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.........
Monday, April 19, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
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!!!
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!!!
Monday, March 22, 2010
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
the boatless crew of gypsywind
Sunday, March 21, 2010
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.
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.
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