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