04/20/2008, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
"..... there lived a geautiful birl and her name was Rindercella. "
Archie Cambell.
Well I'm in a coreign funtry all right. Wayward Angel made anchor at last in Sunny Isla Mujeres, Mexico this the 20th day of April, 2008. Only took me three months. The passage was idyllic for the most part and the nearly 4 days out of sight of land passed easily, but it's good to be here too. It was all cerulean blue, solitude and gentle winds. Fish stories? I got a few. Triumph over adversity, got a few of them too. But for right now I'm finishing the rest of this rum and ginger and heading to the showers to wash the salt off. More Later.
HEA
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Comments [4]
04/15/2008, Fort Myers Beach
I left Downtown Fort Myers yesterday and made the 4 hour hop down to Fort Myers Beach to wait out this front. It blew gusts to 35 knots on the way down here and blew steady 25 for most of last night. I'm tied to the dock at the Matanzas Inn and this morning the temps are back down in the too cold range. It's supposed to blow itself out today and I'll leave tomorrow for Isla Mujeres just a mere 3 months behind schedule. . The rumb line passes pretty close to the Dry Tortugas and I may or may not stop there for a rest. It's only a day or so sail from here. The gulf stream loops up into the gulf before going back almost due south to the florida straits before heading east so the local wisdom seems to be sailing a little north of the rumb line until you reach the stream and riding it south to near the northwest coast of Cuba and then crossing the Yucatan Channel. So that's the plan. Should take 3 to 4 days if I don't stop at the tortugas. I think I've got this sat phone email posting down so I'll be able to upload a few logs while underway. I'll give it a test before I shove off.
HEA
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04/05/2008, Fort Myers
Barring any unforseen circumstances I plan to head out to Mexico on Wednesday or Thursday as the weather looks good and I'm almost ready. I've been in a very productive mode for the last several days, finished installing the new breaker panel and running the old doubled up circuits to thier own breakers, I've installed the Single Side Band Radio and get all kinds of reception but have not been able to confirm that the thing is transmitting at all as I've gotten no response to any of my calls yet. There is a Ham in the anchorage here and I'm gonnna hit him up for some advice today. I've also rebedded a couple of leaky chain plates, changed my primary anchor setup from 250 feet of chain to 150 feet of chain and 150 feet of nylon rode, made my first rope to chain splice, this took the better part of the day and the instructions in my book read like a riddle. This removes a third of the weight I had in the bow and the extra chain goes in the stern for more balance so I think she'll sail a little lighter on her feet, she was a couple inches nose down before. I've installed several new pad-eyes for the running backstays on the mizzen and a couple up front for additional dingy tie-downs. Gonna sort out the tie downs for the fuel cans on deck today, need a better solution to that one. On monday I hope to pull into the dock and hook up to power and let the fridge charge up good for a couple of days, re-provision though I don't need all that much cause I'm pretty stocked up on staples. Tis the season for passages south and many other boats are making thier preparations too.
Anyway I hope all is well with everyone. I wore my Bay Break tee shirt yesterday which reminded me of the girls at my favorite store on the corner...Hi Pat and Laura and Louise and yes even Stella, give Bear a hug for me next time he comes in. Also my boys at Rock Creek.......I notice that Jeff's emails do not contain any information on if you're winning or loosing this season so I'll have to assume that the status quo remains. Also hello to the gang at the Pirates Cove, wishing I was there and will miss being at the Wooden Boat Show this year. Anyone who reads this and finds themselves cruising the Alabama Coast you MUST spend a few days in Roberts Bayou and have a cheeseburger at the Cove and soak up a little fine music and bleed off any stress you may have accumulated along the way. This is one of the last stretches of wild coastal paradise left anywhere in the States that I have seen and the people are fun, diverse and interesting too. Go there, you won't be disappointed.
HEA
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