Well, I did some of the work on the wood. Sanded one piece....not much, but it is a beginning.

What I have spent my time doing is spending time with a special lady, Maria. She has now become First Mate!

She is from Spain and has lived in Central America for several years. We met through some friends here in town and and sort of spent a lot of time together. Now we are going to cruise together.

I am happy about this.

So now, we are going to concentrate on gettign the boat ship shape and head off to begin the long term goal of the Grat Loop! That is the loop up the East coast of the USA, through tth eGreat Lakes system of the north, down the Mississippi river and along the Gulf Coast back to Florida.

A multi-year trip, but what mroe do Maria and I have to do?

So we expand our goals and meet together as a loving couple.

A BIG storm came through last night. I went to sleep and the stars were out, a light breeze blew into the open boat. I leave my windows, hatches, doors open whenI sleep to gather all the breeze I can get.

When about 1 am, I felt my boat swing aroud on the anchor and the waves were lapping harder againint the hull. The boat leaned a little to starboard and the rain hit hard all of a sudden.

I got up quickly and closed the hatches and ports. I could not do this quickly enough. Walls of water, sheets of rain were falling from the bucket of the sky. Lightening, thunder, waves and wind shattered what five minutes befre was a paceful sleep.

I went back to bed and fell asleep. There is nothing like the movement of the boat in a torm. I love it....must go back to the peacefulnessa nd comfort of the cradle.

When I awoke the sun was out, the water was clam and the boat was dry, and hot. I opened it all again an allowed the sun and heat to gather to dry out where i still ahd some leaks in my windows.

I got breakfast, usually oats, and sat and watched the other boats, the movement in the town and whatever floated by. I love just sitting and watching.

Yesterday, I got all the necessary stuff out to begin working on the wood in my cockpit (needs sanded, stained and sealed). I also need to deep clean the gelcoat and see what I can do to make it prettier.
We will see if I get to it all today.

I have sat here, I have looked around and breathed easy. It is so very good and pleasant to sit on my boat, allow the breezes to sway the water and the hull, and watch the town, the birds, fish jumping and wave to other guys on their boats.

I am anchored on the water next to Chiquila, Mexico. I passed through a reef, up a bay and past jungle and some muddy waters. finally I saw the town up ahead and feel in love. Of course I had ben sailing for my eleventh day since I had left Louisiana. Although a good sail, I was tired and weary.

Seeing other boats anchored, I talked to some on the radio and found I could anchor and eal with immigration and all necessary issues.

So i did. Oh, a wonderful decision. I needed this place. I might stay here forever....at least that is how I feel these days.

I have made friends with fellows from other boats. we meet up in a bar/coffee place most mornings and try to solve the wolrd's problems. Some days I am still tryign to do necessary maintenance on the boat and keeping up on food and water.

I have brought my kayak and perhaps tomorrow I will venture out and see what this area looks like fromt he kayak and paddles.

So, what else to write. My brain seems to be settling down from intense academic work to simply getting out of bed, eating, drinking, talking and mostly just sitting on my boat, watching the day go by and and smiling to broadly.

Well, I made it south across the Gulf and am happy to have done it. Biggest and longest sail I have ever done!

It was a challenge to do it alone. I slept little, but saw some amazing sights. I saw oil rigs, no large ships (this surprised me, but also pleased me as I did nto have to worry about them), found my boat was ready for the task. No problems with the boat, in fact she performed better than I did. good weather helped....thank the gods of the sea dn air!

Now that I have been here a few days, I have rested, gotten to know a few guys around now need to tighted all on the boat to ensure she is ready for whatever lies ahead.

It is always too easy to say I'll do this another day instead of today. i can sit, watch the water, other boaters, pretty ladies and sip on a beer or a bottle of water....and decide I need to get busy and do some maintenance...but hours go by, I nod off and soon it is time to go to the bar to share stories with the guys again.

But I need to work....maybe omorrow.

All else is good. I will place the location in the next blog or two :)

So as I sailed from USA waters and into the calm Gulf waters I too felt a calm and peace.
Something i had been working definitely for these past few months as I worked on Second Wind. Something I have longed to do since I was a small boy in eigth grade.

Then I read a book of the guy (I forget which one) who had recentl sailed alone around the world. This adventure caught my attention and lodged itself in my soul from that time.

I recall reading that book of all his adventures, following the journey on a wall map in my bedroom, and trying to feel what I would feel as the boat was becalmed or swallowed in high seas and heavy winds.
I loved these feelings and it allowed me to escape from the turmoil of my homelife.

So now, at this age of mid-thirties, I am following my dream. I am, alone now as my wife and kids moved away to follow their own dreams (sorry, but that is the life I am dealt these days). My career is in shambles, so I seek dreams to fulfill me.

I look around and see only water....first itme in my life to see this alone. Good weather, calm seas and good enough winds to carry me south. I am in no big hurry. I gve myself about 10 days to reach Yucatan and then see where I further desire to go.

I wrote this as I sailed from Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana into the Gulf Of Mexico and towards Yucatan.
I have had some bad days inmy life the past few months, so i decided to sail away and begin a new life.
THIS is my new life.

I bought this boat, a 25' Irwin 10/4 (that is a 10' 4" beam) a few years ago and sort of sailed her in between studeis and work. But as my lfie fell apart, I moved aboard her and spent two months workiing hard on her everday.. alo tto do from painting the bottom, scrubbing her insie and out and working on the outboard. Finally, after 2 months Iwas ready.

I really have not completed decided where I am going or what I will do. I have money, I have a lot of time and thus, I will sail south, stay a while in Yucatan, maybe go on to Belize, and then see what happens.