15 days back... 4.30.08

Well, we've been back in the states now for 15 days. How time flies!! And what in the world have we been up to you may ask?!

We've been busy planning our camping trip. This sounds so easy but those of you who have been camping lately have surely figured out it's not as easy as it sounds!! There are reservations to be made, itineraries to plan in each city, special places to map out (off the beaten path), people contacted, etc. We've been so busy making our reservations for campsites it's taken literally days of research, plotting & planning to get most of it done. And campsites have definately increased in price since the last time we camped! Campsites charging $25 or more per night are the average. That certainly shocked us!

But we have as many places booked as we can and will just have to take our chances on the first come, first served sites in the places we can't get reservations. The toughest place we've had issue with is Yosemite - we'll be there over the 4th of July and there are absolutely no reservations available. But there are several first come, first served campgrounds in and around the park and we'll just hope we get there early enough to score one of them! We're experiencing the same thing in San Francisco, Monterey, & Big Sur. So please keep your fingers crossed for us!

In the meantime, we've also been obtaining all of our camp gear. We have added a hitch & a small cargo rack onto the back of the Jeep because the storage space in the Jeep is pretty small, purchased our tent, camp stove, sleeping bags, etc. We have almost everything except for my hiking boots (I guess I have a weird shaped foot that doesn't like hiking boots!), a folding chair for me (I'm just picky on that one!), a lantern, & some odds & ends, but other than that, we're ready!! Check out our snazzy tent... (yes, we put it up in front of storage so we could see how easy & quick it was.)



We have enjoyed catching up with all of our friends as well. We've been invited to several dinners & have enjoyed running into those friends who didn't know we were back for the summer!

And after all that hard work shopping, seeing all of our old friends, & getting settled in our temporary house, we took last Friday off and went to Six Flags Magic Mountain with our friends Andy & Michelle and Andy's Dad & Daughter. We had a GREAT time!! We haven't been to Magic Mountain in a couple years. Magic Mountain is known for it's rollercoasters and we rode all of them that were open - Ninja, Batman, Scream, Riddler's Revenge (the world's tallest & fastest stand-up roller coaster), Goliath (with a 255 ft first drop that takes your breath away), & Tatsu (the world's tallest, fastest, & longest flying coaster).



We also rode the Buccaneer & took the Sky Tower to see the view of the park. This is a picture of the newest coaster - X2 & Viper - that were both not working when we were there.



This weekend we're headed to San Diego for the Red Bull Air Races. We've heard about them for a couple of years and just happened to catch wind of this one in time to get a room down there. We're looking forward to it! Check out this link for info on them.

And if you're reading this...I hope you will have noticed the Google map on the page that pinpoints our whereabouts. I'm still fixing some bugs on it and hope it's fully functional in the next couple days! But for now...just don't click on anything!! haha...

More to follow...
Rene

Hello California 4.15.08

We flew back to California on Tuesday, the 15th. Luckily, there were 3 other 'cruisers' going back at the same time and we shared a ride to the airport. Danni from Kinship was heading home for a couple weeks and Merry & BJ on S/V Willow. We met Merry & BJ the night before as we went to a restaruant/club called "Canuks" that has 'open mic night' on Monday & Fridays during season. There we spent our last evening in Mazatlan with our friends Barry & Pat, and some new folks that were there for open mic night. Merry & BJ have a website - check it out! - and plan to head home for a little while then jump on their bicycles & go over to Europe for a tour with friends. What fun!

Since we've been in California we've been getting settled (we're renting a room from a college friend of mine, Roberta), have been going through items in storage several times, Michael's been meeting with the buyer of the Electric Boat rental business, and spending money like crazy! haha.. We're in the market for our tent, sleeping bags, etc for our grand camping adventure and have been researching places to stop & see. It's great to have internet access 24/7 without having to walk up to the internet cafe for access! We'll certainly be spoiled again when we leave.

The plan is still to stay in Ventura until about June 1, then take off and do the big 'circle' camping trip through California. Visit friends in Nicaragua in late August & be back on the boat around early October.

I'll keep the site up during our camping trip as well so stay tuned and thanks for checking in on us!

