February ‘98

*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, Sunday
La Cruz

I was gonna bake a cake for the little party for Rosa, Samie and Bob’s up-coming birthdays, but my flour was full of bugs. That’s a first, everything I’ve brought from the States has always lasted before. I did make banners, though. Deann baked cupcakes. It was so rolly out here, that we went in at 11:30 – it took me an hour to adjust to level land. We had a good time with the gang at C.Q.
We had to wait about 10 minutes on the beach to catch a pause in the breaking surf so we could get out.
Pat and Laura, Alegria, stopped by for a couple hours, they’re a lot of fun.

*While lots of people have a hard time finding their sea legs - we would occasionally have to rediscover our land legs! It could be quite strange to be on such solid ground after a few days of having your entire home constantly moving around underneath you.

February 2, Monday

The swell is still running 5-6 feet and today the wind kicked in at 15-20k out of the north which is keeping us stern to the swell, so it’s not so rolly.
Pat and Laura brought Suzanna and her boyfriend out to see the boats. That was cool.
John and Samie went in to shore – I stayed on the boat, didn’t feel like dealing with the surf.
Samie turned on the TV tonight and channel 3 had on – of all things – the Phoenix News! It only came in and out for 5 minutes or so, but it was pretty incredible. We saw that Phoenix has 70° and rain showers!

*There’s a big difference in how uncomfortable the swells can be. When they are traveling from bow to stern or stern to bow, it’s a lot more tolerable. It’s when you get sideways to the swell that things really get knocked around inside the boat and it eventually starts to wear on your nerves, rolling side to side, back and forth all day.
It was interesting what random signals we could get in certain places out there - usually later at night when the airwaves were more clear.

February 3, Tuesday
Marina Vallarta

John woke up this a.m. and decided he’d had enough of the bouncing and rolling around in La Cruz! Carl had an open spot, so at 8:30 am, we headed into P.V. There was 5 to 10k, so we put out the head sail – looks pretty with the new color for the UV blocker. We were in our old slip, A12 at 11:00 am. Boy, does it ever feel good to be still and flat.
John washed the decks and hull. Miguel and Verna drove over and fit the side pieces, it went much smoother in the marina. They spent a couple hours here.
Samie has the cable TV and watched 3 movies!
Pat and Laura, Alegria, also came in to the marina today, we all got together and went out for pizza, then ice cream. Very enjoyable.

February 4, Wednesday
P.V.

Busy day – John washed down the cockpit and waxed the boat.
Laura, Samie and I walked to Commercial for the necessary goodies, which took a couple hours.
Yesterday Miguel left the zippers here, so he came back for them around 2 pm with the intention of being back tonight – but didn’t make it.
John found the problem with Alegria’s HAM radio – it’s a loose mic connection.

February 5, Thursday
La Cruz

Miguel and Verna came to the marina at 7:30 am to finish up all the snaps and final touches. They did such wonderful work – it all looks so perfect and it matches the brown pattern perfect. The Wandrin’ Star looks so pretty and new with the new aquamarine canvas!
Tim, Scallywag, and Rick, Foxen, helped us out of the slip at 11:15 am and we were anchored back in La Cruz at 1:30. We had 10-15k north breeze – right on the nose all the way in. The swells are still runn’en in, but not quite so big. About 30 minutes out, the wind picked up to 20k with 25k gusts. A small 20-foot, or there-about, sailboat crossed up ahead of us and must have caught a big gust – because the next thing we knew, their mast broke at the spreader. All 4 were ok.
We went into C.Q. for a couple hours. It’s 7:30 pm now and the wind is still howling at 20k – I don’t like wind at night! (The wind died down at 8 pm – slept real good.)
On the happy hour net, there were reports of 40k in Chamela – WOW! Oh, and 2 days ago, there were 70k in Escondido – 9 boats went up on the beach. Enough already!

*Holy Smokes! 70k in Escondido! I wonder if any of the boats were salvageable, how tragic. There’s a very specific pain in my heart when I see or think of a boat being drug up on to the beach or on the rocks - just lying there, helpless to the wind and waves that just keep coming. 😭 There is little that can be done once a boat is in that vulnerable position - it pains me to even think about it, so I’m going to stop myself right now!!

