March ‘01
*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 2, Friday
Happy 46th to me.
Clouds all broke away and it was warm and sunny – my favorite kind of day!
Storm Haven, Priority, Venture Forth, Golden Eagle (another Northaven) and us all made pizza to share on Venture Forth. Nice evening.
Heard on the Manaña Net that Sunrise Ski Resort has 84” at the base and 6” of new snow. It was a surprise to hear the local info from home.
*Happy 46th, Momma! 🥰
March 3, Saturday
Los Gatos
We and Storm Haven moved south to Los Gatos. Smooth ride – 3 hours. After we were anchored, the breeze kicked in at 10-15k east – of all, the worst for here. It never did get too bad and laid down for the night.
Priority went back to Escondido. Venture Forth and Gold Eagle went on to San Fransisco.
March 4, Sunday
It was 50° in Los Gatos at 6:30 am and 38° in La Paz at the same time. Cold!
We left Los Gatos at 7 am for San Fransisco. Flat, dolphins – Seager went nuts, he was shaking, guess he wanted to get at the “sea monsters”.
Also had whales everywhere. One went under the boat – the depth read 3.6’ – close.
Anchored first time, 1:15 pm, drug. We pulled up the anchor, it was covered in a huge ball of green, mossy weeds. Took a boat hook and 10 minutes to get it all off. Found a sandy patch and re-anchored.
Ron on the Sea Lion is also here. He invited us up to the beach for the BBQ – this time we went. Good food – nice time. They had a telescope set up and we saw the rings of Saturn – really cool.
*Seager could often hear the dolphins before we saw them, so we learned when to start looking for them, based off his behavior.
It was a lot of fun being part of these beach parties and being able to use that high-powered telescope to see some awesome views of the night sky. Really, such a treat. I remember people having different musical instruments and playing together around the fire. Good times.
March 5, Monday
Cynthia and Samie and I all walked to the east side for shelling – nice time.
Breeze kicked in from the SW – wrong for here – wide open to building swell. We bounced on anchor until about 1:30 am, then the wind switched to the north. Only 1 boat drug that I know of.
March 6, Tuesday
La Paz
Bringing in the anchor took a while – again – to get all the weeds off. We had the gen set on and it sucked in enough to clog the intake.
We decided to come on into Marina La Paz.
Wonderful 10k SW breeze filled the main and jib. Wish they were all like that. We tied up to the outside dock for the night. Storm Haven also came into the marina.
*Those were some gnarly weeds! 😩 It wasn’t something that happened often, but sure was a pain in the ass when it did!
March 7, Wednesday
We moved early, at slack tide into a slip – easy in, easy out.
So tired still.
March 8, Thursday
La Paz
John jerry-jugged 121 gallons of fuel – we paid that ($1.5 per gal) and the slip fee through the 18th – just about $500 US.
March 9, Friday
John charged the engine and genny oil for Mac on Venture Forth.
We went to dinner with Bob and Cynthia at the Chinese place – really good.
Cyn and Sam and I had walked down town to develop film this afternoon.
*A small part of me misses the anticipation of finishing a roll of film and waiting to be able to get it developed! I have some old, untouched one-time-use cameras, maybe I’ll use those for a little nostalgic throw-back. 😉
March 10, Saturday
I went with Cynthia and Bob to Mogote Beach – lots of the common shells – Cyn found one big paper nautilus. I found two small ones – all broken. Oh well, life’s not perfect.
*Awe, I wish now that I would have gone with Mom and them to Mogote - we had never been, otherwise, and every time I look at a map of La Paz now, a part of me is always curious about the rest of the huge bay there. We were only ever in the marina or right outside it, and there was this whole other area to explore! Granted, it was often windier than snot and you didn’t want to be out in it…. but still!
*I found the videos of Carly and I, and she mentioned that she was about to spend 20+ days on her boat with her parents - I’m guessing they were sailing to Hawaii, but she never said specifically on tape. I wonder how that went for them. We didn’t keep in touch as far as I remember or have any record of.
March 12, Monday
La Paz
We walked with Bob and Cynthia way down to the new Tex Burger place, really good. Cyn and I split a burger and a pastrami sandwich. Ice cream on the way back – of course.
*Whenever I finally make it back to La Paz, La Fuente is one of the first places I’m going! I never remember the actual name, just “the polka dot ice cream place.” 😆
March 14, Wednesday
Jeffrey the Rigger brought back our new bow sprit. It was breaking – good thing we found it - $80 US.
We all took a taxi to CCC – attached is the receipt.
We had B&C over for dinner.
