March ‘99
*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!
March 1, Monday
La Cruz
Sunny and warm today.
March 2, Tuesday
We left La Cruz (Samie stayed with Rosa) at 8:30 am, took a bus in to PV to the Holiday Inn to get Barb and Richard. In the meantime, they went in search of us. It was noon before we found each other. We took a taxi to old town. I even bought me a new sarong for my b-day. It was 3 pm when we all got back to La Cruz, had a beer at Cruise Quarters and TRIED to take the luggage out. The surf is really up. Big swell and low tide. After 10 minutes, we gave up and went back to eat first. We had ribs. Rosa, Samie and Jena brought up a cake and a dress. All in all, was a really nice birthday. We finally got out to the boat with Baker’s help in his dink.
*Happy Birthday #44, Momma!
Too funny that they were both wandering around trying to find each other. It is so easy to take cellphones for granted these days!
March 3, Wednesday
After John did the Wednesday Sonrista net, we up’ed anchor and motored out to the island. We did spot a couple whales. We anchored for a couple hours in lumpy seas. We did get a little wind on the way back in, in fact, we anchored in 20 knots!!
John, Richard and Samie went into shore for a bit. Barb and I stayed on board.
*What a fun day with Barb and Richard. I’m surprised I don’t remember going in to shore at all. I do remember the birds, though. We didn’t normally feed them like that, I think it was just something to do that day for entertainment.
I’m so glad they got to come out to see us and visit - they were such good friends of my parents. My dad spent so much time with them during the summers, helping out at their house with various projects and this or that. They were really good people. Sadly, they have both passed away since, and are dearly missed by their friends and family. 💔
March 4, Thursday
John and Richard went in to look at some property and brought Pete from Foxen out to the boat. He flew down to help crew a big 57 foot race boat back to LA. It was great to see him, he bought us all lunch at Cruise Quarters. Tracey is in California teaching first grade. Samie stayed to help keep Rosa company again while the rest of us took a bus into Bucerias so Barb could shop. We found one really neat shop.
Dinner was at a taco stand and hot dogs. So we hit the local “Taco Bell” and “Der Wiener Schnitzel.” Then Cruise Quarters for karaoke. It was fun – I even danced with Simon and Oso – I’ve never danced to Achey Breaky Heart in English, but Oso and I danced to it in Spanish. Very enjoyable day!
20k in the afternoon, calm night.
Oh – John bought Oso a little chicken toy – you pull the string a certain way and it sounds real. They had a ball with that. Someone ordered chicken for lunch and Oso made his toy sound like they were just killing the poor chicken.
*What a fun time with our Crew’s Quarters family! I love that Mom had fun dancing and letting loose - she loves her country music!
I’m bummed I don’t remember hanging out with Rosa while waiting for Jena to get out of school - I hope I was helpful and not in the way, lol.
I DO remember this chicken toy, though! They had a lot of fun joking around with that. 😆
March 5, Friday
We walked around town in La Cruz, then down the beach to the palapas. Samie stayed with Jena tonight. I made enchiladas and rellenos for dinner. I was sick all night with one of those headaches.
*😩 These damn headaches sure did kick Mom’s butt this year. This is already her 10th day with a migraine in 4 months! I didn’t remember her getting them this often while we were in Banderas, but I was preoccupied with friends and all the goings-on. I must not have been as tuned into it as I was later, in Baja when it was just us. Over time, she learned what tended to set them off, sometimes it was due to the barometer dropping, other times certain food or drink, or real strong smells. These ones seem to be tied to when we have company (the boat gets cramped quick and hosting can be a lot of extra work with cooking and cleaning!) and heightened activity like being out and about all day and maybe more drinks than normal.
March 6, Saturday
It was a lazy morning on the boat, then we all had lunch at C.Q.s before Barb and Richard took a taxi to the airport. It sure was fun having them here.