February 6, Friday

Happy B-day Mom.

Today was a much nicer day, the breeze never got over 10k and by 4 pm, the swell had even calmed down some.
The canvas work ended up costing $600 US for all the labor – although Miguel said it actually added up to about $1400 with all the hours they had in it.
I took the left-over canvas into C.Q. and cut out pieces for the BBQ cover and 4 line bags, there wasn’t enough to make wind scoops like we thought.
Samie stayed at Jena’s tonight.
I called Mom, all is well.

*For a moment when Mom was detailing the costs and labor, I wondered why we didn’t pay Miguel more, but then I remembered from one of my journal entries last month that Dad actually helped with a lot of the sewing and labor. This is something Dad has done his whole life, and I admire him so much for it! For starters, what a great way to learn a variety of skills, aside from the bonus of saving some extra monies. When we were renting houses, he would always do work on the house or yard as if it were his own. So our rent would be minimal and the landlord’s property was improving, thanks to Dad and his many skills. You have always been a great teacher, Dad, by way of your actions. I believe that the best way to teach is by what you do rather than what you say to do. Many thanks to both my parents for doing exactly that. I love you, I love you, I love you! 🥰

February 7, Saturday
La Cruz

I finished the 4 line bags, the BBQ and small dink motor covers. John hand-sewed all the reinforcement patches, he also patched the dink cover. I took the old shade tarp into C.Q. and cut out new pieces for 2 wind scoops – I’ll sew those later on down the coast.
After a couple days of being up in the air about where to go – north or south – we decided there’s still time to go south – so as long as weather is still good tomorrow, I guess we’ll leave. Today was very pleasant – no swell and very little wind.
Gene and Jo from Sun Bear (land-based) came into town today. They have done the east and west coast of Mexico this year.

February 8, Sunday
La Cruz – STILL!

We spent the day getting ready to head south. John dove on the boat bottom, we finished stocking up on all the fresh stuff and spent a couple hours at C.Q. The wind blew 20k SW early afternoon, then switched to a NW around 3 pm. By 4:30, it had died down to 10k so we headed out. We only got out about 5 miles, but the wind was 20-25k from the NW so we said screw it! Who wants to spend a bouncy, wet night? We were re-anchored at 5:45 – poop, we were ready to get out of here – 8 weeks is long enough.
Also, the swell had flattened out the last 2 days and it’s been real nice -well, that’s building again.

*The life of a wanderer is a funny one! It can be sucha bummer to leave our favorite peoples and places, but when you are free to roam, being in one place becomes so foreign and somewhat undesirable... There comes to be a perpetual desire to continue onward toward the next destination.

February 9, Monday
La Cruz

As good as it was to sleep peacefully last night – we sure do wish we were in Tenacatita today! We put the tarps back up – inflated the dink again – and re-anchored twice! The swell is rolling in AGAIN and we were further in than before and the swell was bouncing back off the break wall. The second time we re-anchored was due to the fact that we were too close to another boat.
Spent a couple hours on shore visiting with Mel and Judy, Stepp’en Out.
Samie called Regan for her 5th B-day.

February 10, Tuesday
La Cruz

John went in to Nuevo Vallarta to check in and out. He had tried when we first got here, but the Port Captain wasn’t there. Technically, in La Cruz you don’t have to check in and he forgot the 2 days in the marina ‘cause we were so busy.
Then we went into C.Q. for a couple hours and Judy and Mel, Stepp’en Out, came over to the boat for happy hour.

February 11, Wednesday
La Cruz

Our day started early this a.m. John left a message for my Aunt Gerrie Lynn and Jack, who came in to P.V. on the cruise ship, Jubilee, telling them we’d be over to see them. She had written to me last September to say they’d be here on 2/11 – but I wrote back saying we’d be long gone south by then! Ha!
So at 8 am, Rosa took Samie to the flea market and let her pick out a top and skirt for her B-day (how sweet), then we took a bus in to P.V. Gerrie and Jack had already planned a bus tour – but would be back at 12:30. In the meantime, we went in to the marina and saw Al and Maurine, Moon Shadow, who just got in yesterday.
Went back to the Jubilee and found Gerri – we took ‘em downtown, they bought us lunch and they shopped a little. Gerrie Lynn’s leg is so bad now, she was walking with a cane and the heat was really getting to her. We took a taxi back to the ship, took pictures, and said goodbye. It’s been probably 10 years since I’ve seen her- so it was really nice.
We got back to C.Q. at 2:30 pm – what a long day.

