ROUND TWO

Looks like Blue Dolphin will be back in the water later this year.   She is all pretty again with new paint, new decks, new and refurbished hatches, and new life lines.   All ready to go again.  I will call this round two!!   We are so lucky to have this second chance to enjoy cruising on the Sea of Cortez.  3 years ago after Robert's horrible accident we thought our cruising days were over so being able to sail again seems really special.   I love this song and I dedicate this book to my daughters.


"I Hope You Dance"

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

 

song by Lee Ann Womack 

All good things must come to an end

Time to head back home.  Blue Dolphin is still in need of much repair but we see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Soon she will have a new shiny coat of paint.  She has a new deck and some new stainless rails (or whatever the nautical term is).  We have had fun meeting new people, hanging out at the beach, kayaking, eating eating eating, visitng the beautiful colonial city of Alamos, listening to music, cowflop bingo and lots of hours of sweat and toil working on the boat.  Maybe she will see the water again this winter.  Here are a few pictures

San Carlos highlights

 

The view from our condo at night can be spectacular.  It is very quiet here in San Carlos.  So many places are shut down and it seems almost deserted.  You can tell this used to be a hopping place.  Lots of restaurants and bars ,   mostly closed down and empty.  The Gringos are scared to come here.  It is a shame that the people here are really suffering from the loss of economy due to the bad publicity about Mexico back home.  Actually statistics show it is safer here than most places in the US.  Sure certain areas you avoid just like you would back in the States.  There is a lot of poverty.  A lot of people probably would be turned off.  It isn't Hawaii but the people are wonderful.  The food is amazing.  The beaches are pretty and the price is right!!!!    Next adventure is 4 days in Alamos.  About a 3 hour drive up in the mountains to a small colonial town that used to be very rich with silver mines.  It has a lot of history and beautiful buildings.  I hope to take a tour of the old colonial homes that is offered and Robert can't wait to get his sketch book out.  Love to all!!!

 



 

Iglesia de San Fernando (The Catholic Church in Guaymas)

uay

Iglesia de San Fernando

We had a wonderful evening at the Catholic Church in Guaymas, Mexico.  They had 3 well known (at least I was told) opera singers perform.  The richness of their voices was amazing within the walls of the beautiful church.  The acoustics were spectacular.   The second half of the performance was a local chorus performing traditional Christmas music and a procession that portrayed the history of Mexico.  Of course I didn't understand a word.  I think the opera music was in Italian.   Most Mexican towns have beautiful churches and plazas.  There is always an array of music, food and entertainment to enjoy and it made it more special to share it with our friends Larry and Mel.

To was Market Day along the "Malecon" just down from the Condo. Had   some coffee and walked around. Kathy bought some ear rings and I bought a small water color print of the local anchorage!!

Met our friends Jim & Juanita & headed over to JJ's 4 lunch of tacos!  

I've been able to manage some nice bike rides and on Thur. we went out to the Soggy Peso Bar and Kathy wandered on the beach and I went 4 a ride.

Today we are going to laze around but plan on starting some serious interior work on the boat next week. I bought a new hatch today @ the swap meet to replace the old wooden foredeck one that leaks!

Adios 4 now!!

Blue Dolphin 2012 Puerto Vallarta

FINALLY arrived in Mexico after a LONG hiatus mostly due to my accident during the Race Across America in 2011. My recovery has been a  long and difficult one complicated by the fact that cancer was discovered in my left kidney. I had surgery in October 2012 and all seems well so far. 

I did make a short trip South in 2012 to move the "Dolphin" from Puerto Vallarta to Guaymas  in Spring of 2012.  Our friend Larry went along and after a week or so with a stop in Mazatlan and Topolabumpo.  Once there the boat was dry stored in Marina Guaymas.  I connected with a Mexican fellow named Francisco and he has been working on the boat of the past few years. We had the deck re-done as we had some "soft" spots and Francisco is now working on repainting the bottom and the "topsides"........the side of the boat from the water line up to the railing.  Much work has to be done as the sun has done a good job and it's going to take a lot of work to get the boat ready to "splash"!  

Not sure of our schedule as the work is extensive and will take some time.  I have brought some materials to work on the interior,and some new batteries as I expect the ones on the boat are "kaput"!  

We are staying at the Marina Terra condos right next to the San Carlos Marina where we are planning on putting the boat after the painting is complete. Then we would work on the interior and some necessary deck work.  

As usual I have brought a bike and plan on some riding and Kathy is going to take some walks on the beach and drink Margaritas at the Soggy Peso Bar nearby!!!

The Adventure continues

Well it is time to head back to Mexico to our boat The Blue Dolphin.  2 1/2 years ago our adventure came to a halt after Robert was hit by a semi truck.  Now after a lot of healing and struggles we are off to continue the adventure.  Margaritaville here we come.!!

Las Tres Marietas Islands

With our friends Dan and Daryll visiting from San Francisco we packed up the boat with other cruiser friends from Hemisphere Dancer and Sun Dancer and headed out to these islands for a day of snorkling and just enjoying the sun. We saw an enormous number of whales on the way out and on the return to La Cruz.

Christmas in La Cruz Huanacaxtle

Merrry Christmas from Tropical Pacific Mexico

                                             The crew of the SV Blue Dolphin enjoying Christmas

                                                                    Dinner at the clubhouse at the Marina in La Cruz.....near Puerto Vallarta.

Dock party Cristmas Eve. 22 Boats showed up for the Zepplin |Group Christmas party.

Presents were exchanged and this is a photo of all the participants. We won a canvas laundry bag....whoooo hoooo!

Example of the dinner tables...no idea who's these people are....so many new cruisers here!!!!

The girls loving Santa at a local beach bar!!

The Zepplin Group! A group of 22 boats from up and down the West Coast US  plus a boat from Denmark I believe

The Marina Riveria Nayarit. We stayed here for 10 days and then went to the anchorage where we stayed for another few weeks. We liked this area a lot and will plan on being here again next year as we are planning on keeping the boat in Paradise Village in Puerto Vallarta whcih is not far.

.

Journey to Isla Isabel

The Blue Dolphin anchored in the southern bay on Isla Isabel around the middle of December before we headed to La Cruz to spend Christmas with the Zepplin Group. The island is a wonderful national bird preserve with frigate birds and the famous blue footed boobies. We all went ashore and hiked around....not a good time to watch the movie "birds" as there are our feathered friends....EVERYWHERE!!

Kathy loves to eat fresh fish.....cleaning, not so much! Fish was caught by Nils and Leo using a spear gun....best way! There is a small fishing camp here, a co-op and the fisherman spend a week or so here fishing then head back to the mainland. That's the "dolphin" in the background as well as our friends Aquadesiac.

Fishing camp and one of the pangas they use.

A rough way to live!

Baby Frigate bird....amazing that we could get this close! BTW, this island was made famous by Jacques Cousteau.

Male frigate bird strutting his colors trying to attract a mate.

Blue footed booby and eggs.

Call me Mister Bird !!!!

Frigate birds over the island......so many!!