We have been working on new boat projects the past weeks. We have had our teak stripped of varnish to its bare wood and our other outside wood varnished. It looks brand new. We also have added a top stainless steel rail on the side of our cockpit to make it safer. One of our friends went overboard at sea due to a broken life line so we thought we would improve our safety features. We also had additional canvas work done. We have had a tarp made to put over the top of the boat to create an air pocket between the sun and the top of the boat.
Finally, we have sold our dingy. That was one of our purchases that did not work out well for us. It was way too heavy for the two of us to beach. We have purchased a new dingy that weighs half of what we had.
I have been a student the past week. I was enrolled in an immersion Spanish course. While a goal of mine is to speak conversational Spanish I had no idea it would be so much work. They even taught the class in Spanish! and thought I would know what they said?
We are soon homeward bound. We have learned that cruising plans change all the time. We have decided not to spend the summer cruising due to the high temperatures. We will leave our boat, Andanzas, in Mazatalan for the summer. We will be returning to Ventura to spend the summer on my boat, DreamCatcher. I will return to work June 1 and work until November 1. Wally will be available again for sailing instructions and already has a boat delivery scheduled to San Francisco. We will be returning to Mexico in November to continue our cruising adventures. I am fortunate to have people who are willing to job share.
There is much to do when leaving a boat in Mexico during hurricane season. Mazatlan has not been hit by a hurricane in a number of years. We have to take all the canvas off, take sails down, secure lines, have all the food off the boat due to possible cockroaches, clean all the inside of the boat to prevent mildew. The lists goes on and on.
Wally and I have been reflecting back over our first season of cruising as it draws to an end. It is hard to convey all of our experiences. We have benefited from our experience. We have found that we can live 24/7 together and have handled many challenges over the past 8 months.
Our favorite city: Mazatlan
Our least favorite city: Puerto Vallarta
Our favorite anchorage: Las Hadas
Our least favorite anchorage: Chamala
Our favorite marina: Barra de Navidad
Our favorite village: La Cruz
What we enjoyed most: 1)meeting new friends, 2)having time, 3)freedom to do what we wanted at any time, 4)not having so many rules and laws to live by that the States has, 5.)being responsible for ourselves.
What we learned: 1)how to live and adapt to a new country, 2.)that Mexico has great medical, dental, and veterinary care, 3.)that one has to be aware of tides in Mexico, 3)radio frequencies, 4.)must use bug spray, 5.)how friendly the country is, 5.)must be watchful of fishing long lines which can be 2-3 miles long, 6.)how inexpensive it is to live in Mexico.
What we will miss while we are gone: 1)our cruising friends, 2) the weather, 3.) inexpensive living, 3) casual lifestyle
What we are looking forward to: 1) seeing family, 2)seeing friends, 3)our cars (we have not driven a car in 8 months), 4)grain sweetened chocolate covered raisins and fruit sweetened chocolate cake(Linda), 5) In-Out Burger, KFC(Wally), 6)Sharp yellow cheddar cheese, 7)Dad's biscuits and gravy(Wally), 8)cooler weather(Wally), and 9) local travel.
Angel will also be traveling home with us on the plane. She is now a trained registered Hearing Impaired Service Dog for Wally. (I can vouch for that!) Angel will sit with us on the plane. The airlines are very accommodating to service dogs.
The pictures above are of the surrounding Marina Mazatlan area.
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