Our Journey Finally Begins!!

US and Lucio as we shoved off from PV.

GUESS WHAT!!!!!    Yes we have actually done it!!!!  What you may ask?  We left PV Tuesday February 22, 2011, three months late, but we started.  

  

There were about 30 boats waiting to leave

As we began our journey we could not even get out of the Marina.  A cruise ship was coming in and we were stuck at the mouth of the harbor with all of these boats.  It was kind of cool to see all of the activity.  


Our first leg of the trip was a bit rough.  We had following seas pushing us with five to nine foot waves.  The boat held well and we arrived at our first destination, Chamela, at 6:30 p.m.  An 11 ½ hour trip.  

The skiff on the right is the baby skiff that we use for shore landings.  This is the one they were in.

Now, anyone that knows us knows nothing is normal or easy!!!!   Aggie, our beautiful, dutiful, well behaved doggie refused to do her duties on the boat.  We put down paper, pads (with a sample of her urine to entice her) and even a small carpet to lure her.  Nothing worked.  We couldn’t get off the boat to get to shore.  The waves on the coast were humongous. 

So, we all went to sleep and at 8 a.m. we tried again with her.  Nothing, nada, not a damn thing!!!!!  We first took down our big skiff from the top of the boat and thought we could get in close enough.  NO.  Too dangerous.  Now what?!!!!  Let’s inflate our small, small skiff.  We put Lucio and Aggie in, pulled them as close to shore as possible, and Lucio oared onto the beach.  Ahhhh, what a relief. 

 Lucio put Aggie back in the skiff but the waves prevented him from getting back to us.  Twice, not once, but twice, they were overturned, ending up in the ocean.  Aggie swam to us and I yanked her up by the collar, almost choking her to death.  Bottom line…..I don’t think she’ll ever pee again OR get in a skiff.   And being the brilliant people we are, she was not wearing her life jacket….yes, we have a doggie life jacket…..a lot of good it did Aggie!!!  I don’t know how the hell we’re going to get to Costa Rica or through the Pamana Canal; we can’t even get the dog to shore without it being an ordeal.

Sooooooo.  After all of the excitement we decided to spend an extra night here so we can all catch our breath. . . especially Aggie.   Maybe she will pee on the boat now!

This is Chamela.  Nice and peaceful.

Chamela also.

But, through it all, I am sitting on the back of the boat, looking at the sea and the small village of Chamela, typing this blog, answering e-mail, listening to music, and secure in the knowledge of how lucky a woman I am.   Love to all…..  DC

The Road to Repair!

Hola, from Puerto Vallarta!  I arrived back to Puerto Vallarta yesterday and Deb decided both of us do not need to be twiddling our thumbs waiting for the boat to get repaired, so she is coming next Wednesday and hopefully after provisioning the boat we’ll finally get going South.

When I had returned to L.A. in late January I ordered more parts than West Marine carries.  Everyday something else arrived.  Huge boxes, small boxes some had to be signed for, oh wait that was a case of wine (desperately needed).  Anyway the boxes kept coming.

Just some of the items I brought with me.

 

So with our show over it was time to begin deciding how to pack and since Deb is coming later, just bringing in the essentials.  I finally got most of the essential repair items packed in extra,  extra large duffel bags that were packed to the brim and yikes each were  a little over 50 pounds.

 

When you come into Mexico they really don’t like you to bring boat parts in with you, so you better have all your receipts and be prepared to give them 15% of what you paid for the part if asked.  And prove that you have a boat.  So as I gathered my luggage and headed to the red and green light button with  Aggie in tow, we held our breath and pressed the button and it turned green!!!!!  YEA!!!!!  WHEW!!!!  What a relief.  I was imagining spending a couple of hours in the customs office waiting for them to decide what I had to pay and such.  Thank goodness that did not happen.

Inside a cabinet, these are some of the chargers for the batteries.

The blue one is one of the new ones.  So many wires.

 

Between yesterday and today we have made progress. One charger is working, one to go.  Two air conditioners working, two to go and the generator is working, they just have to finish putting it together and CLEAN UP THEIR MESS!!!!

That is all for now, our next post will be a picture of the Elysium all packed up and  ready to head south, finally.  Oh and the motorcycle is running also!!!!!