Christmas has come and gone and it is nearly 2009! Time is moving so quickly!
We had a lovely Christmas. We went for a walk along Olas Altas in the morning and decided to stop and have some breakfast at one of the restaurants where we could watch the waves crashing on the beach. We spent the afternoon at home, making phone calls to family and friends. And then we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with a group of friends at the Olas Altas Steak House. It was a special Christmas Buffet, with turkey, ham and prime rib, stuffing and all the fixings, as well as pecan and pumpkin pie. Unfortunately, they were out of pumpkin pie by the time we were ready for it . . . but the whole meal was one of the best I've had in Mazatlan. Take a look at the "My Newer Photos" link to see the sunset and the view from our dining table.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
How time flys!!!
Bob has been here nearly two weeks . . . and it is wonderful to have him "home" again! I missed him so much! Life is beginning to settle back down into some sort of pattern again. Except, of course, for all the Christmas hoop-law!
Bob arrived, safe and sound, on Dec 8th. He had hurt his back the day before he left while putting the boat to bed, so he spent the next few days recovering, settling into my apartment and re-acquainting himself with Mazatlan.
Thank you, everyone, for all the birthday wishes! It was so good to receive all the birthday cards you sent with Bob! And I even received several via the Mexican Postal System!! It seems to take less time for an envelope to get here from Coventry, England than from Victoria!! Two weeks from England and about three weeks from Canada. But I don't care if they are late, it is just so awesome to get mail from home!
We seem to have been very busy! Bob trades most mornings . . . and I go off to Spanish classes, Library volunteering, shopping, or doing whatever has to be done . . . and there always seems to be some something that needs doing!! In the afternoons we head out to one of our favorite palapa restaurants or on the great adventure of finding something specific! Shopping in Mazatlan is always time consuming and often frustrating! Bob forgot to bring many things that I had asked him to bring from home . . . as well as many of his own things! He showed up with no sunglasses, no hat, no shorts, and only the underwear he was wearing! We did manage to find him some shorts and underwear within the first few days. A decent hat took a bit longer . . . but we are still looking for sunglasses! Apparently "clip-ons' are simply not sold here! Thank goodness Chris and Beth (Bob's bro and sil) are coming down in January to bring us everything else that Bob forgot!
It is hard to believe that Christmas is only five days away! The streets in Centro are crowded with vendors selling everything imaginable. Many houses and businesses are decorated with masses of lights and tacky blow-up Santas. There is a large manger scene in Plaza Revolucion . . . right beside the Coca Cola Christmas Tree! The Plazuela Machado is decorated with thousands of sparkly white lights and a wonderful sand sculpture manger scene. However, it has been sunny every day with a light breeze coming up every afternoon about 2 . . . couldn't be more perfect . . . but it sure doesn't feel like Christmas!
I'm sorry I don't have some current photos for you! I'm trying to take my camera with me and will do my best to have some soon!
Feliz Navidad!!!
Bob arrived, safe and sound, on Dec 8th. He had hurt his back the day before he left while putting the boat to bed, so he spent the next few days recovering, settling into my apartment and re-acquainting himself with Mazatlan.
Thank you, everyone, for all the birthday wishes! It was so good to receive all the birthday cards you sent with Bob! And I even received several via the Mexican Postal System!! It seems to take less time for an envelope to get here from Coventry, England than from Victoria!! Two weeks from England and about three weeks from Canada. But I don't care if they are late, it is just so awesome to get mail from home!
We seem to have been very busy! Bob trades most mornings . . . and I go off to Spanish classes, Library volunteering, shopping, or doing whatever has to be done . . . and there always seems to be some something that needs doing!! In the afternoons we head out to one of our favorite palapa restaurants or on the great adventure of finding something specific! Shopping in Mazatlan is always time consuming and often frustrating! Bob forgot to bring many things that I had asked him to bring from home . . . as well as many of his own things! He showed up with no sunglasses, no hat, no shorts, and only the underwear he was wearing! We did manage to find him some shorts and underwear within the first few days. A decent hat took a bit longer . . . but we are still looking for sunglasses! Apparently "clip-ons' are simply not sold here! Thank goodness Chris and Beth (Bob's bro and sil) are coming down in January to bring us everything else that Bob forgot!
It is hard to believe that Christmas is only five days away! The streets in Centro are crowded with vendors selling everything imaginable. Many houses and businesses are decorated with masses of lights and tacky blow-up Santas. There is a large manger scene in Plaza Revolucion . . . right beside the Coca Cola Christmas Tree! The Plazuela Machado is decorated with thousands of sparkly white lights and a wonderful sand sculpture manger scene. However, it has been sunny every day with a light breeze coming up every afternoon about 2 . . . couldn't be more perfect . . . but it sure doesn't feel like Christmas!
I'm sorry I don't have some current photos for you! I'm trying to take my camera with me and will do my best to have some soon!
Feliz Navidad!!!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The most excellent sofa buying adventure
It is not always easy to get things done here . . . I don't have enough Spanish to manage something as complex as purchasing a second hand sofa and getting it delivered and into my apartment. However, with help from my friend, Lee, and two strangers, we managed . . . and I'm thrilled with the result!
It started out when my friend, Dee, told me that a friend of hers was moving and selling a love-seat size sofa and if I wanted it I had to get over there within an hour. It was only a 20 minute walk away, so I trotted over, liked it, bargained a good price and arranged that I'd pick it up between 5 and 7 that evening.
A few days earlier, my friend, Lee and I, had found the perfect small table with collapsable legs, to be used as a desk, at Coppel, a department store on the other side of Centro. I purchased it and Lee and I walked all the way through the busiest part of downtown . . . her at one end and me at the other . . . and we got it home, safe and sound. We thought that was an adventure. The sofa was to be the most excellent adventure! At least the end result was most excellent!!!
I called Lee up (she has very, very good Spanglish), discussed the options, and decided we should walk back to where the sofa was, grab an auriga (red-truck type taxi), pay the driver an extra fee for him to get a buddy and help us load the sofa into his truck, take it to my place, and unload it. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? Walking there was easy! Finding an auriga was easy! The auriga driver finding a buddy to help was easy! But that is where easy stopped!!! That was about when we found out that the only way to get the sofa out of the room it was in, was to take the slats out of a window and lift it up and out the window. Okay, so we did that . . . a bit more work than we had anticipated, but we were successful. Drove the short distance to my place. Did I mention that to get to my place, we go in a narrow door, up a narrow, twisting stairwell (in the dark), down another narrow hallway to the back deck, then in my apartment door. I was smart . . . I had taken the door off the hinges before I even left the house! So, these wonderful men, hoofed the thing up those stairs, down the hall and into the doorway of my apartment. And there it stopped! It was too big! They twisted it and turned it and pushed it and kicked it . . . Dennis came over from across the deck and said, "No way, it won't fit". Marion came down from upstairs and just laughed and said "Forget it". Lee was outside with the men . . . I was inside on the other side of the sofa which was perched on it's end in the doorway. All I could hear was laughter, moans, groans, yells, shouts, and the occasional bang as they tried to force the sofa through the doorway. Lee said that one of the fellows was on his back, holding on to the grillwork on the wall, slamming with his feet on the sofa, forcing it in. I was on the other side, shouting encouragement . . . “Only 3 more inches!” . . . “Only one more inch!” . . . finally, to the sight and sound of a good inch of the plaster on my wall crumbling to the floor . . . the sofa came through! The sofa was slightly worse for it's adventure . . . but nothing a bit of duct tape didn't fix! And now it sits in my livingroom . . . never to be removed!!! It looks great! I love it! I gave the auriga drivers an extra huge tip for work way above and beyond the call of duty!