*Shout out to Rosa, my other mom whenever we were in La Cruz! Her and Blair were both always so good to me and never made me feel like I was there too much (and I was there A LOT!). Of course there were days when Jena and I might get a talking-to for some reason or other, but that’s normal. Rosa was always so sweet and gentle, I love that she took me to the market to pick out some birthday presents. As for Blair, he and Jena’s relationship has always stood out to me as something quite special. I adore that his firm parenting always had a warm, loving center and there was a strong understanding between them. COOOONE! 🥰 (If you know, you know!)
I remember going to see Gerrie and Jack, but I don’t remember much about it except for lunch and being next to the cruise ship.

February 12, Thursday
La Cruz

It was a year ago today that I broke my wrist.
Goon called this a.m. It snowed yesterday. She’s doing fine, working 2 jobs trying to get a better car. John cleaned Motoo’s boat bottom, $170p. From 11 am to 2 pm, it blew 15-20k from the NW then calmed down nicely – no wind at all tonight and pretty warm.
Visited with Al and Maurine, Moon Shadow, and Joe and Paula, Sea Hope(less) at C.Q.
Got a long letter from Nanamuk, they’ve had as many rough times as good ones in the South Pacific.

February 13, Friday

The weather is looking shitty again. Stepp’en Out had a calm, clear passage to Mazatlan – we should have left yesterday!
John cleaned Samara I’s boat bottom – said it had a garden growing!
The reports from Barra de Navidad this a.m. were about the Mexicans in pangas getting in close to the boats in the early morning. Steve, Star Song, scared them away from his boat, but at 1 am they actually boarded a boat. The people (don’t know who) ran them off, but once the Mexicans got back to the beach, they were shooting at the boat with a gun! Scary!
We, of course, went in to C.Q. for a few hours. Samie is going with Rosa to watch Jena perform in a dance at her school, then she’ll spend the night.
We’re having all those B-day parties again tomorrow since we’re still here. I baked the cake tonight ‘cause it’s getting rolly again – who knows what tomorrow will be like.
La Cruz February birthdays:

14th – Bob, Samara I
16th – Rosa
17th – Samie
22nd – Blair
28th – Tarn

And mine is close, too – March 2nd.
Oh, and Valeria’s at Felipe’s I made her a poster and John colored it – she’s 5.

*Sheesh! Maybe it’s a good thing we didn’t make it further south that year (in regard to the gun shots in Barra)! But I will be sure to state that although these things did happen here and there, they were by no means the normal. People in the States would sometimes balk at us and ask how we could feel safe in Mexico. Truth is, I think we all felt safer in Mexico than in the States. There are always likely to be some bad apples anywhere you go, but in Mexico we experienced more wholesome goodness than we ever did in the States. Those experiences from my youth are precisely how and why I firmly believe there is more good than bad in this great, wide, beautifully crazy world.

