How do I survive?
16 January 2010 | Barra de Navidad
Gabriellas grandpa
I'm finally in Barra, one of my all time favorite places to hang out. While in Mazatlan during Christmas I was going to bake cookies. I started with mixing the iingredients and discovered I had no eggs. The local tiendas didn't have them either and I had to go beggiing at restaurants. My next door neighbor said I could use his bike and off I went down the docks. I was almost at the ramp when the air pump that attaches to the frame came lose and somehow dropped into the spokes of the front wheel. The wheel stopped instantly and over the front wheel I came flying. One of the berthers saw me do the flip and was sure I was injured. I jumped on the bike and kept going....I had to get the eggs. The girls in the office really liked my cookies. Sailed down to San Blas and decided to haul out of the water to take off my folding prop and put on a three bladed prop. The folding prop vibrated too much to make it the rest of the season. Had a successful prop change and went on to Chacala for some good food in the palapas on the beach. Going ashore, I beached the dinghy in the little cove where there isn't too much surf running. I walked over to some rocks to wash my feet off and put on my sandals. I stepped up on the rock(that was slime covered) and went sailing up in the air and down hard on the rock. I hit my hip real hard and my wrist also. I thought for sure I broke my hip(age and all), but it was my wrist that was the problem. To this day it is still a little painful and it is hard sailing a boat with one hand. I think I better start using the wonderful birthday present Gabriella got me this last year. It's an inflatable harness from West Marine. Left Chacala after only one night and sailed up around Punta de Mita into Banderas Bay. It was one of those glorious days of pure beauty and accomplishment. I was thanking my Lord out loud for letting me do what I do in retirement. Stayed in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle for about four days. Took the bus to PV and the Costco store to get a few needed items(JellyBellies). Pulled out of La Cruz and sailed to Ipala for a nights anchorage, then on to Chamela for another night of anchoring. Next morning pulled out of Chamela and headed down to Barra. As I was puliing close to Barra, I noticed dark rain clouds in all different directions. As I had all my sails out a squall passed over me and the wind accelerated to 20+ knots for only a minute or two. It was the first squall I have experienced.....I know there are stronger squalls. I pulled into the lagoon and it sure felt good to be in flat water and a place I feel really comfortable in. Now I have to make all the arrangements for painting the local school and get set up to have video conferences between this school and Gabriellas school in Rancho Cordova. Please feel free to comment or ask questions......