Nov. & Dec. 2005 La Cruz & PV

After leaving Mazatlan, we did a lot of provisioning (since we were now heading for Central America) and we headed for Banderas Bay. We anchored in La Cruz, which is a little village outside of Puerto Vallarta. Here, we met up with our friends, Bill and Nancy Brown, who were in Bucerias (another village close by) having a two-week vacation. With Freezing Rain (Marie and Don) we buddied over to Tres Mariettas Islas. They had Effie, Endeavour, and Kathy Taylor on board.

This is Don, captain of Freezing Rain...also a Bluewater boat.

Our great friends, Nancy and Bill Brown were down for a 2 week holiday in Bucerias. They came along as crew on Fortuitous. Bill looks pretty good here, but he was a bit green by the end of the trip…not crew material, although he tries hard! Note new haircut, mine not Bill's! Tired of all the stray hairs on the boat…and oh so much cooler!

We went for a dinghy ride, while there, and this is a view out from one of the caves we cruised into. The other boat all went snorkeling, but we settled for a dinghy ride and lunch.

Visiting another boat, in Marina Vallarta, we spotted this giant Iguana sunning himself next door.

He was incredibly big, but agile.

Took a little day trip out to Bucerias and had a drink and lunch on the beach.

Ralph keeps trying for the perfect Corona Ad...this one's pretty good!

La Cruz has changed so much since we were last here. They are building a large marina and have piled sand against all the existing waterfront properties, and are going to build condos in front of them...no more waterfront for those people. How can they get away with that?

Anna Banana’s is a café that has an open mike session every Sunday afternoon. This was one of the gatherings we attended. Mostly cruisers here, but there are some land-lubbers who show up too. By this time, our cruising buddies Endeavour, have left to go south. We were supposed to meet up but, because we found out about the job in Tennessee shortly after this shot was taken, we never did meet up with them again. They’re in Zihuatenejo now. This was the beginning (and ending) of my short lived singing career.

It was Christmas and we loved this decorated palm.

This is to prove, to all you disbelievers, that I really did get up and sing in front of all those people. The fellow standing beside me is the root of all this evil. Alan (SV Effie) and his wife Mac kept encouraging me to do this. So, Alan and I worked on one song, and the rest is history.

By the end, they’d created this monster who wouldn’t sit down. I was doing 4 songs, in three different venues by the time we left to return home. What a hoot!! I really enjoyed it!!!!! You can see, even darkness didn't discourage us!

This is my fan club! After all that singing, what better reward than ‘Tacos in the Street’. Some of the best we’d had were here in La Cruz. We’ve never gotten sick once, in Mexico. Either we have wrought iron stomachs, or the tales we heard weren’t true. Most of these stands don’t serve beer, but you can get it (or they will) from the store next door. From left, going counter clockwise—Alan & Mac (Effie), Me, Donna & Jerry (Scott Free II leaving shortly for the S. Pacific), Ralph, Don & Marie (Freezing Rain). Good friends, good food, what more could you want?

To prove to you I didn’t always sing, this is a bunch of us doing the hand-jive. Oh, we have some good times! I’m not sure why this is a girl’s thing. Participants are Kay (Semonship), Me, Mac (Effie), and Marilyn (Tortuga). As you can see, I’m watching Mac for guidance…all a bit confusing! Maybe it’s cause I’m left handed??

Here I am, back at it again…you see, no keeping me down. This is at the Britannia Pub. I’m reminded of the story my mother tells me about being 5, or so, and singing a duet at church. Apparently, I kept telling the other little girl to sit down and finished the song myself…I guess it was meant to be!

This is Leon, our favourite entertainer in La Cruz! He has such a ball, and is so good, you have to laugh right along with him.

He plays in Filo's bar.

This is the group off to La Cruz by Bus.

Another BURP, with Wandering Star, Freezing Rain and others.

There was a great Christmas party in La Cruz. It was held in the home of Senior Fox, centre with wife Sylvia, (a fellow who looks like President Fox, but is a Canadian who has opened a little coffee shop here). It was a pot luck and a great meal!

On our last night in PV, we had a big going away party for ourselves. We were staying in the Embarcadero, while putting Fortuitous up on the hard. It was great to get together, but a sad day for us.

Once we found out about going to Tennessee, Dec. 22nd, we had to work flat out to get Fortuitous on the hard, cleaned up and prepped for a 6 month stint. Much to Ralph’s surprise, it took much longer that the 2 days he predicted. We were still working, until 1pm, on the 27th…we had to be at the airport at 2pm. Ralph had to be in Tennessee before Jan. 3rd.

In spite of attending great Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day dinners, and hosting our own great Going-away get together, we got everything done except covering her with the tarps. We hired a yard worker to do this and headed home to Vancouver. We’ve had friends check Fortuitous, and re-arrange the tarps, so all is well there. We had a short, but busy time in Vancouver. We managed to sneak in New Years, with friends, and short visits with family and a few of our friends, while finding our winter clothes for Tennessee.