February 14, Saturday

Oh, what a morning! It started at midnight with 10-15k out of the south of all directions. By the time I got up (John was up, or at least awake from 2:30 am on) at 6:30 am, the seas had really built and we were bouncing up and down nearly burying the bow pulpit in the swell. It only got worse for a while there, the snubber had slipped and the anchor chain was popping and banging. By now it’s blowing 20-25k and looking like a big rain. Ripple II and Motoo had been at Punta de Mita and came back in here in the middle of all this shit. Ok, so now it’s blowing 30k with gusts to 40k, lightning all around on the mountains, rain coming down in buckets and Motoo anchors right on top of us! What happened was in his super small boat, he only has an outboard motor on the back and his dinghy (almost as big as the boat) line got wrapped in the prop. So he did good to drop the hook and have it set. Once it calmed down, an hour later, he unwrapped the line and moved. It was pretty hairy there for a while, but once the big squall passed, the wind calmed down to 10k, then nothing, so we were sitting sideways to all the huge waves (4-5 feet) and rocking around, things flying down below. It still drizzled rain for a while, John fixed the snubber and got all the water out of the dink. The dink had been bouncing and rolling around so much that the gas can was standing on end and the cover is all blue from rubbing against the hull from the water line down.
The good news is the new canvas works great – no water leaking down in and Samie’s cupboards are still dry!
Finally, about noon it was calm and stopped raining, so we went in to C.Q. for all the birthdays – it’s a good thing I baked the cake last night, or it wouldn’t have gotten done.
John, of course, was wandering around – he found some guys shining abalone shells and got one that he was shining for me. The party for Valeria at Felipe’s didn’t work out today – so mañana.
Our B-day party didn’t get started until 4:30 pm – but it was real nice. We were all laughing so hard – one time I laughed and sprayed a mouth full of beer all over.
Blair bought the kids all a chocolate egg for Valentine’s, but made them flap their arms like chickens to get them. He bought Rosa a bottle full of kisses and me some chocolates.
John bought me the most beautiful bunch of Easter lilies, all colors!
We finally called it a day and were back on the boat at 5 pm. It’s calm – for now, anyway – and cold.

*What a snotty day in the anchorage! Super scary to have the bow nearly bury into the swell, but excellent to know the anchor was holding fast. What a hairy ordeal for Motoo also, to have his dingy line wrap around the prop. It can be easy to overlook certain details (like bringing the dinghy in close before preparing to anchor) when you’re hurrying in the midst of all that wind and swell, just trying to find a good spot and set anchor safely. I’m grateful it all turned out ok.
What a wonderful birthday celebration we all got to share together! I love that we had so much fun Mom spewed beer all over - THAT is a truly rare occasion and I am HERE FOR IT! 🤪I can remember Blair making us flap our arms to get the eggs! 😂 What a ham! I am forever grateful for these friends we had and the memories we made. ❤

February 15, Sunday
Underway from La Cruz to Mazatlan

It was peaceful all night and weather looks good for a passage. So at 9 am we went in to shore to get laundry and a few other things – said our goodbyes. We started hoisting the anchor at 11:00 am – what a tangled mess that was. In all the swinging back and forth and yesterday’s blow with the high swells, our anchor had twisted up into a ball. At first, we thought we pulled in someone else’s anchor with ours. It’s damn lucky we didn’t drag yesterday.
11:30 am, we are finally underway – we saw 2 dolphins jumping – a whale and some sort of bill-fish.
The swells are a pretty good size out here, but we’re moving along at a good angle – not bad. 10k right on the nose – what else! The night sail went smooth – thought we were gonna get a squall, but it missed us.

February 16, Monday

Happy B-day Rosa

The wind remained light thought the night, making a rolly ride. For a couple hours, early morning, we ran alongside several squalls of pretty good size. The biggest and closest one, we ran up the engine and had enough wind in the sails to outrun it. The closer we got to Mazatlan, the bigger and closer the seas got, 5-6 foot. As long as we had wind, it was a smooth enough ride – otherwise, a little sloppy.
About 2 hours out, just alongside the lighthouse mountain it got real sloppy with 15-20k on a beam-reach, up till then, the decks had stayed dry. From that point on, it got pretty hairy. We followed another boat, Mary Ann, in-between the island and beach. Right at the 12 feet depth – like last year - 20k, sloppy seas and that para-sailer is pulled in front of us. This year, I got a picture of him right over us.
As we watched the Mary Ann go through the heavy surf into the entrance, I thought they were going to smash up on the rocks! It’s a difficult entrance in anything but flat calm – but today was suicide. They made it in – but I didn’t even want to try. At first I went below and buried my face in a pillow with Samie (she was fine, though, not worried at all). But then I went up and held the throttle full forward while John had both hands to control the helm. I could see all these rocks and thought one in-coming wave was gonna break right in the cockpit on us! But John was so good, we made it safely.
We are tied up in the storage area, no water or power (5:30 pm).
Angie, Hal and little Hal, Angela came over for a while, they just got here Friday.

