February ‘96
*Additional notes may appear in italics after my mom’s initial journal entries.
A ladybug means you should check the comments at the bottom of the page to see what Mom has chimed in on after reading these!
February 1, Thursday
Samie passed her test today. She missed 6 out of 11 pages.
Princess Erika came in to the lagoon here in Navidad about 1 pm today. It’s good to see them again. We all went in to town and checked it out. Nice little typical Mexican town. There sure is a lot of damage from the earth quake last October – lots of repairs going on.
We all went back in later for dinner at Banana’s – great Italian food!
February 2, Friday
Ground Hog Day – I wonder if that furry critter saw his shadow or not?
Today on Chubasco net, the weather guy, Tom (Tango Papa) said it’s been the coldest winter in the last 25 years. Minneapolis shut down all the schools because of the cold. I think he said a high of -12°. The mountains in Arizona were getting snow and it was showing all the way from Salt Lake, Utah to New York.
And I thought our 60° here was cold! At least our days warm up in the low 80°s.
John waxed the outside of the Wandrin’ Star – now she shines.
Nanamuk came in about 1 pm and anchored next to us. We took the bus into Melaque with Princess Erika.
There is damage from the October earthquake there, also, but not as severe. We caught up with one of the mail packets Mom sent down – mine and Samie’s B-day presents.
We all had lunch at Philomena’s Los Pelicanos on the beach at Melaque.
The wind has really picked up, the water in the bay is full of scattered white caps. Back on the boat in the lagoon, the boats are danc’en a bit on the double anchors, but it’s still flat, even though the knot meter is spinn’en at 10 to 20. Finally around 7:30 it laid down.
*Tango Papa is in reference to Tom’s call-sign on the HAM radio.
February 3, Saturday
John went into town for dinghy has while Sam and I doubled up on school. Something we’re gonna have to start doing if we’re gonna finish before we make it back to the States.
I borrowed Grace’s heavy-duty sewing machine and re-stitched all of the canopy over the cockpit where the thread was rotting away.
I called Mom to wish her Happy Birthday on the 6th in case the phone doesn’t work when we head around Tenacatita in the morning.
*If you look closely, you can see me and Mom in the cockpit here!
February 4, Sunday
At 8:30 this morning, when we released both anchors and left the lagoon at Navidad and headed around the point into the next bay, which is Tenacatita. There was not much wind, and of course what little bit there was – was right on our nose, so we didn’t even bother with the sails. Still no fish in this 3-hour trip. The first time we dropped anchor, it wouldn’t set. So we moved in a little further and it held. Princess Erika is next to us.
John and Daryl tried fishing – no luck. It was a lazy day. We went into the beach for a while.
February 5, Monday
It was a rather windy day here in the anchorage. Nanamuk left Navidad a little late in the morning and coming around into Tenacatita had 20 & 25 knots of NW winds. They buried the bow a couple times and were looking for fish on deck with each wave that came aboard. Not a good day to be moving North.
The Princess Erika gang came over for Happy Hour.
February 6, Tuesday
Happy B-day, Mom
After school we, along with most everybody here in the bay dinghied over to La Manzanilla, clear across the bay, 2.5 miles for “Gringo Days.” If it’s flat and no swell, you can open it up and do about 25-30 mph in the hot rod dink. But once any wind at all blows, there’s a good swell and chop that slows ya down and gets ya wet. The landing wasn’t so bad, but our exit was not very graceful, we were drenched and so was everything in the dink. Oh, the joys of beach landings!
Anyway, “Gringo Days” didn’t turn out to be much this year. I guess in years past, it was a big party given by the Gringos for the Mexicans in appreciation for all the help they give. With a BBQ, all the free beer, rodeo and dancing. But this year the town is so poor and devastated from the earthquake and tidal wave that hit in October ’95 that it just wasn’t much.
We hung around from 11 till 3:30 or so.
Nanamuk needed dinghy gas and the “local Pemex” was in someone’s house where she siphoned it from a 20-gallon jug one liter at a time. The cost was 3 pesos per liter!
We found a new life jacket for Samie - $75 pesos, about $10 U.S.
