April ‘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!
April 1, Sunday
Escondido
For April Fool’s Day, Samie emailed 2 of her friends to say she’d be home in a week – followed by a clever clue.
John helped Bert move Island Woman back out to anchor. Later this afternoon he helped him blow out the water that got past the anti-siphon valve and into the oil. Bad, but they got it in time and all should be fine.
Storm Haven got to Agua Verde today. Also VF and DT and Priority.
The solar flares have been so strong this past week that the Northern Lights have been seen all the way down here. Dave, Estria, saw them in San Carlos and Glo, Double Time, saw them from San Jose. Amazing – I’ve been up until midnight twice and haven’t seem ‘em.
*22 emails would have kept us on the HAM connection for quite some time! 😆I don’t remember if there was a way to know how many emails were incoming before you connected. I only remember seeing the jibberish fill the screen and come through with just a partial sentence here and there.
April 3, Tuesday
One of those slow, drag by days. John took Bert into Loreto to catch the bus to Santa Rosalia so he can take the ferry to Guaymas to get his car and drive home to Vancouver, BC. From there, he’ll fly to Nova Scotia. His brother is dying of liver cancer and his Mum is in her 80s. We sure will miss him – really neat guy!
*I ran a Google image search on this boat, but couldn’t get any matches. Pretty cool looking ship, though!
April 5, Thursday
Escondido
Cloudy the last 2 days. Tonight is kinda chilly – I shut up the boat and have long pants on.
Venture Forth came in two days ago – yesterday was Carole’s Bday, so I baked a cake and we went over there for a while.
We were gonna go out to Monserat Island yesterday but Juan isn’t feeling too good. Didn’t go out today either – just not in the mood, I guess. N 10-12k today. Haven’t had any north wind for at least 3 weeks now.
*It’s funny, just last night I had a dream I was aboard the Star and for half the dream, I was in my room. Then, these photos were the first thing I saw this morning when I woke up and started working on this to post. Perfect timing strikes again! I loved my room.
While we’re here, here are some random, cute and funny little memories coming up for me from this photo:
There was a rack for the fishing rods above my bed, you can see part of it here. Our biggest rod and reel was usually in that empty slot you can see, on the right. The reel was right there over my head and there was a number of times when I’d sit up in bed without thinking and whop my head right on it! 🥴
Next, I still remember my very first outing on the Wandrin’ Star. We took her out of the San Diego Bay with the yacht broker for a couple hours or so, and I spent the majority of the time watching the water flow by the starboard porthole which is hiding just behind my stereo there. I was fascinated that the ocean was just on the other side of my bedroom window, and I can clearly remember the sound of the water moving along the sides of the hull. It was a bit choppy, and I loved seeing when the water would splash high enough to reach the porthole.
You can see part of my hatch in the second photo. I can remember so many nights with my hatch propped wide open, giving me full view of the stars above us and a perfect waft of ocean breeze flowing through my room. Absolute magic. ✨
Finally, that light above my head sparked another memory. Also, I can still hear exactly what that fan sounds like if I think about it. Anyway, I used to fall asleep reading all the time, which meant my light would be on all night. Well, early riser that Dad was, he would see the light on in the wee morning hours and come in to turn it off. Despite it being quite loud to come into my room (the door had a tendency to get a little stuck in one spot, and then there was a little board at the base of the main mast that always made noise when you stepped on it), I never heard him when he came in. There were many mornings when I couldn’t figure out how my light got turned off (in the earlier years, before logic told me that Dad turned it off). I remember deciding that it must be fairies or an angel or something who were looking after me. 🥰 How cute is that?
April 6, Friday
Around 4 am the wind picked up to 20k west, gusting to 30+. John gets up around that time anyway – I slept through it. It calmed down for a few hours – just about the time Storm Haven, Double Time and Priority all came in. They had been on the south end of Carmen.
Bob, Cyn and Mag came by – wonderful to have them around!
Wind picked up again and it’s howling 15-25k N. There was a front going through.
Oh – Brent (OAH) came up on Sonrista Net early this morning. Said that there in Alpine they got 1.5 feet of wet snow and the power was out – didn’t get back on until 6 pm.
*Dad has always been an early riser. He gets up even earlier, now - more like 2 am. Sometimes even 1:30, which is funny because when I visit, I am sometimes just falling off to sleep as he is waking up. Like right now! I’m finalizing this at 2 am and will message him to let him know he can read it when he’s ready. 🙃
April 11, Wednesday
Escondido
Happy Birthday Jeremy, #1!
Wow, Jeremy is 1 and we missed the whole year – I hate that part of cruising.
We hear that it has been snowing off and on for a week in Pinetop, Lakeside and Show Low – yuk. Hope it’s warm again by the time we get up there.
We also have gone from sunny and warm back to cool wind and clouds – bummer.
Big get-together at Storm Haven tonight – wonderful time. It was us, Venture Forth, Priority and Double Time.
I heard from work – yes, I have a job.
