Sunday, May 17, 2015

5/11/15
We spent the day finishing up. We still had quite a bit to do. It is so much little stuff and trying to decide what we should keep and if we have room for it. It was before 10am that I knew Oliver wasn't going to fit in the backseat. It's technically alright because you don't have to have your kids in a carseat/ I would've preferred that, it made me really nervous but there was no way we would get everything out/ I knew we just had to make it the 3 hours to my grandparents house where they offered to take as much as we needed back to Mn when they drive up a few weeks after us. Oliver and I left for a bit to give Paul time to do stuff then would come back and help. I was so tired by the time it came around 3pm I didn't care anymore I just wanted to get out of the sun and on our way. We were lucky there was very little wind since the last few days it has been in the 20 knot range and it would've been really really difficult to get the boat to the dock where it would be hauled out. So by the time 315 rolled around our friends that we met in Santa Rosalia had came up in their dinghy, they had just pulled in. We chatted with them a bit then moved it over. Our friends on Hooroo came over to meet us and watch our boat come out. It helped a lot since Oliver loves them he ran around with them and they watched him while Paul and I did all the last minute stuff, we did not defrost the fridge early enough and it was really dirty so i was literally cleaning it out while the trailer was coming in the water to pick the boat up. It was cool to watch them pull it out and it came out without a problem. We followed it to the boat yard where we had 20 minutes to finish it all up. It was a rush and then when i went to pay the office was closed so we have to call tomorrow to get that all figured out. Oh well. We wanted to get a drink with Hooroo before we left for my grandparents but we didn't get back to say goodbye until close to 530pm and we knew we had at least a 3 hour drive ahead of us to an unknown place in the dark in Mexico so we ended up just giving hugs and leaving, The drive was easy besides getting a little lost in Hermisillo but luckily some nice homeless guy who spoke english told us where to go. It was basically 3 roads which was nice. I was so nervous every time I thought about getting in an accident with Oliver in the front but luckily that did not happen. We got there in exactly 3 hours and it was awesome to see them. The house is so awesome and we have our own trailer to sleep in with a kitchen and everything. I am so happy to see them, we stayed up having a few drinks and shooting the shit for a few hours since Oliver napped in the car.  I am excited to get up tomorrow to see this place in the light.
The broker lady who came over and took pictures, hard to see someone talk bad about your boat and ask you why anyone would buy it. I mean I am not the biggest fan of sailing but I think it was a great, reliable boat. 
Dog bit Oliver didn't break skin but scared him and us so bad so she wont be around anymore.
5/12/15
I had to get the rental car returned by 11am so we hung out in the morning then headed an hour and a half to Hermisillo airport to return the car. It was a easy drive and so nice to drive fast and listen to my music. I haven't driven for 5 months I missed it. We returned it without a hitch and then stopped to get some groceries and boxes on the way home. My grandpa drove me and when we got back we went down to their beach and then ate some supper. This place is so great and so beautiful.

5/13/15
We were up early again today but it was ok since we went to bed by 10 last night. I just feel so drained after the last few days working so hard to get the boat ready. We had made breakfast, done the dishes and all that by about 830am. We got all ready for the beach and they took us the long way so we got to see a lot of the beaches and more of Kino. It is just beautiful here and not so many people. We ended up hanging out in the beach for a few hours Oliver found some friends which was good. then we came back and everyone took a nap. When we woke up I cooked some early supper and the Paul finally talked Oliver into going on the 4 wheeler so they ran down to the beach while I hung out and watched tv! Nothing great but fun to veg out I just feel so tired I am hoping after another good night of sleep I will be better. I try not to rely on coffee too much. 
5/17/15

Don't know where to begin. We have had a wonderful time here in Kino. Just getting to hang out with family we love is worth all the miles! We wet on the 4 wheeler, went to multiple beaches, out to eat, plenty of cocktails, hung out with their neighbors, kayaking, ect. This place is beautiful and I could definitely see this place blowing up over the next 15 years, makes us want to buy property…anyways here are some pictures, we leave early in the morning tomorrow to head into the states.
Paul shaved his face, I was so happy and excited but he is bumming...



Folding the sails to pack away



Taking a break from packing


Car all packed up, couldnt even open the rear windows


Final goodbye to the boat on water. right before getting hauled


Trailer our boat got hauled out on


Panoramic of boat in water and tractor in position to pull it out 


Out of the water



Being pushed down the road to the boatyard


Going into the yard, you can see all the other sailboats already up and that isnt even all of them



Leaving the boatyard


View from roof in Kino house (Sea of Cortez)


Siri Indians live here, they believe that specific type of cactus are frozen giants from the past


Oliver climbing on the whale bones in the yard


Whale bones in yard


Oliver driving the truck in the desert


Going down to the beach


Grandpa and Paul talking shop


Grandma and Grandpa


Friday night dinner with all the blue hairs


My version of kayaking


Paul kayaking


Oliver at restaurant 


My grandpa and I


Pier, missing a board...who cares right?!