*It’s a bit hard to tell in the photo, but if you look closely in the second, you can see a crumbled wall and other piles of rubble by the palm trees and house - damage from the earthquake.
February 7, Wednesday
The day started out cloudy, the wind picked up 15-20 knots out of the south from 8 am till around 1 pm. One of those gloomy, stay-under-cover-on-the-boat mornings. But the afternoon was spent on the beach in the sun with only a light breeze.
We talked to Steve and he ran a phone patch to Sam and Rane. Samie talked to Sam and told Regan Happy B-day this Friday. Rane and Regan were gone though.
We had Happy Hour at Princess Erika and didn’t get back until 8:30 – so the pork chops will wait till mañana – soup tonight. I will never get used to eating so late.
February 8, Thursday
John and Daryl went across the bay to La Manzanilla for ice and other goodies. Samie and I took a break from school. We all three and Megan from Angela went up the estuary in the dink. I had the video camera going and filmed the whole trip. Then we all played on the beach and ate one of the famous Jose’s fish, shrimp and bacon rolls.
Nanamuk came over for Happy Hour.
We talked to Steve and Danielle through phone patch.
*If you check the map linked with “the beach,” you should be able to see the estuary that we took there from La Vena.
February 9, Friday
Happy B-day #3 Regan
Samie made a sign and hung a balloon for Regan.
The afternoon was spent at the beach. Samie and Megan were riding in some pretty good waves on their boogie boards. Megan spent the night.
*I have some cute memories with Megan at this beach, playing on our boogie boards in the small waves and getting creeped out seeing things in the sand but not being able to tell what it was - our imaginations would go wild! We also were big fans of Mrs. Doubtfire at the time and I remember some silly songs we’d sing, having to do with this dinosaur scene toward the end of the movie. Watching it now, the raptor rap immediately jumped out, so I know that’s the one we were playing off of. I’ll take this little moment to appreciate the absolute magic of Robin Williams and the many beautiful roles of his which captivated me in one way or another growing up. I think most of my generation would full-heartedly agree that our childhoods were forever brightened by his existence. 🥰
February 10, Saturday
John went across the bay for more ice - none to be had. John and Samie went to shore while I stayed on the boat.
Samie and Alan got in an argument and she had to come back to the boat.
John’s been painting the toe-rail.
*I wonder what Alan and I got in such an argument about?! I don’t remember any of that.
Below, Amy from Princess Erika was out practicing her windsurfing - whew! Looks like a helluva workout!
February 11, Sunday
After the morning rituals, we all went into the beach. Right now there are about 7 ‘kid-boats’ in the bay and they were all on the beach for a get-together. I think that’s the most there has ever been all together. We are the only boat with only 1 kid, the rest have 2 or 3. There are a few teenagers, even. All the 9-year-olds and down had sand ball and sand castle building contests.
The big propane tank ran out of gas again – it lasted only 6 weeks this time. I guess we’ve been eating on the boat a lot! Since leaving Zihuatanejo, there hasn’t been much of anywhere to eat out.
*It was always exciting to find other “kid-boats" - especially a whole group of them! Age wasn’t usually too much of an issue, the “big kids” never seemed put-off about helping entertain the younger kids - we all just hung out.
February 12, Monday
Woo! Samie starts times tables today. John went fishing – no luck.
We spent the afternoon at the beach. John bought some shrimp from Raul at his palapa and his son-in-law from Idaho onboard the boat.
Still no Steve on the radio – it’s been since Thursday.
February 13 – Tuesday
John caught several fish up the river this morning, snook and red snapper.
We spent the afternoon on the beach again.
Every night at the hotel on the other side of the bay, they play music. So, along with the sound of waves hitting the beach, we hear either rock, Mexican, ballet – tonight it is country. The ballet is the one that really strikes us as something extraordinary.
February 14, Wednesday
Samie remembered Valentine’s Day, she made Valentines and put them all around the boat.
John went with Rob across the bay to get dinghy has and hit the market. Then he took Alan up the river to fish – no luck today.
John and Samie went to the beach – I stayed on the boat.