But, you know . . . that's how it often is here in Mazatlan . . . they will do everything they can to help out . . . and they won't give up until they have done their absolute best! I mean . . . these were two guys we pulled in, off the street!!! I find it amazing . . . and wonderful!
And that was my sofa buying adventure! I'm sure my friend Lee is wondering what I will ask of her next!!!
It started out when my friend, Dee, told me that a friend of hers was moving and selling a love-seat size sofa and if I wanted it I had to get over there within an hour. It was only a 20 minute walk away, so I trotted over, liked it, bargained a good price and arranged that I'd pick it up between 5 and 7 that evening.
A few days earlier, my friend, Lee and I, had found the perfect small table with collapsable legs, to be used as a desk, at Coppel, a department store on the other side of Centro. I purchased it and Lee and I walked all the way through the busiest part of downtown . . . her at one end and me at the other . . . and we got it home, safe and sound. We thought that was an adventure. The sofa was to be the most excellent adventure! At least the end result was most excellent!!!
I called Lee up (she has very, very good Spanglish), discussed the options, and decided we should walk back to where the sofa was, grab an auriga (red-truck type taxi), pay the driver an extra fee for him to get a buddy and help us load the sofa into his truck, take it to my place, and unload it. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? Walking there was easy! Finding an auriga was easy! The auriga driver finding a buddy to help was easy! But that is where easy stopped!!! That was about when we found out that the only way to get the sofa out of the room it was in, was to take the slats out of a window and lift it up and out the window. Okay, so we did that . . . a bit more work than we had anticipated, but we were successful. Drove the short distance to my place. Did I mention that to get to my place, we go in a narrow door, up a narrow, twisting stairwell (in the dark), down another narrow hallway to the back deck, then in my apartment door. I was smart . . . I had taken the door off the hinges before I even left the house! So, these wonderful men, hoofed the thing up those stairs, down the hall and into the doorway of my apartment. And there it stopped! It was too big! They twisted it and turned it and pushed it and kicked it . . . Dennis came over from across the deck and said, "No way, it won't fit". Marion came down from upstairs and just laughed and said "Forget it". Lee was outside with the men . . . I was inside on the other side of the sofa which was perched on it's end in the doorway. All I could hear was laughter, moans, groans, yells, shouts, and the occasional bang as they tried to force the sofa through the doorway. Lee said that one of the fellows was on his back, holding on to the grillwork on the wall, slamming with his feet on the sofa, forcing it in. I was on the other side, shouting encouragement . . . “Only 3 more inches!” . . . “Only one more inch!” . . . finally, to the sight and sound of a good inch of the plaster on my wall crumbling to the floor . . . the sofa came through! The sofa was slightly worse for it's adventure . . . but nothing a bit of duct tape didn't fix! And now it sits in my livingroom . . . never to be removed!!! It looks great! I love it! I gave the auriga drivers an extra huge tip for work way above and beyond the call of duty!
But, you know . . . that's how it often is here in Mazatlan . . . they will do everything they can to help out . . . and they won't give up until they have done their absolute best! I mean . . . these were two guys we pulled in, off the street!!! I find it amazing . . . and wonderful!
And that was my sofa buying adventure! I'm sure my friend Lee is wondering what I will ask of her next!!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Keeping busy!
Hola! Sorry I'm not updating this blog too often! Not too much has been happening . . . just the day to day events.
Dinner at Te Amo Lucy's was good. Not as good as I had anticipated though. I enjoyed the Chile en Nogada but probably would not order it again. Maybe on Independance Day . . . sort of like having turkey on Thanskgiving . . . you have it whether it is your favorite or not! Te Amo Lucy's was very, very crowded that evening and very noisy . . . not my favorite way to have dinner with friends.
Since then I've sorted out my Spanish classes. My friend, Sharon (from Saskatoon), and I go on Monday and Thursday mornings to Monica's house for lessons. I really like this way instead of a larger class as we get a lot of personal attention and if there is something specific we want to learn or have explained, we are not disrupting the whole class. For example, I've been having some confusion with my Optomitrist about time of appointments . . . so on Thursday, Monica explained to us how to tell time properly! Also, what is the customary thing to say when you want to step over someone on the bus . . . pardoneme! I had been saying "permissio" and getting some strange looks so I knew it wasn't quite right! Occasionally, Monica will take us out to various shops, so we get some hands on experience using what we learn, in addition to the very basic "please", "thank-you", "how much", etc that I use now. She has a vendor booth at the cruise ship terminal where she says we can join her one day . . . that will be very interesting!
Today is a Stat Holiday. Revolution Day is on Thursday but the holiday is today, so Spanish class is cancelled and my optomitrist is closed. So, instead, the Ladies and I will go to Loco Lupe's (Crazy Lupe's) for a meal (ribs are his Monday special). Loco Lupe's is one of our favorites . . . a palapa restaurant right on the beach, where we can sit for the whole afternoon if we want!
Hasta luego!
Dinner at Te Amo Lucy's was good. Not as good as I had anticipated though. I enjoyed the Chile en Nogada but probably would not order it again. Maybe on Independance Day . . . sort of like having turkey on Thanskgiving . . . you have it whether it is your favorite or not! Te Amo Lucy's was very, very crowded that evening and very noisy . . . not my favorite way to have dinner with friends.
Since then I've sorted out my Spanish classes. My friend, Sharon (from Saskatoon), and I go on Monday and Thursday mornings to Monica's house for lessons. I really like this way instead of a larger class as we get a lot of personal attention and if there is something specific we want to learn or have explained, we are not disrupting the whole class. For example, I've been having some confusion with my Optomitrist about time of appointments . . . so on Thursday, Monica explained to us how to tell time properly! Also, what is the customary thing to say when you want to step over someone on the bus . . . pardoneme! I had been saying "permissio" and getting some strange looks so I knew it wasn't quite right! Occasionally, Monica will take us out to various shops, so we get some hands on experience using what we learn, in addition to the very basic "please", "thank-you", "how much", etc that I use now. She has a vendor booth at the cruise ship terminal where she says we can join her one day . . . that will be very interesting!
Today is a Stat Holiday. Revolution Day is on Thursday but the holiday is today, so Spanish class is cancelled and my optomitrist is closed. So, instead, the Ladies and I will go to Loco Lupe's (Crazy Lupe's) for a meal (ribs are his Monday special). Loco Lupe's is one of our favorites . . . a palapa restaurant right on the beach, where we can sit for the whole afternoon if we want!
Hasta luego!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Day of the Dead . . . or Hallowe'en
Things are beginning to cool down a bit in Mazatlan . . . I actually put a blanket on my bed! Of course, the air conditioner is still on, but turned down. We had a big thunder, lightening and rain storm late last week (see photos) and it seems to have been the turning point. It still has a ways to go before being comfortable enough to expend much energy, but at least I can walk a block or two without having to use my sweat rag!