They had brought a video of Chelle and Rick’s wedding and photos. Really pretty. Also brought mail, got a photo of Janice and Arne and Janice and Cheryl from True Blue. We re-anchored closer in.
*The photos of the wedding were real sweet, we were grateful for them, although obviously bummed not to have been there for it.
March 7, Sunday
La Cruz
I took it easy all day, the headache is mostly gone. John and Samie spent time ashore. It really blew out of the bay today – 25k – YUK!
Mom and Daddy called, said Peggy’s wedding dress is really pretty.
March 8, Monday
We re-anchored again this a.m., we had gotten too close to Mädchen, so we’re way outside again – ok by me. Afternoon ashore. Light and variable winds today, warm.
March 9, Tuesday
John dove on the boat bottom of Elegate again. Barb and Steve on Blue Chablis, who are out at San Benedicto at Isla Socorro – they caught a huge wahoo, but a 12 foot dusky shark got all but the head, then tried to bite the outboard motor on the dink – scary!
Really calm day – it almost didn’t even blow at all.
March 10, Wednesday
John did the Sonrista net. Baker, Lite N Up, climbed our mast and fixed the bent wind direction indicator that a bird bent in La Paz last January. Then John and Baker used the hookah to clean Lite N Up’s bottom. The breezes have been somewhat unusual this season. The normal 20-25k out of the bay are few. For the most part, it blows 10k, then switches to blow 10-15k from the land. It is also getting warm and we have a few flies – which is better than the bees. Angela is supposed to be leaving Mazatlan in a day or two.
Oh, I forgot, one day last week, while Barb and Richard were here, we were all at Cruise Quarters and John had asked me something for the 3rd time – normal – when Oso says, “She already told you 3 times; you are like Teflon – nothing sticks!”. We all cracked up and now we call John “Señor Teflon”.
*Dad never liked climbing the mast - I’m glad Baker was able to help us out!
😆 Dad had that nickname for quite a while. Too funny.
March 11, Thursday
Happy Bday Cammie
John is sanding the cockpit grating. He is always doing something to keep this boat beautiful! Otherwise, a normal day in La Cruz. It is getting warm, people.
March 12, Friday
Jena spent the night on our boat. We had just finished dinner and Angela called from shore. They drove their van-camper down. So we went ashore for a couple hours, so did Cruising Time, we all visited.
*Lol, of course they didn’t come JUST for Megan to see me, but it was good to go welcome them back and enjoy our time with them.
I like my note of: “once we all got used to each other” about me and the girls. I’ve always found it an interesting dynamic when introducing my friends to each other. I’m always myself with my friends, but slightly different versions of myself, so sometimes I feel odd when those aspects intersect. And of course, there’s always the possibility of the two being introduced not getting along for whatever reason. Thankfully, that was not the case here!
March 13, Saturday
We went ashore early and spent the day with Angela. After some gen-set time on the boat (gen-set is getting sick), we went back into town for a taco feed with Angela and Cruising Time.
*Ah, yes! Jena and I watched our fair share of the scary movies that were popular at this time. The one I remember most was I Know What You Did Last Summer. Especially on her massive TV screen with surround sound, the suspense really dug in and those big GOTCHA! scenes were something else. I don’t blame Megan for her jump scare!
March 14, Sunday
Paradise Village
Because the gen-set is “sick”, we managed to come in to Marina Paradise 2 days early. We were tied up at 10 am – only it’s not ideal – we are side tied to a 65 foot sail boat. No one is onboard – but we still have to climb across their boat to get to ours, which I don’t think is right, but that’s where Dick put us and that’s what he’s doing to get everyone in who wants in for the regatta.
John washed down the decks, I defrosted the freezer, first time this year. Samie and Megan, Angela, who drove over here now, both went up to the pool.
Goon and Shine called this am. I feel so bad that I’m not a part of all her prep for the wedding. I’ve missed the excitement of all her proms, etc. and now this. But at least we’ll be there a little ahead of the date. She asked Samie to be her maid of honor! Samie was so excited. Her colors are lavender, green and yellow – we’ll have to make Samie’s dress and I have to get one.