Rene
{GMST}034|09.00|N|119|11.00|W|Back in CA|Back in CA...at Roberta's House!{GEND}

Adios Marina Mazatlan 4.14.08

We have enjoyed our stay here at Marina Mazatlan over the last couple months. We've met lots of wonderful people here - both locals and other boaters. We have stowed everything on the boat as well as we can & have made arrangements for her to be looked in on, the bottom cleaned, & the dinghy engine serviced while we're away. It's a wierd feeling leaving our 'home' and heading back to California - for vacation?! But we're confident in the people we have left to tend to Ahea Kali for the next 6 months.

One of our favorite people here is Elvira (seated) who runs the office (and really the marina) at Marina Mazatlan. She is a smart, beautiful, fun, & fabulous gal who has helped us on many occasions make phone calls, arrangements, given references, directions, etc. For one reason or another, we see or talk to her almost daily and our stay at Marina Mazatlan has been enhanced by her presence.

The weather gets super hot down here during the summer - so much that the locals don't even like to be here. There are lots of boats here...but very few people stay during the summer. Most head back to the States or stay in condos in the area. It's anticipated that only about 10 boaters (or so) will actually stay on their boat for the summer.

We had some other 'Ventura' locals come & see us when Michael was laid up recovering - John & Debbie Dye off of S/V Lovely Reta.

Michael & Debbie have known each other for several years as they were both in the Real Estate business. Debbie & John headed back to the States as she requires back surgery. We wish her the best of luck for a speedy recovery! Speaking of recovery...Michael's knee is doing better. He's getting around pretty good, trying not to abuse it too much and taking it as easy as he can. So we're headed back to California tomorrow - woohoo! Drop us a line if you get a chance!

Rene

{GMST}023|16.00|N|106|27.00|W|Leaving Marina Mazatlan| Marina Mazatlan{GEND}

The PLAN for Summer 4.11.08

After one full week of resting & recuperation for Michael, he had his stitches removed on Thursday. And for those of you who know Michael....yes, he stayed on the boat the entire time and no, I didn't have to tie him down. He 'doesn't want to go through this again' and followed the Dr's orders. The Dr told him to 'walk normally' now - which is difficult after hopping around the boat, but he seems to be doing OK.

We're in our last 5 days before leaving the boat & heading back to the States. Whew! Time sure flies! I can't believe it's been almost 4 months. So much has happened, we've had so much time to relax & enjoy the trip so far...and so much more to do next season. And how do you pack for 6 months away from home and still be under the 50lb weight limit for bags on the airplane!? Especially when we'll be in such different climates! I'm sure we'll be purchasing things while we're there.

This summer we have a lot planned already. We're flying back to California on April 15th. Michael will spend a couple weeks (at least) working with the new buyer of the Electric Boat business. We will stay in California until the end of May. Then we'll take off on a long camping/hiking trip of California/Oregon/Nevada/Arizona that should take us about 2 1/2 months or so. We have many stops planned and will certainly come up with more places when we come up with the 'final' plan. So far, here's the rough draft plan...take off in early June, head up Highway 1 North up beyond the Redwoods, then possibly continue up to Crater Lake in Oregon, then down to Yosemite, then over to Las Vegas, then to the Grand Canyon, then back to San Diego and back up to Ventura. We have all of June, July, & only the first week or so of August. I'd like to spend a week (at least) in San Francisco, the Redwoods, Yosemite, & the Grand Canyon, and the rest of the time in between. There are obviously many, many places & things we want to see & do but here are a few of our 'hot spots'...

- Santa Maria - the wineries of the movie 'Sideways'
- Big Sur - Redwood forests
- Pacific Grove - Point Pinos Lighthouse
- Santa Cruz - Mystery spot, boardwalk, surfing museum, Mark Abbott lighthouse
- Fairfield - Jelly Belly Factory tour, Anheuser Busch tour
- Visit a working lumber mill (although I haven't found one yet...)
- Loleta - Loleta cheese factory
- Madonna Inn
- Hoover Dam/Las Vegas
- White water rafting in the Grand Canyon
- Monterey Peninsula
- Monterey Aquarium
- Yosemite - most of the waterfalls & the A
- San Francisco lots of things... Ride the cable cars, Lombard street, visit the Ritz Carlton & Fairmont hotels, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge & Park, Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Chinatown, Telegraph Hill, Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood, Alta Vista Park, Muir Woods, Lincoln Street, etc.
- Berkeley - the campus and also the Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker
- Saucilito
- Death Valley
- LaBrea Tar Pits in LA

Of course, our list will grow or change but it's a start.