Mexican kids waiting to jump off of pier


Climbing up makeshift ladder onto pier after jumping off...would never get to do this in the states


Pier/beach 'old' Kino


Grandma and Grandpa's place in Kino, Mexico (house and trailer where we slept and put all of our crap)


Sorry not proof read...ignore grammatical garbage. You know what i mean

Sunday, May 10, 2015

5/1/15
We left Santa Rosalia yesterday around 330 in the afternoon. We got to sail then motored-sailed a lot and then motored in to Caleta Amarga at 730am. We made pretty good time since we sailed around 70 miles. We were supposed to be going to Bahia San Pedro bay but for some reason Paul decided to go to this one, I was asleep. We get there and there was a lot of swell which means we are rocking all over but I figure Oliver and I can go in to the beach and Paul can sleep and we can move it in the afternoon. We are about to go and Oliver goes over the side...yes of the boat. Thankfully Paul was right there and I ran up so we pulled him right out, yes he had his lifejacket on. I believe he was trying to drop something into the dinghy and when the wave moved the boat up and down it caught him by surprise and he fell off so anyways he was fine just startled. Paul actually said he was holding on to the dinghy rope so hard he couldn't get him to let it go and he was worried it was around his neck, thankfully it wasn't. So we go to the beach and play then I hear Paul yelling from the boat he wants to go he couldn't sleep through how much the boat was rocking. Did I mention there is also a lot of seaweed here. It is everywhere (in the water, floating on top, like kelp forests some 15-20 long, and covering the beach so yeah that mucked up the dinghy engine on the way back to the boat so I had to row half way against the waves and current, I was not so happy with this place or the fact that we had to leave so soon. We get everything ready to go and head out I usually steer the boat while Paul gets the anchor up so we do that but the boat isn't responding as she normally does and it freaks us both out. We ended up having to rev it pretty high to get it to do what we wanted. We think maybe there was seaweed on the prop but as we keep going the engine is starting to overheat so Paul hurries to get the mainsail up to help us along and I try to motor down but keep it headed in the right direction. It was not that easy but then Paul took over and I tended to Oliver. We finally get out and are bashing (also miserable) to find another place more sheltered from the waves and after a few hours we do, Bahia San Pedro...yes where we were supposed to go in the first place, at least it is better than the other place. I thought I wanted to see some more beaches now I am not so sure. Our plan right now is to wait this out and hopefully get to San Carlos in a few days. Check that town out and then head to Guaymas. I just think we are both done, for once Paul was admitting it. I hope we see a really nice place over here to end on a good note because these last 12 hours were not so good. 

5/2/15
Saw a lot of jelly fish today. Most were the size of a nickel and the clear ones most people think of when they think of what a jellyfish looks like. A few others were bigger and had more color and longer tentacles and then the most beautiful was a purplish blue one that was hard and a little bigger than a softball. Paul got stung up a bit, I stayed out of the water except near shore. We heard this is early for them, that the water usually needs to be warmer, but we don't know. We will leave for San Carlos in the morning. I think we are trying to end this trip with a great beach but we just need to be done. The rest of the day we spent on the beach and lounging on the boat and eating/drinking.


I found Oliver a backpack on the beach which is awesome and sad at the same time. He has been asking for one so it was a total score I just had to sew on new webbing to tighten it up.