*I don’t remember this boat being between us and the dock!, but Mom’s right that it wouldn’t have felt right. Like having strangers traipse through your back yard all willy-nilly, without you knowing. I know we were respectful and very careful, though, so at least there’s that.
Mom did have a real hard time missing out on so many of those big events for Peg. It was not easy for her, at all.
I can’t tell you how excited I was to be my big sister’s maid of honor. I was so happy and proud and couldn’t wait!
*It cracks me up how unnecessarily detailed I could be about certain things, but then there are other things I skip over entirely and wish I would have explained even a little about. Like, what is the Lazy Game? I don’t remember at all, and I mention it a few times.
If it were me now, I’d have been way more interested in the dancers - I believe it they would have been based on the Aztecs.
There’s the balloon game I talked about last month! So funny!
March 15, Monday
Cold this am - 60°. John is working on the gen-set, brushes look good – so now what?
Blue Chablis made it in to the bay this am, they left San Benedicto Friday night, so they made good time. Barb and Steve are here in Paradise Village. Samie and Megan spent the day – after school – at the pool.
*😆The obviously not Canadian comment cracks me up! Wonder where I got that from - too funny. I swooned over that boy for however long we were both at the resort - we exchanged lots of glances and smiles but neither of us ever made “a move”. Funny enough, I still think of him every now and then when I think about this year at Paraadise Village. I used to daydream that one day I would run into him again and finally have the courage to talk to him.
The TWO M&Ms also cracks me up. TWO. Enough to know how good they are, but not enough to satiate any want for more. lol
Lastly, these entries were all catch-ups that I was remembering from clear ahead in April. Considering sometimes I can’t remember details from two weeks ago, I’m shocked at how many details I remembered a full month back!
I added some photos I found online of the pool we were always at.
March 16, Tuesday
Samie did most of today’s school last night. I got my hair cut here in Paradise – but I didn’t get it all cut off like last time. It’s the same cut, but short at my shoulders. I like it.
Meghan, Bridget, Caitlin and Tracy, Shadowfox, and Lexy, Odysseus, who flew down to visit, all came over to the pool – Meghan is spending the night. Angie and I also are spending time pool side.
It was breezy but really cloudy today – no sun at all. At one point, it even looked like it really might rain.
Oh, Megan and Meghan were called up on stage for a part in the comedy show.
March 17, Wednesday
Everyone was pool-side again. Samie is tanning nicely – I’m staying in the shade mostly. Damn headache again, but not as bad. Mostly cloudy.
*Shenanigans with the other kids, for sure. Kids being kids.
If you are unfamiliar with or don’t remember the Something About Mary scene, this should refresh your memory. lol
March 18, Thursday
Sunny today, warm, with a breeze. Barb, Blue Chablis, and I went on a walk. John was cleaning the dink on the dock and knocked the motor off into the water. It took probably 5 minutes or so to get the hookah and everything ready to dive and pull it up. It was covered in slimy, thick, sandy mud – gross. But he got it all cleaned off and running.
*Oh my! I think I remember this happening with the engine - let’s just say Dad was less than stoked about it. I bet that was a nightmare to clean all that sludge off. Glad he was able to get it all cleaned up and working again - that would have been a costly mistake, otherwise. That Mariner was a good motor!
*There are so many things I don’t remember! Like the peacocks roaming around? Nada. That sucks that Puddin’ got them booted out, but glad he didn’t actually get the peacock!
March 19, Friday
I patched the dink cover – patches on patches – need another new one.
It’s little Hal’s (Angela) 7th birthday, so there was a little party.
The regatta races started today – I guess some are out for blood and taking it all too serious. We ate a chicken and pizza with Barb and Steve, Blue Chablis, up at the deli. We had quite a time finding somewhere cheap to eat – no one wanted to go into P.V.
