meri's blog

I got to thinking about all the things I wish I had known before we set out cruising. There is a ton of information on safety gear and equipment, there is massive information regarding provisioning for food, and there is a plethora of facts out there concerning what documents you should have on board. But what about household appliances? What should a cruiser bring aboard from home? What is important and what isn’t? What will sit in a locker unused and what will you be kicking yourself for because you didn't think you would need it...

We've not seen many fish since departing Mazatlan. We didn't catch a thing on our two day crossing to La Paz. Departing La Paz, however, Tim caught a big one! Unfortunately, it was a lousy Jack Crevalle... great fighting fish, but less than desirable on the plate! We kept it long enough to take a photo and then we released it.

Kathy Parsons and her crew of www.womenandcruising.com do an excellent job! It's a resource dedicated to women sailing buffs and neophytes. It is a site filled with relevant information! She recently posted an article I wrote on our first year cruising costs. I wrote it and provided the photos, but she did the layout. It looks great, Kathy!

http://www.womenandcruising.com/blog/2010/07/what-does-it-cost-to-cruise-as-a-family/

We have never been boarded by the Mexican Navy in the two years we’ve lived in Mexico. However, there’s always a first time, right?

We met Jaye and Irwin in Mazatlan. We were dock neighbors and instantly bonded. They are a fun and colorful couple... friends for a lifetyme. June 26 marked Irwin’s 70^th birthday and we were invited to go along with them and their friend Steve off s/v ‘Veraizon’ to El Triunfo, Mexico... an hour outside La Paz.

Will the madness ever end???? WHEN will our monthly expenses be under $5,000????

Since purchasing HOTSPUR, we have spent oodles getting her up to speed. It’s not that we didn’t expect this... when you buy a boat you are going to have expenses. It’s just that no matter how much you prepare your mind for the inevitable, the panic that sets in when you see how much you’re spending is also enormous!

I have been asked by a number of people what our experience was crossing the border on foot from Calexico, CA to Mexicali, MX... carrying three large duffel bags and three backpacks... acquiring the proper legal immigration papers... and then finding our way to the bus station... one woman and two kids unaccompanied... in an unfamiliar border town.