5/3/15
We got up and were pulling up the anchor by 7am. It didn't look quite so rough out at sea but it's hard to tell when you aren't out there. Of course it was really windy and 2-4 ft seas rolling under. We had 9 miles to go and on a decent day it shouldn't take us 2 hours but because of the weather we didn't get in until almost noon. We went to Catch 22 beach I guess they filmed some of that movie here (it's also called Algodones). It is a huge bay with lots of houses and a few hotels. The sand is white and there are people jetskiing and wakeboarding all over, it is kind of like Cabo. We decided to anchor by these other boats on the South end and it was really rocking but we decided to just go on a dinghy ride and decide later if we needed to move. This is a very different side of Mexico we really haven't seen. It is all really nice houses on the water or up in the hills, boats in front of their houses and really nice paved streets (at least on this end). We aren't quite sure if people live here year round or just vacation homes, probably mostly vacation homes if I had to guess. Every country has their wealthy people. After we saw that we made our way to the Southern end where there's a big sand dune and tons of Mexicans out on the beach with their trucks and 4-wheelers. We found a spot and set up shop. It's awesome all these people together riding around and spending time with their friends and family. Makes me miss mine. We saw 2 of the boats move to this end while we were hanging out so we figured it must be worse over there. We packed up after a few hours and went back to see. It was rocking really bad so we pulled the anchor up and moved over. That makes 4 anchorings (I may have made that word up) in 3 days. I am so sick of moving the boat and anchoring! We have just not had any luck so far on the mainland side. We moved, it was easy and pretty calm but it is also the spot that all the local power boaters go to play their music and drink. Fine by me, I had plenty of those days doing that and it's a lot of fun, it is just loud and I am getting old. We were right in front of a few beach restaurants so we just dinghied to shore and got a couple drinks and appetizers, if you can't beat them join them right?! It actually turned out to be a great afternoon and I feel like we found our nice beach to end it right.


Mountain and houses Catch 22

Houses on water at Catch 22


People partying on beach


Sunday Funday


Rest and digest


5/4/15
It started up again in the beginning of the night, the wind and waves. We just can't win! I was able to sleep ok but I kept hearing Paul get up and twice Oliver got up for almost an hour and wanted to play and talk to me I tried to ignore him and tell him this is not time to play but I can't sleep if he is awake so it was not a restful night. Paul got up at one point to lower the dinghy (we keep it raised a couple feet off of the water next to the boat to deter people from trying to steal it, if you don't they can just come up and snip your line and drag it off) and then he said he saw a panga out with no lights on the boat so he was worried they were looking for dinghies (they probably were, it was like 3am). It all worked out but it was still rolling this morning so (as usual) we went to the beach. 
It blows me away how so many Mexicans trash their beaches. Where everyone had been was littered with trash. I just can't imagine being like I am going to go somewhere and leave my garbage let alone a place like this but they do it all the time. So many of the places we have seen have a lot of trash lying around. Anyways we also saw some people riding horses along the beach but Oliver didn't want to try it. The water is warming up and I haven't seen any jellies here yet so I have been swimming again…stay tuned I am sure they are out there. 
Later on we got a good spot on the beach in front of a restaurant we liked and some guys came up to us and said they needed a fourth for bocce ball so I volunteered to play and we won (of course). Then we sat around drinking with them, it was a lot of fun. One of the guys had drank a little too much and was kind of crude but the rest of them were great and one of the guys was the dad of another in the group and he was 93, fully functional, it was awesome to see. So we hung out on the beach with them until dark and went back for bed.


Mexican fisherman


Little river running into a lagoon on the other side, Mexican fisher just to right
5/5/15
We left around noon and were going to go to Martini Cove which is just outside of the San Carlos Cove entrance but as we passed we decided it didn't look that great and we could just dinghy there if we really felt like it. So we anchored outside of the marina around 2pm. It was a nice sail. This place must have some money because the hills coming in are lined with big, beautiful houses overlooking the cove and/or ocean. We took the dinghy in and walked around. We got ice cream at a local convenience store and Oliver tried to play with a 10 year old who was there helping his mom. Oliver always gets so much attention because of his blond hair, they all try to touch it. I try to explain to them as he runs away that he gets that everywhere he goes and is a little tired of it. I keep telling him we can cut it but he says no so what can I do. We saw our friends Jim and Jill in the marina so we went on their boat for a bit and visited with them. They are both so sweet to Oliver and always have a lot of great stories about their travels (they have been everywhere!) They will leave the boat next week to go to Arizona so Jim can renew his visa. 

5/6/15
We were all up early so after cleaning up a bit we headed to downtown San Carlos. The bus was less than 50 cents and before we knew it we were there. It is just a street that has stores along the frontage roads. We went into a few but couldn't find any trucks (we owe Oliver a few for his toilet training). One of the women told us we would have to go to Guaymas so that's what we did. The bus ride took about 20 minutes and Oliver mostly sat in the back with this Mexican guy looking out the window. Oliver and I did got some groceries and trucks while Paul ran to the hardware store down the street. We all met back up and after missing the first bus we caught the second which was totally full, mostly with high school aged kids). Oliver managed to get a seat after one stop and by the end we were all sitting. They romp on it so hard and stop so fast I am surprised people aren't hurt more often (like every time they get on a bus). I had to use my arm and leg muscles just to not fall as they started and stopped. Of course the Mexican music was blasting but Oliver still managed to take a little nap. 



