October ‘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!

October 19, Looking back –

October 16, Friday – We managed to get through the last day of work for ’98. It turned real cold again and looked like it could snow – which it did in Flagstaff and Holbrook.
We left Lakeside at 5:30 pm with Tom Pearson, Christina, and his new girlfriend, Val following. Val’s daughter C.J. rode with us. We looked like the “Beverly Hillbillies” headed off the mountain. When we left Globe, headed for Tucson, Tom missed a turn – he ended up about an hour behind us. We left C.J. with them for the night, they stayed at a motel in town – we went on to John and Maryann’s. It was midnight before we got to bed.

October 17, Saturday – Just as we were leaving Muir’s, Tom called from Tucson – someone stole Val’s dog – they said go ahead, they were gonna look around. We got to the border about 8:30 am, the first stop let us go on by. At KM21, we got our FM3s stamped at the check point. They made us unload 5 boxes – looked through those and rummaged around in the van. They even wanted to know how much money we had. Somewhat of a hassle, but not too bad. Come to find out they were making all the others that are already here do the same. Ok, so now we’re clear to go – battery is dead. So we have to push the van out of the stall and out of the way. Another American gave us a jump, so it was around 10:30 when we were finally on our way. It was smooth going after that, although we did stop while Miss Daisy (who we met at the border) stopped to change a tire on the trailer they were pulling the boat on. We pulled into Bill and Trish Gibson’s at 3 pm, visited a while – no real breeze blowin’ there – but at the marina, 25-30 knots. We cleared out the good ‘ole Wandrin’ Star and unloaded the can. Worked at that a few hours, then went to the Gibson’s and all on to Tequila’s for a great dinner. I think it was around 9 pm when we got back – slept like babies tonight.
So good to be home.

October 17, Sunday – I smiled all day as I moved back in. Tom, Val and CJ made it in last night around 10 pm. They never found the dog – they had to unload everything at the border and pay $200 U.S.

October 19, Monday – I woke up at 7:45 and loved it – Monday morning and I wasn’t at work!
We got the sails up – I cleaned out all the gally cupboards and got rid of stuff that I hadn’t used.
John got the BBQ on – Samie cleaned and put away in her room until 3 pm when her and CJ went to the pool.
Hurricane Lester down below P.V. is still moving north. Hurricane Madaline was supposed to hit Mazatlan today, but turned west and is headed up the Sea.

October 20, Tuesday

Hurricane Madeline fizzled out completely – Lester is currently heading west.
John took apart the engine as much as he can – the rest will be lifted out. I did more deep-cleaning and rearranging.
No real wind today, only an occasional breeze – it was 95° and muggy – I loved it. Samie and cJ have been to the pool every day and are tanning right up.
Val and Tom got a message to call her sister – they found the dog, her mom has him in Tucson.

October 21, Wednesday

John has taken apart the engine – as far as it goes by pieces. He started to take the binacall (?) apart. I think I’m through emptying and cleaning all the cupboards – except Samie’s room. In a couple more days we’ll have to get school started.
Bill and Trish came by for a bit. It was 92° and muggy as all get out.
Tom, Val and CJ left to drive to Tucson to get her dog.

October 22, Thursday

John got the floor of the cockpit off today. Getting all the bolts out was the hardest, next he found some lumber and a jack so he could jack it up and pop the glue loose. So for now, we have a huge hole in the floor – no cockpit.
Samie and I were bored all day – CJ didn’t get back until around 7 pm.
It was another scorcher today – I saw 96° and very humid. LOVE IT!!

October 23, Friday

John got the engine out of the boat and on the dock. It really had me worried with in dangling from a wooden bar across the cockpit. They hoisted it up with a come-along and it took 5 guys to get it maneuvered onto a plank and slide it off onto the dock. It all looked pretty scary to me.
To celebrate we (Samie stayed here on the boat) went with Bill, Trish, Parker, Jack, Pat and Bill to the palapa for happy hour. We had such a great time; the music was good enough to make me even get out there and dance. In fact, I had too much fun – I was tired and droopy all day Saturday.

October 24, Saturday

John got the engine hauled over to Jeff’s shop – he spent the day cleaning parts and painting it all white this time. I drooped all day – Samie and CJ spent time at the pool.
We’re gonna have to get school going.

October 25, Sunday

John cleaned in the engine room all day – getting at all the otherwise hard-to-get-at places. It sure looks funny and empty.
Bill and Trish came by in their little boat.
It got up to 104° - no breeze and hotter than hell!
But I’d rather be here than on the mountain where it was supposed to snow.

October 26, Monday

John found out we need different bearings for the engine than we ordered. Abiento, Jim and Kathy are driving to Mesa, so we’ll have them shipped and they can bring down the right ones.
It was overcast and cooler all day, even got a few sprinkles in the evening. Brent said in Alpine it has rained for 3 days.
I went up to the new laundromat they have at the trailer park behind the condos. Very nice - $10 pesos (or $1 U.S.) per load, wash and dry, each. It would have been cheaper to take it into town and have it done.

October 27, Tuesday
San Carlos

Samie and I got school started today. I think shew as actually glad to have something to fill her morning.
C.J. has not wanted to go to the pool the last 2 days – so Samie’s been hang’en alone.
We are going to Bill and Trish’s for burgers.
John had to buy a new battery for the van.

October 28, Wednesday

Heard Steve and Molly on the radio – but they couldn’t hear us. They are in San Diego; he’s driving trucks now.
John worked on the floor of the cockpit – scraping off all the old clue and retaping all the insulation.
Samie and C.J. did spend an hour at the pool.
We bought 3 1” thick New York steaks – all for only $63 pesos or $6.30 in the States it would be $6 each!

October 29 – Thursday

John went into Guaymas to the machine shop and found that in the original parts sent, some of the bearings were too big. So – he made a trip north of the border. Tom followed along in his car – he left it in Tucson and his daughter can go get it. They left here at 1:30 pm and stayed at John and Maryann’s.
I called Chelle, she’s feeling down since she lost the baby.
Samie and I watched a couple of movies. It started blow’en around 11 pm and blew all night, 10-20k. The bar had dropped 5 points. This boat really rocks around now without the weight of the engine to stabilize her.

October 30, Friday

The wind blew a cold front through all day, it was cool enough that I baked cookies this a.m.
John and Tom made it back at 3 pm with all the right parts.

October 31, Saturday

Happy Halloween.

The machine shop has the engine all done – John picked it up, now he and Jeff will put it together tomorrow. There was a Halloween party – snacks and some costumes up at the palapa – fun.