This IS retirement: SailBlogs

I'm a Cruiser again

Gabriellas grandpa — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:20:38 -0600

I finally got to get out of the lagoon and into blue water. Comex, the place I buy the paint for the school never has enough stock on hand and they have to order it from Puerto Vallarta. So, without the required spray bombs to finish the wrought iron painting, I decided to take a break and go south to Manzanillo and relax. It sure feels good to be actually cruising again after 7+ weeks sitting in the lagoon and dealing with the day to day things that have to be done with the school. I spent about 4 nights in Santiago which is a long open roadstead with a lot of rental homes and condos lining the beach. We walk the long beach to catch the bus to the town of Santiago or Manzanillo old town. I get to go to Burger King, KFC, and Walmart, being in a metropolitan area....thrills. I weighed anchor yesterday and went over to Las Hadas to catch up on my decadence. Delicious Dorado fish fillet and a great view to go with it. It got too junky in the anchorage last night, so I upped anchor and moved back over to Santiago...a long 3 miles. A couple of days ago Tom on Hooligan helped me rebuild/replace the seals in my watermaker. It was successful but the motor still strains too much for my liking, so I sold it to Tom who has been lusting after it ever since I installed it. The pic above is of the watermaker repair. Next week after I finish the school, I will post again and try to upload before and after pics. I got to have another video conference between Gabriellas class and the school here. I got up early and baked 2 batches of Tollhouse cookies for the kids....they absolutely loved them and they let me know with each child coming up and saying...muy delicioso. I planted another question with my granddaughter and told her to ask if they like the paint job I did on the school. After Joanna translated, they all screamed Si! Si!. That was my payment..I love it. (View Post...)

Colomilla Elementary School

Gabriellas grandpa — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:35:46 -0600

It has been slow going on getting the school painted. The Maestra(teacher) wants me to work weekends only so as not to disturb the kids while school is in session. I originally had planned to paint the school at Christmas break, but installing a new engine in my boat took a little too long. Weekends it is......... Today we (Fran and Jean-Guy on Gossling) started to actually apply paint and it sure feels good to see some color and improvement in the looks of the school. A week ago Tuesday we had a very nice video conference(via Skype) between the school here and my granddaughters 2nd grade class in Rancho Cordova. I had to bring the school down to Fortinos restaurant because they were the only good internet set up on the peninsula. Of course the kids loved coming on down to the restaurant because I bought them all a soda and gave them some Jelly-Bellys....Can we say WIRED. I planted a question with Gabriella and had her ask the kids here if they like the gringo cruisers who come into the lagoon and invade their community. When Joanna (a sixth grader here who did the translation...she lived in Modesto for a few years) asked the kids here, they all immediately shouted out Si! Si! Si!. So I know my effort to paint the school will be appreciated by the locals and of course the kids. This country sure does lack the tools and materials that I'm so used to in the states for gettiing a job done the right way. When I do the interior next year I will bring all the supplies with me. (View Post...)

How do I survive?

Gabriellas grandpa — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:53:29 -0600

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...... (Continued...)