Confession time! Okay, the worst thing about this heat? Going to the bathroom! You know when you try to take off a wet bathing suit? How it all rolls up? Well, the same thing happens here . . . you sweat all day, so when you go to the bathroom, everything is damp, and the underwear rolls up as it goes down . . . and is hell to get back up!!! Life is hard, isn't it? :-)))
And activities are gearing up! Every Thursday morning I'm volunteering in the English Reading Library, checking books in and out, selling memberships, shelving books and meeting a lot of people. On Saturday mornings I'm taking a Tai Chi class. I'm not too sure about it yet but thought it would be fun to try! I'm still trying to find the perfect Spanish Classes. Oh, and I have a cooking class next Wednesday! Jeez, this retirement thing is a lot of work!
On Saturday, several friends and I are going to dinner at Te Amo Lucy's (I love Lucy's). Lucy is preparing a special dish called Chile en Nogada. It consists of poblano chiles filled with "peccadillo" (a mixture usually containing chopped or ground meat, aromatics, fruits, and spices) topped with a walnut-based cream sauce and pomegranate seeds, giving it the three colours of the Mexican flag (red, green, and white). (this info from Wiki!) It is traditionally served on Independence Day but Lucy's was closed that day, and since she is supposed to make the best Chile en Nogada in Mazatlan, my friend Lee talked her into making it for Day of the Dead instead. I'll report back how delicious it really is! Lucy also serves my friend Bobbi's famous Louisiana Bread Pudding! So much for dieting on Saturday!
After dinner, there is a procession called callejonera (or a word similar to that). It is an annual walk to look at Day of the Dead altars around Centro. I've already seen a few of them set up around Revolution Square. There will be a donkey or donkeys carrying beer to be dispensed (free) to the walkers. Some costumes, music and all that.
I won't have any Trick or Treater's at my place as it is upstairs and at the back of the building!
Happy Hallowe'en!!!
Confession time! Okay, the worst thing about this heat? Going to the bathroom! You know when you try to take off a wet bathing suit? How it all rolls up? Well, the same thing happens here . . . you sweat all day, so when you go to the bathroom, everything is damp, and the underwear rolls up as it goes down . . . and is hell to get back up!!! Life is hard, isn't it? :-)))
And activities are gearing up! Every Thursday morning I'm volunteering in the English Reading Library, checking books in and out, selling memberships, shelving books and meeting a lot of people. On Saturday mornings I'm taking a Tai Chi class. I'm not too sure about it yet but thought it would be fun to try! I'm still trying to find the perfect Spanish Classes. Oh, and I have a cooking class next Wednesday! Jeez, this retirement thing is a lot of work!
On Saturday, several friends and I are going to dinner at Te Amo Lucy's (I love Lucy's). Lucy is preparing a special dish called Chile en Nogada. It consists of poblano chiles filled with "peccadillo" (a mixture usually containing chopped or ground meat, aromatics, fruits, and spices) topped with a walnut-based cream sauce and pomegranate seeds, giving it the three colours of the Mexican flag (red, green, and white). (this info from Wiki!) It is traditionally served on Independence Day but Lucy's was closed that day, and since she is supposed to make the best Chile en Nogada in Mazatlan, my friend Lee talked her into making it for Day of the Dead instead. I'll report back how delicious it really is! Lucy also serves my friend Bobbi's famous Louisiana Bread Pudding! So much for dieting on Saturday!
After dinner, there is a procession called callejonera (or a word similar to that). It is an annual walk to look at Day of the Dead altars around Centro. I've already seen a few of them set up around Revolution Square. There will be a donkey or donkeys carrying beer to be dispensed (free) to the walkers. Some costumes, music and all that.
I won't have any Trick or Treater's at my place as it is upstairs and at the back of the building!
Happy Hallowe'en!!!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Home from Puerto Vallarta
I'm back . . . survived the heat . . . it was an interesting trip!!!
Lee and I left on Saturday morning at 8:45 on the local long distance bus. We arrived in Puerto Vallarta about 5pm. Taxied to the Villa del Palmar (my parent's time share resort) and checked in. They gave us a room with a king-size bed, and although PV is the gay capital of Mexico, and most people we met assumed we were a gay couple, we requested a different room, with twin beds. No problem, we were up on the 8th floor with a view of the tennis courts and the mountains . . . it was a very nice studio suite with kitchen facilities. By the time we were settled in, it was too late to do any exploring of the area, so we just checked out the beach and pools, then had a nice dinner in the restaurant.
The next day we got on the bus and headed into Centro to get a look at the town. We did not bring our laptops, and the internet cafe at the resort was $9.00(!!!) per hour (as opposed to $1.00 in town) so the first think we did was check out email. Then we wandered around a bit, getting mildly lost, but finally finding the Malecon. It was very hot and humid so wandering the streets wasn't as pleasant as we had hoped and we didn't feel like spending too much time, always rushing to the shady side of the street and checking to make sure a shop was air conditioned before going in! We found a nice place (with air conditioning!) for a leisurely lunch, then wandered a bit more, managing to find the Huichol shop that Lee had seen several years ago. We spent several hours in there (yes, it too was air conditioned!). Lee and I both bought some art, although hers was a "bit" more than mine, which was 60pesos (less than $6 Cdn). Just as we were ready to leave, the sales clerk asked us if we could do her a small favor . . . if we could attend a Time Share Presentation, I could have my $6 purchase for free and Lee would get an 85% discount on hers!! Well, what were we to do? Modeste was so nice, and she asked so nicely, and her little baby was sick, and it would be such a huge favor to her, and they'd give us a lovely free breakfast . . . and well, we were sucked in . . . we said yes, we would go to the time share presentation. In all honesty, I was very curious, I'd never been to a time share presentation. So, we were picked up from our resort two days later and taken to the "Westin Regina" resort in the Marina area. I should have known, right from the start that this adventure was doomed. I think all of you know of my obsession for anything orange . . . well, this place was Pepto Bismal Pink . . . everywhere you looked, bright pink!!! Ugg!!! The sales person we were handed over to was terrible! He said he had been selling for 12 years, but judging from the way the talked to us, I'd say he hadn't sold many places in that 12 years! He didn't know much about the place, he didn't ask us the right questions or give us the right info, he didn’t know the software program at all . . . he was just awful! After 2 hours of him (yes, he even ate breakfast with us!), we told him we were not interested (Modeste promised us we could leave after 90 minutes, so we had given him extra time) so he handed us over to another fellow, who was rude, arrogant and belligerent. We were about to walk out when he called over "the boss" . . . now this guy was slick . . . it was how I had expected the first guy to be . . . I might even have bought a time share from him (just kidding!!!) . . . we managed to escape from him, but not before we got money for a cab back to our resort as Modeste had promised. The whole thing was a very interesting experience. Not one I'd ever want to experience again, mind you!! Oh, nearly forgot! The next day we went back to Modeste's shop to tell her thank you for the discounts . . . and they told us that she would not be getting her commission "because one of us only worked part-time" . . . and that we should therefore pay the full price for the art!! Well, we got out of there pretty fast, the art was already packed away at the hotel . . . and we marked it all up to a new and different experience! Oo la la!!!
