Blogs

Just a couple days ago, Jim got a inkling to borrow Carolyne's cheapy-for-beginners harmonica and learn how to play it. He found this really cool website that teaches how to play the notes and has audio of the songs that are being taught so those musicians with good “play by ear” innate gifts and talents can learn faster.

Before we went cruising, I read a number of cruising books... books that talked on and on about the physical attributes of sailing: how muscular you become, how much weight you lose, how much healthier you eat, blah, Blah, BLAH!

A big swap meet yesterday at Marina Mazatlan. I had to buzz over to Windfall to do the morning Mazatlan Cruiser's Net because that radio is much better than the radio on Hotspur... another something we haven't gotten to yet. Then, rushed over to help Jim with the swap meet... selling odds and ends that we don't need anymore.

In case I haven’t mentioned it, the Tartan TOCK has a new name... well, WILL have a new name. Her name will be Hotspur. Now, Jim has wanted to name a boat Hotspur for years after the C.S. Forester character’s first command. In the novel Hornblower and the Hotspur, Horatio Hornblower is promoted from Lieutenant to Captain.

Okay... how do you get large 8x4 plywood from Home Depot to the boat without a truck? Easy! Carolyne and I took the bus that dropped us off across the street from Home Depot for 6 pesos each.

It’s going slowly... but we expected that. The Tartan we just purchased has several problems. The windlass, for example, has a cracked casing. And we deduced that it didn’t work by trying to turn it on and operate it... an unsatisfactory experiment. We figured we would be out $2K for a new windlass if we couldn’t repair the broken one.

Being cruisers, we don’t often get family visits. But Grandpa is pretty faithful and has visited us once in La Paz during February 2009 and now again in Mazatlan this month. We had the pleasure of enjoying his company and that of his friend, Gwen, January 8-14 as they rented a very nice Jr. Suite at the El Cid Marina Hotel.

Large main cabin with newly refinished sole, roomy settee and dinette with large table. Large cockpit. Sleeps 5 (2 in V-berth, 1 in starboard aft quarter-berth, 2 in salon.

Marina slip fees are expensive... even by Mexican standards. At Marina Mazatlan, we're paying .93 cents per foot. Once we hit our 30 days, the fee goes down to .60 per foot. If we stay 3 months or more, the rates are .43 cents per foot. However, many of the marinas charge you for electricity usage and pump out service... even if you don't use it. Tax has gone up from 15% to 16% as of Jan 1st. For a 35' boat, this means the monthly rate will be approximately $550USD. This is much lower than California marina fees, but $550 is a huge chunk out of a cruiser's pocket!

The marina at Marina Mazatlan is full of kitties... yes, muchos gatos. They are feral cats... not wanting to be petted and fawned over. They are skittish and shy. There are many... way too many.