Oliver on the bus



Sitting in the back with his 'buddy'


5/7/15
The boys went to explore some beaches so I decided to stay behind. They said it was nothing special just rocks so I was glad I didn't miss anything. We found the pool that is included when you use the marina, it is really nice! It is right on the ocean a few blocks away and has a nice shallow pool for Oliver. We stayed their for a few hours then went out for supper. Once Oliver was asleep I went in to talk to a friend on skype and have some margaritas...thank goodness for both!!

5/8/15
We went to the pool again this morning but it was really windy so only Oliver swam.
We needed a rental car to start getting everything of off the boat so Oliver and I took the bus to downtown Guaymas and then the stupid credit card machine wasn't working so we had to sit and wait 40 minutes while she went to a different store to get their machine. It is already dark and all I can think is we are going to be taking the bus or an expensive cab ride home in the dark only to make this trip again tomorrow and that is going to suck so bad. Oliver didn't nap today so he is exhausted I feel bad for him but he had to come because Paul had to take the boat apart to fix a few things with the engine and change the oil. I cannot wait for this to be over I am hoping to be at my grandparents house in a few days. 

Pool on the beach, can't beat that



5/9/15
Got the worse news...oh and yes we didn't get the rental and had to take the bus home at like 830pm...argh. Ok worse news they told us initially that we wouldn't be able to haul out in a few days because of the low tide and their wouldn't be enough water to get the trailer under the boat. I was crushed. I had got it all in my head that we were going to get this car and be done in a few days. THANKFULLY we walked to the boatyard and they said it shouldn't be a problem so we are scheduled for our haul-out on this coming Monday, yes 2 days from now. We dinghied back to the boat and got the anchor up to put it in a slip so Paul could clean the bottom and use the fresh water to rinse everything off and do whatever it is he needs to do. Well the wind was up, maybe 15 knots, so we were a little concerned about getting it in with the wind pushing but we shouldn't have been because we had other trouble. We ran aground. Yep, first time on the trip. Paul had mentioned something about the depth sounder but I was like well all these other boats are in here and a lot are bigger than ours so how can it be a problem. We get into the beginning of the marina part, I was up front so I could be ready to jump off and cleat the boat when we got close enough to the dock, and all the sudden I just hear a sound and feel it but I didn't know what it was and Paul goes Oh F we ran aground. I ran back there and see depth of ZERO and am like this can't be happening. We scraped as Paul hit the gas trying not to get stuck for good (neither of us really knew what to do I don't think) and then managed to limp into the slip which we were close to. I have heard sailors always run aground, more than once so I wasn't too worried just hope we didn't damage the bottom right before we are trying to sell it but it's too late now. Just a few minutes after we got the boat in the slip the rental car was delivered so I went to deal with all that.
The rest of the day I spent running around town. First Oliver and I dropped off the laundry because I did not feel like doing it and we had to get all the cushion covers cleaned and they needed professional help...who puts white covers on cushions anyways? Then Paul needed us to go to Guaymas to find this type of fishing line so he can put up 'dummy' halyards so that the rope ones don't deteriorate in the sun while the boat is not in use. Wow, we get to downtown Guaymas and there are people EVERYWHERE. I finally just decided to park the car and walk with Oliver because we weren't getting anywhere. I went into a few stores to ask in my broken Spanish where I could find it (thankfully Paul gave me a small piece to show people) and after walking around for a good hour or more a guy came up to me and said he had seen me walking around and asked if he could help me find something. It was so great. He walked us all over to multiple places looking for the line. At the third store we finally found it and I bought as much as they had because I couldn't remember how much Paul needed and when I called the marina from the store Paul didn't have the VHF on so I had no way to reach him. It all worked out in the end and the guy refused to take any money or let me buy him a drink. You gotta love people like that. So Oliver and I walked back to the car (we found another segundo (thrift store) on the way and headed back to pick up the laundry. It was more than I thought it would be but was still well worth it and the cushions look brand new. We got back and the wind was blowing more than it has on this whole trip-around 30 knots-which is ok but hopefully it won't be doing that when we get the boat hauled out. After that it was all work and no play. I packed up the car a lot and then we went for a little walk before bed. We have the lady who is going to sell it coming tomorrow around 11am to take pictures so we have another really long day ahead of us. I am just so glad it is almost over.

5/10/15
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! We woke up early and spent the day cleaning out the boat and getting it ready to be stored. It is basically like moving but with a lot of deconstruction. We had to take down the sails right away this morning just in case the wind came up again and it did, not quite as strong as yesterday but still in the 20s.
It is bittersweet knowing this is our last night. I am ready but then a part of me is always second guessing myself like maybe we should just keep going. It's sad to know this adventure is over...