Although we both enjoyed the adventure of Puerto Vallarta . . . we have decided to never holiday again at this time of year, unless we go somewhere cooler. The heat and humidity just made it so we couldn't enjoy getting out and about. PV is also much more expensive than we are used to in Mazatlan. It is a resort town and the tourists will pay those prices. One interesting experience, we grabbed a taxi home from Centro one evening and I paid him 100pesos for a fare of 50pesos . . . he handed me a US$5 for change . . . he said he did not have pesos!!! I didn't want US money as I have no use for it at all in Mazatlan . . . so the porter changed it for us. But it just goes to show that PV is all about the tourist!!
The trip home on the bus was another adventure. The first half of the trip was through the mountains, up, down, around . . . ugg . . . my stomach did not like it too much!! For the second half, we thought we'd try a different bus line . . . it cost a few dollars less, and they promised us it was a First Class bus . . . well, I'm sure it was Economy because we stopped in every little village along the way, had five stops at inspection points, for immigration, police, I don't know what else . . . twice we had to get out of the bus, get our luggage out and have it inspected. (I've learned the secret, as the inspectors are all young boys, keep a box of tampons at the top of your bag . . . as soon as they see it they slam it shut and tell you to move on!!!). When finally we got to Mazatlan there was a gruesome accident where someone had been run over by a truck, the streets were blocked and traffic at a stand still . . . when we finally moved by, we could see the covered victim under the truck . . .
And now we are home again . . . and the most exciting thing . . . while I was gone, they got the internet fixed up and I actually have it in my apartment now!!
Sorry this was so long! Let me know if you made it to the end!!
Lee and I left on Saturday morning at 8:45 on the local long distance bus. We arrived in Puerto Vallarta about 5pm. Taxied to the Villa del Palmar (my parent's time share resort) and checked in. They gave us a room with a king-size bed, and although PV is the gay capital of Mexico, and most people we met assumed we were a gay couple, we requested a different room, with twin beds. No problem, we were up on the 8th floor with a view of the tennis courts and the mountains . . . it was a very nice studio suite with kitchen facilities. By the time we were settled in, it was too late to do any exploring of the area, so we just checked out the beach and pools, then had a nice dinner in the restaurant.
The next day we got on the bus and headed into Centro to get a look at the town. We did not bring our laptops, and the internet cafe at the resort was $9.00(!!!) per hour (as opposed to $1.00 in town) so the first think we did was check out email. Then we wandered around a bit, getting mildly lost, but finally finding the Malecon. It was very hot and humid so wandering the streets wasn't as pleasant as we had hoped and we didn't feel like spending too much time, always rushing to the shady side of the street and checking to make sure a shop was air conditioned before going in! We found a nice place (with air conditioning!) for a leisurely lunch, then wandered a bit more, managing to find the Huichol shop that Lee had seen several years ago. We spent several hours in there (yes, it too was air conditioned!). Lee and I both bought some art, although hers was a "bit" more than mine, which was 60pesos (less than $6 Cdn). Just as we were ready to leave, the sales clerk asked us if we could do her a small favor . . . if we could attend a Time Share Presentation, I could have my $6 purchase for free and Lee would get an 85% discount on hers!! Well, what were we to do? Modeste was so nice, and she asked so nicely, and her little baby was sick, and it would be such a huge favor to her, and they'd give us a lovely free breakfast . . . and well, we were sucked in . . . we said yes, we would go to the time share presentation. In all honesty, I was very curious, I'd never been to a time share presentation. So, we were picked up from our resort two days later and taken to the "Westin Regina" resort in the Marina area. I should have known, right from the start that this adventure was doomed. I think all of you know of my obsession for anything orange . . . well, this place was Pepto Bismal Pink . . . everywhere you looked, bright pink!!! Ugg!!! The sales person we were handed over to was terrible! He said he had been selling for 12 years, but judging from the way the talked to us, I'd say he hadn't sold many places in that 12 years! He didn't know much about the place, he didn't ask us the right questions or give us the right info, he didn’t know the software program at all . . . he was just awful! After 2 hours of him (yes, he even ate breakfast with us!), we told him we were not interested (Modeste promised us we could leave after 90 minutes, so we had given him extra time) so he handed us over to another fellow, who was rude, arrogant and belligerent. We were about to walk out when he called over "the boss" . . . now this guy was slick . . . it was how I had expected the first guy to be . . . I might even have bought a time share from him (just kidding!!!) . . . we managed to escape from him, but not before we got money for a cab back to our resort as Modeste had promised. The whole thing was a very interesting experience. Not one I'd ever want to experience again, mind you!! Oh, nearly forgot! The next day we went back to Modeste's shop to tell her thank you for the discounts . . . and they told us that she would not be getting her commission "because one of us only worked part-time" . . . and that we should therefore pay the full price for the art!! Well, we got out of there pretty fast, the art was already packed away at the hotel . . . and we marked it all up to a new and different experience! Oo la la!!!
Although we both enjoyed the adventure of Puerto Vallarta . . . we have decided to never holiday again at this time of year, unless we go somewhere cooler. The heat and humidity just made it so we couldn't enjoy getting out and about. PV is also much more expensive than we are used to in Mazatlan. It is a resort town and the tourists will pay those prices. One interesting experience, we grabbed a taxi home from Centro one evening and I paid him 100pesos for a fare of 50pesos . . . he handed me a US$5 for change . . . he said he did not have pesos!!! I didn't want US money as I have no use for it at all in Mazatlan . . . so the porter changed it for us. But it just goes to show that PV is all about the tourist!!
The trip home on the bus was another adventure. The first half of the trip was through the mountains, up, down, around . . . ugg . . . my stomach did not like it too much!! For the second half, we thought we'd try a different bus line . . . it cost a few dollars less, and they promised us it was a First Class bus . . . well, I'm sure it was Economy because we stopped in every little village along the way, had five stops at inspection points, for immigration, police, I don't know what else . . . twice we had to get out of the bus, get our luggage out and have it inspected. (I've learned the secret, as the inspectors are all young boys, keep a box of tampons at the top of your bag . . . as soon as they see it they slam it shut and tell you to move on!!!). When finally we got to Mazatlan there was a gruesome accident where someone had been run over by a truck, the streets were blocked and traffic at a stand still . . . when we finally moved by, we could see the covered victim under the truck . . .
And now we are home again . . . and the most exciting thing . . . while I was gone, they got the internet fixed up and I actually have it in my apartment now!!
Sorry this was so long! Let me know if you made it to the end!!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Settling In
I've been back in Mazatlan for over a week. Things move slowly here. Still no internet in the apartment, but I'm managing okay using the neighbour's deck. I guess the major problem was that my fridge was not keeping anyting cold . . . my landlord told me to go buy a new one (he is still in the States). Going to buy a new fridge is easier said than done when you don't speak the language! Had my friend Lee go with me and we found a suitable one and arranged for delivery . . . then just had to wait several days. It arrived yesterday and they hauled it up the stairs, took the door off the apartment to get it in, and it slid right into the space, with no even a centimeter to spare! It is purring away, and I have some cold drinks to offer visitors now!
It is pretty quiet in Mazatlan right now. Many people go inland where it is a bit cooler and not so humid . . . so some of the shops are closed and there are not too many activities happening. I usually go out in the morning to do chores and then hang around inside, with Air Conditioning, in the afternoons!
My Mom and Dad gave me a week at thier time share in Puerto Vallarta so Lee and I are heading there on the bus on Saturday. I hope it might be a bit cooler there so we can spend the days exploring!!
