Boat Projects in Santa Rosalia – August 19 – 31, 2011

Our first day back was full of unpacking and cleaning the boat.  Rick went up the mast to wash it, then cleaned the decks. What a mess. We were rewarded by being invited over to Full Shell for a steak dinner to celebrate their 50^th Anniversary. They looked so nice, I have to post their picture.

Marilyn and Eric's 50th Anniversary

Over the next 2 weeks we worked on boat projects with the supplies we brought down from the states. We installed new lights, a battery combiner, a new exhaust hose, added additional fans and made a hooka.  We also made shade covers for the boat. We borrowed Eric’s Sailrite sewing machine for the shade covers because it works so much better than mine.  Couldn’t have done it without it.

Shade Cover for the Boat

Shade Cover

Rick Replacing the Exhaust Hose

The Tortilleria

We have been shopping and stocking the boat up with food for the next month or 2.

Julie at the Bread Store

Marilyn at the Grocery Store

Rick in the Hot Tub

But we did take a little time to relax in the marina’s hot tub. It is cooler than the pool!

We plan to leave the marina Sept. 2, for the first time in 3 months to go further north in the sea. Hopefully to Bahia de Los Angeles then up to Puerto Refugio. There is not much internet access north of here, but we will try to post again soon.

Our first Chabasco – August 18, 2011

Rick and Eric from ‘Full Shell’ left at 7 in the morning to take the rental car back to Loreto, about a 3 hour drive. Marilyn and I were alone on our boats when the wind started blowing. It came on very quick and strong. Everyone was outside in a hurry pulling down tarps and getting things off their decks before they were blown away. Since we were close to land there was a lot of dirt in the wind. It blew for about 3 hours, then rained very lightly, just enough to make mud. We had a half inch of dirt all the way up the mast and covering the boat. By the time Rick got back about 4 that afternoon it had calmed down, but there was a lot of clean up to do. We saved that for the next day.

Car Trip Back to Mexico – August 16-17, 2011

The car is as full as it can be. The tires are almost touching the wheel wells. Going over bumps in the roads is not a good thing. We left at 4:30am and crossed the border in TJ by noon. Next we stopped at Costco in Ensenada and met up with Patrick, Laura and Jack from “Just a Minute”. We all headed to El Rosario to stay at the Baja Cactus Inn. Very nice place for $30 a night! Highly recommend it.

Baja Cactus Inn

We left the next morning after breakfast and made it to the Marina in Santa Rosalia about 6 that night. It is soo hot here and we have to unpack the car!

The Car is Packed!!

Even the Inside is Full!

Last Week at Home – August 10 – 15, 2011

Wednesday was the first day back at school in Manteca. Kodi and Maddi  headed back and Carson had her first day of Kindergarten. Maddi fell asleep in class. Looks like she needs to get more sleep at night, or maybe her teacher is boring???



Maddi and Kodi on their first day back at school



Maddi asleep at school

For our last week-end, we spent one more night in Napa with Dave and he cooked another gourmet meal.

Chef Dave

Steak, Tuna, Pasta Salad, Potatoes and Grilled Corn - Yumm

Saturday, we headed west to Michael and Patty’s new house in Healdsburg on the river. What a great place. I see why they love it. Michael BBQ’ed and we headed down to the river with his daughter, Autumn and her boyfriend.

Michael and Rick on the Deck

Casa Buena Vida from the street

At the River

Michael, Pam, Rick and Dave

Ryan and Rachel

Sunday, August 14^th was my nephew Ryan’s wedding to Rachel. The wedding was in Sacramento at the Sterling Hotel. She looked beautiful and he looked handsome in his Uniform. What a fun wedding. 

My Mom and Dad, Ryan and Rachel

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pam and Rick at the Wedding

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Pam with her daughters, Jamie and Jennie 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Time to pack up the car and head back to Mexico. Our time at home went by so quick, there were a lot of people we didn’t get to see. Maybe our next trip home, whenever that is, will be longer.

 





More of Our Trip Home

I got to spend a little time with my granddaughters. We went to lunch and shopping. Maddi, Carson and Bailey were so cute trying on sunglasses and hats. They love to poise.

Carson, Pam, Maddi and Bailey

Bailey, Maddi and Carson Shopping

The family at Jamie's

Jamie had the family over to her new house for Carne Asada. We had a lot of people, but her house and yard are huge!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Arlene, Rick and Gen on their Cat

The next week-end we were down at our old marina. We stayed on Glen and Arlene’s Cat, A G N Sea.
We saw a lot of friends and had a delicious crab dinner. Hopefully they will be down to La Paz in November.

