Coyote's going fishing/sailing

For the last week I have been trying to get the boat ready to take out for a couple of weeks of sailing/fishing with my long time friend Crazy Coyote. He will be arriving on the afternoon of the first. Wow that’s only two more days and I still have a lot to do. I will have to make this short and to the point if I hope to be as ready as possible. Last week as I approached the end of my “to do” list the inverter stopped working. Long story short…sometimes it works, putting out 110V and sometimes it doesn’t. After I run the generator introducing 110V to the system it will work for a while. Then it will stop again. I shut down the generator last night at around 6pm, so it has been working normally now for over twelve hours straight. Jim is bringing a small inverter down that can be wired in to get 110V access. In that way we will be able to get internet and weather forcasts. Jim will also be able to charge his phone.

The next issue was the refrigeration system. The freezer works, but the refrigerator does not! Roger the refrigeration man spent eight hours with me working on it yesterday, but we still can’t figure out why it doesn’t work. He is busy all next week and Jim & I will be out fishing/sailing for the next two weeks so he repair will have to wait. I just pray that nothing else breaks down. I guess we will have to use ice to keep the fish fillets cold.

Once we leave La Paz it could be ten days or so before I post in the blog again. Hopefully we will have many photos of big fish, dolphins etc. Gotta go to work now!

Wash-down Pump

Yesterday I decided it would be a good day to install the wash-down pump that I bought about three swap-meets ago. It is a vane pump which is far superior to a diaphragm pump and should give me more than enough pressure. I cleared everything out under the sink, discarding about half of what I term "unnecessary" treasures.

I like to do as neat and compact of an installation job as possible, so I made a list of the plumbing necessary to do so. With list in hand, off I went to town, via the Dink and my sneakers. I went to four Marine stores and a hardware store and was still empty handed. That is with the exception of my list. One would think that in a town of almost 300,000 people they would have a store that carried a plastic, or bronze, or copper, or galvanized 1/2 T with 2 hose ends and one threaded. Two of those and I would have been in business. Since the morning was wasted, except for the exercise, back to the boat I went with my trusty list still in hand. When I arrived back at Wind Raven, I dove into the stern lazaret where plumbing supplies lurk, and come up with some semi reasonable substitutes. With these in hand I discarded my want list. I wonder, is that why they call it a "want list" because ya still want it after spending half a day or more trying to get it? It does seem that way sometimes. Oh well, long story short, it is installed and actually works, so far!                                        

I had intentions, or should I say delusions, of taking a photo of said installation for your perusal, but it was too dark under there.I know what you're thinking, turn on the flash, right? I did, it didn't, and I don't wanna talk about it!

Ops!

Yesterday after flushing the Water Maker, scrubbing out the Dink, and washing down the deck on Wind Raven, I decided to take the dink out for a sail. The wind was around 15knts and the water was pretty choppy. I figured it would be a good day to learn a little more about sailing the little boat. I got it all rigged up ready to go and headed out across the bay. My course would take me into the wind and against the current, which was running about 3knts. It was low tide and there is a sand bar about half way across the bay that is too shallow to cross. As I approached the sand bar and started to tack to port the rudder folded over in half. I released the sail to dump the wind, as I had no control of the dink at this point. While retrieving the broken rudder I drifted over the sand bar. With sail flapping I grabbed an oar and wrestled the dink off and into deeper water.


Broken rudder in stern of Dink!

 I started to sail back to the boat without a rudder. By pumping the sail so that it would catch the wind and the then dumping it I made short zigzags in the general direction I wanted to go. At this point I put the oars in their locks and under a port tack I used the starboard oar as a rudder, and vice versa. Upon approaching the boat upwind I came about and just as I was almost to it the current changed and swept Wind Raven beyond my reach. I released the sail and with it flapping in the now strong wind and stronger current pushing my away, I grabbed the oars and started to row. I was only about six feet behind Wind Raven, but it was touch and go for a bit as I struggled to catch her. There for a while I was in serious doubt that I could, but I finally did. It was a good thing as if I had not caught her I would have been in for a long trip to shore to await ebb tide!




Just another boring sunset!

Swap Meet

Yesterday was the monthly Cruisers Swap Meet held at the Don Jose Marina here in La Paz. A lot more cruisers showed up this month than usual. I did pretty well this time, but after three swap meets I still haven't gotten rid of my "Pelican Waterproof Laptop Computer Case." It's a great case, but just takes up too much space that I would rather use for something else. Maybe next month.

The bay side

 Yes, unfortunately I will be here in La Paz at least until the end of February, because I am having my FM-3 renewed. I will start the process on the 23rd and am using a person that does all of the paper work for me. That will take a lot of stress away, I don't speak Spanish well enough to do it myself. Next Thursday I will go in to get my CULP (don't ask!) that is required to get my medical insurance. Friday I will be accompanied by a bi-lingual Mexican lady to get my full coverage medical insurance that covers everything for under $200 a year. I also have to get my senior discount card that is honored at most retail stores etc.

Inside the entrance

I have also contacted an experienced lady sailor in the UK about crewing on Wind Raven. I am able to single hand Wind Raven, but feel that it would be much more prudent to have someone else aboard who is capable
of taking over in case of any emergency. Hopefully I will be able to find someone by the end of the month, as soon after I wish to head out of La Paz. I spoke to Judy this morning after sending her copies of the correspondence with the UK lady and she said that the UK lady had her vote!

