Captains Corner

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Dos Chiquitas Ride Again!!!



Literally and figuratively!!   The Elysium is finally in good working condition.  Amazing that the simplest solutions are the ones often overlooked.  It seems our problems stemmed from our coils….that spiked our generator, that electrocuted our electrical boards and destroyed our chargers…..the coils that connected to the generator were burned to a crisp.  No one ever looked at them until Jewell heard clicking noises in the Coil Closet.  Please don’t ask what Jewell was doing in the Coil Closet!!!!   We found Sergio, an electrical engineer, in Ixtapa.  He found new coils and all is well.  This problem started almost 5 months ago.


THE COILS!!


Today we rode our motorcycle for the first time in months.  Everyone told us NOT to ride to Zihuatanejo on the highway….so, guess where we went?  Right you are!!  Zwhat, as it is called, is a throwback to the very early 1900 American/Mexican West.  The streets are full of bars, music, restaurants, and vendor stands.   We stopped at a cute restaurant and had drinks and rested our rears. 


We were about 15 minutes into our return to Ixtapa and Jewell says "Deb I forgot my helmet on the sidewalk".  OH NO... we had to make our way back into the city to try and find it.  We did find our spot and the storekeeper in front of where we parked had taken the helmet in.  When she saw Jewell she said "are you looking for this?" In L.A. it would have disappeared.   

We stayed anchored at an Island called Isle Grande.  We were there for 6 days.  It was paradise.  Clean, beautiful water, with four small beaches on all four sides of the Island, and small Mexican restaurants in abundance.  The Island stays solvent with tourist being brought in by ponga.  At night, the entire Island closes up. Everyone leaves by 6:30 – 7:00.  It is pitch black. We felt like the people in “Lost”.


Sunset and Lucio trying to catch us dinner.






The Tsunami warning came to the Island on the second day we were there.  There were three other boats anchored.  One of the boats got on the radio and called us and told us that it was going to hit around 12 noon and that we should get out of the anchorage.  Trust that we pulled anchor and went out to sea about 6 miles into very deep water.  What we felt were a few 3 to 4 ft. waves.  That’s all..  On our way out, we saw pods of dolphin, in the hundreds, plus, a few whales and lots of turtles.  When we returned to the anchorage at about 2 p.m., the water was receding and rising at a rate of 5 feet every thirty seconds.  This went on for about another hour.  It was amazing to watch.
A sea of dolphins.

I tried to get them jumping.
While at the island we met new friends.  Pamela, Michael and Riley.  For several years Pamela has run her 42' sailboat, with the help of her Cavalier King Charles, Riley.  Her boyfriend joined her for his birthday weekend.  Aggie and Riley played as we celebrated Michael’s birthday.
All of our friends have left Ixtapa/Zwhat for Hualtuco to wait for weather and the trip to El Salvador.  We were forced to stay here and get the boat fixed.  Now, on the 7th, I’m leaving for L.A. and Miami as poor Jewell (right!!) stays here to keep an eye on things.  When I return, we’ll leave for Hualtuco, then to El Salvador, prior to the 15th of May.
Pamela, Michael and Riley arriving for cocktails.

New friends going to the beach to play.

Pamela and Michael










And oh, that damn Crocodile visited us several more times when we were in Marina Ixtapa.  Aggie barks her head off and the Croc keeps waiting for her to slip up and fall off the boat!!! 

2 comments:

  1. This trip has been the perfect combination of adventure, excitement, travel, danger, exploration, fun, mystery, pure delight and thrill. Your blog is a page turner and better than any book I have read.

    I know you will keep Aggie away from those crocs. Stay safe. JRR

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  2. WOW guys!!
    What an adventure!
    Jewell you MUST have a 6th sense....you solved the "coil caper!!"
    The pics are amazing!
    Miss ya....

    XO
    Susan

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