We reacquainted ourselves with the lovely and lively Pacific Ocean as well as with a few of her many creatures. Dolphin were everywhere and the waters were often boiling with fish and diving birds. Turtles, jellies and manta rays were part of the parade and on an early morning watch I saw 3 sword fish jump in tandem! And we discovered Windi has a love for fresh tuna!
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The Highly Unlikely Impossible VoyageAs we were preparing to leave the island nation of Curacao a thru-hull cracked open. It was a miracle we weren’t 300 miles at sea when it happened. The repair bill cost us all of our Canal transit fund. We are very lucky to have very good friends that helped us once more to get us back on track and the trip to Panama was back on. We felt truly blessed. We also couldn’t help but ponder what the Universe might be trying to say?
Then… the trip to Panama was mostly difficult. There was no wind for the first 4 days, but a lot of waves. Then… way too much wind... from the bow of course. The waves grew into impressive growlers, with just the right amount of roll to scare me. Our wind instrument and auto pilot failed in the first half of this voyage to Panama. The fuel tank clogged in the 2nd half. After 8 days of a 6 day trip we landed in Portobelo and we were feeling extremely lucky to have made it to Panama. Frick & FrackAshika and crew are still in Ensenada. Thats the Lun II leaving port for Europe. She's a 100 year old boat that had been left here to die and a few folks with vision fixed her up and they are sailing her to where she was built in Europe for her birthday. They have gone through the Panama Canal and apparently the first mate went ashore and cut his foot (perhaps broken glass?) on the beach while in the Carribean. It was serious and he couldn't sail. But Lun II couldn't leave without him due to immigration issues. So the Lun is late getting to the Azores. Hope the hurricanes go around her.
My next update will include some before-and-after photos of Ashika's "manny/peddy". Her paint and varnish was really showing her age. I'm just a bit overwhelmed by how much we've taken on. Dois took on the outside and me, I thought I was getting the good end the deal by taking on the inside. Hmm... Dois may have noticed there are miles and miles of teak down here and tiny little holes in the walls for ventilation (also called port holes). He's so smart that way. Merry MerryShould I apologize?! Well, maybe yes, maybe no. Yes, it’s almost been a year since my last blog update, so perhaps I do owe an apology to my faithful band of Ashikalites. But hanging out in a slip does not an adventure blog make. I mean, I really do not think you want to hear about our mundane dockside existence, even I find it too boring. That is unless you want to hear me gush on (and on) about the cutest and smartest grandchildren on the planet. Just drop me a note if you do and I will oblige. So let me be brief on the missing year: Hurricane size waves followed us up the California coast. We stayed in Oceanside Harbor waiting for more normal conditions.Ashika's Coconut Milk RunNOTE; I published this blog under the Central America heading by mistake. Since I cannot figure out how to republish it under The South Pacific heading… it will stay until further notice.We expected our voyage to the islands of the South Pacific to be day after day of perfect 15 knots of wind to match perfect rolling seas. We envisioned long peaceful days with nothing to do but read, pull on the strings and eat all the delicious meals I had provisioned for the journey…errrr….eeeekkkekk screech!!!!! That film did not play.
The morning breeze was from the north, as usual right on the nose, but nice and light. Unfortunately for us, It did not last very long... it got bigger and steep waves converged to create the old washing machine effect. We changed course from Isla San Benito on the outside of Cedros Island to going inside that Cedros for the protection it offered. Just when we started to feel the calming effects of our late decision, we spot a Mexican Navy ship speeding towards us. Great. I have a fishing line out but my license to do such activity had recently expired, but that wasn't all.
Turtle Bay; where all roads are dirt and lead to more dirt. The surrounding hills and mountains are quite barren, hardly a cactus growing there. The winds blow ceaselessly through this dusty town, leaving cinder block shacks with a layer of soft dirt. It's the largest natural bay in Baja and the only thing probably stopping it from becoming a very busy port is water. There isn't any fresh water for hundreds of miles away, it must be trucked in. The thing is, I can’t figure out why this town appears to be in the middle of a financial boom.
It was beautifully sunny though, helping to warm our tropical bones from the chilly Pacific breeze we were no longer accustomed to. Ginger was treated to a huge school of dolphin who joined us during our second morning at sea during a welcome lull in the weather.
We think our fate will be somewhat less dramatic. The forecast is calling for Blanca to dissipate before reaching our neighborhood and so those are the laurels we are resting on. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; there has never been a hurricane to hit the Baja Peninsula the first part of June in recorded history. Ever. Dois says that it’s like waiting for a bus that’s coming right at you, full speed and the driver is supposed to slam on the brakes just before he hits the bus stop. It may be dumb blonde, but I have faith in the bus's brakes.
We were all ready to go, decided to check the weather this morning one last time. If the forecasters are right, this will be the first ever hurricane to hit Baja in the first week of June. Back in the 50's there was one that hit in the last week of June. The worst news is that we don't think we will be able to actually leave La Paz again until June 5th or 6th. Hopefully the above forecast is just wrong. Hopefully it doesn't make a right hand turn and visit La Paz.
UPDATE: They were right. Peace. |
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