February 15, Thursday
As we hauled in the anchor and set out for Careyes at 8:30 this morning, it was somewhat reminiscent of San Diego weather. Cool and clammy and a low haze to the horizon. Nanamuk and Angela are also sailing north with us. I brought in a 15 or 20lb crevalle jack – it was the first time I’d played with one to bring him in – fun.
We saw a whale breach a couple of times. Leaving Tenacatita Bay, there were thousands of 4 or 5 inch jellyfish.
It was about 12:30 pm when we made Careyes. Once inside, we circled around a few times, trying to decide if we wanted to stay here. It’s a beautiful spot, but small and open with the waves refracting off all the surrounding islands and reefs. Alas, we chose to keep moving north to Chamela.
While circling, I got a full panorama of the bay on video.
It was another hour and a half into Chamela and the hook was set at 2:30 pm.
The most wind we had all day was 5 to 8 knots, but by 4:30 it was blow’en down over the mountains out of the west at 15 to 20 knots. We’re sure glad we were inside. John and Samie and the rest of the gang went to the beach.
The word is out that dink motors have been known to disappear and be sold elsewhere – so we lock ours up on the back rail onboard and hoisted the dink up, also.
The wind finally settled down around 8 pm.
Still no Steve on the ham.
*It was mostly rare to have issues with petty theft, but the cruisers were real good about watching out for one another when necessary.
February 16, Friday
Samie passed another test today. The only thing she has trouble with is telling time.
She helped me make her B-day cake for tomorrow.
They all took off to the beach. Chamela isn’t too cruiser-friendly around the beach and I’ve just stayed on the boat and enjoyed the quiet.
Nanamuk came over for Happy Hour and we all decided it would be nicer to sail, or motor, actually, the 2 miles to Isla Colorado for the B-day party.
The wind blew 20 knots from the south most of the day.
*The comment about me having trouble telling time cracks me up, as it would appear I still have issues in this department! 😅 iykyk
February 17, Saturday
Happy Birthday #9 Samie
After a pancake breakfast, we set out at 10 am for Isla Colorado’s deserted beach.
Nanamuk took their own boat, and the gang from Angela rode out with us. The wind blew from the south – that along with the north swell rolling in made for a rolly anchorage and surfy beach landing.
Once everyone was ashore, the party began. Samie got a lot of nice gifts from everyone. We had hot dogs and cake.
The island was an old pirate’s hide-away many years ago. Too bad we didn’t find any treasures!
We all came back to the north anchorage in Chamela and the kids played here for a couple of hours.
Yesterday I bruised my first finger somehow and it’s all swollen and real hard to write.
Samie says it was a perfect birthday!
All day I had the feeling that something was wrong at home with the kids and wished the phone worked.
Still no Steve.
Looks like rain tonight – but none ever fell.
*Ah, the delightful awkwardness of the early home video cam! The majority of people were in no way used to being filmed in any way, and typically took to hiding from the camera in awkwardness. I feel like I mimicked this behavior after seeing the adults all be shy, ‘cause I initially was excited about the camera and didn’t think any thing of being in front of it. I would later get over this, quickly and spend the next 4 or 5 years toting a video camera around and documenting anything that struck my fancy and experienced many friends do the same shy dance in front of my lens. “Why are you filming?” - Everyone was always so suspicious. I don’t think there was any real answer beyond curiosity, entertainment and enjoying documenting life from my perspective.
Oh my goodness, the four of us kids - so young! This was a really great birthday, we all had a great time. Lol, I remember Alan and Janelle using excessive tape as a joke to give me a challenge and I was hoping for laughter after my comment about it - lol - delivery is everything. I’m pretty positive I still have the little heart that Megan made for me. ❤
February 18, Sunday
Samie is learning her times tables real well. It was a rather lazy day. John changed the impeller on the sump pump and went into town – a mile and a half walk one way – to get ice and such.
Kids all went to the beach. We did talk to Steve tonight. Brenda said Danielle called yesterday and said Jason F. fell off the ski lift and is paralyzed from the waist down. This happened yesterday, so I guess that was my bad feeling and Danielle needed us. We talked to Chelle on phone patch, but Danielle was asleep. So when we get to P.V. we’ll call and see how he is.