After our circle of California, we'll pack up all of our items in storage and hit the road out to Texas. Michael has been looking at properties in the Corpus Cristie area and we will purchase one. If time allows, we'll go up to see my folks in Kansas before heading to Nicaragua to spend 3 weeks with our friends Scott & Liz. That trip is looking to be late August/early September or so (we haven't purchased tickets yet). When we return to Texas if we weren't able to spend time with my folks, we'll do so after the Nicaragua trip. Finally, we'll drive back down to Mazatlan from Texas, making several stops & checking out Copper Canyon on our trip back home to the boat! We anticipate being back in Mazatlan in early October, opening the boat back up and heading South! Woohoo! Funny, we left to 'sail the world...' and so far we've only spent 4 months on the boat, and are now headed back to the States for 6 months. But oh the adventures we'll have in the next 6 months!

We don't have a camper/RV - just a jeep & a tent (which we will replace). So it'll be fun! Luckily while we're in Ventura, we'll be staying with friends for the 6 weeks we're in town. Then it's time to pack it up.

Do you have any suggestions on where we should go/see/do while on our trip? Drop us a line! We'd love to hear of any hot spots that you have found. Off the beaten path & on...it doesn't matter to us.

So until Tuesday we are packing up the boat & moving down our 'summer packing list'. We're doing really well so far - have only the big things still to go. We have moved into a condo as the boat has gotten REAL small suddenly as everything is out, open, stacked, covered & everywhere. There's no more sitting room, the bed is tore apart, the heads are cleaned & ready for summer, etc. It's a lot of hard work in the 81 degree/70% humidity weather. We don't have internet at the condo....but we do have a bathtub, a refrigerator we don't have to climb in to see what's there, LOTS of room, air conditioning, a TV and best of all....a pool! Wow! What a treat! Our plan is to bust butt for the next couple days and then attempt to enjoy the condo/pool on Monday before we leave for California on Tuesday. Cross your fingers for us...

More to follow...and we'll see many of you soon!!
Rene

Surgery 4.3.08

Michael had his knee surgery today. We were at the hospital at 7:20 and finally left around 2:30. It was a long morning!! He was taken into the pre-op room and given two 'margaritas' to calm him, then given a spinal block anesthia. They found that the meniscus was not torn laterally, but was damaged on the outer rim. There were several other things fixed while he was in there – lots of scar tissue & damage on the cartilage which was also scraped & cleaned up. He even watched the procedure while the Dr. narrated. Unfortunately I was not allowed in the operating room to watch too - bummer!! He was taken to his own room for recovery - with a beautiful setting just outside. The hospital itself was also beautiful and everyone was extremely helpful.

Our friends from Pacific Voyager, Pat & Barry, joined us on the trip – praying & keeping me company in the waiting room. Michael got off of the boat and Barry met him at the front of the boat and said "I'm all dressed up and have no where to go - I guess I'll go with you to the hospital!" What a treat! And he has had several people come over to find out how he’s doing since we made it onto the boat. It’s wonderful to have such warm & loving people in your lives! Thank you also for all of the kind thoughts & prayers – they certainly helped!!

Once he was out of surgery, he was taken to a private room to recover. We found a taxi back to the Marina and then jumped into a golf cart and taken to our dock, where the security guard helped Michael navigate the dock ramp. It’s not easy to get around a boat on one leg! But he’s managing just fine. So amazingly....the entire day set us back 19,000...Pesos. Or about $1,900 dollars. $12,000 for the surgeon, $3,000 for the anestheologist, $1.000 for the nurse, and $3,000 for the use of the hospital - operating room, private room, etc.

So he has 7 days of crutches & staying off of the knee. He’s on antibiotics, pain, & anti-inflammatory meds. Then we have a Dr. appointment next Thursday and will move into a condo and start packing the boat for hurricane season. Who said this cruising thing was easy!?! We’ve been doing the preliminary items that we can – packing all of the food in vacuum food storage bags, locking down or removing items from the deck, etc. Lots of things can’t be done until the very last minute or at least when we move off the boat! Like defrosting & cleaning the fridge & freezer, packing everything down below, opening everything up, etc. But it’ll be an action packed week!

More to follow…Rene