April 13, Friday
The wind blew all night, 15k or so – so we didn’t leave, but Storm Haven did. They said not too bad up to Ballandra on Carmen.
10-12k NW most of the day here. Calming to 4k now at 7 pm. We plan to leave at 6 am.
April 14, Saturday
Happy Birthday Chelle.
We left Escondido at 6 am – calm all the way – anchored at noon in San Juanico.
*Our second spotting of the Californian. I didn’t write any details on the back of the photo, so I’m not exactly sure where we spotted her, so my curious mind did a bunch of comparisons of the landscape (thanks to Google Maps 3D) along Baja to try and compare the mountain scapes seen in the photos. Dad said it looked to him like just north of Escondido, and I have to agree, it seems like the most likely matchup.
I’m so excited to go for a sail on this magnificent ship next month!
April 15, Sunday – Easter
Warm, calm day – pot luck beach dinner. 16 boats here.
*I have zero recollection of the kayaking group, but I’m glad I went along to help!
April 16, Monday
Jinx, Cynthia, Samie and I took 2 dinghys around the north point – just for the hell of it. Later, the north wind picked up for 3 hours or so.
On the Mariana Net we talked to Rob (VEQMKM) from Nanamuk. It was such a wonderful surprise! They were 200 miles south of Acapulco, completing their circumnavigation they started in March of 1997 from Puerto Vallarta.
We plan to at least try to talk to them every day now. They are going to Isla Clarion, then San Diego and on to Vancouver, BC.
We still – to this day – miss them a lot!
*Oh my goodness - Nanamuk completing their circumnavigation! So cool for them. Would have been neat if we could have seen them upon their return.
*Jinx and Cynthia were such fun ladies to be around! We always had a great time with them. I’m still in touch with Jinx, but haven’t had luck contacting Cynthia online (she must not be active on FB anymore). Are any of our cruising friends reading these still in touch with her? I’d love to be able to say hi.
April 17, Tuesday
Moved 2 hours north to Punta Pulpito. Calm, flat. Beautiful afternoon at the beach.
Seager chased a frisbee for an hour or so – he was a MESS but had fun!
April 18, Wednesday
Another calm day – John caught one fish – I went with him later, nothing. Hot, 90° and NO WIND.
*Oh man, I don’t remember this little adventure with Cynthia! Dad and Bob must have been off fishing or diving and I’m venturing a guess that Mom had a migraine. That would explain why she didn’t go with us and why I didn’t have a ride back to the boat - although I don’t know why Cynthia wouldn’t have dropped me off, since she must have picked me up?? Or maybe Dad dropped me off at her boat and she didn’t know how to operate their dinghy motor? I don’t know - strange! Anyway, I remember swimming over to my boat and letting my imagination get the best of me. This is where the dolphins had come so close into the bay the year before and I let myself assume that maybe some sharks would, as well! It was also my first time swimming in an anchorage by myself and not with others. Obviously, I made it back to the Star just fine.
April 19, Thursday
An easterly swell started rolling straight into Pulpito – so at 11:30 am we pulled anchor – along with Storm Haven and went around to San Antonio; never been here before. By the time we anchored at 12:30, it was blowing 20-30k SE. Good thing we moved. Bob and Cyn came over for Happy Hour.
Finally calmed down and we slept good.
April 20, Friday
Wouldn’t you know it – woke up and have 20k north – have to move back south to Pulpito. That’s nothing, Conception at 30k at 5:30 am, and a couple boats drug. Venture Forth is there now, but fine.
Ok, so Pulpito is still rolling us around with some swell coming in, but not bad. By noon, it’s worse and of course the north wind died.
Samie hiked to the top of the “pulpit” today with Geoff and Jan from Meridian Passage.
By the time they got back, 4 pm, all three boats were rolling excessively – so again we moved north to San Antonio where it’s much better. We all went to Storm Haven for snacks and drinks.
36 hours and 3 “Chinese fire drills” – ENOUGH!
*I’m so glad I got out more this last year than the previous! We didn’t know at the time that it was our last, and I’m so grateful I didn’t choose to spend the majority of my time on the boat and in my room.
Like they say: “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone.”
April 21, Saturday
Calm this morning, so we and Storm Haven upped anchors at 6:15 and headed for Conception Bay. No wind, some southeast swell and north small swell, but not bad at all. Getting close to the point and Santa Domingo we had nice ENE 10-12k until we rounded down inside. So for an hour, we had a nice sail. Then zero until we rounded into Satispac – then north on the nose for the afternoon 10-20k – just how I love to anchor.
The wind finally stopped around 7 pm – we had all gone ashore to Ray’s for dinner – wonderful.
Around midnight the front got here. South for a while, then to the north.
*I’m not real certain, but I’m thinking these photos may be from the point at Conception, as we rounded and came into the bay. Otherwise, they’re probably just from along the outside coastline. Who knows? That’s what I get for not labeling any of my photos!
April 22, Sunday
We brought in the anchor AGAIN and moved down to Coyote Bay – where it’s said not to blow so hard.