*Isn’t it crazy how we just know sometimes??
February 19, Monday
We left Chamela at 7 am when the sun was just starting to light the sky. Nanamuk left at 5:30 to get a head start. As it ended up, the wind and current running with us were good and they actually beat us into Ipala by an hour or so.
The wind started out at 10-12 knots out of the NNE and was nice. We saw a couple mantas jumping and 2 whales frolicking towards shore. John caught a huge fish or shark – we thought – he had a hell of a time getting it in. What it ended up being was a medium sized bonita that was hooked on it’s side, thus increasing the pull and weight on the line to where it felt like 100 lbs.
We had a couple hours of no wind and flat seas until it shifted around to the NW and kicked up to 20-25 knots. John finally dropped the mizzen and I hanked in the jib some. The seas were choppy and building along with no-so-great memories of last year’s Mazatlan to La Paz crossing. We were getting some splash up on the deck and about 4-foot waves, but nothing like before. We had maybe 2 hours of this before we were able to pull into Punta Ipala and get some rest. There is a small fishing village here, but nothing else. It’s a small anchorage with a lot of rocks jutting out all around. The hills were brown and dry but still a pretty place.
We had the anchor set at 3:30 pm, rested up and got ready to leave at midnight to round Cabo Corrientes if the wind dies down.
*“Hanking” in the jib would mean to furl it in and make it smaller so it catches less wind. As is the point with reefing the main and trimming the sails - it’s all about adjusting to the wind and swell.
February 20, Tuesday
The wind has died off and we, along with Nanamuk pulled in the anchors at midnight and headed out. We had between 10 and 20 knots out of the north – lumpy seas – but not a bad night at all. We were well into Banderas Bay when the sun came up at 7 am.
The sky is cloudy and very hazy, still a 15-knot breeze blow’en on our nose. It looks and feels like winter!!
We went into the marina in P.V. – slip B11 – a new one for us. We got here at 10:30 am and Nanamuk came in next to us an hour later. As tired as we were, we were anxious to give the boat a good fresh-water wash down. John did the top-sides while I worked below. Samie, Jelly and Alan played on the dock and then watched a movie here.
Don and Judy from Loon came by for a visit and brought Samie some Christmas and birthday gifts.
Talked to Faron (Chelle was at school). Schyler is walking around things and gets into everything (potatoes at that moment). Mom called – all is well. Talked to Goon – she’s doing good, quit her job at K-Mart and is looking for one in Snowflake. She said Shine moved to Prescott and is living with someone from Young, Az and they work for a company laying phone and TV cable lines.
Danielle wasn’t home.
February 21, Wednesday
Janice came over at 9:30 this morning and John had to wake me up! I guess I was so exhausted and plain ‘ole wore out! But 5 minutes after she got here she had to leave, there was a boat on fire at the haul-out ramp just behind Renegade. But they got the flames under control – sadly the power boat was lost.
Since it was so late before I got moving, we skipped school one more day.
John cleaned the dink until it was like new and painted the floor boards. He also repainted the lengths of feet on the anchor chain.
I went with Grace and Linda to Commercial.
We went into Angela’s with Arne and Janice for dinner.
Oh, Danielle called this morning. They were doing surgery on Jason Fish’s back today, but they didn’t give him much hope of ever walking again – sad. Otherwise, she is doing good and still planning to come out to Mazatlan in March.
*It was so sad to hear about Jason, I don’t think he was able to walk again, but I think he did everything he could to try.
I was probably more than happy to let Mom sleep in, hoping we might skip school! I don’t remember exactly what time we usually got started, but I’m pretty sure the HAM nets started around 6 am, and with all that background RF noise, sleeping in is unlikely (at least for me, being within much closer range than Mom in the back of the boat. Anyway, I assume we were usually going by 8 am - school usually only took a couple hours, depending mostly, really, on how focused I/we were that day. Also, I don’t think I’ve mentioned yet that whenever Mom mentions Commercial, it’s basically just the largest nearby supermarket, of which there usually was only one to chose from.