March 20, Saturday
We took the motor off of the dink so Samie and Megan, Angela, could have less weight on it for the races, and they did great as a pair. They raced, one blind folded with the other telling them which way to go – quite funny. They won one of those with Samie rowing. Then Samie won all of the others for her class (inflatables). She was really a power rower! At the awards that night though, they only mentioned the adults names – no kids and there were several.
It's been sunny and hot lately. The phosphorescence in here is still as amazing as a month ago when we were in here. It’s downright pretty.
*I had such a good time at the races. For the relay race, the “baton” was a bottle of beer. I seem to remember part of the goal keeping it full, but I could be making that up entirely, because I remember one of the men taking a quick break during the relay race to take a swig. 😜I still love rowing. If I lived on a lake, I would totally have me a little setup to go out rowing and get me some good, regular exercise.
Just want to give my parents a shout out and a thanks for letting me have so many friends over when I had friends in the marina - I’m sure we were a handful in such a tiny space, but it really meant a lot to me! Love you both!
March 21, Sunday
Megan, Angela, spent the night last night – she’s one girl that I really like a lot. It was pretty much a slow, lazy day. Angie and I walked down the beach. Later, we all loaded into Hal and Angie’s van to take the kids to the go-karts for the prize tickets they won at the dinghy races. There was a big mix-up with that – too much to write.
*lol, The Craft really was an odd movie.
The go-kart mix-up is a bummer - the people passing them out had to have known that wouldn’t work! 🙄I don’t think we ever actually got to go.
Awe, the hardest part about cruising was the goodbyes. A 14 page note! Sheesh. 🤪
March 22, Monday
La Cruz
We left Paradise Village marina at 10 am – last time it cost $87 – this time it was $169 – what a difference in cost it is with power and water – oh well. We had fun. We had 20k of wind and it was a wet dinghy ride in. we put 6 kilos of burger in the freezer. 20k wind.
March 23, Tuesday
A no breeze day, but the swell is building again. The Angela van pulled in today, we all had tacos tonight – also, Cruising Time and went in to Bucarias to hear the band KiaCalli play at the pizza joint. Good music, with flutes and the little wind pipes – what ever they’re called.
*That’s a bummer that Mitch felt the need to poke fun at everyone. That’s still a peeve of mine.
March 24, Wednesday
Peggy called early this morning, they are waiting to have her bridal shower until we get back. Light breeze day and mostly off shore, very warm.
John brought Oso out to see the boat finally. Spent the afternoon between Rosa and Angie. Blair bought a new car – beautiful, Rosa is like me, scared of driving. We are finally all stocked up and ready to leave in the morning. This is a hard place to say goodbye to. The whole town knows John by now – so we walked around to say hasta luego.
Big ‘ole swells rolling in today and we are rocking around tonight.
*That’s our Wandrin’ John. ❤
*Megan and I made these cute magazines for each other. We made up quizzes and little articles, cut out all kinds of things from other magazines we liked, etc. I still have the one she made for me. It is 96 pages, complete with a dedication, multiple quizzes, embarrassing stories, celebrity highlights, a “Dear Megs” column, and an article about boat kids in Mexico (i.e. us and our cruising friends). Omg I haven’t looked through this in years, I’m loving it!
Oh wow, I totally forgot about Blair and his egg-laying! 😆I still don’t remember it entirely, but it seems like we could get him to do this whole chicken “bk-bk-bkawkk!” dance and performance which would, I assume, have us in a laughing fit. I wonder if he produced chocolate eggs for us after the whole production, or something along those lines. Too funny. Love that guy! ❤🪽
March 25, Thursday
Jalatembra
We left La Cruz – been here just over 2 months – at 6:30 am. It was somewhat lumpy going around Punta Mita – but otherwise a nice, calm day.
Nothing over 5k and warm. No fish, no whales, only birds and some small rays.
