Christmas with Gabriella
22 December 2008 | Rancho Cordova, Ca.
Gabriellas grandpa
I knew well before I posted my last blog that I was going to spend Christmas with my Princess in Rancho Cordova. I did'nt want to write about it because Gabriella can read quite well. The Trip... I left Barra de Navidad at 9:15 am by bus to Puerto Vallarta and that took 4 1/2 hours. Then after a 2 hour wait in the bus terminal in PV I caught another bus line for the trip to Guaymas. This bus, supposedly 1st class, took 18 hours to get to Guaymas. We stopped at about 6 towns and the real stops were the Federales...7 in all. All night long the bus would be stopped by road blocks for inspection of luggage and personal carry-ons and on one occassion they came on board with automatic screwdrivers and tore the bathroom apart to look for drugs. The bathrooms were bare...no toilet paper..soap..towels,etc. Of course I've learned by now to always have a rooll of toilet paper handy no matter where you are in Mexico. I got into Guaymas at 11:30 am and went straightaway to Singlar to retrieve my car for the drive to Rancho Cordova. I was there for about 45 minutes and then off to the frozen northland. I drove through to Tucson and got a motel for the night then up early for the rest of the trip north. The car ran fine and it was quite a treat to pay and average of $1.65 a gallon...cheaper than Mexico. I knew that Gabriella and mom Karen would be at Grandma Pats' house for the evening so I drove there to surprise her. I rang the doorbell and Karen answered and called for Gabriella. She walk up to the door and gave that frozen look, how could this be? Of course that was about a 3 or 4 second look before she went berzerk and was screaming and kept saying "it is you" "I can't believe your here". I think after this surprise and the one at the end of last season, I don't know if I will be able to surprise her anymore. Needless to say, we have been inseperable since. I do the reverse drive/bus trip back to the boat at the end of the year. I have good cruising friends watching my boat at anchor in Barra de Navidad. Again, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.