You would never have known there was a Canadian Federal Election here!!! Of course, everyone is much more concerned with the US Election . . . and I must admit, it is way more exciting!
It is pretty quiet in Mazatlan right now. Many people go inland where it is a bit cooler and not so humid . . . so some of the shops are closed and there are not too many activities happening. I usually go out in the morning to do chores and then hang around inside, with Air Conditioning, in the afternoons!
My Mom and Dad gave me a week at thier time share in Puerto Vallarta so Lee and I are heading there on the bus on Saturday. I hope it might be a bit cooler there so we can spend the days exploring!!
You would never have known there was a Canadian Federal Election here!!! Of course, everyone is much more concerned with the US Election . . . and I must admit, it is way more exciting!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Back in Mazatlan!
I made it back, safe and sound, but not without adventure!!
I flew out of Victoria on Tuesday morning in the middle of that beastly wind storm . . . it was a horrible trip to Seattle. Seattle to LA was okay. LA to Maz was awful! Twenty minutes up in the air and they had a light go on in the cabin so we had to go back to LA. Circled for half an hour to burn up some fuel. Were met by ambulances, fire trucks, police cars . . . sure, they told us it was all standard procedure . . . but jeez, it sure scares the poop right out of you!
I seem to have gotten a cold just before leaving . . . and I'm still working on getting rid of it. I suppose travel and change of weather and just stress and exhaustion in general aren't helping at all!
Because of the problems with my flight from LA, I was three hours late getting in to Mazatlan. I was certainly blessed by an angel, as my friend Lee was to meet me at my new apartment with the keys . . . and there she was . . . sitting right at the door to the building, waiting for me knowing I'd show up eventually!
My first day here was spent unpacking, going to the bank, picking up a few groceries and finding an internet cafe. The internet in my apartment isn't working . . . will get that organised when the landlord gets back next week. Meanwhile, my neighbour arrived and he got it going on his deck, so I can now sit outside and check email.
It is very hot and humid here. I don't quite understand the humidity factor, but they say when they do some sort of mathimatical caluclation, using the temperature and the humidity, they get the "actual" temperature. (I think it is like the wind chill at home . . . makes it feel a heck of a lot colder that the thermometer says!) Anyway, with the humidity factor, it has been in the 120 degree range!!! Yikes!! However, I have Air Conditioning and fans in my apartment and it has great ventilation and I'm finding it not too uncomfortable. Of course, I don't go out much in the mid afternoon!
My friends and I met today and went for lunch to one of our favorite's, Lupe Loco, a palapa restaurant on the beach. There was a lovely light wind and it was very comfortable. So good to see the waves rolling in! Apparently, the waves were bigger than normal due to Hurricane Norbert which will be by passing us completely. However, they say Hurricane Odile might cause us a bit more problems . . . but nothing serious! So don't worry about me!!
I flew out of Victoria on Tuesday morning in the middle of that beastly wind storm . . . it was a horrible trip to Seattle. Seattle to LA was okay. LA to Maz was awful! Twenty minutes up in the air and they had a light go on in the cabin so we had to go back to LA. Circled for half an hour to burn up some fuel. Were met by ambulances, fire trucks, police cars . . . sure, they told us it was all standard procedure . . . but jeez, it sure scares the poop right out of you!
I seem to have gotten a cold just before leaving . . . and I'm still working on getting rid of it. I suppose travel and change of weather and just stress and exhaustion in general aren't helping at all!
Because of the problems with my flight from LA, I was three hours late getting in to Mazatlan. I was certainly blessed by an angel, as my friend Lee was to meet me at my new apartment with the keys . . . and there she was . . . sitting right at the door to the building, waiting for me knowing I'd show up eventually!
My first day here was spent unpacking, going to the bank, picking up a few groceries and finding an internet cafe. The internet in my apartment isn't working . . . will get that organised when the landlord gets back next week. Meanwhile, my neighbour arrived and he got it going on his deck, so I can now sit outside and check email.
It is very hot and humid here. I don't quite understand the humidity factor, but they say when they do some sort of mathimatical caluclation, using the temperature and the humidity, they get the "actual" temperature. (I think it is like the wind chill at home . . . makes it feel a heck of a lot colder that the thermometer says!) Anyway, with the humidity factor, it has been in the 120 degree range!!! Yikes!! However, I have Air Conditioning and fans in my apartment and it has great ventilation and I'm finding it not too uncomfortable. Of course, I don't go out much in the mid afternoon!
My friends and I met today and went for lunch to one of our favorite's, Lupe Loco, a palapa restaurant on the beach. There was a lovely light wind and it was very comfortable. So good to see the waves rolling in! Apparently, the waves were bigger than normal due to Hurricane Norbert which will be by passing us completely. However, they say Hurricane Odile might cause us a bit more problems . . . but nothing serious! So don't worry about me!!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Moving along!
Wow, how time flys! A lot has happened since my last post here . . . I hope to keep things a bit more current soon!
The summer is over . . . Victoria is cold and wet and gloomy . . . and I can't wait to get back to Mazatlan! I had a great summer . . . lots of work, lots of sailing and a wonderful visit with my son.
I didn't get to see nearly as much of Brodie and Danielle as I would have liked, but they were only here for 12 days and had lots of friends and other family to visit. The weather held long enough for us to enjoy a day sail out to Sidney Spit for breakfast. They are back in Coventry now, already ensconsed in Brodie's last year of his PhD.
Bob and I went out for my last sail of the season last week. We had hoped to be out for 10 days but the weather changed and neither of us are much into cold wet sailing! It was wonderful though, to be out in September, when most other sailers had given up for the year. We had several evenings where we were anchored in quiet bays with no other boats around. We saw some awesome sunsets and masses of stars. On our last day out in we saw whales in the distance and had dolphins frolicking around the boat as we crossed President's Channel. A great end to the last sailing trip of the year.
The last few days have been spent getting me organised to leave. It is amazing the amount of "stuff" one accumulates. I had to make several trips to Value Village and the condo storage unit in order to get things down to one suitcase!
My next post will be from Mazatlan. Once I get settled in there I'll get the last few weeks of photos up.
Enjoy your winter! I will!!!
The summer is over . . . Victoria is cold and wet and gloomy . . . and I can't wait to get back to Mazatlan! I had a great summer . . . lots of work, lots of sailing and a wonderful visit with my son.
I didn't get to see nearly as much of Brodie and Danielle as I would have liked, but they were only here for 12 days and had lots of friends and other family to visit. The weather held long enough for us to enjoy a day sail out to Sidney Spit for breakfast. They are back in Coventry now, already ensconsed in Brodie's last year of his PhD.
Bob and I went out for my last sail of the season last week. We had hoped to be out for 10 days but the weather changed and neither of us are much into cold wet sailing! It was wonderful though, to be out in September, when most other sailers had given up for the year. We had several evenings where we were anchored in quiet bays with no other boats around. We saw some awesome sunsets and masses of stars. On our last day out in we saw whales in the distance and had dolphins frolicking around the boat as we crossed President's Channel. A great end to the last sailing trip of the year.
The last few days have been spent getting me organised to leave. It is amazing the amount of "stuff" one accumulates. I had to make several trips to Value Village and the condo storage unit in order to get things down to one suitcase!
My next post will be from Mazatlan. Once I get settled in there I'll get the last few weeks of photos up.