Bill and Trish Gibson called twice today – trying to figure out when and where to bring Prime Time across to the Baja and meet us.
We anchored behind the island at Jalatembra at 1:30 pm – pretty back here, a first for us, but Blue Chablis has been here many times.
March 26, Friday
San Blas
We left peaceful Jalatembra at 7 am under cloudy skies. Nice, quiet, smooth motor on up to San Blas. It was 11:30 am when we were anchored just outside of the estuary entrance. John took the dink in and did the check-in routine. Once the tide was high enough (4:30 pm) we came on in to the estuary and anchored. I immediately put up all the bug netting.
We paid a man on the beach by all the pangas to watch the dink while we were ashore.
We had pizza – a good one – with Steve, Barb, Angie, Hal Jr. and Sr., and Megan. Norm and Jan plus a slew of others came later. John had ice cream, but no rum-raisin.
March 27, Saturday
Back to school – John went in to Norm’s house. We all have to go back tomorrow morning. We did go in for a while this afternoon and found Angela down at the trailer park. Megan was asleep. John found his rum-raisin ice cream. It was cloudy all day, even got a few sprinklers this a.m. It was cool all day and chilly tonight – no bugs to speak of either.
*Poor Megs with the migraine! I know Mom could surely relate. It sounds like she had an aura migraine - I experience these right before my migraines when I get them - mine gets this sort of kaleidoscopic effect in my vision that grows from a line or two into an arch across my vision - making it difficult to see clearly. Once that goes away, I’ve usually got about 15-20 minutes before the pain starts kicking in. Mine are nothing compared to what Mom used to get. Mom’s tend to start as a normal headache and at some point she can tell that it’s turning to a migraine. Thank goodness she has medicine that works for her now, or else she would be down and out with these suckers way too often.
March 28, Sunday
10-15 k NW all day, which is nice here, it helps keep the bugs down and cooler in the boat with all the netting up. We all went in to pay “homage” to Norm and Jan. Whoops, that sounds mean.
Otherwise, just stayed on the boat – long day. Hopefully the weather will be right tomorrow and we can get on up to Mazatlan.
March 29, Tuesday
San Blas to Mazatlan
*Catch up time, it’s actually the 31st, but I got busy*
We left San Blas at 9:30 a.m. – we had 15-20 k WNW all day with a Pacific swell and a good wind chop. Also a good current against us, cuz we could only make 4.5 knots boat speed.
John caught a huge tuna. Around 5 pm or so, we lost the raw water pump on the engine. Luckily we had a spare! It took 2.5 hours to get all squared away and going again. In the meantime, the wind died down to 10k so we just rolled around in the slop for those 2.5 hours. We got underway again right at dark. The night was calmer and eventually smoothed out.
March 30, Tuesday
Mazatlan
Never even saw any shrimp boats until the sun came up – and then only 3 – very unusual. When we were just half a mile or so off of the light house at Mazatlan, the belt slipped off the pump – so we were “adrift” again – but only for 10 minutes or so, thank goodness. We came between the mainland and the islands and anchored at Deer Island for a couple hours waiting for the dredge to move. We came in around 1 pm – Angela is on the next dock. Megan and Samie are having a great time. Samie spent the night at Angela. It was an early night. Tired.
March 31, Wednesday
It’s a lot cooler up here than in La Cruz. Cloudy all day, even looked like rain.
John worked on rebuilding the pump – so we still have a spare.
Samie and Megan made a video tape of - whatever, themselves – it’s nonsense, but cute! It got really cold, so I baked a cake.
*We had absolutely the most fun making this video. Just two silly girls being goobers and capturing it all on tape. Long before TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat or any of that. Back when most people were incredibly shy around cameras in general and usually suspicious of why you would randomly be filming anything. It was a new way for us to express ourselves and be able to see ourselves in a new way, via playback. Mom and I still make references to some of the jokes in this video. 🙃
