December ‘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!
December 1, Wednesday
Bill and Trish took us out to eat at Piccolo’s, then they left for Pinetop on Thursday, the second.
December 6, Monday
The boat is so close. Yesterday I helped John reconnect the rudder steering cables and we all 3 contributed to painting a dolphin on each side, forward at the bow, just under the waterline. Some boats have eyes there, we wanted dolphins! They look cool, Samie named them Freedom and Utopia.
The bottom is black this time with an aqua boot strip – looks really cool!
Today it is cloudy and has a look of winter. The days have been cooling off more and more. Nights are cold in this house with Mexican floors and no carpeting or curtains on the 3 big front windows.
*I have been trying to remember the second dolphin name for the longest time! I always remembered Utopia, but Freedom had wandered off into the aether somewhere (no pun intended!). I had been watching the movie Ever After and loved everything about it. In the movie, the book, Utopia was mentioned often. So was the concept of freedom. Thusly, our dolphins were named in appreciation of these concepts.
That year, on our way out of Marina Real, some guys were passing us in their fishing boat and saw a little glimpse of Freedom pop up out of the water, we saw them pointing and looking for it again. We loved that. 😊
December 8, Wednesday
Chelle called, she had a sonogram and this one is a boy, also. He will be Jeremy, after Rick’s brother who died a few years back.
The internet has been down the last 3 days – so can’t do the email thing.
December 10, Friday
We are aboat – afloat again!
Yes – after 2 months we finally went in the water at 10 am. Samie rode on the boat while the tractor drove it Marina San Carlos. We checked everything out and motored around to Marina Real. The winds even were with us – no wind – smooth. We backed into the slip, so that we don’t have those nasty, cold breezes blow’en down in the cockpit. We don’t have the wind vane on anymore and it does make a difference backing up.
We spent about 3 hours cleaning up, dust, etc. Had dinner at Tequila’s and rented the movie Armageddon. We have rented a movie every night for the last month from Internet Café. Still no email service.
*It is always a relief and a joy to get your boat back in the water, where they belong! It feels so weird to see them up on the hard, balancing on stilts, and nerve-wracking when transitioning them onto the trailer to take them to or from the marina. I can still feel the relief of feeling her moving in the water underneath our feet and “stretching her legs” as we took her back around to our spot in Marina Real. I am unfailingly emotional about this beloved boat of ours, and even these memories makes me tear up a little. 🥰
I have to give a shout out and many thanks to the crew of guys that worked so hard on our boat to make sure all the water was drained and dried out and to rebuild our keel to tip-top shape. It is such a great feeling to be able to trust the people who are working on your house/home/boat/vehicle… whatever the case may be, but especially when their repairs being done well and properly are so crucial. Muchos gracias, amigos!
December 11, Saturday
We moved all our stuff to the boat and unpacked most of it. Sure feels good to have our sea legs and we slept like babies. Home at last!
*The waterworks continue here for me here, remembering the feeling every year of finally stepping back on board. The feeling of the subtle movements of the Star as we stepped into the cockpit and moved down through the companionway into our little cocoon, the womb of our trustworthy vessel and our most favorite home. A boat is rarely ever just a boat, especially when they’re liveaboards that carry you through high seas, keep you warm through the night, offer shelter in rough weather and deliver you safely to the adventures you dreamt of and had the gusto and courage to embark upon.
I still remember with detail the very first time I ever boarded her, in June of 1994, when I was just 7 years old. I remember the feel and look of the wood interior, the kind of scratchy material of the brown, yellow and rust-colored, late 70s upholstery in the v-birth. I remember that “boat smell” that I don’t know how to explain, but always lights up a very happy place inside my heart. I remember running up and down from the v-birth to the cockpit and back again, like a pup with the zoomies. I was so excited for this new adventure that awaited us on this boat. It turned out to be everything and more. ❤
On a less emotional note, I have to chuckle at this journal entry and my continued need to fill any blank spaces on my walls. If you know, you know - all the wall space in my apartment is absolutely covered with art prints, photos, decorations, paintings, all of it. Any unfilled space begs to be adorned - sometimes it just takes me a minute to figure out what will fit there best.