Enjoy your winter! I will!!!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Back to work (just for a bit)!
We have been pretty busy! I worked until the end of August . . . really enjoyed this work contract which made it so much easier!!
The Classic Boat Festival was on in the Victoria Harbour that first weekend I was off. Bob was invited to crew on one of the beautiful old wooden sloops . . . he couldn't turn down an opportunity like that, so we didn't actually leave on our sailing holiday till the Sunday night. It was pretty late when we left so we just went to Russell Island, one of our favorite anchorages very close by. The next day we went around the west side of Salt Spring Island and across the Trinacolmi Channel to Montague Harbour on Galiano Island. We had quite a bit of rain but it was peaceful with many boaters gone home to get ready for school. On Tuesday we sailed up Trinacolmi Channel, thinking we'd anchor between Thetis and Kuper Island, but the wind was in the wrong direction so we crossed over to Reid Island and anchored in a little bay. We were the only boat and there were only a few houses . . . felt like we were in a great big world all by ourselves. We enjoyed it so much we stayed there two nights . . . Bob fishing (total frustration) and I read and read and read. We headed north again on Thursday with no real destination in mind . . . but we got up to Dodd's Narrows quite quickly and went through to Nanaimo Harbour. We thought we'd anchor out between Newcastle Island and Protection Island but found it really windy, crowded and just not quite what we were looking for so headed into the Marina. We were able to stock up on groceries, water, get some engine work dealt with . . . and it was a good thing we were at the dock as it was really windy for the next few days. Spent some enjoyable time with Bob's bro, Chris and his family. Bob met up with an old friend, Gunther, and since I had to go back to work on Monday, they decided to go sailing together! I've got photos of the sailing trip on the left under "My Newer Photos".
So, I hopped on the bus and they took off sailing. I'm at a new job, only 4-5 hours a day and only till the 17th . . . but then Brodie and Danielle will be visiting, home from Coventry . . . as well, I have lots of little odd jobs to get done to get organised for my flight back to Mazatlan on Oct 7. Yippee!!!
The Classic Boat Festival was on in the Victoria Harbour that first weekend I was off. Bob was invited to crew on one of the beautiful old wooden sloops . . . he couldn't turn down an opportunity like that, so we didn't actually leave on our sailing holiday till the Sunday night. It was pretty late when we left so we just went to Russell Island, one of our favorite anchorages very close by. The next day we went around the west side of Salt Spring Island and across the Trinacolmi Channel to Montague Harbour on Galiano Island. We had quite a bit of rain but it was peaceful with many boaters gone home to get ready for school. On Tuesday we sailed up Trinacolmi Channel, thinking we'd anchor between Thetis and Kuper Island, but the wind was in the wrong direction so we crossed over to Reid Island and anchored in a little bay. We were the only boat and there were only a few houses . . . felt like we were in a great big world all by ourselves. We enjoyed it so much we stayed there two nights . . . Bob fishing (total frustration) and I read and read and read. We headed north again on Thursday with no real destination in mind . . . but we got up to Dodd's Narrows quite quickly and went through to Nanaimo Harbour. We thought we'd anchor out between Newcastle Island and Protection Island but found it really windy, crowded and just not quite what we were looking for so headed into the Marina. We were able to stock up on groceries, water, get some engine work dealt with . . . and it was a good thing we were at the dock as it was really windy for the next few days. Spent some enjoyable time with Bob's bro, Chris and his family. Bob met up with an old friend, Gunther, and since I had to go back to work on Monday, they decided to go sailing together! I've got photos of the sailing trip on the left under "My Newer Photos".
So, I hopped on the bus and they took off sailing. I'm at a new job, only 4-5 hours a day and only till the 17th . . . but then Brodie and Danielle will be visiting, home from Coventry . . . as well, I have lots of little odd jobs to get done to get organised for my flight back to Mazatlan on Oct 7. Yippee!!!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Hurricane Bobbi!
It has been ages since I've blogged! I guess that is what happens when a person has to go to work 5 days a week! Anyway, I'll do a quick catch up! As I mentioned, I'm working everyday during the week, so we only get out sailing on the weekends. Bob is still doing bits and pieces of work on the boat so he is staying close to home most of the time too. Three weekends ago we went to a new anchorage that Don told us about. Wallace Island, just at the mouth of Fulford Harbour which is where the Salt Spring Island ferry docks. It was a delightful weekend, beautiful and sunny. A very peaceful anchorage with just a few boats and no rowdies. Bob went out fishing several times a day and I read several novels. The best part is that it is only about 1.5 hours from Sidney so we can go there nearly anytime.
Two weekends ago we went to Bedwell Harbour/Poet's Cove. The weather was not very nice and it was a very sloppy, wet ride over there. But it was Kimmy's birthday and we were invited to join them for lunch at the resort. We anchored out and we were pleased to see another Nonsuch! After lunch we went over to investigate who it was and were thrilled to see it was Murray and Sandy on Cat's Paw. We had hoped to see thier new boat at the Rendevous a few weeks earlier but didn't have time. So we enjoyed some wine and cheese with them while it poured outside. It was another choppy ride home but at least it didn't rain.
Last weekend, my friend Bobbi, from Mazatlan came up to Victoria for a 5 day visit! It was so awesome to see her . . . just wish the rest of the Mazatlan Ladies were able to come too . . . we would have had a great time! Bob had the boat at Salt Spring so Bobbi and I took the ferry over on Friday night, went to the market on Saturday morning and a sail Saturday afternoon before heading back to Victoria to feed the cat at my house sitting job. It was the last beautiful day we have had since, so we were pretty lucky! Bobbi loved Salt Spring and the boat . . . she got to steer nearly all the way home . . . and did a very good job! On Monday after work we had a few of my Victoria Ladies over for a potluck. They were all thrilled to be able to meet Bobbi. Bobbi made us Jambalaya and her Famous Bread Pudding with Kaluha Pecan sauce . . . and we managed to empty several bottles of wine. Bobbi left on the ferry back to Seattle on Tuesday morning . . . I felt like a hurricane had gone through Victoria! We had such a wonderful time! My only disappointment is that I forgot to take my camera out all weekend so I have no photos of her visit!
Now I'm back to work . . . but only one more week until this job is done. Looking forward to Brodie's visit in September!!!
Two weekends ago we went to Bedwell Harbour/Poet's Cove. The weather was not very nice and it was a very sloppy, wet ride over there. But it was Kimmy's birthday and we were invited to join them for lunch at the resort. We anchored out and we were pleased to see another Nonsuch! After lunch we went over to investigate who it was and were thrilled to see it was Murray and Sandy on Cat's Paw. We had hoped to see thier new boat at the Rendevous a few weeks earlier but didn't have time. So we enjoyed some wine and cheese with them while it poured outside. It was another choppy ride home but at least it didn't rain.
Last weekend, my friend Bobbi, from Mazatlan came up to Victoria for a 5 day visit! It was so awesome to see her . . . just wish the rest of the Mazatlan Ladies were able to come too . . . we would have had a great time! Bob had the boat at Salt Spring so Bobbi and I took the ferry over on Friday night, went to the market on Saturday morning and a sail Saturday afternoon before heading back to Victoria to feed the cat at my house sitting job. It was the last beautiful day we have had since, so we were pretty lucky! Bobbi loved Salt Spring and the boat . . . she got to steer nearly all the way home . . . and did a very good job! On Monday after work we had a few of my Victoria Ladies over for a potluck. They were all thrilled to be able to meet Bobbi. Bobbi made us Jambalaya and her Famous Bread Pudding with Kaluha Pecan sauce . . . and we managed to empty several bottles of wine. Bobbi left on the ferry back to Seattle on Tuesday morning . . . I felt like a hurricane had gone through Victoria! We had such a wonderful time! My only disappointment is that I forgot to take my camera out all weekend so I have no photos of her visit!
