Brunch on SoCal SoGood with Bill and Martha, us and Dan, Marianne and Christof

We went to the office and checked in and spent the rest of the day on the boat resting from the overnighter to here. I fixed a problem Pat had on her computer, it kept freezing up and cntrl alt del didn't work, so she had to restart it each time. Anyway it is all fixed and ready to go. Called a canvas guy to look at our bimini we had done in Cartagena, Columbia last October. We were not happy at all with the canvas work done there. All the rest of the work done there was great, just this particular guy that we had used for the canvas was a bad choice. On April 1st I told Pat I was up to the office and they were closing down for the Easter Weekend and there will be no internet. Pat looked at me, her jaw dropped and her eye brows raised and she was about say something not too pleasant when I quickly said "April Fools". There was no question she was going to kill the messenger. There are certain things you joke about but to cruiser, internet is about the only life line to the "outside world". Friday I went looking for a sports bar to watch NCAA final four on Saturday night. I found one just around the corner of the marina. Friday night we were invited to s/v Shamu for wine and hors d'oreuvres to show their appreciation for chauffeuring them around in the dinghy, etc. We had a real nice evening with Marianne and Christof, they are nice friends. Monday we went out to dinner with Bill from catamaran Chat D'O and Dan from s/v Perception and Marianne and Christof. We enjoyed the dinner and then we drove Pat and Marianne back to the marina and the guys went to another "gringo" sports bar and watch the NCAA finals. Too bad Duke won and Butler didn't, oh well, it was a good game and I haven't watched a NCAA game in almost 3 years so I enjoyed it.

Pat took the bus and did some shopping (provisions) and I changed the oil, oil filter and both fuel filters and changed the transmission fluid. Took the dinghy down and fixed a couple of minor leaks and cleaned the bottom. Pat spent a lot of time cleaning the boat inside and I washed the boat on the outside. Both inside and out needed a good cleaning. I bought some parts at a swap meet on one of the docks. Sunday we had Marianne and Christof, Bill and his wife Martha and Dan over for brunch. Pat made egg bake, potatoes, muffins, pastry and Marianne's delicious bread and of course Bloody Mary's and Mimosas. It was a real nice time and every enjoyed the food.

Tuesday I walked to the Pemex Gas station about a half a mile from here and got 2 jerry cans of diesel fuel for the boat and brought them back in a West Marine fold-up carts with wheels. I made 4 trips and got 40 gallons total (that's approx 320 lbs). It was easier than taking the boat out of the slip and going over to the fuel dock and then come back and re-tie up etc. We couldn't do it on the way out because we had to schedule our departure to coincide with the dredging. This gave us more flexibility as to our departure time. Pat went to dentist and she really liked her, she spoke excellent English and was very thorough. Pat made stuffed peppers for dinner, yum. We got the outboard engine fixed, it kept stalling at idle. We think it is because while we were in Mantanchen Bay we got into our dinghy and started the outboard and we left to go ashore. After about 500 feet the outboard stalled. Then we realized we didn't put the gas tank in the dinghy (DUH!). It was running on whatever was left in the outboard and we think it suck some dirt, etc in the carburetor. We got the boat bottom cleaned, the water in the marina wasn't that clean and whiskers were growing on the water line, so it needed it. Pat did some more provisioning went to a bank and got some pesos so we could pay for the different work being done. Picked up our propane tank that we had re-filled and we are all set to go.

The canvas guy Pedro did an unbelievable job on the bimini. He and his helper Rubin used a template to make sure everything was to fit perfect (it took them 3 hours do this). We also had him make a new dinghy cover with the sunbrella fabric we had put on in Cartagena for the bimini, that he was replacing. He also made an additional sun screen for one our sides of the bimini. He did all of this within a week and with an excellent fit and quality craftsmanship. He delivered the last of his work the morning of the day we were leaving (today). We have enjoyed Mazatlan and will miss our friends but sooner or later you need to move on.

We are leaving Mazatlan around 6:00 this evening after the dredge closes down. It is a 2 nighter to Cabo San Lucas. It is about 200 mile across what is referred to as the Southern Crossing. Mazatlan (mainland) to Cabo San Lucas which is on the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. To the north is the Sea of Cortez which runs about 700 miles up the inside of the peninsula. We will be sailing up the outside of the Baja peninsula (Pacific side).