December 12, Sunday
I’m glad we moved the boat around on Friday because it’s been blow’en hard since then. More organizing. I have the new curtains up and hemmed – they look so nice – along with the new cushions.
December 13, Monday
John went into Guaymas to buy lumber to build the “garage” to replace the hard dinghy that we used to store stuff in. I should mention, Bill Gibson bought the dink and painted it all fancy. Looks really nice.
Samie spent several hours at the Internet Café – it’s finally up and running. We all had dinner up there.
December 14, Tuesday
John worked all day building the box (garage). I helped some. It was a warm day and I love being outside for a change. It did get windy around 2 pm and cold. Samie spent an hour at the IC.
December 16, Thursday
We got the box all mounted on the back. What looked like an extra big box – soon filled up. It will work much better than the hard dink.
Gene and Jo, Sun Bear, came over to try and hook up the TNC to the ham and laptop for email. It’s there – but something is not right still.
We went into the IC for dinner.
*TNC stands for terminal node controller, which is what allowed us to receive emails through the HAM radio. It’s actually pretty fascniating. It took quite some time for emails to load, as they were translated through the radio waves and decoded onto our computer. As they loaded onto the computer, you could watch them come in in snippets. You’d see a part of a sentence here and there amidst a sea of gibberish appearing on your screen as it all came through. Once it was all done and decoded, the email would show as intended. Your email address was your HAM call-sign.
December 17, Friday
Lots done again today. Gene got the email working from the boat – cool! It is actually pretty much as easy as hooking up to the internet.
Shadowfox got here today. They aren’t taking the boat out this season – only came down for a few days to do some work. Samie is thrilled, to say the least.
December 18, Saturday
Samie spent the day at Shadowfox helping them empty lockers and pack up. Meghan is spending the night with us. John and I sent email via the ham radio all by ourselves. Too cool.
I started our curtains on the back in our room. We had to mount the track first.
Beautiful today – NO wind!
*Mom never had any love for sewing, so-to-speak, but she sure did whip up her fair share of projects, and did so well! I remember one year she surprised me with new curtains for my bedroom at the house in Lakeside. They were navy blue with little silver stars. I loved them! Thanks, Mom. ❤
December 19, Sunday
It was slightly foggy with a light breeze from the SE, cool off and on. Swithced around at 4pm, 15 N.
John worked on 2 shelves for Samie’s room.
*I think part of this project was a desk Dad made for me on the opposite site of the v-birth from where I slept. It was attatched to the wall and could fold down to make more room when not in use. I think the other shelf was attached to the underside of my cabinets so that I had some storage along the blank hull space, if that makes sense. I stored my CD collection there. Oh! I think he also built a shelf along the very front, just under the chain locker. That’s where I set up my stereo. Mom and Dad really helped me have my own personalized space. I hope I didn’t take it too much for granted at the time. Thanks again, you two - you took real good care of me.
December 20, Monday
John and I went into Ley’s to stock up. $968 pesos – or $105 US. The meat – 4 meals each – chicken, steak (12), 3k bacon, 2 roast $50 US (@ 9.15 exchange).
Samie spent the afternoon at the IC.
We heard today that Baker and Cindy on Lighten Up are down in Bahia Panama, Costa Rica.
Also, Ron (Golf Oscar), found an oar fish up on the beach. True Blue found one 4 years ago at San Evaristo. Only 50 have been recorded as found since the 1800s.
December 21, Tuesday
Another trip into Guaymas. John finished and we mounted Samie’s shelves. I made curtains for her two port hole windows. We are staying so busy and the days are flying by. Samie and I have had 2 weeks off of school – time we get it going again.
The full moon tonight co-insides with the winter solstice and brings the moon in orbit so close since 1866 – 133 years ago. It’s real bright out tonight – would have been a great time to made a crossing. Looks really cool through binoculars.
The Peanuts comic strip that has been around since 1950 is ending on Jan 3, 2000. The writer, Charles Schultz is 77 and giving it up.
Beautiful, warm day. No wind.
*Such a sad day hearing that the Peanuts comic strip would be ending! Dad would often pick up the news paper, and I was always happy to pilfer the comic section. I enoyed Peanuts, Mutts, Luann, The Far Side, Baby Blues, Dilbert, and Foxtrot, to name a few. Looking all these up has me wanting to get my hands on one of those comic sections for a little nostalgic rewind. Especially the Sunday funnies, in all color!