Crab Dinner     Yummmmm

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Table

 
 
 
Sunday night, my brother Dale and sister-in-law, Helen had Rick and I, Sherry and Kellie over for a beautiful dinner. Whenever we go to Helen’s we know everything will be perfect and it was. She is such a great cook and hostess.

Kellie, Sherry, Helen and Pam

 
 
 

Rick and Dale

Visiting Home – July 14 – August 15, 2011

We were home for 5 weeks, but it went by so quick. Sherry had the family over Thursday night to say good bye to my nephew Tommy who was returning to Kuwait and hello to Rick and me.


Friday we spent the night at Thunder Valley Casino where the Rutabaga Boogie Band was having a reunion. What a fun night! So many of Rick’s friends from long ago were there.

We visited with both our parents quite a bit and met Rachel, Jaden and Landon for dinner.

Jaden, Rachel and Landon

Next we were off to Napa to visit a few wineries and spend a few nights with Dave Cramer at the house he is spending his time at. What a great view over the Silverado Golf Course.

View of the Napa Valley from Dave's Place

Gizmo relaxing

We used our old house, which Jen and Kevin are living in, as our home base. It was great to have a washing machine and dishwasher. Gizmo was very happy to have the run of the house.

 
 
 
 
 
 

That week-end we went to Lake Don Pedro with most of my family. There were 4 boats and about 30 people. It is very different being on a lake, rather than the ocean.

A day at the lake

Dave, Jodi and Rick

While we were visiting Rick’s parents, Dave Cramer called and said Jodi was flying in from New York. We went to his house in Carmichael to surprise her, while she was here for a short visit. It was good to see her. Maybe she will make it down to our boat someday.

Jodi, Pam and Dave in his wine cellar

Road Trip – July 12 – 13, 2011

We left Santa Rosalia in the rental car about 6:30am with Rick driving. We had Gizmo, our cat, and a friend, Steve from Kharisma riding along. The roads were great in most places. Sometimes we were slowed by constuction, but we made good time.

Cactus and rocks along the road

We drove all day and made it to the border in Tijuana about 5 that afternoon. Somehow we ended up in the lane for locales and the guard was not happy! We were sent to the inspection area where we waited for at least 2 hours. Rick was escorted into the office and told he could be fined $5000. He signed forms stating he knew next time he would get fined.


We finally made it to San Diego about 8, had dinner and spent the night at a hotel.

The next morning we met Sarah, Darrell and Sparky for burritos. They are spending the summer in San Diego, then heading south. We will see them in La Paz this winter.


We left San Diego about 10, dropped Steve off in Long Beach and made it to Manteca by 7:00. It was a long drive, but the car did just fine. Now we have room to take goodies back to Mexico.

Santa Rosalia - July 7 - 12, 2011

We are renting a car and driving back to California for a few weeks. We have been busy getting the boat ready in case any bad weather comes in while we are gone. Everything off the decks, sails stowed, extra dock lines added and all the windows covered. Hopefully, the boat will be fine until we get back.

Santa Rosalia - June 25 – July 6, 2011

Street Tacos

Saturday, June 25,  I walked up the ramp, through the marina, and up the street to the closest taco stand. It wasn’t that far but, I was finally walking on my own! Since then, I’ve been walking into town almost everyday.  We go to restaurants or stores. It seems like all we do is shop and eat. Can’t wait to get back to an anchorage.

The fish Rick bought

Rick bought a fish from a guy in a panga here in the marina. He cut it up and we had it for dinner. It was very good. I guess if you can’t go out and fish at least we can buy fish.

Filliting the fish

Pam out on the Town

Taco's for Rick

Firefly and Voyager came back into the Santa Rosalia. It is good to have our friends back here. The marina is filling up again.

I had my hair colored and it was way to dark. Brenda came over and added mas rubia highlights. I love it!

Neil and Lisa on Gypsy came into the marina about July 2, we haven’t seen them since January in La Paz. We spent a lot of time catching up. We went to dinner and Rick went behind the bar to make our cocktails.

Rick making Cocktails

 
 
 

Cheers!

 
 
 
 
They are heading south to La Paz to put the boat away for a few months, so we won’t see them until November.

Santa Rosalia - June 16 – June 24, 2011

Another week and a half of sitting around on the boat. The toe is getting better. When I do go out, I’ve been riding around in a wheelchair mainly because my foot swells if I put it down.

Full Shell left for the mainland and Bill and Julie of Voyager arrived. We all went to lunch on Father’s Day to the Chinese Restaurant up the hill. I was surprised the Chinese food was so good.

Ted, Rick, Bill, Julie and Pam



Julie, Brenda and Pam

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Firefly and Voyager left to go out to an anchorage, so the marina is getting empty. We are not ready to leave the dock yet. We plan on waiting until I can walk a little better.