October ‘97
*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!
October ? 97
[Hurricane] Pauline formed south of Acapulco and moved straight up the coast. Acapulco got it really bad – lots of rain and mud slides. It finally dissipated at P.V. Then Olaf came back in – it looked like it rained heavy on Barra, but Chris and Lorry’s fax said otherwise.
It turned so freezing cold that we cut our last week short by 2 days.
We had been up at Richard and Barb’s every day all summer helping with their addition and remodel; they got a lot done but were still laying the hardwood floor when we left, so it will be exciting to see it all finished next summer.
*I love that once it got cold enough, Mom and Dad said “Peace out!” and bounced early. lol
October 16, Thursday
We were loaded up and headed off that cold mountain at 7:30 am. Did our running around Mesa, got Samie a new wetsuit, snorkel and mask, $200. Sam and I stayed at Mom’s while John drove to Phoenix to get the snaps, etc. for the new sail covers $300 – Wow!
Andy and Janet and kids all came over, Cade is such a cutie at 14 months. Rendy and I played together, she is the sweetest thing.
Chelle, Schyer and Danielle all came by, too.
October 17, Friday
We left Mom’s at 6:30 am and drove straight on down to San Carlos. Even got a lucky green light at the border.
We stopped at Bill and Trish’s on our way in – 4 pm.
We unloaded a few things, but we have no power or water on this dock now – so we went out to Tequila’s with Bill and Trish and they let us sleep there.
October 18, Saturday
We moved the boat to another dock – after John dove on the crusted prop.
Hook up the power, fill the water tanks and it’s to work getting things stowed and livable. Very long, hot day. Coming from freezing to hot takes some getting used to, no matter how wonderful it is. We went in for Manuel’s Chicken.
October 19, Sunday
We got all the sails back on – put in another full day. Cloud Nine is here too, so we spent a couple hours at their boat – then went our to dinner with them and Sea Hope. Bill and Trish were there and we stayed until 10 pm. Long day, but oh – so nice.
October 20, Monday
We had to trim down the new stove and make a couple other adjustments, but we made it fit – boy is it pretty! We got some steaks and ate at home tonight.
Oh, John tried out his hookah this morning and loved it.
October 21, Tuesday
John scrubbed down the decks, we got most everything put away.
John and Samie had a short swim at the pool. We spent some time at Prime Time, then at their house while John patched Bill’s dinghy.
October 22, Wedensday
I came down with the cold that was going around NEC, don’t feel so good. We got Samie’s room all put together and away – for now. John rigged the hookah for lifting on and off the boat. The wind blew 10-20k all day and it was much cooler.
October 23, Thursday
Happy B-day Janice!
Samie and I found our starting place in school to match as close as possible where she left off at Blue Ridge.
John took Dario and Emma out for a dive on the hookah.
We spent a couple hours at the Gibson’s.
October 24, Friday
School, a little bit of this and a little of that. Happy hour at Rancho Grande with Bill, Trish – Jack and Parker, then Tequila’s for dinner.
October 25, Saturday
John reinforced the back railing so we can haul the 10 hp dinghy motor there while underway.
The wind picked up around 3 pm and has been blowing 15-25k – it’s now 7 pm.
Goon called, it snowed up there yesterday, Clay Springs got 1.5”, Pinetop 3” – so glad we missed it. She is going with Champ to Show Low’s homecoming tonight.
October 26, Sunday
John waxed the boat. We stopped by the Gibson’s – not a real exciting week, but beats the hell out of being in the States! Wind blew again, 15-20k WNW.
October 27, Monday
John bought the isinglass and bias tape for the new canvas for $31 U.S. The peso is 8:1 now. He also put down new non-skid on both “entryways” on the deck and the step in the companionway.
Bill and Trish had us over to Prime Time for drinks. They are still inddecisive about crossing to the Baja with us.
It was cool and cloudy this a.m., then got a few sprinkles, but it cleared out and was a beautiful windless day.
*I can still feel the texture of the non-skid under my feet!
October 28, Tuesday
Goyo brought back a repaired alternator – John got it all put back in and ran the engine for a while – then the gen-set for a bit, also.
The water was pretty clear, so he dove the bottom with the hookah – not too bad.
We went into Leys and spent $1,034 pesos – don’t need anything else except fresh stuff.
Talked to Molly, Star Song, this a.m. – Summer Wind is still not there.
October 29, Wednesday
John dove on the boat Ahsley, it took 2.5 hours to clean their bottom. $30 U.S.
A small power boat brought in a 6’ marlin – which John finagled 12 small steaks for us. He took the bill over to Bill and had him going for a while with a story of catching it in our dinghy.
Samie and I spent an hour at the pool. Calm day until around 4 pm when the NE kicked in at 10-15k.
*That’s funny that Dad had Bill doing with his tall tale about the marlin. Love it!
Out of curiosity I checked the value of $30 today and it’s almost double, so Dad got the equivalent of almost $60 for cleaning the boat bottom. On that note, the $300 for the snaps and whatnot we bought in Mesa for $300 would have been the equivalent of $589! Crazy.
October 30, Thursday
At 8 am we all went out on Prime Time to do a little fishing – not to be, it was white-capping and only got worse the farther out we got, which was 7 or 8 miles. We did put out the lines, but with a 4-5 foot swell, it was useless. We made a big circle around and came on in around 10:30. By noon it was blow’en a good 25k with gusts to 30.
Jim and Kitty called on the phone, they are still in Texas, Kitty was waiting for the results from a doctor’s visit – they should leave Saturday for Mazatlan. The wind finally laid down around 9 pm.
October 31 – Friday
Happy Halloween
John worked on patching the cracks in Samie’s hatch.
Stopped by dry storage to look at Slow Dancing – it had gone up on the rocks up by Kino in Hurricane Nora. A lot of damage – they are shipping it back to the States for repairs. The Mexican Navy was wonderful in getting them off the rocks, patched and into San Carlos.
Stopped by the Gibson’s for a bit.
The wind is blowing 20-25k again.
*I don’t remember that happening to Slow Dancing, how terrible! I don’t think I went with them to see the damage - seems like I would remember that.
