Catching Up

My humble apologies for being remiss in my updating of this blog. I must confess to an addiction that has been hindering my progress. My name is Dorothy T. and I am addicted to books. People have found out I love to read, and they just keep feeding my addiction. I have lost the ability to say no. It is the one way I have found to keep cool when the temperatures are in the 90's and the humidity is climbing to 100%. I still don't understand how that can be without water falling from the sky. It must be true, I heard it on the Banderas Bay Cruisers Net.

Since the July posting Katee and Pat have more than survived their wonderful wedding in Portland, OR and honeymoon in Isla Mujeres. Phileta thoroughly enjoyed visiting with family.  I am really sorry that I didn't go.  We have learned "do not let money be a reason for not attending a special event."  Phileta got in more shopping with the help of her sister and chauffeur, Lynn, coming back with 3 suitcases for a total weight of 178 pounds!!!!!

Katee & Pat

Katee and her brother, CR

I had read about an easy solar oven made from a silver window shade, a bucket, a stick (or 2), a large clear plastic bag, and a rack.  I made up a batch of sourdough muffins and gave it a try.  They came out a little soggy on the bottom.  I guess since it is being cooked inside of a pot with a glass lid it's more like steaming or maybe without clouds it will work better?  Anybody out there have any experience?  I'd love some hints.

Our only adventure away from the boat has been a trip to El Tuito looking for a cheese factory and brewery that Phileta read about. The bus ride took a couple of hours.  It's a beautiful trip from Puerto Vallarta as the road goes along the coast past Los Arcos, Mismaloya, and Boca de Tomaltan and then turns inland and follows the Rio Tomaltan up through the mountains.  The drive up was spectacular because the river was full and raging.  As we passed "Chico's Paradise" I doubted that anyone was sitting under their famous waterfall.  As the bus climbed up into the mountains, we began to see pine trees all around.   

Getting off the bus, it was nice to feel cool air. Clouds began to form as we walked around the smallish town towards the plaza.  Luckily the rain began slowly giving us enough time to get into a store or under and awning before the downpours began.

We never did find a cheese factory or brewery, but we did find great street tacos just before another cloud burst let loose.  I don't think we will ever tire of fresh tortillas filled with savory meat and beans plus all the relishes.  Just as we paid for our meal, a first class bus stopped letting people off and we hopped on for an air conditioned ride to Puerto Vallarta, complete with movie.  I was actually cold and stuck my arms in my back pack to get warm.

The rain this year is apparently late and in greater volumn than normal. A couple of weeks ago (August 31st) in one night it rained as much as is normal for a month. That was the night the northbound bridge  over the Ameca River (it divides Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco from Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit) collapsed taking a few cars and lives. Since then the rains have continued on and off.  It was reported that it rained 3 to 4 inches in an hour!  The bridge into San Pancho (just north of Sayulita) went out a few days later.  There were landslides on Hwy 200 and on the 6th of September many small towns (Sayulita, Guamuchil, San Ignacio, and San Pancho) were damaged from flash floods.  We've been lucky here in La Cruz.  No major flooding, but lots of mud on the roads when the ditches overflow.

Last month we motored out into the bay, hoisted the sails, turned off the engine, no wind.  We looked around and there is a huge black cloud coming our way and then a strike of lightning.  We looked at each other and said "let's go back in."  On comes the motor.  Down come the sails and we start on back to the marina.  Phileta notices white smoke coming from the engine exhaust.  Uh oh.  The next day we talk to the local mechanic who then looks it over and says it's a bad cylinder and we need to rebuild the engine, but it would be cheaper to buy a new one.  Phileta researches electric motors and we cry on our fellow cruisers' shoulders.  4 of them (2 have been diesel mechanics) say "wait a minute, it sounds like it could be your injectors".  Then one of them volunteers to do the work and drive them into PV to be cleaned up.  Well, long story short, the work is now done, we've gone on our sea trial, and we no longer have a smoking problem!!!!!  Muchas gracias John.

 The other excitement was Phileta letting out a blood curddling scream one night as a huge (2") cockroach came running at her in the galley.  I went after it with a hammer and it disappeared (hopefully into the garbage that I took out the next morning), never to be seen again. 

So, here we are with the temperature and humidity 90/90. We are surviving. When it gets down to 81 we, well actually just me, feel cool.  Our goal is to do one "chore" a day, or any part thereof, and it usually must be completed by 9AM.  I've been leading a yoga class 8:30-9:30 every morning at the "yacht club".  Sometimes Phileta says that counts as my "chore".  Then it's a series of "dock showers" (with bathing suits), yacht club showers (with out bathing suits), siestas, naps, reading, falling asleep, playing on the computer (all with or without clothes), dinghying out in the anchorage for a swim (with or without BS), and drinking copious amounts of jamaica (pronounced hi-my-ka, the wonderful local sun-brewed tea of hibiscus flowers). It's not a bad life really. We are watching the weather maps and listening to the report on the morning net as hurricane season has begun. None have reached the Mexican coast yet, but it's early- late September and October are the prime months.
Bandanas make wonderful sweat mops. We've never "leaked" like this before!

Phileta's artistry with her camera

My herbs, oregano, rosemary, and basil

Maybe next time we'll have a picture of the little cricket that serenades us onboard at night.  Why are crickets okay and cockroaches not?????

That's it for now.

Love and Light to all,

D & P