Jan 2017 Part Two

Jan 18th we lift the anchor for another short sail to Las Hadas and the chain is covered with really dirty sand slug so Al gets out our cool little saltwater washer hose and the hose fractures into a hundred pieces. It's totally disintegrated from age and heat, so we break out the little blue bucket. Anchored in front of Las Hadas outside the Marina by 12:00. While we were there we paid a small fee to use the dinghy dock. From a distance Las Hadas is as beautiful as it was back when 10 was filmed there but close up it needs some TLC. Still love the architecture.

Suzanne arrived on Sat. The 21st. with watermaker kit in suitcase. It's determined that it may not be possible for Al to rebuild it. In the meantime the generator acting like it's not getting fuel. Sunday Al discovers water in the fuel. Yep, a couple of gals of water in the bottom of one of the fuel tanks from condensation apparently over the summer. So that took all morning bleeding water/fuel into containers and separating it. Then taking dirty water into the marina by dingy in Costco pretzel containers and an open bucket.

January 2017 Part One

It's been a long time since I've sat down to update our blog and now it seems a chore. Many times this month I've had no data or internet but the most frustrating part of blogging lately is that the blogger app keeps crashing then I lose the entire blog and have to start over, so I'm trying iridium email to blog. We'll see if pictures will post through the satellite.

There is a long list of things that have broken or have just gone wrong this month, starting with the head, then the AIS stopped working for a while and is still intermittent .

Next the trusty wonderful water-maker simply stopped working when Kev and family were still on board. We were able to buy water at Barra de Navidad so we filled the tanks with 160 gals. Al ordered a repair kit that his Sister Suzanne will carry down when she mets us in Las Hadas.

We depart Barra de Navidad on Jan.14th for Ensenada Carrizal 20 NM to the SE.
Ship Wreck just south of Barra


 It was a beautiful little bay with protection from the north.

 I guess we were lucky cause it wasn't too rolley that we did not have to put a stern anchor out. We stayed three nights, kayaked and snorkeled.
     


The generator starts shutting off like it's not getting fuel so Al changes the primary filter while still in Carrizal. Left there on Tues Jan 17th for Bahia Santiago. Only a 5 mile motor around to playa La Boquita

Leaving Ensenada Carrizal

Anchored at Santiago Bay

Had lunch on the beach after an exciting dinghy landing.  Watched a bunch of Canadians playing "Washers".   A beach horse shoe game with four inch washers trying to get them in to 5 inch cans buried in the sand.

Entering the Laguna in the am.

Looking behind me out to the Bay.

 



 
Took the dinghy up into the laguna for a little bird watching  before we headed around the next point  to Las Hadas , Manzanillo.

Kevin's visit 12-27-2016/1-07-2017

12-27-2016
Our son Kevin , our daughter in-law Lashawna and our two grand daughters, Stella (8 years old) and Rhiannon (12 years old) arrived in Puerto Vallarta around 3:00 from their home in Maui, loaded down with surf boards and a kite.

Settling in for a snack before heading for the pool and the beach for sunset.

Next morning we motor sailed to La Cruz to get fuel and check out the town.  Get a little lunch.

    Check out the beach near the Marina 

     Windy but not really enough wind for   kite boarding although Kevin tried.

Then off for "Tacos on the Street"

12-29-2016

Anchored off Punta de Mita near the pier closer to the point. A little surfing, great Grilled Arracharro fajitas and super fun night fishing was enjoyed by all.

12-30-2016

After breakfast we took Chez Nous north around the point to Sayulita.  We were looking for more surf but found the swell was so big we couldn't anchor.  So at 1130 we turned around and headed south to Tenecatita.

Just passed Cabo Corrientes around 1830 with 18kts apparent wind from the SW. Relaxing before are night watches begin. An easy motor sail all night.  Kev , Stella and I got the 3 to 6 watch which we call the bakers watch.  At 0430 the Brownies were done.

12-31-2016

Anchor down in Tenacatita at 0930 and it didn't take long for the kayak and SUP board to get into the water .

     Backgammon

A pretty quiet New Years Eve on the boat. A few fire works on one other boat and great music from a Hotel on Shore and search lights from a club up on a hill.  We declared 10:00 as NY's 2017.

01-01-2017.  Happy New Year

What a way to start the new year!

Salt crystals plugging the head plumbing.

"Another fun Job", as Al says.

That done , time to play a little Cribbage before the dinghy cruise through the Estuary to the Aquarium beach .

* Estuary pictures are in my camera.

01-02-3017

Another fun day at Tenacatita with bearly enough surf for Rhi but good for Stella to learn on.  Rhi had fun SUP surfing and we all loved floating down the river.

                       Best Friends

01-03-2017

No waves coming onto shore at Tenacatita this morning so we lifted the anchor and motor sailed to Barra de Navidad. Just after leaving the bay we saw two humpback whales that breached several times and what looked like baby spotted dolphins.  

Only a two hour sail to Barra and the Grand Isle Resort with what the kids think is the best pool ever.  Stella says she could just live here.

So the next three days are a blur filled with happy smart funny energetic kids.  The pool is amazing with a slide between each of the three levels.

Water taxis to town, great food, fabulous sunsets , laser rentals, panga chair float rides and mini hikes filled are days.

Lashawna loving the laser.

We all loved the French Baker who came by every morning.

Kevin and Rhiannon trying to surf the little bump at Barra.

While Stella played in the sand with the boogie board.

Best dinner at Sea Master

01-07-2017

0700 all packed up and loaded into a private SUV with surf boards lashed on top, sweet but sad good-byes and hugs then they are off to Puerto Vallarta and the plane back to Maui. It took them a little over 4 hrs to the airport but they said it was a pretty trip.