Now I'm back to work . . . but only one more week until this job is done. Looking forward to Brodie's visit in September!!!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Nonsuch Rendevouz
Bob worked very hard for the last two weeks, sanding, varnishing, stripping, waxing and polishing the boat. It was a huge job but well worth the effort as the boat looks so nice now. On Friday we left for the Nonsuch Rendevouz at Otter Bay, on North Pender Island. It was only a 1.5 hour trip, which was just as well, as the clouds rolled in and it was raining by the time we got there. The rain didn't last long and we had some nice warm weather for the rest of the weekend. It was great to see all the other Nonsuchs and all the people we had met over the previous years. There was 26 boats and about 50 people. So many people came to see Cat-Sass that we didn't get time to go see the other boats, so we ended up racing around on Sunday morning trying to see a few of the other boats. It was wonderful to see Respite (the 26 that Bob owned before he bought Cat-Sass). Rob and Elizabeth are taking good care of her. I was feeling kind of yukky on the way home so we didn't dally. It was sure awesome to see so many Nonsuchs sailing in the same area! We tried to tell everyone that Mazatlan would be a great place for the winter rendevouz but they decided on Vancouver! Silly, silly people! I'll have some new photos up in the next day or so.
I finished my last day of double shifts today . . . it will be nice to work 8 hours a day instead of 12! But it was sure nice for the savings account!
I finished my last day of double shifts today . . . it will be nice to work 8 hours a day instead of 12! But it was sure nice for the savings account!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
We are back in the water!
Cat-Sass was launched last Friday and brought back to it's usual berth in the Port of Sidney. We have spent the time since then working very hard on the woodwork and deck . . . it is really sparkling and looks great! I'll have some photos up soon in the "Newer Photos" link, in an album called "Cat-Sass".
I thought I was starting my new work contract tomorrow, but it turns out she only needs me to start on the Monday . . . that is great as we now have the whole weekend again. I was in town yesterday and today to deal with business appointments and such . . .
Every Thursday in the summer, the town of Sidney has thier local street Market. About five blocks of the main drag are shut off and hundreds of different vendors set up to sell their wares. It certainly isn't cheap . . . but lots of variety and interesting, artistic products. The best part is the food! We have a choice of Phillipino, local lamb, the best hamburgers, incredible sausage . . . and after we manage to choose one (or two) of those, we have to decide on what to have for desert . . . a couple of the local farms sell fresh fruit pies that are to die for, as well as every imaginable type of fresh local organic fruit. Lots of other baking too. We always look forward to dinner on Thursday!!
So, it is back to work for me next week . . . for the first week I'll be doing double shift (two law firms each day), probably 12 hours a day! Bob will probably head north in the sail boat and hopefully, I'll be able to meet up with him on a few of the weekends to hang out.
I thought I was starting my new work contract tomorrow, but it turns out she only needs me to start on the Monday . . . that is great as we now have the whole weekend again. I was in town yesterday and today to deal with business appointments and such . . .
Every Thursday in the summer, the town of Sidney has thier local street Market. About five blocks of the main drag are shut off and hundreds of different vendors set up to sell their wares. It certainly isn't cheap . . . but lots of variety and interesting, artistic products. The best part is the food! We have a choice of Phillipino, local lamb, the best hamburgers, incredible sausage . . . and after we manage to choose one (or two) of those, we have to decide on what to have for desert . . . a couple of the local farms sell fresh fruit pies that are to die for, as well as every imaginable type of fresh local organic fruit. Lots of other baking too. We always look forward to dinner on Thursday!!
So, it is back to work for me next week . . . for the first week I'll be doing double shift (two law firms each day), probably 12 hours a day! Bob will probably head north in the sail boat and hopefully, I'll be able to meet up with him on a few of the weekends to hang out.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Boat complications
I haven't written in a while as we haven't had internet access . . . I'm at an internet cafe waiting for Bob. The boat is still up on the hard, it has been 11 days now and it will probably still be up another three days. So much for my sailing vacation!! I have to be back in town on Tuesday to get ready for work! Oh well . . . we've kept very busy, working on the woodwork and the deck of the boat while the skilled labour work on the keel. Bob has been a real trooper, not loosing his cool or getting too frustrated through it all. They finally put the keel back on the boat today but now it has to cure and then they have to fibreglass it. It will definately be back in the water by Friday because they are closing the boat yard for a few days.
Through this all, we have been staying with my Mother and Father. They have really been a god send as otherwise we would have been staying in Victoria and we would have been spending a fortune on gas driving back and forth from Sidney several times a day.
Our saving grace is that Bob's sister, Jane, came for a visit from Toronto! We spent several days in Nanaimo with his brother and then several days in Victoria with his other sister. Bob hadn't seen Jane in 4 years so there was a lot of reminicing and I had never met Jane so I learned a lot :-)! We really had a great time! Jane is an awesome woman, I feel like I have gained a wonderful friend!
Anyway . . . that's about it for now! Hopefully my next post will report that we are back on the water!
Through this all, we have been staying with my Mother and Father. They have really been a god send as otherwise we would have been staying in Victoria and we would have been spending a fortune on gas driving back and forth from Sidney several times a day.
Our saving grace is that Bob's sister, Jane, came for a visit from Toronto! We spent several days in Nanaimo with his brother and then several days in Victoria with his other sister. Bob hadn't seen Jane in 4 years so there was a lot of reminicing and I had never met Jane so I learned a lot :-)! We really had a great time! Jane is an awesome woman, I feel like I have gained a wonderful friend!
Anyway . . . that's about it for now! Hopefully my next post will report that we are back on the water!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
The Tall Ships are back!
We woke up to brilliant sunshine! Looks like summer might have finally arrived. We went down to the Inner Harbour at 7:30am to see the tall ships. It was a good time to go because the place was virtually deserted and with our passes we could go in all the restricted zones and get up close to the ships. We probably could even have gone on them, as our passes say we are "crew", but we thought that might be taking advantage just a wee bit too much. The ships were gorgeous! I'm uploading photos to my Flick'r site as I type (see the "newer photos" link). Went and had breakfast at one of our old favorites, Pluto's. Bob decided to go back out to Sidney and see if any work has been started on Cat-Sass . . . I phoned him about noon and they had just started. Hopefully the work can be finished today, as they are closed tomorrow so we would have to wait till Monday to get the boat back in the water! I went back down to see the Tall Ships again but it was soooooooooooo crowded and sooooooooooooo hot I didn't stay too long . . . and I had work to do at Pam's. Here I am, complaining about the heat now . . . it must seem like all I ever do is complain about the weather!!! I have Pam's place nearly all clean and tidy. I don't know if she will be home before I get back from sailing, so I have to leave it the way she would want to find it. I'd better go finish up incase Bob phones to say the boat is ready to go!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Lots of headway on the varnishing!
