Zihuatanejo, Feb. 2008

We left Barra de Navidad a couple of days after Jeff and Sarah left for Vancouver. We needed time to do the laundry and re-provision. It was great to have all the kids down to visit, but it was also great to have the boat all to ourselves again! Since we haven’t set up Fortuitous for more than 2 people, the V-berth has become a garage. Hence, when more are aboard the “garage” has to move elsewhere and the elsewhere is all underfoot! Everybody was OK with the mess and clutter…well, maybe not everyone…it just drives me nuts, being the anal person that I am!! However, the rest managed quite well.

After the kids left, we went into Manzanillo to do some shopping with Mary and John, cruiser friends from Java.

We headed for Santiago Bay, outside Manzanillo. That gave us an opportunity to catch up with Hal and Kathy aboard Airborne. We hadn’t seen them for quite awhile. We arrived, and they came aboard with a pitcher of Margaritas and I supplied some appies…a good time was had by all! In fact, we had such a good time we forgot to take photos!! This is Dawn’s Crack, in case you’ve never seen it!

A turtle waves hello as we cruise by on our overnighter to Zihua.

In Zihuatanejo Bay, cruise liners come twice a week. It’s a small bay and they take up a lot of space. There is a movement afoot to build a new dock where 3 can moor…what a loss that would be! It would completely change this great little town. We love it here! They’ve done a great job with the waterfront. Ixtapa is the adjoining tourist mecca; very modern and sterile.

These are our friends Dan and Lorraine on Zephyrus. They’ll be heading south for Huatulco and Central America too.

This is an evening in Rick’s bar, the local hangout. This is Jimmy Mammou, a local favourite. We actually enjoyed the previous evening’s jam session better, especially the Mexican boys who played a lot of Beatles stuff.

Dan and Lorraine, and a local street dog, enjoying the music at Rick’s.

The waterfront of Zihua bay is lined with pangas. Here, fishermen sell their catches as well as in the mercado.

A local card game, with some off-duty fishermen.

Pangas everywhere and Yamaha motors on almost every one! Yamaha must have done some terrific PR down here.

Hardly any other motor in sight and difficult to get parts or service for anything else…hence, when we bought our new dinghy motor, guess what we bought?

There is a walkway part way around the bay. This shot of Fortuitous is taken from the end of the walkway. Notice the flopper stopper out…we’ve had our share of rolly days and evenings.

On our walk around, we got hot and tired so we stopped for a drink…what else is new? This “slurpy” guy was patrolling the beach out front. He has a block of ice, under a towel.

He shaves off the ice, puts it into a cup, pours flavouring over the top, and VOILA!!

Ralph took lots of shots because I’d like to do a painting of him, if I ever have time or can find my paints!

Just love the Mexican houses. This one would make a good painting too.

We stopped at the local Bomberos, or firemen’s station, to see if we could get T-shirts for our sons.

We managed to buy two, but I fear they’ll be too small. They don’t make Mexicans as large as our sons. They may have to frame them rather than wear them.

Up the crick in Zihua.

Pangas make for some great shots.

Zephyrus leaving us. I broke a tooth in Barra and am having a crown done in Zihua. It is going to take at least a week, so we are here longer than expected. Zephyrus is going on ahead and we’ll catch up later. They’ll hold a parking space for us somewhere south.

Bird #...oh, who really knows?? These egrets are beautiful, but a real pain! They shzt all over the boat and dinghy!!

This booby at least has the decency to hang her butt over the water!! She is hanging onto our flopper stopper, which is bobbing up and down. I don’t know how they can do it with web feet??!!

So, what do we do all day, you ask? Since there is no fuel dock here, we’ve had to jerry-jug our fuel. Ralph has not enjoyed his breakfast mouthful of diesel…can’t say as I blame him. The bay isn’t all that clean, so we’ve jerried water as well.

After several years of Mexican Train, Ralph finally got to lay down all his dominoes on the first go…can’t understand all the hoopla about that…I did that the first time I ever played!!!!!!!!!!!

Zihua market…we’ve never seen chickens displayed quite the same way anywhere else!

We love to visit the markets. The colours are spectacular and you can always get the freshest stuff …that being said, we didn’t buy any of these chickens, though. Note the ones in the box below the others.






We should be leaving Zihuatanejo on Monday or Tuesday, Feb. 25 or 26th. One more crown appointment to go. We’ve just found we have a transmission fluid leak, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on that. We are concerned about it, and will test it out in the bay before we head south. If it appears OK, we’ll stop in or near Acapulco, and then head on to Huatulco. Hopefully, we’ll make it to Panama, or Ecuador, before we need to stop and fix it, otherwise it will be done in Acapulco or here in Ixtapa. Sounds like a big job as many engine parts will have to be removed to get at it. Boat maintenance in exotic places! There are worse places to be, but we really want to be able to continue our trip south. If we need to stay here, it may be that Central America might have to wait a year as it is already late to be heading south. To be continued...