*The receipt has around 80 items purchased, from chicken to beef to New Yorks and ribeyes, hot dogs, bread, fruits and veggies, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, cereal, condiments, chips, salsa, coffee, beer, etc… all for $184.00 US!
March 15, Thursday
La Paz
John dove and cleaned the bottom of the boat and prop.
Samie went to the beach with Kevin and his parents from Well Deserved – they are land-based now. Also, Patrick from Free Run.
*Before I went to the beach with the guys, I caught this video of The Californian, which was docked near us. We had fun watching the guys tidy up and pack away the sails.
*And here we go with more synchronicities and these stories:
This year for my birthday, I went with Mom, Peggy, and my niece, Joni to San Diego. I had wanted to go sailing and found out that you could go for a 4-hour sail on one of the tall ships docked at the maritime museum there in the San Diego Bay - but it is only available on select weekends which didn’t line up for us on that trip. So we rented a private sailboat and a captain for a 3-hour sail in the bay, instead. Fast forward to this last month, Mom and I were talking and reminiscing on all these cruising memories and decided to take a trip to San Diego again and commit to spending pretty much the whole time wandering the beaches, soaking up the sun, sand and salty ocean perfection. I said, hey, we should go out on that tall ship this time! She agrees, and I purchase tickets.
Fast forward to this video to realize it is the exact ship we will be sailing on next month - The Californian! 😆I couldn’t believe it! So, here we will be, 25 years later, unintentionally sailing on the same tall ship that we saw and filmed here in La Paz in 2001. I love it!
You’ll see that we spotted her again the following month, farther north in the Sea, and took some photos of her with all her sails out - so beautiful!
Mom also found this video about the volunteers who handle the ship.
March 16, Friday
Heard on the net that Brent, OAH, in Alpine had a tumor under his tongue removed and is doing fine.
*Not sure what days these were on, so I’ll just slide them in here.
I liked calling Seager Taco Dog after he had a bath because with his hair slicked down, he made me think of the Taco Bell chihuahua.
We must have been keeping an eye on Maggie one night for Bob and Cynthia - not sure why else we’d be filming with no one else on camera.
March 17, Saturday
Corn beef and cabbage at Storm Haven. Very good.
We called all the girls and Mom and Daddy. Jeremy and Chase both have ear infections. Doesn’t seem that the tubes in Jeremy’s ears are helping.
March 18, Sunday
La Paz
Cynthia and I took a taxi to and back from CCC – just picked up a few things.
Cynthia ended up with a migraine.
Samie went to the movie with Patrick on Free Run.
*I found in my journal that we went to see The Exorcist. Apparently, it was so crowded in the theater that we thought we were going to have to stand - but we did find seats. I had totally forgotten about seeing this movie down there. My journal says I got real lucky being able to go, not sure if that was due to the type of movie or because it was just the two of us being dropped off at the theater, or what.
March 19, Monday
Happy Bday, Little Hal!
Planned to leave La Paz this morning – and we did. 9:10 am – 1:15 pm, anchored at Ensenada Grande. We took the inside route this time – still had the 15-25k on the nose, but not near so lumpy.
*Leaving La Paz on the first day planned?! That was a first!
Mom and I can’t figure out what she meant by the inside route. 🤔
March 20, Tuesday
Dolphins in the anchorage. Beach afternoon – Seager and Maggie had a ball running. Seager played and swam for at least half an hour to an hour. He needed a shower anyway. Beautiful sunset.
(I spent a lot of time in the sun today and yesterday, and ended up with a migraine both days.)
March 21, Wednesday
San Jose
We moved from Ensenada Grande to the south end of Isla San Jose, Amortojada. We have never been in here before. Huge bay and you need to have no wind or the unusual east wind, which is what we had all afternoon.
On the way here, we had NO wind and glassy seas. Beautiful! Not much sea life on our route – but Storm Haven went farther east, on the back side of Isla San Fransisco – they had whales and lots of turtles. Took 3.5 hours.
Samie and Cynthia went shelling – John and Bob went clamming.
Beautiful sunset – baby blue sky and baby pink clouds.
Millions of stars tonight and we are being serenaded by the sea lions on the rocks – they are quite loud.
March 22, Thursday
San Jose
Samie and Cynthia went shelling again – my head hurts again so I didn’t go again – POOP. John and Bob went clamming. Bob’s crane for his tender is hung up, it won’t work – so they are going back in to La Paz to have it fixed. That will take at least a week for them to get back out here.
Then we got an email from Bert, his mother needs help with his dying brother. So he’ll be leaving the boat in Escondido and going back to Nova Scotia in a couple of weeks.
So we decided to head to Escondido to see him and wait for B&C to catch up.