Penny came over yesterday. She is a varnish guru and had us working hard all day. We got a first coat on everything except the companion way doors and a second coat on some of it! Yeah! A very productive day!
Thursday is Market day in Sidney. At 5pm the main street shuts down and all the vendors set up. We always enjoy dinner at the Market as there are many excellent food choices. We both had the Extreme Market Burger and it we were not disspointed! Ran into Brenda, who was hyper as always!
Today we raced around getting the boat ready for haul out. We sailed it around to Vector Yachts and left it for them to do thier thing. We went and had breakfast at Third St Cafe, and while there, Bob decided he had to go back and supervise. So, I headed into town (to my house-sit) and he went back to babysit the boat! I got some laundry and housework done, so the house will be ready to leave for Pam when the boat is finished and we take off for Nanaimo. Bob joined me in town later. Don has given us "crew" passes for the Tall Ships Festival but we are too tired to go tonight. Hopefully tomorrow.
Finally the weather has warmed up! Figures, just when the boat is in dry-dock!!!
Thursday is Market day in Sidney. At 5pm the main street shuts down and all the vendors set up. We always enjoy dinner at the Market as there are many excellent food choices. We both had the Extreme Market Burger and it we were not disspointed! Ran into Brenda, who was hyper as always!
Today we raced around getting the boat ready for haul out. We sailed it around to Vector Yachts and left it for them to do thier thing. We went and had breakfast at Third St Cafe, and while there, Bob decided he had to go back and supervise. So, I headed into town (to my house-sit) and he went back to babysit the boat! I got some laundry and housework done, so the house will be ready to leave for Pam when the boat is finished and we take off for Nanaimo. Bob joined me in town later. Don has given us "crew" passes for the Tall Ships Festival but we are too tired to go tonight. Hopefully tomorrow.
Finally the weather has warmed up! Figures, just when the boat is in dry-dock!!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Back in Sidney
I had a great drive up to Campbell River and managed to find my sister-in-law, Jydy's house. We went for a long walk in the woods while my niece, Sasha, made a lovely dinner for us, then went over to my other neice, Krista's house for dessert. Judy and Craig are in the middle of renovations and were having all the sinks removed the next morning, so I had a quick shower and headed off to explore Campbell River. Bob phoned about 9am and said they were going to be bucking the current so might not make it all the way to Campbell River in one day . . . then he phoned back about 2 and said they'd be arriving in 20 minutes! A slight miss calculation!!! They found a berth in the public marina and I took them out shopping for a few things they needed for the boat. They rigged up a "preventer" and figured out how to do the kellets. They had hoped to work on the genicker but it was too windy. Chris cooked us dinner and we hit the sack early. They were up at 6am and the wind had died so they managed to get the genicker figured out. Monica and Chris cast off at 7:45 . . . we met them at the fuel dock 10minutes later . . . then went to the spit and watched them sail past. Bob was so sorry to be leaving them! He had a really great time and is now all eager to go in his boat. We hopped in the car and went over to Judy's . . . they were just clearing out the kitchen so the contractor could put in the new sinks, so Judy, Craig, Sasha, Bob and I all went out for breakfast. Bob and I headed south about 10am and after a short stop to stretch in Ladysmith got back to Sidney about 2. It is great to be back on the boat! Tomorrow we will get to work on the woodwork.
Today, Bob and I worked on finishing the sanding of all the woodwork on the boat. It is a huge job that we started last year but never finished. Don had gotten a good start on it already but we really needed to get some varnish on before the boat gets hauled on Friday. The weather stayed nice all day and we got the majority of the sanding done and the first coat of varnish on. It looks awesome, and will look so great when all 6-8 coats are done! We'll give it a light sanding tomorrow and then another coat of varnish. In the mean time, we need to sand the companion way doors, the bow sprit, the windless box and the rub rail. Penny is coming over tomorrow to help. Went to Carlos' Cantina for dinner and it was excellent again!
Today, Bob and I worked on finishing the sanding of all the woodwork on the boat. It is a huge job that we started last year but never finished. Don had gotten a good start on it already but we really needed to get some varnish on before the boat gets hauled on Friday. The weather stayed nice all day and we got the majority of the sanding done and the first coat of varnish on. It looks awesome, and will look so great when all 6-8 coats are done! We'll give it a light sanding tomorrow and then another coat of varnish. In the mean time, we need to sand the companion way doors, the bow sprit, the windless box and the rub rail. Penny is coming over tomorrow to help. Went to Carlos' Cantina for dinner and it was excellent again!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
A minor change in plans
As always, when dealing with the ocean, plans change! Got a phone call from Bob at about 2pm on Saturday saying that they were in Nanaimo(60 miles north of Victoria). They were having electrical problems with the boat and decided to get things dealt with before going any farther. So, instead of me driving up to Campbell River to meet them on Sunday, I went to Nanaimo on Saturday. Arrived to find they had secured an electrician and everything was getting fixed right away instead of having to wait till Monday. Apparently it was a minor issue, but better safe than sorry when heading up to the wilds of Desolation Sound. So the four of us, Monica (owner of Wannadoo), Chris (her friend from S Carolina), Bob and myself went to "Amazing Thai" for dinner. It wasn't as great as it has been in the past, but still good. It was a beautiful evening at the dock . . . windy but settling down to absolute calm later. I wished I had my camera . . . couldn't tell where the other boats ended and the water started . . . they made mirror images in the water. The moon was beautiful. They cast off about 9:30 this morning, planning to get up to either Tribune Bay on Hornby Island or near Fanny Bay. They will go on to Campbell River tomorrow. I'll drive up to Campbell River today and hang out with Judy until they show up. Meanwhile, I'm in an internet cafe charging up the computer! Hope you are all having a great weekend!!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Bob to Campbell River
It's 6:30am and I'm sitting on the boat, just passing the time. Bob is sailing up to Campbell River, crewing on a friend's boat. I'm going to drive up there and meet him on the weekend. The boat is a 42' Catamaran called Wannadoo, the same boat he "did" the Swiftsure in. Monica, the boat owner, needed some crew and Bob wanted to see what sailing North of Nanaimo was like. So, they set off this morning, first to go to Roche Harbour so Monica could deal with her Canadian Visa, then back here to pick up supplies, then hopefully setting off again before noon. It dawned a nice calm day so they should make good time. I've drive up to Campbell River tomorrow and visit with my s-i-l Judy, waiting for Wannadoo to get in . . . we will drive back to Sidney and work on Cat-Sass for a few days before it is hauled out for bottom maintenance next Friday . . . then we will be off for a few weeks on our own.
But right now, I have to be heading back to town to put in my last day at my current temp job. Have to get my car insurance and pay my property taxes today too.
But right now, I have to be heading back to town to put in my last day at my current temp job. Have to get my car insurance and pay my property taxes today too.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The very first post!
Hey! I'm just trying out blogging . . . this way I don't have to send out newsletters to everyone! Not that I don't enjoy doing the newsletters, but this way everyone has the option of checking up on me or not.
I am currently in Victoria for a few months. Doing some house sitting, sailing and, god forbid, work! I have to pay for my time in Mazatlan somehow and for now this seems to be the way to do it.
I am currently in Victoria for a few months. Doing some house sitting, sailing and, god forbid, work! I have to pay for my time in Mazatlan somehow and for now this seems to be the way to do it.
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