This last couple of months John’s been teaching Samie how to anchor with the chain, bringing it in and letting it out.
Anchored here and the wind, 10-20k came right in so we bounced a little – like being in La Cruz – doesn’t get too bad.
Talked to Gene, Sun Bear, in San Carlos. It blew 30-52 knots there today – but calming down at dark. Chivato, just a couple hours out of here, also 30-35k today.
We had dinner at Bob and Cynthia’s.
*Again, I’m glad I was out helping here, and not holed up in my room! Up until the previous year, I had almost always been up and somewhat involved in the anchoring and whatnot, anyhow. I knew most of the details for anchoring, but maybe here Dad was letting me handle the windlass, letting out the chain and whatnot. I enjoyed learning these things and being in charge of various aspects of handling the boat.
April 24, Tuesday
John dove the bottom of our boat – found some clams at the beach.
Heard from Chelle that in Lakeside, Jerry (across from Larry) was found dead in his house.
*Sad to hear about our neighbor Jerry. I think he lived alone, but I’m not certain.
April 25, Wednesday
Conception
Happy Birthday #1 Seager
The Birthday Boy and Maggie got to play in the surf and all that sand on the beach at El Burro in Conception Bay. Maggie gave him a box of doggie treats and they had a -sand and all- peanut butter sandwich cake. He’s fun to watch on the beach.
April 26, Thursday
We and Storm Haven moved out to Santa Domingo this morning – 1:45 – went to the beach – Seager managed to go swimming again. Came back with 4 bags of shells. ENE breeze, 10-12k all day – 4 pm switched WSW 10k, but calm all night.
April 27, Friday
After John was net control on the Sonrista, we moved the 2.5 hours up to Chivato.
Lazy, calm, very warm day. At 5 pm everyone in the anchorage – 8 boats – went to shore, to the “Mooney Base” house of Jim and Mary for a nice visit. Samie even went – they offered that she could watch MTV. They have a really big, neat house.
It was really nice to see Gene and Jo, Sun Bear, who just got back from Hawaii and finally over to the Baja.
Oh – yesterday in cutting Seager’s nails, one got way too short and bled forever. He kept licking it – so I wouldn’t let him sleep in our bed. Poor guy, had a terrible night trying to figure out where to sleep.
*Poor Seager! I bet that hurt so bad! 😥
I remember a little bit about the “Mooney Base” - but mostly just the new music videos I got to see. 🙄
Below is a photo of the whale bones that Mom mentioned they were piecing together the year before. They had it all completed by now. It was a whale calf that had been beached.
April 28, Saturday
We all went over to the shell beach – best shelling beach I’ve been to. Gene and Jo, Sun Bear, came by for a while.
Cloudy – nothing over 10k – humid and foggy morning and night.
*Google Maps strikes again and I was able to identify this building, Hotel Borrego del Oro, at the eastern edge of Chivato.
April 29, Sunday
Not much going on today – back to the beach for more treasures. Pot luck at “Mooney Base” – good.
Oh – talked to Rob, Grace, Jelly and Alan of Nanamuk this morning – they were 50 miles south of Cabo, motoring to Cabo. They have officially crossed their line and gone around the world! Said the last marina they were in was Gibraltar – don’t know when that was. At 5 pm they were still 15 miles out of Cabo. They plan to be in San Diego in about 2 weeks, for about 2 weeks, then get the boat back to BC.
*I can’t imagine going back to “normal life” after sailing around the world. I had a hard enough time with the transition back and forth every year. Janelle shared some of those growing pains with me when she visited me here in Arizona a few years ago (we had the BEST time). The one I remember most was her incredulity at having to request permission from a teacher to go the bathroom during class. 😆 Like, what do you MEAN I have to ask permission to use the bathroom?!
April 30, Monday
Chivato
We waited for the little tienda to open, then motored up to the NE side of Isla San Marte. Anchored for a few hours – Bob and John dove. He came back with a few scallops.
We weighed anchor at 6 pm and headed for San Carlos. Nice flat ride across, 8-10k NNE all the way, enough to keep the sails full and not too much for me. We dropped the anchor inside of Catch-22 Beach for an hour or so waiting for the sun to come up.
*I don’t find a San Marte on Google Maps or Charlie’s Charts – I’m thinking maybe it was Isla San Marcos.
It’s a little funny, how hard this is for me to read. This was all 25 years ago, and yet, it pains me to read about this part of our life which was coming to an end, especially knowing that we weren’t fully aware it would be our last. It’s like a series finale that you don’t want to happen!
Mom and Dad had been discussing various factors - like my home schooling from Calvert Schooling didn’t go beyond 8th grade, so there was the need to figure out how I would be taught the next year. Of course I had made it fairly clear that I’d rather be in the States (I’ll trade spots with you now, girly!!!!), and perhaps my parents also felt called to be closer to home and part of the grandkids’ lives, there to witness all those lovely little firsts and whatnot.
There’s just one more month left of our adventures in Mexico aboard our girl, the Wandrin’ Star….
Are you ready?
I’m not. 😥