Back To Mexico January 2008

Originally, we had planned to return to Mexico in November of 07. But, with the unfortunate passing of my Mom in a car accident, we remained in Vancouver to settle her affairs. The bonus was spending more time with our kids, other relatives and friends, and having Christmas where Christmas ought to be! We arrived back in Puerto Vallarta, Jan 7th, after a very hectic stay in Vancouver. We had one short week to get the boat in some sort of shape before Greg, our oldest son arrived. He was with us for 8 days, with a 2 day overlap with his younger brother, Jeff and girlfriend Sarah. Jeff and Sarah were with us over 2 weeks before returning to the cold and snow in Vancouver. We had a great time showing the kids why we are so fond of Mexico.

Once again we returned to Burros to share the spot with Greg. Just love all the beach vendors!

Bucerias, with Greg! Hardly any drinking at all!

After Jeff and Sarah arrived, we all booked a Zip-line trip...even Mom went along for the ride. What a hoot!! We had a great day and bought the video to prove that I went too!

This fellow Jeff and Greg coined as "Melvis" because of his Mexican heritage. Quite appropriate, we thought!

Sarah just couldn't stop drinking all those cervezas!! Hard to keep a strong woman down! Although she appears to have her own "cubetta" she did share her bucket of beer with the rest of us.

It was a tough time but we all managed. Not one of them wanted to return home...I just can't understand that!

Smear on that sunscreen, you white folk!

At Mauricio's, one of our favourite shrimp places, they gave us a whole bottle of tequila...Greg and Jeff shared with us....but under protest!

Our on our whale watching cruise, Greg caught some rays. What a show the whales put on but, of course, they are never performing when the camera is clicking. Got some good movies, though.

At Philos, in La Cruz, we had a terrific evening watching the band. The kids especially enjoyed Leon and his washboard (see previous photos in the blog).

Greg asked his Mom to dance and we had a great time...made up for when he wouldn't dance with me at his grade 7 grad! What grade 7 boy would want to dance with his Mom, anyway?

Since Greg danced with me, Ralph felt obligated too!

After Greg Left, we headed for Tenacatita and an overnight sail. Jeff and Sarah did remarkably well, but didn't care for being below deck. We had pretty large seas, and good wind for more than half the night. Once we arrived in Tenacatita, the kids really enjoyed snorkeling and swimming.

They are quite the water rats.

We bought ourselves a new underwater camera and they tried it out. Seems to work well, even though the water was a bit murky.

We took the kids up the jungle river trip to the palapas on the outer coast. They had a blast! Dad and Jeff at the helm.

They loved the mangrove branches. We saw lots of crabs in the trees, but the little blighters wouldn't hold still for the photos!

Lots of roots and branches.

Egrets and other lovely birds everywhere!

Great shade and light contrasts!

Finishing up and heading back to the boat. Sarah and I enjoyed shelling here as well. The guys made for the beach palapa and beer.

After Tenacatita we headed for Barra de Navidad. This shot of the town is taken from the Grand Bay Hotel where we are NOT staying. We are in the lagoon to the right of the photo.

This group was fishing directly behind out boat. I believe the fisherman is in his undies and, if you look at his freeboard on the boat, you can figure out why!

It was windy this day and they all just kind of drifted off into the mangroves far behind us. We have no idea how they got back because it would have been a couple of hours row back to town. We hope they got a tow!

Jeff and Sarah treated us to an expensive dinner out in the local street taco place. This was an experience for them and they were a little reluctant to go, but enjoyed it in the end and no one appeared to get sick.

As you can see, from Sarah's face, it is hard work creating the perfect taco!

Sarah thought her first trip to Mexico was just "Ducky"! And proved it by "quacking up" over this little duckling. We thought she'd have to take it back to Vancouver.

Again, just a few too many drinks for Sarah! As you can see, the rest of us are still upright!

Jeff took this shot of this cutie on the beach. We all just loved the Mexican children and Mexican people in general. Anyone who avoids Mexico is doing themselves a disservice. What a wonderful country!

Tea, anyone? Interesting to see this here, on the beach, in Mexico. She had filled the cups and teapot with sea water. I don't think she found it all that appealing to drink, though. Meanwhile, the little Mexican boys are cavorting in the water! Some things remain the same in all cultures.
We are now without children, have fixed our starter battery problems, and are planning to move on to Santiago Bay, just outside of Manzanillo. Today, I broke off a piece of tooth on those hard Mexican nuts so I guess I'll be off to the dentist in the Manzanillo area. This will slow down our progress a bit but the plans of a cruiser are written in the sand at low tide. We are finally getting to enjoy that lifestyle...but finding it somewhat hard to slow down and adapt!