Winding down!

My display after much was sold, but before the radio, coffee urn, and walkie talkies were sold.

Tammy's Assurance

Just a Few photos to assure my daughter that I am eating & reading well!

Three pork chops, no less!

    

My Potassium

Blurry, but it still shows tomatoes & tomatillos

Day One!

I spent the last three days helping Judy get all of her ducks in a row in preparation for her departure on the 11th of this month. I can't believe she got so many clothes and SHOES past me and stowed away on Wind Raven without my knowledge. Sneaky, very sneaky Judy. She had about eight bags that I went through for her. Rolling the clothes tightly (navy style) and condensing them so that there were only five, plus her carry on bag, which weighed at least 40lbs.

Departure Day Sunrise

Bill of Wandering Puffin graciously offered to transport Judy and her luggage to the airport from the marina. Judy and I wrestled her largest bag (24" x 43" x 14"), that weighed around 80 to 90lbs, out of the cockpit onto the deck. In order to accomplish this feat we had to maneuver it past the dodger that has only about 10" of deck between the dodger and the deep six. We actually managed to do it without loosing the bag or ourselves overboard. Luckily the waters were calm at the time. Unfortunately that condition didn't last long. The rollers started to come in and the wind picked up prior to the time that I was supposed to meet Bill at his dock. Judy called him ,asking if we could bring them over early, he acquiesced. Well, I headed out with the large bag in the bow with two more overstuffed bags mid ship. I could barely see over the largest bag and the Dink rolled precariously over the white capped swells all of the way over to the marina. We took the remaining bags over with us later, and would you believe that the water had calmed by then? Go figure!

This will be my first day without Judy's company. I will miss her smiling face. She is a great lady, but she just wasn't cut out for this lifestyle. It will be a major transition in my life style and in my daily routines also. However, time cures all, as they say, so one must look on the bright side. I will now have more time to complete my repairs and do the required maintenance, which in turn should reduce my breakdowns. At least that is what it says in small print.

I wish Judy the best always and hope she finds the happiness she so desires in Oregon, with her children and grandchildren. It certainly has been an adventure she can tell them many stories about!

Departure Sunset

Adios Judy & Best Wishes!

My computer has been down for several days, so I took it to Todo Pc in La Paz on Jalisco st. They completed the repairs including converting the Spanish to English on my GoogleEarth navigation program. Tonight when I booted it up and went to Google Earth it was back in Spanish. Go figure! Well now I get to walk back to Todo PC again for the third time, which is a five mile pluss round trip, with a growing blister on my left foot. I just can’t seem to find any good walking shoes that don’t tear up my feet, no matter the cost. I have bought five pair so far and they all give me blisters. The last pair were Crocks at over $50 for the pair. It’s not really the shoes fault, as I have a much larger right foot, so if I get the right shoe to fit the left shoe is loose and I get blisters on it. I used to have boots custom made, but at five to nine hundred us dollars a pair, that is not an option any more. Although I haven’t actually priced custom made shoes or boots since I have been here in Mexico I’m sure they would be too expensive.


Tomorrow I will try to remember to take my camera with me and take some photos. My mind has been way too full with problems of late and it seems that no matter how hard I try to remember everything I’m supposed to accomplish while in town, I always forget something. Today was the third day I forgot to pick up my laundry, as it was the last “to do” on my list each day. Yeah, I got distracted by an excellent hamburger at a place called ‘The Shack” where Judy and I had lunch. We both agree that they have the best ever. Judy put her name and date on the wall where many others have done so. I guess it is for nostalgia purposes in case one returns in the distant future. I didn’t write mine on the wall, it just kind of goes against my grain. Besides I’m not planning on ever leaving!

Speaking of “The Shack,” tonight they have darts starting at 8pm. If I am still awake and feel energetic enough, I will dinghy in and go watch. Hell, who knows, I might even get up enough nerve to throw a few. It has been over twenty years since I have thrown darts competitively. I guess that makes me just another “has been.” Judy said she is too tired from the walk today, so she will stay on the boat if I do go. Later…… Well I went and embarrassed myself….Boy am I rusty!

Judy has made the decision that she doesn’t like Mexico enough to be separated from her daughters and grandchildren. She will be flying back to Portland, Oregon on the eleventh of this month to live. We are having some friends over this weekend for a going away dinner. We splurged and bought another Mexican spiced chicken like we had on New Years, yum- yum. I sincerely hope she is happy in Oregon, and has my best wishes always!

As a result of Judy’s departure I will be single handing Wind Raven in the Sea of Cortez. That is until I can find someone who is interested in acting as crew with me. I will be trying to find someone, male or female who is preferably bilingual, with sailing knowledge, or at least capable of hands on learning with the ability and willingness to take on the challenge without complaint. It would also be required for them to share living expenses. I would also like all of you to know that you are welcome to come down to visit, sail, and fish if you so desire. Simply contact me either through the blog or my e-mail (honquesp2@yahoo.com) and let me know when you wish to come down for a visit/vacation.