his eyes off all night. Nikita pointed out that Lobo had a few bad habits that he must have picked up when he was learning, that aside the man was fantastic, using the gutar as a precusion instrment, the bass and the lead, which he shared with Willie. Can you tell I was amazed.
    Victor is loving the vibe of the town, where everyone says hi and stops to talk, even if it is in sign languasge.Our favorate past time is walking the streets with our children and calling into the shops, some of which are little more than wood sheds without the wood. The Mexicain soul does not need comforts to be happy, thier focus is just to be happy.