February 22, Thursday
It wasn’t easy, but Samie and I did school – after a couple of days off, it’s always hard to get into the swing of it – not to mention that being in a marina there’s always something else to do.
John raised all the sails and sprayed ‘em down. Then he waxed one side of the boat and started the fueling process.
I printed out my story to mail off to family and friends, but I’m gonna have to forget about sending pictures that go with it because it would cost too much for all the copies. Oh well.
I took Samie and Jelly up to the pool.
Princess Erika came in today.
February 23, Friday
John waxed the other side of the boat and finished fueling. We did a shop and took it easy. Oh – during school, Samie asked, “Dad can I borrow the dinghy after school?”
Just like teenagers asking for the car! We cracked up – we’ve been there.
*I loved getting to go putz around in the dink and wander as far as Mom and Dad would let me as I got older. Usually rowing (I still LOVE to row, it always feels amazing and I love seeing how fast I can go) but eventually tooling around with the Mariner, our bigger dinghy motor. I love the feeling of gliding over the water at any speed. 🥰
February 24, Saturday
John took off the starboard forward stanchion to have it welded – but it’s too far gone and couldn’t be fixed, oh well.
I took Samie to the pool.
February 25, Sunday
John cleaned the water maker and changed the filters, then he took Samie to the water park – I think all the other “kid boats” went too. I stayed here and visited with Janice for a couple hours.
We watched the local artists on the plaza work their magic with spray paint. It’s just so fascinating how they make the pictures with newspaper by rubbing it over the wet paint.
I also filmed a guy making blown glass for Daddy – so fascinating!
*I wonder if Mom was playing a little catch-up in the journal here, because the date on the glass-blowing video is the 26th! It’s a wonder, truly, that she kept up as well as she did, making the time nearly every single day for seven seasons on the Wandrin’ Star!
February 26, Monday
Janice and I took a bus downtown and walked around, checking out the shops for a couple hours. I’m really gonna miss her when they leave for Hawaii and then back to the States.
John washed the cushion covers.
Ourselves, Renegade, Nanamuck, and True Blue all went to the Marriot Hotel where they have a “60’s Club” old-timey bar and dance floor with oldies tunes. The kids danced around and played air hockey. Then we went with Arne, Janice and their crew member, Frank, to Captain Morgan’s for dinner. Tonight, Janice gave me a silver and turquoise butterfly bracelet.
Goon called to say hi.
*We danced our little hearts out to The Twist and other great oldies! It was a great night out. Also, a photo of the Princess Erika clan.
February 27, Tuesday
Janice came over for a while this morning. John checked out - $153.02 for a week in Marina Vallarta. We left the marina at about 12:30 pm, with light winds which increased and increased until they were blowing 20-25 knots out of the west at 40-45° off our nose. The usual March afternoon winds in Bandaras Bay. We were anchored by 2:45 pm.
Angela – Hal, Angie, Megan and Little Hal came over for dinner.
As much as I love Marina Vallarta, it sure feels good to be on anchor again.
February 28, Wednesday
Megan came over with her schoolwork and Samie did her work, then we all went into Cruise Quarters – the girls swam for a while, but it’s so cold. Angela left to take their boat in to be hauled out.
We talked to Steve on the radio. Called Chelle, they still don’t know when they are coming out.
Samie talked to Rane, they haven’t gotten Samie’s missing Christmas present back and she hadn’t insured it.
*How cute, I don’t remember anyone ever coming over with their schoolwork! Megan and I were both pretty good at working together and focusing when we wanted to, though, so I think this makes sense.
February 29, Thursday
Oh man – we – yes I mean we because I forgot – are learning division already. I have a feeling I’m gonna be lost in math by the time Samie’s in 5th grade at the rate we’re going now.
Danielle called – she said Jason F. starts physical therapy this week. He will learn to sit up in a wheel chair. She said he seems to be doing ok, he knows the doctors think he will never walk again and of course he says he will. Maybe with lots of positive thinking, time and therapy, he will!
Danielle is gonna check on flights and costs to Mazatlan.
Spent the afternoon at Cruise Quarters.
