08/05/2012, Bahia San Fransisquito
Not a whole lot to report, as we are just sorta doing what we do down here on these hot humid days. We do start our days a little earlier than we used to, with it pretty common to be up around 6-6:30. We listen to the morning nets, get the weather, and check in with some of the other boats all doing the same thing, around the sea of Cortez. Then by 8-8:30 we are off to go snorkeling, hiking or fishing unless we have some important boat jobs to work on. If we had breakfast before we left the boat, then we do a little tidying up around the boat, before lunch. By then the heat is up and our desire to do much is pretty weak, so this is when we work on the computer, read, play cards, or just plain old nap!
A couple of days ago we pulled our Racor duel fuel filter system apart and gave it a good cleaning, as after our nasty little bit of bashing on our way in here we broke some junk loose in the fuel tank. It was stopped by the filters, but there was quite a bit gathered in the bottom of the fuel filter bowl. So far my wiring project looks to be a success, as everything is running good! The only thing so far in our systems that are under performing are the solar panels. Don't get me wrong they are doing their part, is just so much hotter, keeping the refrigeration running is now requiring so much more energy than we had thought it might. Since we make water about every three days, we run the battery charger at the same time, and get the batteries all charged back up. At this time we also recharge the hand help VHF radio, the cell phone (we use it as an alarm) the Ipod, the Kindle, and the flashlights.
Last night was our first real brush with a Chubasco. About 2:30 AM the winds started picking up, and then the lightening started popping about 8 miles away. Fortunately the winds stay just under 30 knots, and the electrical part moved away with out an issue. We pretty much never go to bed, unless the boat is ready to handle 50 knots of wind, so it was really a non issue, just lost a little sleep.
Depending on weather tomorrow, we might pull anchor and head north to either Isla Partida, or Animas Slot.....or not!!
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Comments [2]
08/02/2012, Bahia San Fransisquito
While we rarely ever need an excuse for a party or pot luck down here, last nights full moon was certainly as good as it gets for a reason to get all the bats together and celebrate. In addition, it was Lisa on SV Beyond Reason's Birthday, it was a little cooler, with a very light, cooling breeze. Lots of great food, a few cold beverages, a little joke telling, and some improvised bocci ball. I took a few of my extra golf balls and and maked them to be used as Bocci balls. I painted one yellow to be the target. If we get some internet when we get to Bahia De Los Angeles, I will post a few pics.
Looks like we will stay here until Saturday, and then head north with a stop in Animas Slot it there is room for us.
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07/30/2012, Bahia San Fransisquito
Well, as you've read before, Murphy joined us somewhere back a few miles. He hasn't left,yet.
After a nice evening with Trisha and Derrick of S/V Interabang, for pizza and farkle, we discovered that the refrigeration system didn't seem to be working. Great! It's 10 pm, and we're now pulling out the tools and wiring supplies. My hero, Tom, bypassed the main system, and at least got us a working refrigerator to keep our full of food freezer cold. Off to bed, and we'll tackle it in the morning.
We'd been watching our panels very closely over the past several weeks, suspecting something was amiss, but not sure where it was. Murphy, again. So, after a quick breakfast of toast with PBJ on it, Tom basically rewired the entire 12V side of our panel. He mounted a couple of new bus bars for the grounds, and moved them off of the panel. In doing so, he discovered that we had two partially melted wires. Aha! and Oh, no! So with a careful look at all the wires, connections, it was all rewired and re- labeled. The meter is now reading properly and most important, the refrigerator is keeping things cold again.
The boat is certainly getting more use than ever before, especially compared to being tied to a dock. She's constantly in motion, which means all the systems, fittings and connections are too. We're also dealing with pretty high humidity and that is also having an effect. We're hearing of other boaters starting to have issues with computers, kindles, electronics, pumps and other refrigeration units.... so Murphy is not exclusively on our boat.
As I said before, Tom's my hero. There have been many times on this adventure of ours where he's pulled a new talent out of his sleeve, impressed me with his knowledge of our systems or those of others and VOILA - the problem is solved, the 'ordeal' averted, and the adventure can continue on.
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-Nicole
Have a great time up North.
Laura
07/28/2012, Bahia San Fransisquito
After deciding that he Chubasco storm was going to break down, and not effect us on our way north, we both took short naps, and then were under way at 12:15 AM. After clearing the breakwater and stowing all the fenders and dock lines, we set the sails and had a very nice sail....for about 4 hours. Then the winds died down. So, we motored and used that engine time to top off our water tanks. Around 8:00 AM we set the sails again, only to have the wind die down again after 3 hours of sailing. We still have nearly 40 miles to go, so we motored, and finished making water. The sea kept getting rougher and rougher, but the winds did not pick up. With the 3-4 foot seas, the ride was not really comfortable, and it stirred up some junk in our fuel tank, so I had a bit of a fire drill, cleaning the fuel filter housing and putting in new filters.