December 22, Wednesday
John went back into Guaymas and had the fuel filter replaced on the van – it’s been leaking since the States (off and on).
The wind howled today and looks like we’re in for a few days of it.
The death toll in Venezuela from rain and flooding has reached 30,000 and expected to rise.
December 23, Thursday
John was using the table saw at Jeff’s house when the saw caught a piece of wood and threw it back into his hand. It went into his thumb under the skin – gross. He was alone and had to pull it out with his teeth.
We finished one of the two frames for the lights in the salon. Took all day. Beautiful, warm day.
Gene and Jo, Sun Bear joined us at the Internet Café for dinner.
*Dang, we practically lived at the Internet Cafe that year!
December 24, Friday
John finished the other light frame. We have bought 12-volt lights now.
I guess I’m starting a tradition, this is the second year I have made pizza for dinner on Christmas Eve – strange.
December 25, Saturday
Feliz Navidad or Merry Christmas
I remember when Samie used to wake us up on Christmas morning! Now I have to wake her up. I waited until 9:15. She got the discman that she’d wanted and I made the curtains for her room.
We had a wonderful ham dinner with a variety of dishes that everyone else here brought up to Wind Chime’s, Ray and Lyn’s condo. Imagination, John and Rey – Sunshine, Al and Louise – Antigua, Charlie and Brenda – Sun Bear, Gene and Jo and also several from the condos. It was very nice.
Blew 20-25 pm.
Last night Osprey Joe had his power boat all lit up for the light parade in San Carlos Bay – real pretty.
*I don’t think the scratchy squelch of the HAM ever bothered me in the mornings - I think it was a sort of comfort, actually, hearing everyone chatting about weather updates and whatnot. I liked hearing Dad run the nets and how everyone communicated well with each other.
I loved our simple Christmases. All of those presents were right up my alley and made for a happy-camper!
December 26, Sunday
We are still “fighting” with the email on the boat. What a pain. We heard there was an earthquake here about 7-7:30 pm last night.
Jeff and Hilda’s place rattled – they ran outside.
Warm – no wind. Planning to leave on Wednesday.
December 30, Thursday
I fell behind in my writing. We enjoyed getting to know Charlie and Brenda on Antigua, but they went back to St. David Benson area.
Roger and Darian, Aurora, drove down for a few days – he’s doing ok with the lymphoma cancer – they got it all and he will do some radiation.
Tasca, Cloud Nine, is not doing as good with hers.
Z-town had a 5.9 earthquake.
Weather looks good for a few days. We pulled out at 10 am, so did Kelly and Jan, Refuge, who are traveling with us across.
Smooth night – nothing over 10k all the way to Isla San Fransisco, 195 miles in 29 hours.
The breaker for the radar and depth blew – John fixed it. Bulb in masthead running lights burned out – that he will have to climb and change – also wind point and speed is not working. But we made it, no problems.
December 31, Friday 1999
Isla San Francisco
Last day of the year and the century!
This am as the sun came up, I saw a green flash! Cool – I’d seen one once when the sunset, but never knew it happened on a rise.
We anchored in San Fransisco at 3 pm – pooped. 6 pm – water is so flat and calm, like a mirror. And it’s warm, 80°, wearing shorts and no cockpit curtains up.
Spectacular sunset! I woke up at midnight when the block party brought in the new year.
*Dang! Mom and I don’t remember making this long of a crossing all the way down to Isla San Francisco! We do, however, remember being here for the New Year. She remembers people were getting together on the beach to bring in the new millennium and that I wanted to go so bad, but that they (Mom and Dad) were being “fuddy-dutties” - her words, not mine! I was definitely pouting for a bit in my journal, but thankfully I calmed myself down from being upset to just being a bummed out while I watched the sunset, and later listened to people on shore and on other boats while they did the count down and whatnot.
We were never notably concerned with the whole Y2K controversy - I don’t think I even understood what all the fuss was about, but I remember seeing all the news headlines and videos about people stocking up doomsday style for the potential digital meltdown.