Monday, April 27, 2015

4/27/15
For the last week we have just been bumming around this place. Our friends Molly are here so we have done a lot with them and then our other friends on Hooroo came in so we have gotten dinner and had tea with them multiple times. On Hooroo the wife Jill drinks here beer in a mug with a straw, it always makes me laugh. 
This is an old mining town but after being closed for a long time they reopened it so the town has a lot of young people and a lot of construction which is cool to see. We went to the mining museum, all the little stores, restaurants. I am sick of eating out but everyone always wants to do that. 
The other day Oliver was in the cockpit and I hear him say, "uh oh the dinghy is floating away" I knew right away what must've happened and Paul comes running up. Sure enough he had untied the dinghy from the boat and it was floating away so Paul had to strip down and jump in this disgusting water to swim over and then pull it back. Of course we were just leaving to meet our friends so there was no time for a shower, like he would've anyways haha. We have been here a week and Paul has only showered once. I am not too much better at twice but still I am like Paul you need a shower he just shrugs. We are getting way too accustomed to being dirty. When I did our laundry we only had 2 loads worth and those weren't even full. We haven't done laundry in over 2 weeks so that is just another tidbit you probably don't need to know about our filthiness.
They have a store that is very similar to a Sears in the states and so my girlfriend and I went there because we haven't seen a actual store like that since La Paz. They have the clothing upstairs and appliances and what not downstairs so my friend ended up getting a memory card downstairs where they wrote her out a slip to take to a counter when she was ready. Then she got a bra from upstairs so we went to the counter without he paper in the downstairs in one line she paid a lady for the memory card and they told her she had to buy the bra upstairs. So then she went to another guy down the counter who gave her the actual memory card. After that we go upstairs to pay for the bra and there is one line for that which a lady is ahead of us. We wait 15 minutes for that transaction to go through before we are helped and in the mean time we see about 5 people walking around/near the registers but no one stops to help, by this time 2 more people are behind us. One lady we thought was coming to help but she was talking on her cell phone and just came up to the 2nd cash register like she was opening it then walked away again. And she said we had to take a plastic bag for the bra so they knew she had paid for it to leave the store. All I could think was I could come into this store and within a week have it running so much smoother and efficient but whatever. It just made no sense. Then we go across to the big chain grocery store in Mexico called Ley and the cashier is doing scratch offs as I unload my stuff. It just cracks me up more than anything. Reminds me of all the times we have sat at a table and had to ask them to bring us menus and what not. Just different. 
Molly actually left today so we spent the morning with them and said goodbye, they took us out to a nice dinner last night and time with them is always fun. We saw a boat come in the other day with a 3 year old girl so we talked to them and they are having a birthday party for her tomorrow so we will go to that before we leave. Oliver needs some time with people his own age. I keep telling him how many friends he is going to have in Minnesota and will get to play with kids every day, he is so excited for that.

I am looking forward to getting our diets back on track. It has basically been 6 months of eating like we are on vacation where calories and pesticides and GMOs aren't real. I heard my son get up this morning saying he needed to pee so he did, we are very happy and then he wants his 2 skittles so before he has had anything healthy to start his day he is having some candy. I know this is only temporary to get him trained and it is working but geez that was a little too much this morning. 
Our plan is to go to this kids birthday party tomorrow and then plan on leaving the next day. We just need to get some groceries, we are ready for a nice beach.


Having Mexican food with Jill and Jim from Hooroo and of course Christine and Erik, volleyball court behind us but we weren't invited to play


After hike up to cemetery at the highest point in the town...kind of weird. It was gigantic and some people had really nice stones and others were just piles of rocks.


Cemetery looking down on Harbor and Sea


Famous church designed by Eiffel who designed the Eiffel Tower (duh). It came from France since this mining town was owned by a Frenchman when they discovered the copper 


The city fire truck-sweet retro


Very curious pelican near our boat


Would you like Fish Wire Fence?


Or maybe some Fused Chesse? Too many decisions here in Mx


Random dogs, so cute


Lots and lots of old houses like this one here


Their thrift store called a segundo...I got a used suitcase after haggling with the guy he was trying to get me to take all the nasty old stuffed animals in it. When I was walking back to the boat Christine kept telling me that it looks like a very suspicious bag to be walking around with and that I would probably be arrested for suspected drug smuggling 


A lot of old mining structures like these around. It's funny to think these would never be in the states because some punk would be defacing it and fall and sue the people...so wrong