2009 with Jane Minor
Monday, October 26th, 2009 – We arrive back at the Paradise Village Marina in Puerto Vallarta with a week to get the boat ready to go cruising. Avante had been completely stripped down for the Mexican hurricane season, and now all sails, canvas and halyards have to be reinstalled. As usual, The Captain turns on and checks out all systems after 5 months of not being used. The refrigeration unit overheats and smokes on startup. Fortunately, it can be fixed with a new pulley and fan belt which are easily obtained locally. The Captain also finds that the anchor windlass control switch is not operating and that a pump has an issue. Replacement parts are not locally available, but we can work around both of these issues. The biggest problem arises when he starts up the engine. The throttle lever is stuck, probably due to internal corrosion. This problem cannot be easily fixed, for it needs a replacement. Without it, we are going nowhere. The Captain discovers that the replacement part is readily available in the States, but shipping it to Mexico is slow due to customs. Luckily, we have another option.
The First Mate’s childhood friend, Jane Minor, who had previously joined us on Avante in Alaska, is due to arrive soon. Jane lives in Australia, but she is currently in the States visiting relatives. The First Mate contacts her and learns that her last stop before flying to Mexico is to visit her mother in a nursing home in Rye, NY. The part we need is not heavy and can easily fit in a suitcase. Would Jane mind receiving them and adding them to her luggage? “Not a problem,” she says. We have the throttle lever and the other two less critical parts sent to Jane at the nursing home. There is mild panic when the parts are delivered but don’t get to Jane’s mother. However, they are located and packed in Jane’s bags. They arrive on October 31st with Jane.
While The Captain is employed installing his new parts, Jane and The First Mate walk around the shops of the resort. Finding a tequila store, we stroll into investigate. Tastings are being given, and we discover that we both like a Pomegranate Tequila. What a wonderful après dinner drink this is going to make! Without a second thought, we buy a bottle.
Tuesday, November 3rd – With Jane Minor on board and the parts installed, we motor out of the marina and set out to cruise. We want to head up the coast, and The First Mate is eager to show Jane all the fascinating birdlife on Isla Isabella. Our first day is easy. We head across Banderas Bay to Punta Mita and spend a relaxing afternoon at anchor. Jane finds that, compared to wet and cool Alaska, the sunny skies and warm water here in Mexico are easy to like. What’s not to like with sitting out on deck watching the sunset over the headlands of Punta Mita?
Wednesday, November 4th – We head north along the coast to Chacala. Winds are light, so we motor. The Captain has the fishing line out, and we catch a small black skipjack for lunch. About 5nm before our destination, King Neptune smiles on us, allowing a nice bull dorado to bite our hook.
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It is late afternoon by the time we anchor in Chacala. We stopped here on our trip to La Paz back in April and had a good diner at one of the local restaurants and then had a very challenging dinghy launching back into the surf in the dark to ride back to Avante. Not this time though, Jane had started having problems with her knee making it difficult for her to walk earlier in her trip to the States, but it had gone away. Now, for some reason, it is back, and we are concerned that the scramble of a nighttime dinghy launching could really hurt it. With our fresh dorado on board, none of us are really too upset about missing a dinner on shore. The First Mate prepares the fish in her usual gourmet fashion, and we eat dinner on deck. What could be better? Warm evening breezes, designer pillows to sit on, stoneware to eat off of and a very fresh fish to savor.
And — our Pomegranate Tequila to enjoy after dinner in the cooler evening darkness. Look at that brilliant red color! The taste was just as divine.
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Thursday, November 5th – Today, we are headed about 25nm up the coast to San Blas, which is supposed to be an interesting town to wander around. We get an early start, so that we can spend the afternoon there. By early afternoon, we are anchored in Mantanchen Bay. With absolutely no wind, it is very hot. Out comes our hot weather tented cover to give us some extra shade. The afternoon heat and Jane’s knee, which by now is really bothering her, deflate any interest in exploring the town.
Our goal has been to go all the way north to Isla Isabella, but we now rethink that due to Jane’s knee. To appreciate Isla Isabella, you have to be able to get out on the island and hike around. The Captain and First Mate have been there, but Jane is now barely mobile. There is not much to use on a boat for a crutch. Searching around for something, The Captain lights on an old standby: a plumber’s friend is put to another use. We all have a good laugh, and Jane remains in good spirits.
The question now is what are we going to do and where should we go. The First Mate offers her usual solution: Savor Days. We will not go any further north, and tomorrow will be a savor day in San Blas.
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Friday, November 6th – We anchored in Matanchen Bay, for it is too shallow for Avante to motor up the river to San Blas. Jane’s knee is doing better. We all decide to venture up the river to the town. Pangas, homes and small businesses line the river as we slowly cruise toward town.
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Jane does not feel up to walking around San Blas but encourages us to do so. She has brought a good book to read, and if we find a spot of shade, she’ll be just fine. She tells us that she will fend off any pirates who happen to wander by!
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Many of the main streets of San Blas are cobble stoned and lined with colorful shops.
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We locate a bronze engraving commemorating Longfellow’s poem, The Bells of San Blas,and shortly thereafter are in the main square below the cathedral towers and its bells.
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Returning to Jane, she is comfortably ensconced in The Dingbat. She merrily tells us that she had not been called upon to chase off any pirates. Motoring back to Avante, we pass a palapa restaurant along the shore. With white plastic tables set up under the palm frond roof, it beckons us for a lunch stop. In the protected bay, there is little surf which is great. Jane will have a gentle landing.
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What better way to cool down than with coconut water right from a cool coconut!
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Saturday, November 7th – A fairly early departure is required today. Neither The First Mate nor Jane are very fond of these, but they consent to this one so that we can get all the way south to Punta Mita before dark. The day starts sunny and calm. By 0900, with 5-10 knots of wind, we raise sails for the first time this fall. Our hopes for a good sailing day are dashed when, abeam Chacala, the wind dies. Thanks to our reliable Yanmar diesel engine, we are anchored off Punta Mita by 1730.
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Sunday, November 8th – A lazy morning is spent at Punta Mita. Old friends, separated by distances, can talk forever, for there is always catching up to do. When the morning heat builds up, we go for a last swim in the clear blue waters.
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In the afternoon, we motor out into Banderas Bay. With 10 knots of wind, we raise sail for the 10nm trip to La Cruz. This will be our last night at anchor before Jane’s departure tomorrow. We could not ask for better than this beautiful sunset over Punta Montagu at the end of the Banderas Bay.
A final round of Pomegranate Tequila is shared in the cooling darkness of evening. Old friends – it’s sad to part, but little did we know then that the next time we were to meet would be on Jane’s end of the world in Australia.
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Though Jane’s knee is not swollen, we decide to wrap an ace bandage around it to make a point when we go to the airport in the morning. Arriving there, The First Mate heads inside to round up a wheel chair. Jane is not enthusiastic about riding in a wheel chair but knows she must. She soon discovers, however, that this is the way to travel. No lines, no waiting. She is whisked right on through by her attendant. Maybe she should try this more often with the hassle that airplane travel has become these days!