*lol, Mom’s note about me being totally fine and not worried at all! Ignorance really is bliss, and I always had the utmost confidence in my parents’ capability and the Star’s seaworthiness. I don’t remember ever being truly scared or concerned in any storm, windy night, or tricky entrance. I just knew we were safe. I knew the Star would take care of us as we took care of her, and I didn’t have the adult context and awareness of all the things that could go wrong. I just knew we had always been ok and trusted that we always would. God, I miss her! She will forever be my true love, paired only and eternally with the everlasting vastness of the Sea. ❤
Those poor parasailers (and us)! The guys driving the boats sure liked to give them a ride to remember!

February 17, Tuesday
Mazatlan

Happy 11th Birthday, Samie

It was a very relaxed, laid-back day. I baked another cinnamon swirl cake for Samie. Then we just hung around on Dock 6 with the gang from November and December.
Bob, Miss Teak II got back yesterday from Colorado. Cynthia’s Mom passed away – she got back today. We spent several hours over there – ended up having a pizza delivered.
We used 3 quarts of oil from 7 am to 5 pm when we came into the marina – so John’s checking that out.
Goon and Shine called, it’s been snowing for 3 days – yuk!

February 18, Wednesday
Mazatlan

We got back into the school mode, which is hard in a marina. Too many other things we’d rather do. Spent more time at Miss Teak II, Bob was replacing all of his fuel lines.
We have salt water in the fresh water cooling system on the main engine. They figured out that both the water cooler systems and heat exchanger need replacing. Luckily we have extras on the boat.
The wind kicked up early today, around 11 am and blew 20-25k WNW all day. Even though it’s 80°, it’s cold.
Danielle called, wanting to know where we’ll be in April.

*I remember being over the moon when Max gave me my birthday gifts, seeing as I had a crush on him, which I haven’t mentioned to my Dear Diary yet. 😍
Also, my description of the coasters is adorable.

February 19, Thursday

John worked on the engine, but the good heat exchanger on the oil-cooler was ok – so now we’re not sure where the oil is going. Monday he’ll take off the head and check it.
Samie went swimming with Angie and a bunch of the kids here.
I stayed home out of the cold 20-25k wind.
We watched My Best Friend’s Wedding with Julia Roberts – really good comedy.

*These trips to the pool were definitely to the one I was talking about before which was up one of the canals. I wish I could remember where it was!
My Best Friend’s Wedding is still a favorite! Mom and I really enjoyed that one.

February 20, Friday

Visited with Angie, Angela and Miss Teak II, Harry and Ellen, Prelude, came by. Nice, lazy, relaxed day and only 15k out of the south, warmer today.
Chelle called, she was in a car wreck last Wednesday. She’s ok, not her fault.

*I don’t remember this accident, but I’m sure glad Chelle was ok!
Below, Tracy from Foxen working on her boat.

February 21, Saturday
Mazatlan

Samie did the local VHF net this a.m. – great job! We could not concentrate on school, so we gave it up and walked over to 6-dock to “play.” John and Bob went fishing in the dink, only 1 small fish. They went out the entrance, it was actually calm enough to think about taking Miss Teak II out tonight and anchoring between the beach and the island to watch the firework display. It’s a reenactment of the battle between the Spanish and Mexicans in 1898. As it turned out, the wind picked up at 5 pm, 15-20k, cold and everyone decided it probably wouldn’t be a good idea. From 3-5 pm, in front of the marina there was a margarita party. One of the local restaurants provided margaritas, tequila sunrises and hors d'œuvres. Quite a crowd and a good time.

 *Oh my, how I do have a flair for the dramatic, especially when it comes to boys. I did have the biggest crush on Max and was obviously so sad when Lexi caught his eye. Too bad I let it derail my whole day! At least the movie helped me get my mind off things for a bit.

February 22, Sunday

Last night, there was a couple of boats that went out for fireworks and came right back in! One anchored, Prelude, and spent a miserable night on the hook.
Very lazy day – John started taking hoses, etc. off so they can take off the head mañana. We decided to forego the parade tonight an watch it on T.V. (We’ll go on Tuesday). We went over to Miss Teak II, but when it hadn’t started at 6 pm, they put in the movie Empire of the Sun – when that ended – so had the parade. Oh well!

