Saturday, April 18, 2015

"Adios Mexico" - we're on our way to "Aloha, Hawaii"

We're ready to cast off and head off to Hilo, Hawaii today as soon as the tide turns (in 10 minutes!)

There's been lots of work to prepare for this day and lots of good times.  And we're ready to go.




 Water tanks are topped off, fuel is full.

We've provisioned for 25 or so days.  We bought this whole perfect fillet at the Bravo butcher for  450 pesos - ~$30 US.  We're hoping to also catch a fish or two. 
A huge "thank you" to Pat and Melanie who let us take over their beautiful home overlooking La Paz to prepare and freeze 10 dinners for the passage.  Vicky's such a great cook and we had a blast making everything from Lasagna to Beef Stroganoff.


We have checked out of Mexico through the Port Captain, Medical and Immigration.  It was a 5 hour exercise in scouting out government buildings and patience.  But we did it!  


Our navigation and radio communications are all set up.  Michael from Milagro came to our boat and solved a couple big problems I was having with Sailmail -- but we're up an running now!  We'll be able to receive and send email (restricted file sizes), collect weather information, and update our position for all of you using -- www.farkwar.com/boats/begone  -- you can follow our progress.
We sailing with 6 GPS's...1 is a Chart Plotter, 3 are tablets and 2 handheld Garmins.  I think we'll be able to find our way to Hilo without our sextant this time!

 Yes, indeed, we're ready to go...
And if the adage that La Paz is like a Bungee cord to sailors, we'll BeBack!

And now, off to Hilo!  We will wish for fair winds and following seas...but are prepared for anything!



Friday, April 17, 2015

La Paz -- the bungee cord for sailors

They say that La Paz is the bungee cord for sailors.  People arrive -- and if they have to leave, they are always planning their return.  That is certainly true for us!  There are great people, interesting things to do, talented yacht repair and service folks and we have friends here.  Below is just a few snapshots into our past 17 days here.

Of course there's work to do on the boat.  Tom's biggest concern was replacing our bimini cover (shade is our friend).  We were fortunate to have Danny of Pacific Threads work with Tom to make a beautifully engineered cover...



Vicky and Tom installing the solar panels


The old bimini fabric with torn zippers and seams
The new bimini -- shade and a secure platform for our solar panels.  Awesome job!



 And then there's fun...the 10th Annual Bay Fest was happening with this great Luau on Friday night

Hula dancers performed
Presenting the Pig


Our friends from Crockett (now from La Paz) came down for the festivities. 
Huge thanks to them for all their hospitality.  


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Tom and Vicky called up on the sand stage for a little hula!


We missed Easter with the family but colored eggs and celebrated Begone style!

 A little Easter morning walk down the Malecon.

And then there's Zumba classes every morning.  For 80 pesos a week ($6.00) you can take as many classes as you want.  Such a great group of local and ex-pat women are there every morning!

Plus, Vicky and I (Suzanne) were introduced to Susu (pictured below with Vicky and Nina, her horse) thanks to Melanie and got to ride the streets with barking dogs and trails up the hills to exercise her horses.  It was a fabulous ride!

Lot's more fun was shared by all here in La Paz.  Dinners with new and old friends, wandering around town, working on the boat, and just getting ready for the next chapter in the adventure.  
That chapter starts tomorrow.


Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Great sail to La Paz - the adventure begins.

Begone has spent summers in San Carlos for the past 10 years.  It is a wonderful town with great people and services and weather.  So saying "adios" for the last time (at least for the foreseeable future) wasn't easy.  

But on March 26th, 2015 @ 3:45 pm, we motored out of the harbor, set sail and off Begone's stern was the ever present landmark the "Goat's Tits" reminding us where we're welcomed back into the Sea.  We set sail on a course of 180 degrees for a overnight sail to Puerto Escondido (just south of Loreto) on the Baja side.  It was a gorgeous sail -- 11-16 knots of breese from the WNW.  Threw a double reef in the main for the night just in case the wind built and we switch off on 3 hour watches on a starry night with calm seas.


As morning broke, Tom put on his Hidden Harbor T-Shirt to prepare to take a mooring buoy in the Puerto Escondido's Inner Harbor.  All the buoys have been replaced since the big 2014 hurricane. The new Singular harbormaster has brought hot water to the showers (a huge deal for us cruisers with not hot water, much less showers on our boats), diesel to the fuel docks, a great little tienda and a general sense that the marina is striving to attract cruisers.

Here's Begone on a mooring buoy in Puerto Escondido.  Cost was about $12 per night but included a lap pool and nice hot showers.   Note:  I just think she's a beautiful 'ole gal.

We had a terrific time in Puerto Escondido with Tom's great marine surveyor buddy, Odus and his wife Joyce.  And then Adagio sailed in and we enjoyed a great time with Jeff & Janie!!

But it was time to set sail south toward La Paz so we chose an overnight passage (thanks to GPS, radar and keen eyes) we had a fabulous sail down between the islands and in the morning was delighted to hear "Gemini" call out on the VHF to another boat.  We had been hoping to connect with Les and Diane on this trip but was unsure of their location...so sure enough they were just leaving Caleta Partida a little bay on Isla Partida but decided to stay to see us.  We so glad we didn't miss that night in this beautiful anchorage - it was a terrific dinner aboard Gemini!

Diane and Les on Gemini
Isla Partida in the morning



And on the morning of April 1st, we weighed anchor and made the 5 hour sail to La Paz and we delighted to find that Marina de La Paz had a slip for us!  First leg of our trip was just perfect!