Bob and Cynthia came over for dinner – steamed clams, shrimp cocktail, crackers and dip – wonderful.
Then about 8 pm or so, I heard a whale in the anchorage. We all listened to the several whales and maybe some dolphins for the next hour, hour and a half. The whales were close enough to hear their breath in and out. Samie and John saw the phosphorescence from them once, I never did.
The bay was so, so calm that the millions of stars, (NO MOON) were reflecting on the water, it was like being in a black hole, not knowing sky from water. Amazing – the thing just gave me goosebumps, only way to describe it. One of the best ever!
**This night is a core memory for me, hands down. I wrote a story about it which I will have to find, it’s called A Day as Sweet as Candy and I will always remember shelling that day – I had that “going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married” song in my head (which leads me to believe I’d recently watched Father of the Bride) and then that night we marveled at the sound of the whales. I always thought the perfect reflections were always in Escondido, but apparently it happened here, as well. I’m sure there were numerous such nights, but this sounds like a real cherry on top kind of night. That imagery is what my painting, Hiraeth is an ode to (the one I shared last month). It’s the idea that our memories are encapsulated in these little marble-like bubbles of memory that we can access when we want.
March 23, Friday
San Marte
Bob and Cyn left for La Paz to have the dinghy lift fixed.
We left San Jose at 7:30 am for San Marte. Calm all the way and flat, flat. At one time we had 8k N, but not for long. Not much sea life – only a few whales in the distance. We averaged 7.4k and were anchored at 2:30 pm.
Jim and Gail, Priority, also came in here – they had been at Monserrate.
Beautiful sunset, colored the calm water pink, purple and shades of blue.
March 25, Sunday
Escondido
We left San Marte at 7 am – smooth passage into Escondido, no wind (I love it), anchored twice. Here at 11:30. Bert is tied to “the wall” – he doesn’t have a dinghy motor, so John brought him out after he got ice. Had Bert over for dinner.
March 27, Tuesday
Last night Caleb emailed us that Sunday Michael had gone snow boarding and came home in a neck brace. They took him to the emergency room, did an MRI and CAT scans. He doesn’t remember the accident. Today when we went into Loreto, I called, he wasn’t home but Peggy said he was ok. He has this last week at Pepsi in Lakeside. Monday he starts a new job in Mesa at a potato chip warehouse.
Bert drove into Loreto and we went along, got 3 jerry jugs of diesel and 1 of gas.
From La Paz to here it’s been blowen South – Priority got blown (or swelled) out of Los Gatos and went to Rincon.
Storm Haven left La Paz and is in San Fransisco.
March 30, Friday
Escondido
We have been having L/V with SE 10k most afternoons. Except for the N 12k switching to S last night – it has been flat through the nights.
This afternoon was a TGBL (Thank God Bert’s Leaving) party. Too many people for us, we were home by 5 pm. Not a good copy on HH – but think SH leaving San Jose to head north in the morn.
Samie met Maggie (11) and Daniel (13) from the SV Heritage II.
*I have notes about Maggie and Dan from my journal that are shared in the next month. I also have a photo of Daniel somewhere, but can’t seem to find it.
March 31, Saturday
Calm, warm and wonderful!
Daryl and Linda, Princess Erika, came back from their kayak trip, but are leaving again tomorrow.
John was walking on the road to Tripui and Seager wandered off to the side to sniff a diamond back snake. Rebecca, Paloma Blanca, was also there, she saw the snake and yelled – John pulled Seager back just in time!
There has been big sun spots this last week – which make the HAM radio bad. But I guess it is making the Northern Lights real bright and seen in Phoenix – even San Carlos. I’ll have to stay up tonight and look.
Bert came over for dinner.
U of A is in the final playoff for Monday.
*I wrote the following in 2024 while I was transcribing these entries of Mom’s - this was just the beginning of the synchronicities I’ve experienced during the 4 years that this project has spanned across.
The timing with which I have been transcribing and posting these journal entries cracks me up! As an example, when I was editing last year in June, I happened to be editing about my great grandpa’s death which was June 15, 1995. I checked the date and it just so happened to be June 15, 2023, exactly 28 years to the day! What are the chances. And earlier this month while transcribing these, I come across the notes of Peggy’s prom date with Daniel T – we had JUST seen Daniel and his family a month before - unfortunately his sister, Jackie passed away. Her and Peggy had been inseparable in high school and she and Daniel had briefly reminisced about their prom together. Then I came across that post. For the latest example, AZ just witnessed the Northern Lights again, just 2.5 weeks ago! WHAT ARE THE CHANCES!? I love it. I tried to find online if we have been able to see them in AZ since that time, but haven’t been able to find anything thus far.