We tried fishing, with no luck. We had a couple of fish on but they were quickly off so we don't know what or how big they were. We had to keep bringing in the lures as the Boobys keep flying over the boat and then trying to catch the lure. I am pretty sure we had them in and out o the water 2 dozen times. Finally, we did not get them min fast enough, and juvenile brown Booby got caught. We reeled him in and removed the hook as carefully as possible. We set him free and off he went, but i am pretty sure he is now one of the "Punk" Boobys and is going to get a ring in his new lip piercing.
The last 5 miles of the trip were just plain awful!! As we got closer to the opening of the bay, the water current, the rapidly changing depth and the increasing (finally!!) wind all worked against each other to make a very nasty piece of water. The results were very large waves, coming from three directions, and no choice but to bash right thru it. We took three waves over the side into the cockpit, something that has not happened since we left on this trip even once, let alone three times.
Trips facts: 78.4 miles 9.3 engine hours three different rain squalls with lightening no fish, one booby caught Back above 28th latitude again engine hours rolled over 1000
It was a long day but we are now anchored, and ready for a rest.
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07/27/2012, Santa Rosalia
We are watching the radar screen to keep track of a pretty big Chubasco storm working it's way up the sea of Cortez right now. It seems to be breaking down, but we are going to keep an eye on it. Our plan is to head out just a little bit after midnight for the 80 mile north to Bahia San Fransisquito. We are planning on around a 16 hour trip if we can keep an average of 5 knots. The biggest problem with that might be all the provisions we have put on board! Eagle is sitting a little low in the water.
There are three other boats all leaving about the same time, us, SV Interabang, SV Beyond Reason and SV Time Piece. John will be the last to leave, if all our plans go as scheduled. He is planning on leaving around 6-7 AM. John pretty much sails every where, no matter what, so if the winds don't cooperate, he could be in for a long trip..
Thde down sidemof leaving Rosalia will be the loss of all this great internet connection, along with any chance of phone calls as well. We will still keep posting notes to the blog, but will not be able to post any pictures unless we find an internet cafe along the way.
Feel free to drop us a note or put a comment on the blog, and we will get replys back as soon as possible.
for those of you that want to watch our evening weather, the chubasco radar that I watch at night is www.whatsupsancarlos.com then go about half way down the site and you will see the Java script loading, and then it will say "loading animation" let that load at it will show a radar screen of the sea of cortez. Best to check for chubascos after 6 or 7 at night.
OK, off to take a nap before heading out at o-dark thirty
Talk to you all later
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07/27/2012, Santa Rosalia
And on the 4th day, they rested.......
It's time to tour the town. This is our second trip to Santa Rosalia, a copper mining town, and we haven't really wandered it like we usually do. Oh, we've searched for the best prices on produce, tried a few taco and hot dog stands, but there's usually more than just provisioning to be done.
The cover shot is a local church, that was designed and built by Effiel, the guy famous for the tower in paris. It was used in the 1884 worlds fair, then shipped here to be rebuilt in the small mining town of Rosalia. Pretty cool huh?
So, this morning, we gathered up Lefty and the camera gear, and our ever present shopping list, and headed off to the Museo de Boleo. To get there, you slowly climb- because its already 90' at 9:00am- a set of steps all the way up the hillside...
The building sits on the top of the hill, overlooking most of the town and the entire harbor. It was once the mining headquarters. A lovely building,constructed entirely of wood; creaky floors, super high ceilings, an entry way that opens to the ceiling with a second story balcony all around the inside. Most of the windows were shuttered or curtained, so I had to use a flash inside.
We were given permission to freely wander through the main level. Several rooms had items used in the mine; scales, picks, hardhats - Lefty tried one on, and other items. What caught our eye, was the collection of typewriters, and office type machines, adding, mimeograph, and even an old switchboard station.
The details of the building were interesting as well. The turn of the century style light switches, some missing key parts - yet still in use! The door knobs and other fixtures were interesting to look at.
Just as we were about to leave, a curator saw us taking photos. He came and unlocked a safe, with an inner safe and allowed us access to the original ledgers/journals stored inside. The room was very small, about 8x10 with deep shelves lining the outer walls. The shelves were full of large, cloth bound books about 20" high. Lot's of history in that room.
The mine re-opened in the last couple of years and has brought some new life into the town. We've been told there is enough copper to keep the mine going for 25 years. Hopefully, something else will be around to keep this town going by that time.
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