February 23, Monday

John tore apart the engine and found where the oil was going. The main problem is the internal oil-cooler was no good. He’ll have to order that from the States and have it shipped down. He also found several hoses about ready to break. He’ll also replace the head gasket and have the head checked.
It was a beautiful, warm day – only a light south breeze.
No school, again, because of the engine project and tools and parts everywhere.

*Below: Dad in the engine room, doing his thing! Having an engine room at all was quite a treat and I remember when Dad would give other men a tour of our boat, they would often gawk at the size and how much space Dad had to move around and work on the engine! Many boats only have access to the engine through the floor boards or by moving the steps of the companionway aside. To have an actual engine room on these smaller cruising boats was certainly a luxury.

February 24, Tuesday

Busy day. John spent the day running around, first, Bob took him in to a machine shop. They had a dead battery replaced that. Then he had to go back, but it wasn’t ready because of carnival – so, mañana.
Cynthia, myself and Sandy drove in to Sam’s Club and Commercial along with a couple other stops. Samie went to the pool with Angie and a bunch of kids.
John was still working hard at 4:30, so Samie, myself, Sandy, Sirrius, and Angela all took a bus and a taxi downtown to watch the parade. Crowded, but we could see the huge, beautiful floats, but only parts of the activities and the dancing of those walking along. It was a neat parade – best I’ve ever seen live. Altough the bus going in was over-packed, we found a fairly empty one to come home in.
It was a beautiful, warm day again – 2 in a row, can we hope for more?!

 *I love that I kept to work on my math until I got it done. Not that I could have blown it off - Mom wouldn’t have been happy with that and I could have been grounded! So, better to just do what has to be done!
I assume Meghan made me think of Peggy because there was probably a bit of a big sister vibe going on, especially in the beginning. I still adore her. ❤

February 25, Wednesday
Mazatlan

Bob and Cynthia, Miss Teak II, left at 8 am for P.V. They were having a great sail when we talked on Happy Hour.
John worked all day on the engine.
Samie went swimming.

February 26, Thursday

At 6:15 am, Bob, Miss Teak II, called – they were 40 miles north of Punta de Mita and were plugging up fuel filters every 2 hours or so. They had no wind through the night, so had to motor. They obviously have dirty fuel. The wind picked up 15-20k westerly here all day, so I’m sure it came up for them also. Never did get them on Happy Hour to know for sure.
Samie and I spent the afternoon at the pool with Angie and a whole slew of kids.
John went in and picked up the head to the engine and will get it all put back together mañana.

*What a rough life we had! 😉

February 27, Friday

John has worked hard all day putting the engine back together after having the valve job done. Neal from Novia was a lot of help. It’s now 7:30 pm and he’s still working on it. Because he’s been using the inverter to run an extra light and the fan in the engine room our batteries are REALLY low. I even did dishes tonight partially by candlelight.
The wind wasn’t so bad today until the sun went down, then it picked up and is blowing 15-20 WNW. With all the boats in slips right next to each other, it sounds awful howling through the rigging.
Samie, Angie, myself and all the other girls (Lexi, Robin, Megan and Katelyn) all went to the pool for a couple of hours.
Samie had tests the last 2 days – Math, 86% - Science, 75% BAD – Grammar, 89% - Geography, 93% - Spelling, 95% - History, 100%.

February 28, Saturday

John got the engine all put back together (with Neal, Novia’s help), it was perfect. He’s so happy and proud.
Samie and I went to the beach along with Shadow Fox, Angela, Odysseus, Hop Toad, Sea World, Impossible, and Pipe Dream. Great beach, all the kids were either on surf or boogie boards. It was a lot of fun, but too much sun. Samie and Meghan from Shadow Fox are spending a lot of time together.

Mom is right about Meghan and I - it would be the start of another beautiful friendship! We always made a point to get together when we were in the same port and had so much fun. We wrote each other all the time when we were apart and Meghan always had the most beautiful penmanship! Every letter was written in a new font and always looked as though it could have been typed out on a computer. I was in awe and became determined from then on to develop better penmanship, myself - something that has stuck with me since then! I still have every note and letter from her. ❤